I needed a book and didn't have one, so The Husband picked one off the shelf for me - Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh. Apparently this one is one of his faves. I started it on 12/2/18 and finished on 12/25/18.
Another interesting read. This is the true story of Sudhir Venkatesh and his becoming a gang leader for a day in Chicago. Sudhir was a sociologist student who ends up befriending a gang leader in one of Chicago's notorious housing projects.
Sudhir spends a lot of time with the gang leader, JT, and comes to have unprecedented freedom and access to people in these housing projects due to JT's protection. Sudhir learns about the inner politics and workings of the projects and gangs and how they help (and hurt) the communities.
One day, Sudhir is given the reigns of the gang and becomes a gang leader for a day and realizes how it's quite difficult.
It was a pretty fascinating read shedding light onto a way of life that is completely foreign to me. If you are looking for first-hand insight into a completely different world, give this a read.
The Husband and I saw the movie of the same title and I decided I wanted to read the book. We were dumbfounded and entertained at the same time by the film. The main actor, John David Washington, brought such swagger to the role. We couldn't help but think - how did this even really happen. Well - the book rings a lot of truth compared to the book by Ron Stallworth. I started this book on November 24 and finished it on December 1.
This is the true story of the first African-American member of the Colorado Springs police department, and how he basically singlehandedly infiltrated the local (and to some extent, national) chapter of the KKK. With the help of some of his colleagues in the force, Stallworth gathered evidence of the events and practices of the local chapter and even befriended Mr. Duke himself.
It seems too fantastic and funny (in a horrifying way) to really be true. But it is. The movie was entertaining as was the book. I'm not sure if it benefitted me to see the movie first and then imagine John David Washington and his mannerisms while reading the book, or if it would have been better to read the book first. Regardless, I liked the book, I liked learning history in an entertaining way, and I would recommend it to others.
