What does it mean to be young, poor, and black in our consumer
culture? Are black children "brand-crazed consumer addicts" willing
to kill each other over a pair of the latest Nike Air Jordans or
Barbie backpack? In this first in-depth account of the consumer
lives of poor and working-class black children, Elizabeth Chin
enters the world of children living in hardship in order to
understand the ways they learn to manage living poor in a wealthy
society.
To move beyond the stereotypical images of black children
obsessed with status symbols, Chin spent two years interviewing
poor children in New Haven, Connecticut, about where and how they
spend their money. An alternate image of the children emerges, one
that puts practicality ahead of status in their purchasing
decisions. On a twenty-dollar shopping spree with Chin, one boy has
to choose between a walkie-talkie set and an X-Men figure. In one
of the most painful moments of her research, Chin watches as Davy
struggles with his decision. He finally takes the walkie-talkie
set, a toy that might be shared with his younger brother.
Through personal anecdotes and compelling stories ranging from
topics such as Christmas and birthday gifts, shopping malls,
Toys-R-Us, neighborhood convenience shops, school lunches,
ethnically correct toys, and school supplies, Chin critically
examines consumption as a medium through which social inequalities
-- most notably of race, class, and gender -- are formed,
experienced, imposed, and resisted. Along the way she acknowledges
the profound constraints under which the poor and working class
must struggle in their daily lives.
General
Imprint: |
University of Minnesota Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
March 2001 |
First published: |
March 2001 |
Authors: |
Elizabeth Chin
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 149 x 25mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
280 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8166-3511-5 |
Categories: |
Books >
Business & Economics >
Business & management >
General
|
LSN: |
0-8166-3511-0 |
Barcode: |
9780816635115 |
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