Harlemworld: Doing Race and Class in Contemporary Black America

by John L. Jackson Jr.

Harlem is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world—a historic symbol of both black cultural achievement and of the rigid boundaries separating the rich from the poor. But as this book shows us, Harlem is far more culturally and economically diverse than its caricature through extensive fieldwork and interviews, John L. Jackson reveals a variety of social networks and class stratifications, and explores how African Americans interpret and perform different class identities in their everyday behavior.

Genres: Anthropology, Ethnography, Nonfiction, Teaching

299 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

African-American anthropologist, author and filmmaker who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jackson is the Richard Perry University Associate Professor of Communication and Anthropology in the Annenberg School for Communication and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jackson is currently conducting an ethnographic project examining Global Black Hebrewism, as well as completing a book on the philosophy of qualitative social science research. He is also working on a documentary film about contemporary conspiracy theories in urban America, Novus Ordo Seclorum.

Reviews

[Rukshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love those Duke Univ. anthropologists! Seriously tho, this is one of the better ethnographies I have read. Complex treatment, interesting, self-reflexive, and enjoyable to read.