Assignment 7

1. Briefly describe the family described in the book. Who are the members, what are their family roles i.e. mother, father, brother, sister etc.
Based on chapter 2 of There are No Children, LaJoe Rivers and her family Live in the Governor Henry Horner Homes, which her children often call it the projects. LaJoe has 8 children the oldest being LaShawn who works as a prostitute so she can support her own drug addiction. Paul is the oldest of the boys and is named after his father. Terrence was the closets to Lajoe. Lafeyette which is the most dependable and watches over his three younger siblings(Triplets), Timothy, Tammie, and Tiffanie. Lastly Pharoah who is the most knowledge one. Paul there father is not really in the picture and his only income goes towards his drug and alcohol addiction. LaJoe is a very caring mother who worries for her children.


2. Describe the housing project in which the family lives. Do you think it is conducive to a positive childhood for the children, why or why not? Give one example of how the project/neighborhood has either a positive or a negative effect on the children portrayed in the book.
Crime and violence is fill the Governor Henry Horner Homes. Rivalry between gangs and drugs are present within what Pharoah calls the "Graveyard". The location where the River's family live in is extremely poor. Trying to access to healthcare and basic food needs is nearly impossible.
To Lajoe, it has become a “black hole.” There are no banks, no public libraries, no movie theaters, no skating rinks, no bowling alleys. The infant mortality rate exceeds that of Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Turkey. There is also no rehabilitation center even though drug use is rampant. These aspects of their living conditions are definitely not positive. During Lafeyette’s twelfth birthday, gunfire breaks out. As the eldest, he makes the children hold their heads down until the shooting subsides, and then they crawl back to their homes.

3. Describe how the neighborhood surrounding the housing project has changed in terms of employment opportunities and the race/ethnicity of the inhabitants over time. What is the current state of the neighborhood?  LaJoes's  neighborhood has slowly been decaying. Businesses moved to the suburbs and the city lost a third of its manufacturing jobs. The first people to leave the suburbs were the middle-class whites then the middle-class blacks. Horner had once been among the city's wealthiest areas now it turned to what looked like a black hole. The residents felt isolated and felt there was little sense of community in Horner. 

4.If you were asked to improve one or two aspects of the housing project or neighborhood to create better opportunities for this family, what social policy might you implement to enact positive change(s)?
If I were to improve two aspects of the neighborhood. I would create a Recreation center were children can go play and enjoy themselves. This can help young children steer away from bad influences such as drugs and gangs. Also I would establish more business such clinics and banks, restaurants and a learning center where children can go if they are having trouble with their homework.