Here's some fascinating reading for those of you who are budding sociologists & economists: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Street Gangs (But Didn't Know Whom To Ask), an interview with gang expert Sudhir Venkatesh. He has a book about gang life coming out in 2008, called Gang Leader For a Day.
Venkatesh talks about what makes a gang a gang, how racial perceptions alter our views of gang membership and activity, and the likelihood (low, Venkatesh thinks) that Jay-Z and 50 Cent were ever big-time crack dealers.
The interview is published at the Freakonomics blog. If you like what you read, you might want to pick up the book. Place your holds here.
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