| The Minds of Marginalized Black Men: Making Sense of Mobility, Opportunity, and Future Life Chances Subjects: Poor men -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Attitudes -- Case studies; African American men -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Attitudes -- Case studies; Social mobility -- United States -- Public opinion; Equality -- United States -- Public opinion; Social stratification; While we hear much about the "culture of poverty" that keeps poor black men poor, we know little about how such men understand their social position and relationship to the American dream. Moving beyond stereotypes, this book examines how twenty-six poverty-stricken African American men from Chicago view their prospects for getting ahead. It documents their definitions of good jobs and the good life--and their beliefs about whether and how these can be attained. In its pages, we meet men who think seriously about work, family, and community and whose differing experiences shape their views of their social world. Alford A. Young, Jr. , is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and in the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. |