Dangerous or endangered? : race and the politics of youth in urban America

"A lively, important book that calls for a progressive politics of youth which also values human connections and interdependency. Richly rooted in the social geography of Oakland, this ethnography illuminates how youth and their parents struggle against the ways they are pathologized and feared. Dangerous or Endangered? makes a critical contribution to urban studies, criminal justice, and anthropological theory and practice."---Brett Williams, American University "This compelling book reveals a disturbing trend towards widening, racialized social class divisions among children growing up in U.S. cities. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork in affluent and impoverished areas of Oakland, Tilton maps varied forms of community mobilization around children and youth. Beautifully observed, astutely analyzed, and directly relevant to current debates about ways of restoring a sense of the public good in an era of privatization." Barrie Thorne, author of Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School In this persuasive volume, Jennifer Tilton considers the ways in which children are increasingly viewed as dangerous and yet, simultaneously, as endangered and in need of protection by the state. Tilton draws on three years of ethnographic research in Oakland, California, one of the nation's most racially diverse cities, to examine how debates over the nature and needs of young people have fundamentally reshaped politics, transforming ideas of citizenship and the state in contemporary America. As Oakland activists have worked to save and discipline young people, they have often inadvertently reinforced privatized models of childhood and urban space, clearing the streets of children, who are encouraged to stay at home or in supervised after-school programs. Youth activists protest these attempts, demanding a right to the city and expanded rights of citizenship. Dangerous or Endangered? Pays careful attention to the intricate connections between fears of other people's kids and fears for our own kids in order to explore the complex racial, class, and gender divides in contemporary American cities. Tilton Draws On Three Years Of Ethnographic Research In Oakland, California, One Of The Nation's Most Racially Diverse Cities, To Examine How Debates Over The Nature And Needs Of Young People Have Fundamentally Reshaped Politics, Transforming Ideas Of Citizenship And The State In Contemporary America. As Parents And Neighborhood Activists Have Worked To Save And Discipline Young People, They Have Often Inadvertently Reinforced Privatized Models Of Childhood And Urban Space, Clearing The Streets Of Children, Who Are Encouraged To Stay At Home Or In Supervised After-school Programs. Youth Activists Protest These Attempts, Demanding A Right To The City And Expanded Rights Of Citizenship.--publisher. Introduction: Who's Responsible For Kids? -- Back In The Day ; Disciplining Youth And Families In The Flatlands -- Trying To Get Up The Hill ; Dangerous Times: Reconstructing Childhood In A Volunteer State -- Protecting Children In The Hills ; Youth In A Private Estate In The Oakland Hills -- Cruising Down The Boulevard ; Potential Thugs And Gangsters: Youth And The Spatial Politics Of Urban Development -- What Is The Power Of The Youth? -- Conclusion: Hope And Fear. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. How do you tell the difference between a "good kid" and a "potential thug"? In Dangerous or Endangered?, Jennifer Tilton considers the ways in which children are increasingly viewed as dangerous and yet, simultaneously, as endangered and in need of protection by the state. Tilton draws on three years of ethnographic research in Oakland, California, one of the nation's most racially diverse cities, to examine how debates over the nature and needs of young people have fundamentally reshaped politics, transforming ideas of citizenship and the state in contemporary America. As parents and neighbourhood activists have worked to save and discipline young people, they have often inadvertently reinforced privatized models of childhood and urban space, clearing the streets of children, who are encouraged to stay at home or in supervised after-school programs. Youth activists protest these attempts, demanding a right to the city and expanded rights of citizenship. Dangerous or Endangered? pays careful attention to the intricate connections between fears of other people's kids and fears for our own kids in order to explore the complex racial, class, and gender divides in contemporary American cities