URBAN YOUTH RESOURCES

 

See also our Urban Ministry resource center and the topic Urban Ministry in the Encyclopedia.

 

ORGANIZATIONS

CLIKS: County-City-Community Level Information on Kids

An initiative of the Annie E. Casey foundation, CLIKS allows users to access state-specific inventories of data from local sources, such as health departments, human services agencies, and schools. CLIKS is e a powerful new tool for community leaders, policymakers, service providers, parents and others who want to take a closer look at the local factors that affect the lives of children and families.

 

 

Communities in Schools

- 1-800-CIS-4KIDS                                                                                                  
277 S. Washington St, Suite 210, Alexandria, VA 22314, Phone (703)..., Fax (703) 519-7213, Email: cis@cisnet.org , Mission: To connect needed community resources with schools to help young people learn, stay in school, and prepare for life.

 

KidsCount Data Book Online (2004) 

10 key measures comprise an index of child well-being used to rank states and supplemental data on education, health, and economic conditions for each state. (Annie E. Casey Foundation)

 

KidsCount Census Data Online

KIDS COUNT has compiled indicators of child well-being released by the 2000 U.S. Census. View data on Age and Sex, Race, Hispanic Origin, Living Arrangements, Income and Poverty, Employment, Education, Language, and Disability Status.

 

Urban Youth Workers Institute
Perhaps the largest and most dynamic network and association of urban youth ministries these days. It’s national conferences and city-wide, one-day Reload sessions are inspiring, encouraging, and challenging many youth workers to higher excellence and spiritual vitality.

 

BOOKS

Anderson, E. (1978). A place on the corner. University of Chicago Press. Ethnography of street corner men in Chicago.

Anderson, L. Pickup artists: Street basketball in America. Verso Books. An insightful look at past and present stars of this great sport. Traces change in the past fifty years and exposes how commercial forces are taking over this scene.

Anderson, E. (1990). Streetwise: Race, class and change in an urban community. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Excellent insights from this African American sociologist allow the reader to test white assumptions and perspectives against urban realities.

Anderson, E. (1994, May). The code of the streets: How the inner-city environment fosters a need for respect and a self-image based on violence. The Atlantic Monthly. A clear description of "juice" for street survival.

Anson, R.S. (1988). Best intentions: The education and killing of Edmund Perry. Vintage. An intriguing and unsettling account of a ghetto lad living and dying between two worlds; a hard challenge for youth workers and urban helpers.

Atkins, S.B. (1996). Voices from the streets: Young former gang members tell their stories. Little Brown & Co. A more positive approach as those beginning to rebuild their lives describe their past gang life. From 13 to 20, girls and boys talk about themselves. The final section is an interview with a father and son mentoring team who reach out to gangbangers.

Augenbraum, H. & Stavans, I. (eds.). (1993). Growing up latino: Memoirs and stories. Houghton Mifflin.m Religion, sex, love, language, and family are some of the topics here explored in fiction and nonfiction. These writings describe the joys, struggles, defeats, and triumphs of the Latino experience in the U.S.

Auletta, K. (1982). The underclass. Vintage Books.

Back, L. (1966). New ethnicities and urban culture: Racisms and multiculture in young lives. UCL Press.

Bakke, R. (1987). The urban christian: Effective ministry in today’s urban world. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Barnes, A.S. (1992). Retention of african-american males in high school: A study of african-american seniors and white male seniors. University Press of America. This study focuses on the personal and social problems faced by African-American male high school dropouts and compares the factors preventing white and black students from dropping out or staying in school.

Billingsley, A. (1974). Black families and the struggle for survival: Teaching our children to walk tall. New York City: Friendship Press. Presents the black family as essential to the understanding of the culture, consciousness, community, and competence in the black world.

Bing, L. (1992). Do or die. (Reprint). Harperperennial Library. Having gained their confidence, the author takes you inside a street gang and lets the gang member themselves tell you about their lives, loves and battles.

Boyer, E.L. (1983). High school: A report on secondary education in America. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Harper & Row. This landmark report from the country’s most prestigious education foundation analyzes the condition of high schools in America and makes general and specific recommendations. Note especially references to urban schools by using its Index.

Brounstein, P.J., Hatry, H.P., Altschuler, D.M., & Blair, L.H. (1990). Substance abuse and delinquency among inner city adolescent males. University Press of America. This study compares young people involved with drugs with those who have stayed away from drugs. It makes recommendations about prevention and intervention.

Butterfield, F. (1995). All god’s children: The bosket family and the american tradition of violence. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf. An attempt to objectively analyze American violence, racism, and values as a context for a family’s violence traced from slavery to the present.

Canada, G. (1995). Fist, stick, knife, gun: A personal history of violence in America. Boston: Beacon Press. This book should be read. He lived the life, he knows the streets, he walks his talk, and he has established a notable program for young people in Harlem. This is an essential book for understanding city youth today.

Cannon, K.G. (1988). Black womanist ethics. Georgia: Scholar Press. Traces the history of the status of black women in this society and evaluates how women deal with inner and outer realities.

Carney, F.J., Mattick, H.W., & Callaway, J.D. (1969). Action on the streets: A handbook for inner city youth work. New York City: Association Press. One of the only manuals for street work ever done; it is unfortunately long out of print.

Carney, G. (1984). Creative urban youth ministry. David C. Cook.

Casey, K. (1991). Children of eve: The shocking story of America’s homeless kids. Covenant House. A small book about street kids in Hollywood, California that challenges any compassionate heart.

Christensen, M. (1988). City streets, city people. Abingdon.

Claerbaut, D. (1983). Urban ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. Good chapter on youth ministry.

Cohen, N.L. (ed.). (1990). Psychiatry takes to the streets: Outreach and crisis intervention for the mentally ill. New York City: Guilford Press. Describes innovative community-based treatment approaches for serving the most vulnerable clients of the post-deinstitutionalized era.

Cole, L. (1989). Never too young to die: The death of Len Bias. Pantheon Books. College athletics, drugs, death, law, and Christianity.

Copeland, N.E., Jr. (1995). The heroic revolution: A new agenda for urban youth work. Nashville, TN: James C. Winston Publishing Co. Compelling discussions on cultural selfhood, intellectuals, gang leadership, discipline, work ethic, and involvement of older teenagers. A welcomed text on urban youth ministry.

Cox, H. (1965). The secular city. McMillan. A classic on the meaning of the city in post-modern life.

Cruz, N. (1995). Code blue: Urgent care for the American youth emergency. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications. A former New York City gang member (reached by Dave Wilkerson and Teen Challenge) offers awesome statistics and stories of changed lives.

Cummings, S. & Monti, D.J. (eds.). (1993). Gangs: The origins and impact of contemporary youth gangs in the United States. State University of New York Press. Information on wilding gangs, migration and drug trafficking and more.

Currie, E. (1993). Reckoning: Drugs, the cities, and the American future. New York City: Hill and Wang. Penetrating insights, provocative suggestions, and a strategy that will cost more than this country is willing to pay—this book is important for any serious student of the city’s economic and social structures.

Dean, K., Yost, C., Yost, P.R. (1991, February). A synthesis of the research on, and a descriptive overview of protestant, catholic, and jewish religious youth programs in the United States. A working paper prepared for the Task Force on Youth Development and Community Programs. Dean is director of the Wesley Foundation and Yost is in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

Diver-Stamnes, A.C. Lives in the balance: Youth poverty, and education in Watts. (Suny Series: Urban Voices, Urban Vision). State University of New York Press.

Dryfoos, J.G. (1990). Adolescents at risk: Prevalence and prevention. Oxford Press. This book is a very important analysis of the research that has been done on the critical problems facing young people: school dropouts, pregnant teens, drugs and alcohol, and crime. Its conclusions are vital.

Edelman, P. & Ladner, J. (1990). Adolescence and poverty: Challenge for the 1990s. University Press of America. This books focuses on the interaction of personal growth needs and often dysfunctional social systems. It explores the challenge of a work force diminished by a growing reservoir of undereducated and undertrained youth.

Elkind, D. (1984). All grown up and no place to go: Teenagers in crisis. Addison-Wesley. There is a new breed of kids in the 1980s and 1990s. This book is a necessary primer for understanding how young people are different today than those in the days of their parents.

Epps, A. (ed.). (1991). Malcolm x: Speeches at Harvard. New York City: Paragon House. Three significant speeches delivered at the Harvard Law Forum by Malcolm: in 1961 at the height of his leadership in the black Muslims, in March of 1964 just after breaking with the black Muslims, and in December, 1964 after his trip to Mecca and Africa and after forming the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). More than half the book is a critical introduction to the life and thought of Malcolm X by the editor. Reviewing historical details, this book also gives a better understanding of black and Muslim thought in the 1960s. It is an important book for those who do street work among African-Americans today.

Every kid: Touching stories of real kids in urban America today. (1984). Denver, CO. Young Life Urban Office.

Feldman, S.S. & Elliott, G.R. (eds.). (1990). At the threshold: The developing adolescent. Harvard University Press. Important chapters by many experts on challenges in studying minority youth; coming of age in a changing family system; peer groups and peer culture; schools and the adolescent; leisure; work and the mass media; sexuality; stress; coping and adaptation; and much more.

Foster, C.R. & Schockley, G.R. (eds.). (1993). Working with black youth: Opportunities for christian ministry. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Very important book in understanding the potential, failure, and needs of African-American children and youth.

Foster, H.L. (1986). Ribbin’, jivin’, and playin’ the dozens: The persistent dilemma of our schools. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger. Dated, yes! And it is a white man trying to understand and control black street behavior! Enough here to offend some. And yet who else has tackled the issue of discipline and control in the classroom (camp or youth group) as realistically and come up with clear, positive guidelines. Decide what you want to adopt, adapt, or reject.

Freedman, J. (1993). From cradle to grave: The human face of poverty in America. New York City: Atheneum. This author finds poverty in all segments of the American population—compassionate and comprehensive.

Freedman, M. (1999). The kindness of strangers: Adult mentors, urban youth, and the new voluntarism. (Rev. ed.). Cambridge University Press. Gives a positive picture of how caring adults across the country are helping to turn young lives around. This book describes and encourages the mentoring movement. How successful is mentoring? Who can become a mentor? How can mentors be trained? What are the differences in good and poor mentoring programs? Research and experience seek to answer these questions.

Hale-Benson, J. (1993). Psychological experiences. Working with black youth, pp. 30-54. Nashville: Abingdon. Significant explanation of performance of black children in predominantly white schools.

Haley. (ed.). (1964). Autobiography of Malcolm X. New York City: Ballantine. Here is a classic story of the black man in America. His life moves through at least four dramatic stages including his dramatic conversion to Islam while in prison.

Halpern, S. (1988). The forgotten half. (final report). William T. Grant Foundation Commission on Youth at Risk. May be obtained through the organization at 1001 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 301, Washington, D.C. 20036-5541.

Hardy, J.B. (1991). Adolescent pregnancy in an urban environment: Issues, programs and evaluation. University Press of America. This interdisciplinary study substantiates the personal and public costs of rising pregnancy. Both empirical research and first-hand program experience from the Baltimore area are included. It is recommended for advanced students in education, social work, psychology, and medicine.

HARYOU. (1964). Youth in the ghetto: A study of the consequences of powerlessness and a blueprint for change. Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. Available from HARLOU at 180 West 135th St., New York City. This tremendous effort with lavish funding (from the federal government and city of New York) deserves to be analyzed. Here is a "comprehensive plan for the youth of Central Harlem...An analysis of the pathology of the ghetto reflects only part of the facts. The existence of HARYOU, the completion of its planning stage, and its hopes for future success reflect still another and probably more significant part of the facts of Harlem...HARYOU demonstrated that under certain circumstances it is possible for significant individuals and forces in even the most deprived of communities to mobilize themselves in the quest for intelligent and effective solutions to long-standing social ills. HARYOU also demonstrated during its planning that there was potential strength not only in the sheer numbers of people within the ghetto, but also in the positive aspirations of its youth and the resilience of the human personality. The success of the HARYOU program will be determined by the degree to which these forces can, in fact, counteract the demoralizing realities of an oppressed community." What went right and wrong with this significant program? What are we to learn from it in the 1990s?

Hechinger, F.M. (1992). Fateful choices: Healthy youth for the 21st century. Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development.

Holinger, P.C. (1987). Violent deaths in the United States: An epidemiological study of suicide, homicide, and accidents. New York City: Guilford Press.

Huff, C.R. (1990). Gangs in America. Sage.

Ianni, F.A. (1983). Home, school, and community in adolescent education. (ERIC Clearing House on Urban Education). Teachers College, NY: Institute for Urban and Minority Education.

Ianni, F.A. (1989). The search for structure: A report on American youth today. The Free Press. An essential study in the 1980s of urban, suburban, and rural youth. Where the systems surrounding young people are incongruent, youth are at high risk.

Ice T. (1994). Ice opinion. New York City: St. Martin’s Press. The father of, and one of the best at, gangsta rap gives an apologetic for his work and his life. He claims that racism and the oppressive system justify his descriptions of violence and sex. Rap provides young people with a warning about what Perkins has called "the ghetcolony"—urban areas controlled by occupying forces. His language abounds in four letter obscenities of the street.

Ihlanfeldt, K.R. (1992). Job accessibility and the employment and school enrollment of teenagers.

Jah, U., Sister Sha’Keyah, and Sha’Keyay Jah. (eds.). (1997). Uprising: Crips and bloods tell the story of America’s youth in the crossfire. Touchstone Books. Certain key figures in the gang scene have had a change of heart since the truce. Good questions evoke honest and insightful responses showing the waste of gang activity from inside perspectives.

Jensen, G.F. & Rojek, D.C. (1998). Delinquency and youth crime.

Keniston, K. & the Carnegie Council on Children. (1977). All our children: The family under pressure. New York City: Harcourt Brace. Describes how parents are finding themselves competing with television, day care centers, schools, and peer groups while under pressures themselves; a report on social and economic crises tearing families apart and affecting the health and future of children today.

Klaus, T. (1989). Healing hidden wounds: Ministering to teenagers from alcoholic homes. Loveland, CO: Group Books. Describes the devastating effects alcoholic parents can have on youth and leads youth leaders through the various stages of response that can move toward healthier families and hope.

Konopka, G. (1966). The adolescent girl in conflict. Prentice-Hall. "The first in-depth study of the delinquent girl...what factors bring young girls into conflict with society—and particularly, what elements in the maturing process of girls make them especially vulnerable during their adolescent years..."

Konopka, G. (1983). Young girls: A portrait of adolescence. Haworth Press. The author continues to contribute important information to an area sadly neglected by male sociologists.

Konopka, G. et al. (1968). Function of rebellion: Is youth creating new family values? Jewish Board of Family.

Kotlowitz, A. (1991). There are no children here. Doubleday. The author writes a diary for two young brothers of Chicago’s Henry Horner housing project (Lafayette and Pharoah Rivers). A vivid and realistic introduction to life in such a project.

Kozol, J. (1967). Death at an early age: The destruction of the hearts and minds of negro children in boston public schools. Bantam Books. This book is dated and out of print, but is still provides powerful insights as to how school can kill keen minds—written by a former public school teacher.

Kozol, J. (1988). Rachel and her children: Homeless families in America. New York City: Crown Press.

Kozol, J. (1981, 1993). On being a teacher. Chatham, NY; Oxford, England: One World Press.

Kozol, J. (1991). Savage inequities. New York City: Crown Publishers. The unfair discrepancy between the budgets of urban and suburban schools is attacked by this educational reformer. Its descriptions of actual urban schools is very disturbing.

Kunjufu, J. (1985). Countering the conspiracy to destroy black boys. Chicago: African American Images. These three small manuals speak volumes. Developing Positive Self-Images & Discipline in Black Children and Motivating and Preparing Black Children for Success were important books by this author.

Kunjufu, J. (1993). Hip-hop vs. maata psycho-social analysis of values. Chicago, IL: African American Images. This social analysis of values is a practical handbook for teaching seven cardinal virtues.

Kunjufu, J. (1984). Developing positive self-images & discipline in black children. Chicago: African-American Images. A black approach to home/school discipline and education.

Liebow, E. (1967). Tally’s corner: A study of negro street corner men. Boston: Little, Brown. Penetrating study of street culture by an anthropologist.

Loof, D.H. (1976). Getting to know the troubled child. The University of Tennessee Press. A guide for all professionals who will be working with troubled children and youth; this book clearly describes how evaluation of such young people can be done.

MacLeod, J. (1995). Ain’t no makin’ it: Aspirations and attainment in a low-income neighborhood. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Compares two groups, one mostly white, one black, and shows how circumstances shuts off achievement in both groups...despite the fact that the black group actually had higher aspirations of what they could achieve in life.

McCall, N. (1994). Makes me want to holler: A young black man in America. New York City: Random House. A "coming of age" book, a stark portrayal of racism and urban violence, a testimony to self-discovery through prison and education by a journalist with The Washington Post. In some ways, this book is an update on the Autobiography of Malcolm X.

McCann, R.V. (1957). Delinquency: Sickness or sin? Harper and Brothers. Students from Andover Newton and Harvard Divinity schools joined the author for a seminar that analyzed the studies done in the 1950s and then got to know young delinquents through serving in several Boston agencies. This book introduces us to those young people, their homes and situations. The anti-social behavior of these youth was compared to the "sickness" of our society. Creative solutions are considered.

McLaughlin, M.W. et al. (1994). Urban sanctuaries: Neighborhood organizations in the lives and futures of inner-city youth. Jossey-Bass.

Milliken, B. Tough love.  Very appropriate but long out of print. Skim this book that describes what white suburban youth workers needed to learn in coming to the city.

Mirthes, C. (1971). The children of p.s. 15. Bantam Books. Poignant voices of black, Puerto Rican, and other kids talking about home, school, and life itself. Highlights the resiliency and pathos of the human spirit.

Moore, D. (1994). The lads in action: Social process in an urban youth subculture. (Popular Cultural Studies).

Moore, J.W. (1978). Homeboys: Gangs, drugs & prison in the barrio of Los Angeles. Temple University Press.

Morici, J. & Flanders, D. (1979, Summer). Chinatown youth gangs—past, present, and future. California Youth Authority Quarterly, 32(2).

Morris, J.A. (1970). First offender: A volunteer program for youth in trouble with the law. Pleasantville, NY: The Reader’s Digest Association.

Myers, W.R. (1989). Models for urban youth ministry: Goals, styles, and contexts. In Rogers, D.B. (ed.). Urban church education. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press.

Myers, W. (1991). Black and white styles of youth ministry: Two congregations in America. New York City: Pilgrim Press. A Chicago seminary professor compares the constituencies, goals, and practices of two congregations: one white and suburban, the other black and urban. The cultural and theological bases of each youth ministry are critiqued with positive and negative ways in which cultures affect ministry.

The National Directory of Children Youth & Family Services. (1992-93). The professionals’ reference. (8th ed.). Available from The National Directory of Children, Youth & Family Services, P.O. Box 1837, Longmont, CO 80502-1837. Social, health, and criminal justice resources; listed state by state.

Ng, D. (ed.). (1988). Asian pacific american youth ministry. Judson Press. Insights into the Asian-American experience as well as an introduction to youth ministry in Asian-American churches.

Olson, K.G. (1984). Counseling teenagers: The complete christian guide to understanding and helping adolescents. Loveland, CO: Group Books. This large text deals with issues such as family problems, emotional difficulties, sexual confusion, drug and alcohol abuse, and the loss of a loved one. It has three sections: "Understanding teenagers," "A Christian approach to counseling teenagers," and "Special issues in counseling teenagers". Though a general text more geared to suburban teenagers, this book can definitely be used by leaders in all situations.

Oostdyk, H. (1983). Step one: The gospel and the ghetto. Harrison, AR: New Leaf Press. More than one book here: the author’s experience in Harlem, a biblical study of poverty, and a strategy for linking suburban and urban churches for social change. The author’s program continues in Dallas and will be expanding to Harlem.

Ortiz, M. (1993). The hispanic challenge. InterVarsity.

Perkins, E. (1975). Home is a dirty street: The social oppression of black children. Chicago: Third World Press. Out of print. An ethnographic study from the perspective of a radical, African-American sociologist. Important concept of the ghetcolony.

Perkins, U.E. (1987). Explosion of chicago’s black street gangs 1900 to present. Chicago, IL: Third World Press. Helpful historical perspective on the rise of gangs in the African-American community.

Perry, T. & Fraser, J.W. (eds.). (1993). Freedom’s plow: Teaching in the multicultural classroom. New York City: Routledge. Important statistics and principles underlying the failure and potential of cross-cultural education.

Phillips, E.B. & Legates, R.T. (1981). City lights: An introduction to urban studies. New York City: Oxford Press.

Pinderhughes, H. (1997). Race in the hood: Conflict and violence among urban youth.

Porter, J.R. (1979). Dating habits of young black Americans: And almost everybody else’s too. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Co. An unusual collection of statistics and principles regarding dating, proms, eloping, rape, homosexuality, romantic seduction cults, and much more—by a keen African American scholar and pastor.

Poston, R.W. (1971). The gang and the establishment: A story of conflict rising out of the federal and private financing of urban street gangs. Harper & Row. Evaluates large sums of money given to urban gangs in the late 1960s.

Prothrow-Stith, D. (1993). Deadly consequences: How violence is destroying our teenage population and a plan to begin solving the problem. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers. Simply the best analysis and solutions available.

Rathbone, C. (1998). On the outside looking in: Stories from an inner-city high school. Atlantic Monthly Press.

Rice, W. (1978, 1987). Junior high ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. This is an inspirational, informative, and necessary introduction for an understanding of dynamic, relational ministry to this important age group.

Ritter, B. (1988). Sometimes god has a kid’s face: The story of America’s exploited street kids. New York City: Covenant House.

Rodriquez, L. (1994). Always running: La vida loca, gang days in l.a. New York City: Simon Schuster.  A father with gang experience struggles with his son drifting in the same direction. Important insights from the barrio and Latino experiences.

Roelhkepartain, E.C. (1989). Youth ministry in city churches. Loveland, CO: Group Books. Excellent introductory handbook. Unfortunately out of print.

Rogers, D.B. (ed.). (1989). Urban church education. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press (REP). Written by many fine urban ministers. Note these chapters: "Learning to Face Diversity in Urban Churches," "Doing Your Own Urban Church Research," "Models for Urban Youth Ministry: Goals, Styles, and Contexts," and "Biblical Storytelling in the City."

Russell, L. (1998). Child maltreatment and psychological distress among urban homeless youth (Children of Poverty). Garland Publications.

Ryan, W. (1971, 1976). Blaming the victim. New York City: Vantage. It is important to know how this common phenomenon actually works. You may not agree with all the author’s arguments, but you will be enlightened and cautioned.

Salley, C. & Behm R. (1970, 1981). What color is your god? Downers Grove, IL: IV Press. An old classic (clear and powerful) introduction to racism for white Christians.

Sexton, A. (ed.). (1995). Rap on rap: Straight-up talk on hip-hop culture. Dell Publishing. An excellent analysis of rap and its context—insightful, critical, and courageous.

Shakur, S. (a.k.a. Monster Kody Scott). (1993). Monster: The autobiography of an la gang member. New York City: Penguin Books. This is a frightening story of violent realities. No other book will get you closer to the streets, gang, and prison life today.

Sider, R. (1990). Rich christians in an age of hunger. Word.

Sider, R. (1982). Evangelicals and development: Toward a theology of social change. John Knox.

Sikes, G. (1998). 8 ball chicks: A year in the violent world of girl gangsters. Doubleday. Girls laughingly tell of why and how they got into la vida loca, the crazy life of robberies, beatings and killings. Here they shrug off rapes, battering, and even death "as unlucky flips of the coin." The author spent a year hanging out with girl gangs in LA, Milwaukee, and San Antonio.

Soaries, B. (1991). My family is driving me crazy. (Straight talk for teenagers series). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. African-American youth leader helps young people and parents caught in a generation gap.

Stow, P. (1987). Youth in the city. London: Hodder & Stoughton. Reading rough kids in London is not all different from working with urban young people everywhere. A conservative and creative approach to such ministry.

Suskind, R. (1998). A hope in the unseen: An American odyssey from the inner city to the ivy league. NR: Broadway Books.

Taylor, C.S. (1990). Dangerous society. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.

Thomas, G.B. (1974). Young black adults: Liberation and family attitudes. New York City: Friendship Press. An African American professor’s perceptive analysis of the liberation consciousness and its effects on the attitudes of young black adults regarding marriage and family life.

Thomas, P. (1967). Down these mean streets. New York City: Vintage Books. Describes the racism and problems encountered by a young Puerto Rican on the streets of Spanish Harlem in the 1960s.

Vanier, J. (1976). Be not afraid. New York City: Paulist Press. This friend and colleague of Henri Nouwen provides strength and comfort for those who fear even with good reason.

Vigil, J.D. (1988). Barrio gangs: Street life and identity in southern California. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.

Werner, E.E. & Smith, R.S. (1989). Vulnerable but invincible: A longitudinal study of resilient children & youth. Adams Bannister Cox. This is one of the few studies (a fine longitudinal study of Polynesian and Asian American in Hawaii) to determine why some young people coming out of high risk situations make it when others do not.

Wilkerson, D. (1963). The cross and the switchblade: The thrilling true story of a country preacher’s fight against teen-age crime in big-city slums. Fleming H. Revell. The first in a series of books about the early ministry of Teen Challenge, this book tells of the beginning of it all.

Williams, T. (1990). The cocaine kids: The inside story of a teenage drug ring. Perseus Press. A chilling look inside at what goes on around young drug dealers.

Williams, T. Crackhouse: Notes from the end of the line.

Wilson, A.N. (1978). The developmental psychology of the black child. Available from Afrikan World InforSystems, East 138 Street, Bronx, NY 10451.

Wilson, A.N. Understanding black adolescent male violence, its remediation and prevention. Available from Afrikan World InforSystems, 256, East 138 Street, Bronx, NY 10451. Points out "the adolescent crises of black males interacting with the pervasive false consciousness induced in the collective psyche of the Afrikan American communities by white-on-black violence and the uniquely crimogenic socioeconomic conditions that typify the inner-city communities to breed and reproduce black male adolescent criminality and violence."

Wilson, J.Q. (1968). Metropolitan enigma: Inquiries into the nature & dimensions of America’s urban crisis. HUP.

Wilson, J.Q. (1983). Crime and public policy. ICS.

Wilson, J.Q. (1985). Thinking about crime. New York City: Random House.

Wilson, J.Q. (1993). The moral sense. New York City: The Free Press.

Wilson, W.J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass & public policy

. University of Chicago Press.

___________ and Marth Tienda, eds. (2002) Youth in Cities: A Cross National Perspective

. Cambridge University Press, 302pp.

HISTORY OF THE CITY

Jacobs, J. (1963). Death & life of great american cities. Random House.

Mumford, L. (1961). The city in history: Its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. New York City: Harcourt, Brace, and World. An outstanding achievement, tracing the concept of city, its forms and functions, from earliest times to the modern world. Excellent, though dated, bibliography.

Reiss, S.A. City games: Evolution of american urban society and the rise of sports. University of Illinois Press.

DYNAMICS OF CITIES TODAY

Fortune Magazine. (1958). The exploding metropolis: A study of the assault on urbanism and how our cities can resist it. Doubleday Anchor. Though dated, this plea for re-evaluation of development programs clarifies issues still important.

Entwistle, B. (1992). Making cities work. Hope.

Gooding-Williams, R. (1993). Reading Rodney King: Reading urban uprising. New York City: Routledge.

Hart, J.F. (ed.). (1991). Our changing cities. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press. A wide range of experts challenges widely-held myths, provide specific analysis specific issues, trace current development and look to the future of U.S. cities.

Jacobs, J. (1970). Economy of cities. Random House.

Oliver. Black wealth; white wealth.

Starr, R. (1966). Urban choices: The city and its critics. Penguin Books. The author argues that most critics of the city have failed to understand urban and bureaucratic realties and sets before the reader some difficult and unpopular choices that must, in his opinion, be made.

Steinberg, J., Lyon, D., & Vaiana, M. (1992). Urban America: Policy choices for los angeles and the nation. Rand.

Weiss, M.J. (1988). The clustering of America: A vivid portrait of the nation’s 40 neighborhood types—their values, lifestyles and eccentricities. Harper and Row. Based on the Revolutionary Target Marketing System Developed by the Claritas Corporation, this book provides statistics and charts based on census reports, consumer surveys, and political polls, this book provides clear pictures on how this society is dividing itself culturally.

URBAN POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS

Giamo, B. & Grunberg, J. (1992). Beyond homelessness: Frames of reference. University of Iowa Press. Nine knowledgeable observers from various disciplines are interviewed by the authors and offer a compassionate and wise analysis of this complex crisis.

Gittings, J.A. (1988). Breach of promise: Portraits of poverty in North America. New York City: Friendship Press. This book provides what its title suggests: a sense of face to face involvement with different kinds of poverty.

Lefkowitz, R. & Withorn, A. (1987). Women and poverty in America. New York City: Pilgrim Press. Stories of women in various situations of poverty with social analysis.

The Physician Task Force on Hunger in America. (1985). Hunger in America: The growing epidemic. CT: Wesleyan University Press.

Sidel, R (1986). Women and children last: The plight of the poor in affluent America. New York City: Viking Press. This book also provides the kind of intimate contact with actual persons in poverty—the stark contrast of how America lives and treats its most vulnerable citizens.

RACISM

Bardnt, J. (1972). Liberating our white ghetto. Augsburg. The Preface and first chapter are strong medicine; the book as a whole is enlightening.

Bell, D.A. (1992). Faces at the bottom of the well: The permanence of racism in America. New York City: Basic Books, Inc. Black biblical studies: An anthology of charles c. copher. (1993). Chicago: Black Light Fellowship.

Cone, J. (1991). Martin and Malcolm and America: A dream or a nightmare. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

Dudley, W. & Cozic, C. (eds.). (1991). Racism in America: Opposing viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.

Ellis, C. (1993). Beyond liberation: The gospel in the african-american experience. (2nd ed.). Chattanooga, TN: Accord.

Evans, T. (1995). Let’s get to know each other: What white christians should know about black christians. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Feagin, J.R. (1994). Living with racism: The black middle class experience. Boston: Beacon Press.

Finkenstaedt, R.L.H. (1994). Face to face: Blacks in america, white perceptions and black realities. New York City: William Morrow and Co.

Ford, C.W. (1994). We can all get along: 50 steps you can take to end racism. New York City: Dell Publishing. Contains excellent ideas and resources for home, work, and community use; some chapters could be used for a youth group discussion.

Graham, L. (1995). Member of the club: Reflections on life in a racially polarized world. New York City: Harper Collins.

Griffin, J.H. (1977). Black like me. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. "The gripping autobiographical story of a white man who had his skin darkened and traveled through the segregated South in the 1950s."

Hacker, A. (1992). Two nations: Black & white, separate, hostile, unequal. Ballantine Books. Of several powerful recent books on racism, this book describes the personal and institutional aspects in an enlightening and dismaying manner. Includes excellent statistics in the back.

Haley, A. (1976). Roots. Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

Hooks, B. (1992). Black looks: Race and representation. Boston: South End Press.

Kehrein, G. & Washington, R. (1993). Breaking down walls. Chicago: Moody Press.

King, M. (1991). Freedom song. New York City: Knopf. Experiences of a white civil rights activist in the 1960s.

Lehmann, N. (1991). The promised land. New York City: Knopf. Traces migration of black families from rural Mississippi to the Chicago ghettos and the birth of government poverty programs.

McKissack, P. & McKissack, F. (1990). Taking a stand against racism and racial discrimination. New York City: Franklin Watts, Inc.

Morrison, T. (ed.). (1992). Race-ing justice, en-gendering power: Essays on anita hill, clarence thomas, and the construction of social reality. New York City: Pantheon Books.

Myers, W.R. (1991). Black and white styles of youth ministry: Two congregations in America. New York City: Pilgrim Press.

Oates, S.B. (1982). Let the trumpet sound: The life of Martin Luther King, jr. New York City: Mentor Books.

Pannell, W.E. (1968). My friend, the enemy. Word.

Pannell, W.E. (1993). The coming race wars? A cry for reconciliation. Zondervan. Important reading for concerned Christians of the 1990s.

Patterson, J. & Kim, P. (1991). The day America told the truth. New York City: Prentice Hall Press.

Perkins, J. (1976). Let justice roll down. Glendale, CA: Regal.

Perkins, J. (1982). With justice for all. Ventura, CA: Regal.

Perkins, J. & Tarrants, T.A., III. (1994). He’s my brother. Grand Rapids, MI: Chosen Books.

Perkins, S. & Rice, C. (1993). More than equals: Racial healing for the sake of the gospel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity.

Reddy, M.T. (1994). Crossing the color line: Race, parenting, and culture. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. Case studies of children of interracial marriages.

Ridgeway, J. (1991). Blood in the face: The ku klux klan, aryan nations, nazi skinheads, and the rise of a new white culture. New York City: Thunder’s Mouth Press.

Rose, D.D. (1992). The emergence of david duke and the politics of race. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.

Salley, C. & Behm, R. (1970, 1995). What color is your god?: Black consciousness and the christian faith. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. This is the most basic of texts to recommend—includes a survey of African American history, slavery, and racism.

Skinner, T. (1970). How black is the gospel? Lippincott. Out of print.

Steele, S. (1990). The content of our character: A new vision of race in America. New York City: St. Martin’s Press.

Terry, R.W. (1970). For whites only. Eerdmans. "Whiteness dominates. We do not doubt that white is right, and we impose this frame of mind on others. Whites fail to do the imaginative thinking that could provide pluralistic alternatives...and expose the rationalizations and disguises used to perpetuate racism." (From the cover and text.)

Thompson, S.E. (1994). Hate groups. San Diego: Lucent Books.

Turkel, S. (1992). Race: How blacks and whites feel about America’s obsession. Doubleday.

Weary, D. (1990). I ain’t comin’ back. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House. "Weary grew up in rural poverty and went off to college hoping to leave Mississippi behind, but answered God’s call to return and make the gospel visible in his racially segregated hometown."

West, C. (1993). Race matters. Boston: Beacon Press.

HIP-HOP CULTURE

Nelson, H. & Gonzales, M.A. (1991). Bring the noise: A guide to rap music and hip-hop culture. New York City: Harmony Books. Called "a definitive introduction to the history of rap and a guide to the best recordings available."

Sexton, A. (ed.). (1995). Rap on rap: Straight-up talk on hip-hop culture. Dell Publishing. An excellent analysis of rap and its context—insightful, critical and courageous.

Stanley, L.A. (ed.). (1992). Rap: The lyrics: The words to rap’s greatest hits. New York City: Penguin Books.

Turner, S. (1995). Hungry for heaven: Rock ‘n roll & the search for redemption. IV Press.

URBAN YOUTH AND GANGS

Bing, L. (1991). Do or die: Members of america’s most notorious teenage gangs speak for themselves. New York City: HarperCollins.

Huff, C.R. (1990). Gangs in America. Sage.

Miller, A. (1975). Crime by youth gangs.

Moore, J. (1979). Homeboy.

Spurgel, I. (1982). Violence by youth gangs and youth groups as a crime problem in major American cities.

Taylor, C.S. (1990). Dangerous society. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. This study presents interviews with gang members and drug pushers. It includes very interesting surveys by gangs in the back of the book.

STRATEGIES FOR URBAN CHANGE

Bakke, R. (1987). The urban christian: Effective ministry in today’s urban world. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Edelman, M.W. (1987). Families in peril: An agenda for social change. Harvard University Press. An analysis of problems of poor black and white families with preventive strategies and suggested policy change.

Ellul, J. (1970, 1977). The meaning of the city. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.

Entwistle, B. (1992). Making cities work: How two people mobilized a community to meet its needs. Pasadena, CA: Hope Publishing Co.

Fiffer, Steve & Sharon Stone Fiffer (1994) 50 Ways to Help Your Community: A Handbook for Change, NY: Doubleday, 205 pp. Powerful stories of individuals and groups: a teenager fosters racial understanding through pen pals, a grandmother enlists senior citizens to run after school program for latchkey kids, a “bottomless closet” providing suitable clothing for job-ready women, a tree planting scheme for urban areas and much more.

Greenway, R. & Monsma, T. (1989). Cities: Mission’s new frontier. Baker.

Harrie, R. (1992). Is there a gospel for the rich? Mowbray.

McClung, F. (1991). Seeing the city with the eyes of god. Revell.

Perkins, J. (1982). With justice for all. Regal Books. An alternative for trusting huge government programs is spelled out in three Christian concepts: relocation, reconciliation, and redistribution.

Schorr, L. (1989). Within our reach: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage. Anchor Books. 398 pp. All political activists and those interested in community development, along with cynics and all how have lost hope for urban renewal should read this book demonstrating that things can and have changed.

Tonna, B. (1985). A gospel for the cities. Orbis.

Van Houten, M.E. (1988). God’s inner-city address. Zondervan.

Vanier, J. (1976). Be not afraid. New York City: Paulist Press. This is fine devotional reading to comfort and encourage you while putting your life on the line.

Walker, T., Jr. (1991). Empower the people: Social ethics for the African-American church. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.

Wink, W. (1993). Engaging the powers. Fortress.

World Vision. Rebuilding our communities: How churches can provide, support, and finance quality housing for low-income families. Monrovia, CA, 280 pp.  Recognized world-wide for its effective strategies, World Vision here provides principles and case studies, though U.S. specific, can be adapted anywhere. This manual is endorsed by Habitat for Humanity.

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION, COUNSELING, AND RECONCILIATION

Elmer, D. (1993). Cross-cultural conflict: Building relationships for effective ministry. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Kochman, T. (1981). Black and white styles in conflict. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Sittser, G.L. (1994). Loving across our differences. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

ETHNIC AND INTERCULTURAL YOUTH MINISTRIES

Grant. Ministry to black youth.

Foster, C. & Schockley, G. (1989). Working with black youth. Abingdon.

Kunjufu, J. (1986). Motivating and preparing black youth to work. Chicago: African American Images.

Kunjufu, J. (1993). Hip-hop vs. maata psycho-social analysis of values. Chicago: African American Images.

McCray, W.A. (1992). Black young adults: How to reach them, what to teach them—strengthening the black church and community by educating black young adults ages 17-24. Chicago: Black Light Fellowship.

Meyers, W.H. Black and white models of youth ministry. Pilgrim Press.

Milliken, B. Tough love. Very appropriate but out of print. Skim this book that describes what white suburban youth workers needed to learn in coming to the city.

Ng, D. A colorful community ministry with racial/ethnic minority youth. (network paper). Don Bosco MultiMedia.

Ng, D. (ed.). (1988). Asian pacific american youth ministry. Judson.

Wimberly, A. (1994). Soul stories: African american christian education. Nashville: Abingdon Press.

Wimberly, A. & E. (1992). The language of hospitality: Building intercultural relations in the family of god. Nashville: Discipleship Resources.

 

Youth Ministry Staff of Presbyterian Church. My identity: A gift from god. Presbyterian Church of Korea. Available from Presbyterian Publishing House, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Great lessons.

 

JOURNALS

Journal of Urban Youth Culture

The online Journal of Youth Culture offers concerned scholars the opportunity to contribute to our awareness and understanding. Diverse young people in the broad spectrum of urban environments face a rapidly changing world, one with increasingly fewer positive alternatives for those without the skills to compete in the Information Age. The overarching goal of this Journal is to provide a place where people who care about the future these young people face can share fresh ideas and insights.

 

FILMS

A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich (1978). - A 13-year-old without a positive role model becomes a heroin addict. Finally, he is able to accept his step-father’s love.

Boyz ‘N The Hood (1991) – Directed by John Singleton with Laurnece Fishburne, Cuba Gooding, Ice Cube, Angela Bassett and others. This is an important growing-up and gang drama.

Coach Carter (2005) – written by Mark Schwahn and John Gatins, directed by Thomas Carter, this sports drama is a good movie, works as an inspirational film, and is acceptably realistic in its characterizations, urban action and b-ball scenes. This is one to see with possible clips for discussion. (PG 13 for language, sexual content at school dance and teen party…)

Clockers (1995) Spike Lee. drama, crime mystery with some depth about a mystery near the projects

Dangerous Minds (1995)  drama, crime mystery about an ex-marine teacher (Lovanne Johnson) who breaks the rules to break failure cycle in urban high school.

Do The Right Thing - tensions between African- and Italian-Americans in the inner city are illustrated in this film.

Fresh (1994) - The story of a 12-year-old boy (brilliantly played by Sean Nelson) in foster care, a school-boy groomed by street, drug bosses, and tutored by his absent, chess-ace dad. With remarkable brilliance and style he discovers the laws of the jungle, guided by the principles of chess, and smoothly, if a bit unrealistically, fights for a surprising goal. The drama does illustrate many street realities and the force they play in a young man’s development. This victim becomes a survivor and hero.

Hoop Dreams (1994)- Steve James. Heralded, insightful, and powerful, 3-hour documentary follows two inner-city boys through some four years of their lives meeting pressures that come to those who dream of making it in the NBA. This film illustrates important aspects of juice and survival. Tragedy, some joy, and a wealth of information.

New Jack City  (1991) – Written by Thomas Lee Wright and directed by Mario Van Peoples, starring Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Chris Rock and others, this crime drama is a gangster classic which slams the drug trade. Among other things, it highlighted a new kind of urban music.

Straight from the Streets (1999) – Six years in making, this documentary begins with 1992 LA riots and concludes with footage Million Man March. It provides a mosaic of LA inner city culture and politics. Rare, freestyle performances and interviews with Ice Cube, Ice-T, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Rage, DQ Quick, KAM, Kurupt… political and social comments from Rep. Maxine Waters, Minister Louis Farrakhan and Denzel Washington.

 

 

Dean Borgman cCYS