No Way Out Precarious Living in the Shadow of Poverty and Drug Dealing

Jun 23, 2026

Upload by Sage

No Way Out: Precarious Living in the Shadow of Poverty and Drug Dealing examines how overlapping constraints—limited jobs and schools, contraction of the social safety net, insecurity produced by the criminal justice system, and child-support rules that backfire—shape everyday life in an impoverished Black neighborhood. The book explores interconnections between public policy shifts, the embedded drug trade, and community forms of love, support, and solidarity that sustain residents amid escalating risks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages165

Reading Time6 h 56 min

Preface

Introduction: Precarious Living

Jonathan’s World

Drug-Dealing Careers

The Rise and Fall of Lyford Street

Snitching, Gossip, and the Power of Information

The Politics of Murder and Revenge

Collective Punishment: Black Men’s Reflections on Everyday Life in Bristol Hill

Benita’s Story: Coping with Poverty in the Age of Welfare Reform

Conclusion: Understanding Everyday Life in the Shadow of Poverty and Drug Dealing

Bibliography

Index

FAQs

What situation does the book describe through the lens of “precarious living”?

It describes chronic insecurity in everyday life shaped by poverty, policy changes, and neighborhood conditions, where employment is often intermittent and basic stability is difficult to maintain.

Which public policy shifts are presented as key forces behind neighborhood change?

The preface highlights changes in welfare and housing reform, the war on drugs, and rising costs of essentials such as food, housing, and energy.

How does the book connect drug dealing risks to the broader community?

It emphasizes that the multiple risks associated with the drug trade affect the whole community, not only users and sellers.

Jun 23, 2026

Upload by Sage