Gang Leader For a Day

Venkatesh tells us that residents speak of Ms. Bailey in the same way that they speak of J.T., “with a mixture of reverence and fear” (91). He wants to learn more about her and what she does as the building president of the Local Advisory Council (LAC). This is an elected position with a small salary; building presidents are responsible for liaising with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and fundraising for tenant activities. Given that one of his advisers, Jean Comaroff, has suggested that he’s spending too much time with men and that he should try and learn more about women’s role in the projects, Ms. Bailey seems like an ideal person with whom to talk.

When he first visits her to explain his research, she asks him is he’s going to interview white people for his study. Venkatesh is confused, but after some prompting he understands her point: people outside Robert Taylor determine how the tenants live. At the same time, she doesn’t want him portraying the tenants as victims. While Venkatesh finds their conversations helpful, he finds Ms. Bailey very formal and distant; he doesn’t know how to earn her trust. When he asks J.