Gang Leader for a Day

by Sudhir Venkatesh

William Julius Wilson, the most eminent living scholar on the subject and the most prominent African American in the field of sociology. He had been teaching at the U of C for nearly twenty years and had published two books that reshaped how scholars and policy makers thought about urban poverty.

“So early education—keeping them in school—is the key. Also—” Ms. Bailey interrupted. “If your family is starving and I tell you that I’ll give you a chance to make some money, what are you going to do?” “Make the money. I have to help my family.” “But what about school?” she said. “I guess it will have to wait.”