1. Briefly describe the family described in the book. Who are the members, what are their family roles i.e. mother, father, brother, sister etc.
LaJoe is the mother, and she has eight children, Lafayette, Pharaoh, LaShawn, Paul, and Terence. Then she also has four year old triplets, Timothy, Tiffany, and Tammie. All eight children have the same father, Paul.
2. Describe the housing project in which the family lives. Do you think it is conducive to a positive childhood for the children, why or why not? Give one example of how the project/neighborhood has either a positive or a negative effect on the children portrayed in the book.
The Governor Henry Horner Homes, or the "Projects" is where the family lives. They describe it as a "graveyard" and a "black hole", which is very negative. It is not a positive childhood for the children. There are no public libraries, movie theaters, skating rinks, or bowling alleys, in order words, there is not much for children to occupy themselves with. It is very isolated and the families within are not connected to each other. The majority of the people live below the poverty level.
3. Describe how the neighborhood surrounding the housing project has changed in terms of employment opportunities and the race/ethnicity of the inhabitants over time. What is the current state of the neighborhood?
In the 30s, 40s, and 50s, the section of the city became home to over half a million blacks that migrated from the south. There isn't much there when it comes to employment opportunities. There aren't many businesses there in general which makes it hard for the people living there. The state of the neighborhood is declining.
4.If you were asked to improve one or two aspects of the housing project or neighborhood to create better opportunities for this family, what social policy might you implement to enact positive change(s)?
If I were to improve the housing project I would add more businesses, such as restaurants, banks, stores, etc. I would also add places for the kids to go to on their free time such as movies, playgrounds, a mall, etc. Places for opportunities of employment.
