#Non-fiction: Evicted: Poverty and Profit
- Author: M. Desmond
- Title: Evicted
- Published: 2016 (448 pg)
- Trivia: Winner Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction 2017
- Trivia: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
- List of Challenges 2018
- Monthly planning
- Non-Fiction Reading List
- #NonFicNov
Who is Matthew Desmond?
- Matthew Desmond is a sociologist and Professor of the
- …Social Sciences at Harvard University.
- In 2015, Desmond was awarded a MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’
- …because Desmond has shown extraordinary
- ..originality and dedication in his creative pursuits.
What is the book about?
- Matthew Desmond centers on eight Milwaukee Wisconsion
- families faced with losing their homes.
- He analyzes how an increase in evictions has affected
- …residents of America’s poorest cities.
- In larger cities like Washington D.C. the wait for
- ….public housing was counted in decades.
- A mother of a young child who put her name on the list
- …might be a grandmother by the time her application was reviewed.
- How can this happen in one of the richest countries on earth?
- The book also give us the landlord’s point of view.
- Many landlords were fearful of renting to poor residents in these neighborhoods.
- Landlord Sherrena knew that it could be extremely profitable.
Conclusion:
- Arleen: she had 2 small children Jafaris (5) and Jori (13).
- They had been evicted 3 x within 4 months.
- Arleen tried hard to make her livings quarters….a home.
- She did her best.
- Strong point: Desmond does not only gives the reader a glimpse into
- …this side of life for many people
- ….he also suggests solutions for the problems.
- Arleen’s favorite song was : ‘Keep Ya Head Up’.
- After I finished the book I sat and listened to
- 2PAC for the first time in my life.
- I followed the lyrics and listened.
- It is the essence of this book….’Keep Ya Head Up’.
- If you have the time…..
- …listen to the audio 4 min song.
- You won’t forget it.
- Poor black men were locked up (prison)
- …poor black women were locked out (evicted).
Last thoughts:
- My general feeling about the book?
- It was depressing…I was shocked how many people
- …struggle to keep a roof above their heads.
- Some people spend 80% monthly income on housing.
- What is left?
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