Gang leader for a day: a thug sociologist takes to the streetsFor my last article, I chose to sociologically analyze the book Gang leader for a day one day: a rogue sociologist takes to the streets by Sudhir Venkatesh. Newsweek describes Gang Leader for a Day as "compelling...dramatic...Venkatesh gives readers a window into a way of life that few Americans understand." (Newsweek) Gang Leader for a Day tells the story of a young sociologist named Sudir Venkatesh and his search for answers to the problems of poverty in urban projects. After being constantly warned about areas not to visit, Venkatesh decided to ignore all warnings and goes to Lake Park Projects to conduct investigations for his teacher. During his trip to the projects, Venkatesh ends up meeting a gang leader named JT. After spending the night in the projects, Venkatesh is allowed to leave after JT says, "You shouldn't ask them stupid questions —- With people like us, you should go out, get to know what they're doing , how they do it. No one will answer such questions. You need to understand how young people live on the streets. (2008:21) From that day on, Venkatesh would eventually become friends with JT and spend almost all his time in the projects. It's not until JT is moved to the notorious Robert Taylor Housing that the real study begins. Over the next seven years, Venkatesh not only collected information from JT, but also befriended all the other drug dealers in the neighborhood, the crackheads, the squatters, the prostitutes, the pimps, the activists, the cops, organizers and officials. Through his time spent with residents and managers at Robert Taylor Homes, Venkatesh was not only able to gain insight into the daily life of ...... middle of paper ...... continue to structure society in different manners. that value some lives more than others. (Andersen and Collins, p. 1) “Let me tell you about us. We may be poor, but when you come here, don't pity us, don't forgive us, or hold us to lower standards than you hold yourself to. (42) Overall, Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets provides a look into a world that few people had access to. Venkatesh's journey through the Chicago projects shows how residents of the projects live in Venkatesh, Sudhir. 2008. Gang leader for a day: a red sociologist takes to the streets. Penguin Books. Manza, Jeff and Michael Sauder. 2009. Inequality and society: social science perspectives on social stratification. New York: Norton.Andersen, Margaret L. and Patricia Hill Collins. 2012. Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology, 8th edition. Wadsworth Cengage.