Welcome to my Gang!

To my sociology class, I really apologize for not being at school for you today. I hope you enjoy(ed) reading about Mr. Venkatesh and his sociological research into gangs on the streets of Chicago. I find it one of the more compelling looks at what sociologists (Ethnographers specifically) have to do and go through in modern urban societies to try and do legitimate field work. Think of not only the personal challenges and risks but the additional struggles of getting people to support you and accept your work as a professional when so many other sociologists just believe in examining abstract data and macro-trends that Mr. Venkatesh had to face.

In Gang Leader for a Day you see the recent challenges faced by Mr. Venkatesh. If you would like to read more about him, his work, and hear him read from his book go to this link at NPR.
Additionally there is a discussion regarding and involving Mr. Venkatesh and this book about how much credit and $$$$$ he deserves versus J.T. the gang leader who helped him. Go here to read this piece in Slate magazine.

Possible topics for this weeks blog can be about this reading.....differences and thoughts about Macro sociology versus micro sociology? Challenges of doing field research? Who deserves the $$$ for research/books J.T. (the subjects) or the authors (Mr. Venkatesh)? I look forward to your thoughts.