CHILDREN OF THE DARK GHETTO

by Barry & Ronald Krate Silverstein ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1974

With a manifest lack of sympathy for their subjects, two Central Harlem teacher-psychologists funded by the Carnegie Corporation discuss what they think are the problems of children in the black ghetto. ""We must question"" the assumptions of genetic inferiority advanced by Eysenck, Jensen, et al., blandly declare Silverstein and Krate; and they hold no brief for IQ testing. In a clinical tone the book notes the early emotional neglect of children, the poverty, the prevalent lack of a male figure, the street peer group, the ""dozens"" ritual, and other familiar phenomena. ""The most common interpersonal pattern was ambivalence, particularly toward adults"" and ""many children fred their parents to be relatively unattractive models."" The authors suggest that the Karenga ""seven principles"" mumbo-jumbo offers an ""embryonic revitalization code for cultural, political, economic and personal 'overturning'."" (Look what the seven principles did for Patty Hearst.) The book's lack of original substance and its give-the-natives-somethIng-on-their-level conclusion reflect a distinct emotional impoverishment.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Praeger

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1974

Categories: NONFICTION