How does the Robert Taylor Homes community organize itself?
Board of Directors
Tenant Leader
(Ms. Bailey)
Franchisee
(J.T)
Treasurer
(T-Bone)
Enforcer
(Price)
Runner
Foot Soldiers
Rank & File
Social Disorganization
Theory
- severe lack of positive police presence
- police corruption
- police brutality
Social Disorganization continued
"ambulances don't come here"
Symbols
Officer Reggie
police officer who grew up in Robert Taylor Homes
J.T
drug dealer/ leader of Black Disciples
Autry
Lenny
leader of the Boys & Girls Club
pastor who mediated conflicts between gangs
Gang Colors
C-Note
leader of the "squatters" or homeless people around Robert Taylor
Black: represents all people
Blue: represents heavenly sky that blesses all disciples
Red: the bloodshed of the Black Disciples Nation
Power Players
Ms. Bailey
president/ leader of a few Robert Taylor buildings
Strain Theory
Black Disciples
- Started in the 1960s
- African American street gang based in Chicago, Illinois
- Founder: Donise “King David” Barksdale
- affiliated with the Folks
- Drug trafficking
- mostly crack cocaine
- Merton's anomie: emphasizes monetary success
- through socially approved and acceptable means
About Sudhir Venkatesh
Gang Leader For A Day
Marginalization Theory
- relegated to large public housing facilities set apart from other areas of the community
- limited access to quality education
- consistently remain unskilled due to lack of education & opportunity
- Venkatesh ventured into the the Robert Taylor Homes to do research
- He befriended Black Kings gang leader, J.T
- He captured how residents & gang members interacted, lived together and were able to raise families
- Indian American sociologist
- Attended graduate school at the University of Chicago
- focused on Robert Taylor Homes
- published "Gang Leader For A Day" in 2008
- completed in 1962 as the largest housing project of its time
- 28 high rise buildings, 16 stories high spanning 2 miles
- eventually deemed a failed project and was demolished in 2007
Robert Taylor Homes
- Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project located on the south side of Chicago
- faced many problems such as drugs, violence and poverty
- "turf wars"