1
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
Contemporary Urban Writers
Final Exam
Please write paragraph responses to the following questions. Use examples from the
readings to support your ideas.
1. Explain what this quote means. Use examples from at least TWO of the class texts to
help explain your response.
Sweeping events like a major war or depression can define circumstances, shape
attitudes, and effect behaviors. We contend the Crack Era had this type of an
impact, especially in the inner city.
quoted in “The Severely-Distressed African American Family in the Crack Era: Empowerment Is Not
Enough” Dunlap, Golub and Johnson
2
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
Contemporary Urban Writers
2. What are the consequences of incarceration for communities of color as explained by
Michelle Alexander in “The New Jim Crow: How the War on Drugs Gave Birth to a
Permanent American Undercaste” and Sister Souljah in The Coldest Winter Ever?
3. What are the characteristics of a drug lord and what does he represent to others in his
community? Give examples from “Crack in Spanish Harlem: Culture and Economy in the
Inner City” by Philippe Bourgois and Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez to illustrate
your points.
3
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
Contemporary Urban Writers
4. What reasons might a woman be attracted to becoming a gangster or drug dealer that are
different from a man? Use Locas and The Coldest Winter Ever to help explain your
answer.
4
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
Contemporary Urban Writers
How do the class texts relate to the following themes? In paragraph format, provide
specific examples from the readings to support your ideas. You must discuss AT LEAST
ONE TEXT for each theme. YOU MUST USE ALL OF THE READINGS.
Texts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
“Crack in Context” by Craig Reinarman and Harry G. Levine
“Crack in Spanish Harlem” by Philippe Bourgois
Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez
The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
Locas by Yxta Maya Murray
5.
Culture of resistance
5
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
6. Women’s bodies as commodities
7. Social/Economic Mobility and Access to Resources
Contemporary Urban Writers
6
Prof. Jill Richardson
English 358
8. Excess materialism/hyper-consumerism
9. The inner-city community
Contemporary Urban Writers
7
Prof. Jill Richardson
10. The Immigrant Experience
English 358
Contemporary Urban Writers