Reviews for Ghettonation

The average rating for Ghettonation based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-02-25 00:00:00 Gunawan Djoyo Wow. This book is one of the best books I've ever read! Cora Daniels explores "ghetto" and takes us beyond every stereotype of what you might think ghetto is to show the prevalence of "being ghetto" in our culture today. Daniels make the case that ghetto is not a race issue, but rather a mindset that pervades every race, social class and income bracket. Ghetto isn't about being black or white, but about always aiming low and celebrating the worst in someone. She takes a serious problem in our society and looks at it from every angle - she is serious, but also includes a lot of humor and wit. I think Daniels does an excellent job discussing this hard-to-discuss issue.

Review # 2 was written on 2007-10-25 00:00:00 Robert Carriedo What can be defined as ghetto? Location, race, economic status, all the above? Cora Daniels, NYC journalist and proud resident of Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn, goes on a journey to find all things ghetto. Her grounding assumption: ghetto is a mind-set or mentality. Hence why Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton and others can join the ranks of folks who sport gigantic TVs bought with welfare checks, armored SUVs, do-rags, and live by the mantra "get rich or die trying". In this journey she looks at family, hip-hop, education, and other notable topics and how they relate to ghattonation. It's not a pleasant trip. How could it be? The rap/hip-hop industry has black folk clownin around and filling the pockets of white music execs who laugh at their own audience (ghetto). Sporting a wedding ring makes you more likely to be asked out on a date (ghetto). The great expectation of the last day of school is "didyapass?" (ghetto). There's a problem out there that many would say exists only in the projects of Black America. Even Bill Cosby put it that way (whoops). Daniels says it isn't that simple and I found her reasoning and stories quite interesting. Her descriptions of people's ghettoness reminded me of many things I've seen in my very own, very white hometown. I sometimes found her writing a bit uneven and choppy - hence the three stars - but her points seem worth considering and investigating further.