Ties That Bind

Youth and Drugs in a Black Community

 

Kojo A. Dei

 

This provocative study of drug use among Black youths living in a U.S. community focuses on the dynamic relationship between drugs, society, and culture. Dei’s vivid presentation of the portraits of five youths—the emic point of view—reveals individual thought processes that shape behavior and attitudes. Ties That Bind is not about despised antisocial individuals whose morals are debased. Instead, it is about people who are attempting to achieve success as members of their family, their community, and the larger society as well. In particular, Dei links drug use and sales by Black youths to the larger political economy. This engaging, thought-provoking study replaces misconceptions with authenticity to provide a comprehensive understanding of the drug phenomenon in a minority neighborhood.

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