This document discusses life in black urban communities from multiple perspectives. It includes a quote from Kenneth B. Clark about the "dark ghetto" reflecting the human condition. It also shares a message from LeAIan Jones urging people not to view "ghetto kids" as different or alien, as they face challenges but are still human. Finally, it discusses Lisa Delpit's experience as one of few black teachers at a school where some felt the older black teachers were repressive and did not allow students' intellects to flourish.

1. Black Urban Communities
The truth of the dark ghetto is not merely a
truth about Negroes; it reflects the deeper
torment and anguish of the total human
predicament.
- Kenneth B. Clark, Dark Ghetto
University of Louisville
Sociology 450-76
Spring 2016
M 5:30p – 8:15p
Professor: Dr. Brooms
Me and my friend Lloyd Newman just did a
description of our life for a week, and we
want to give you kids in America a message:
Don’t look at ghetto kids as different. You
might not want to invite us to your parties,
you might think we’ll rob you blind when
you got your back turned. But don’t look at
us like that. Don’t look at us like we’re an
alien or an android or an animal or
something. We have a hard life, but we’re
sensitive. Ghetto kids are not a different
breed—we’re human.
Some people might say, “That boy don’t
know what he’s talkin’ about!” But I know
what I’m talking about. I’m dealing from the
heart because I’ve been dealing with this for
thirteen years. These are my final words, but
you’ll be hearing from me again, ‘cause I’m
an up-and-rising activist.
-- LeAIan Jones, “Ghetto Life 101”
The ethos of that school was fascinating.
I was one of only a few black teachers,
and the other black teachers were mostly
older and mostly “traditional.” They had
not learned the kinds of things I had
learned, and the young white teachers
sometimes expressed in subtle ways that
they thought these teachers were—how
to say it—somewhat “repressive.” At the
very least they were not structuring
learning environments in ways that
allowed the children’s intellect to
flourish.”
-- Lisa Delpit, Other People’s Children