The Preacher

The Preacher

The chapter is dedicated to the religious community because it plays an oversized role. The religious community does not only provide spiritual services to society, but it also has a significant socio-economic and political role (Venkatesh 225). Therefore, as a central pillar of the community, its inclusion in the book’s discourse — urban poverty, is necessary. The various denominations, particularly Christianity, is an essential stakeholder in the economic sphere of the Maquis Park economic activity.

According to Venkatesh, the role of the church in the area’s economic activities was necessitated by the vacuum created by the lack of formal services from the government. For instance, the absence of social services forced the clergy to intervene and offer some of these services, including employment referrals (215). Additionally, the clergy also engaged in political activism to ensure enhanced representation of African-Americans. Nevertheless, these measures were not enough to lift most of the residents out of poverty. Consequently, the church had to take a more pro-active role in the economic welfare of its congregants. The move entailed the formation of self-help entities managed by the church. These groups served as vehicles of economic empowerment.

The implication of this situation was the establishment of an informal economy with the church at its center.

In the 1960s and 70s, racial segregation was on the decline. Accordingly, the middle-class residents of Maquis Park moved out into more affluent areas (Venkatesh 221). While a portion of those that left continued to travel back for church services, Venkatesh asserts that this section of the community became “less local in orientation” (221). Consequently, this led to a reduction in the association between the church and the informal community, especially as the development of more affluent churches became common. The big churches disassociate themselves from the local churches because the latter is still more political, as opposed to the former.

 

The Gang

Big Cat’s attempts to expand the reach of the Black Kings created an opportunity for the community and the gang to clash. The clash is apparent, primarily when Big Cat seeks to turn Homans Park into an illegal business bazaar (Venkatesh 225). Such an expansion implies that the Black Kings would begin engaging in (or extorting) businesses that define the area’s underground economy; hence, in effect, the gang would compete with the local community. Secondly, the community feared that the gang’s activity would harm their children’s behavior. The community responds using non-conventional means. Through its leader, Marlene Matteson, the local population negotiates with Big Cat, such that some gang activities could be restricted at the park. For instance, drug dealing would not be allowed before and after school time.

Big Cat’s employees play a role in the eventual downfall of the Black Kings’ corporate empire. The employees began attacking businesses to collect or warn businesses to pay the “taxes” owed to the organization — the taxes were merely a form of commercial extortion. Nevertheless, the gang members would not follow up on their threats, as they did not collect the extortion fees despite some business owners being willing to pay.

The community meetings organized by Pastor Wilkin and Marlene helped to reduce conflict between the community and gang members. The sessions are in line with Braga’s and Kennedy’s anti-violence initiatives, which focus on dialogue and collaboration to address the root causes of violence. However, the community meetings do not end up reducing the Black King’s social costs because Big Cat grows increasingly disillusioned with them.

Work Cited

Venkatesh, Sudhir. Off the Books: The Underground Economy of the Urban Poor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 2009.