Purchasing Power: Black Kids and American Consumer Culture
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.95 (821 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0816635110 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 280 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 0000-00-00 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
In one of the most painful moments of her research, Chin watches as Davy struggles with his decision. An alternate image of the children emerges, one that puts practicality ahead of status in their purchasing decisions. 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. 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 s
Has both vitality and immediacy.Chin's vignettes from life with the kids are touching, funny, troubling, strange, and familiar. -- Ruminator Review
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Krista J. Gingrich said A Review of Elizabeth Chin's Purchasing Power. When faced with the concept of "Black Kids and American Consumer Culture," I immediately turn my thoughts to the image of African American males killing each other for a specific brand of basketball shoe. Conversely, Elizabeth Chin defeats this myth of "combat consumerism" in her recent ethnographic study Purchasing Power. By studying a . Definitely a good read! I only purchased this book because I needed it for my intro anthropology class, but after reading it, I've decided to integrate into my personal book collection instead of selling it to another student. It isn't the most life changing book that I've ever read, but it does do a great deal of exploring the dynamics of agency and privilege