Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Racism'
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
42 reviews
aspyd05's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Racism and Violence
bucklace27's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Gun violence
Minor: Sexual assault
barefootsierra's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, and Classism
canngrob's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Racism
adilyn's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Racism
emmehooks's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Pregnancy
fkshg8465's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
shannahtan's review against another edition
Ethnography is so interesting because the person is actually trying to live this life in first person. Desmond mentioned he didn’t pay folks for interviews, which in part I understand that he maybe didn’t want to get a biased point of view. However, I feel like they should get paid for this book as he was telling their life stories. Although Desmond recognizes his privilege, he still got to leave the trailer park. He was never evicted. The people in the book are still living this life of eviction. All in all, the book is dense and is a very good window into the life of so many people in the United States. The last two chapters explain how a universal housing voucher has helped other countries combat houselessness. I tandem read this through audiobook and ebook.
Graphic: Child abuse and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy
nvillanuevadrv's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Racism and Classism
amyvl93's review against another edition
4.5
Desmond treats all the individuals he features with such empathy, it really felt like you were alongside them. There are moments of great tragedy sitting alongside everyday tragedies. He shines a light on systems that exploit those they should protect - from the incredibly profitable business of filling your properties with those on state support because you don't run the risk of losing rent, whilst not considering whether the properties really meet their needs, to the truly insane practice of raising grievances against landlords when residents call the police (including in cases of domestic abuse) that can lead families being evicted because landlords don't want to be considered nuisance properties. When this happened to one family, who finally appeared to be on the 'up', I very nearly cried out of frustration for them.
Alongside the problems of housing, Evicted also looks at the factors that can tip people what many may refer to as 'chaotic lives'. Drug addiction is a pattern for many of those profiled here - a nurse who loved their job who gained an opioid habit following an injury loses his job after he stole and finds himself in a trailer park. But alongside this is abusive relationships, childhood trauma, limited employment that enables the flexibility that many women raising children need and proximity to crime. The families that are able to find stability are those that are able to finally get themselves into spaces where they can build connections, find stable employment and access support - all of which is underpinned by high quality housing. Desmond very clearly articulates how being stuck in a horrible home impacts the way people feel about themselves; and how a home to be proud of improves people's ways of seeing themselves - which is even more true of the children and teenagers profiled here.
Written in 2016, so much of Desmond's writing and findings feel prescient to today. I'm looking forward (?) to reading his latest book Poverty next.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief