Essay Example on Urban Poverty, Crime & Wilson's Theory: Racial Dynamics at Play

The increased level of poverty in cities and its relation to crime rates has prompted the development of concepts. One such concept is the Wilson's theory of social dislocations and social isolation. According to Wilson, the problem of underclass and crime experienced in the urban parts of the United State is more related to race as compared to economic class. For instance, Wilson observes that an increase in the number of Hispanics in urban areas, and to a lesser extent, immigrants from other parts of the globe such as Southeast Asia and Korea, leads to increase joblessness, crime, teenage pregnancy, female-headed homes, and welfare dependency (Wilson, 2012). The status of the underclass is adversely affected by several trends, including historical discrimination, which has plagued the black underprivileged for years. Wilson also observes that the migration of black from South led to the creation of a younger and less stable social structure, which has significantly contributed to increased crime, joblessness, and out-of-wedlock births (Wilson, 2012). The social dislocation characterized by the declining age of the inner city population and in-migration of southern residents has been compounded by the out-migration of the black middle class, removing an important social buffer that would have helped deflect the full impact of the prolonged and increasing joblessness among the black community. The removal of contact with the working professional families for less educated and unskilled reduces the perceived connection s between work and upward mobility, as well as education and meaningful employment (Wilson, 2012). This disproportionate concentration of the poor, welfare-dependent minorities in inner cities profoundly affects the social structure of the populations by creating social isolation. Backgrounds of most of the inmates in Inside Riker align with this theory of social dislocation and social isolation.

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The Alignment of Wilson's Theory to Backgrounds and Experiences of the Inmates in Inside RikersThe social isolation of the poor black creates obstacles that hinder them from sizing opportunities common among more economically and socially diverse neighborhoods. It is based on this argument that Wilson identifies social isolation and dislocation, rather than a culture of poverty, as the key concept in changes in the social structure (Wilson, 2012). Angel Rivera, one of the inmates in Riker for conning women, was born and raised in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York, El Barrio (Spanish Harlem)( Wynn, 2002). He lost his mother at the age of five and his father was a drunk. Rivera worked through high school to provide for himself. Living in a poor neighborhood and with higher aspiration, Rivera and his three sisters were socially isolated and dislocated, making illegal activities seem more legitimate options. Rivera lived in a neighborhood with a decreased labor force and economic prospects (Wynn, 2002). According to Wilson, Neighborhood without job information networks, few legitimate employment opportunities, and inferior school systems have weak labor force attachment and the likelihood that people will turn to deviant or illegal activities to earn an income is even higher, which further deteriorate the attachment to the legitimate labor market. It was out of these conditions and frustrations to obtain good things in life that drove Rivera to conning women.

Extended periods of joblessness lead to internalization of self-doubt. This means that the longer a neighborhood is plagued with a high rate of unemployment and non-labor force participation, the stronger the association between joblessness and feelings of low-self efficacy. Low-self efficacy is an ingredient of drug dependency and addictions (Wilson, 2012). For instance, Benjamin, another inmate in Riker and heroin addict, lacked authenticity, enthusiasm, and general qualities that would attract employers (Wynn, 2002). A look at his background determined that despite his young age, Benjamin was a father of two, and his girlfriend was on public assistance.

Outside of Riker, Benjamin had a low paying job at a Footlocker, which drove to start selling drugs to make ends meet. Benjamin lived in an overwhelmingly impoverished environment (concentrated) where the behavior, social perception, beliefs, and orientation of families were influenced by joblessness or low-paying jobs. Here, networks of kin, friends, and associated included a higher proportion of individuals doubting whether they can achieve approved societal goals due to their experience with extreme economic marginality. Even after gainful employment, Benjamin could not last for more than three months before embarking on drugs, where he ended up escaping with sixty dollars his girlfriend's TV, who accused him of being a crack head. All along, Benjamin was into drugs, and it was hard for him to keep working (Wynn, 2002). Benjamin's relapse can be explained in terms of persistent self-doubt, where he had questions about his preparedness and capabilities (given that he was handicapped), or his former hostile society had imposed severe restrictions on his avenue to advancement. Benjamin's situation derives meaning from Wilson's theory of social dislocations and social isolation of the inner city, and therefore highlighting the importance of the social environment for many truly disadvantaged individuals.

Another inmate at Riker whose background story aligns with Wilson's theory of social dislocations and social isolation is 39-year-old Frank. Frank is a Hispanic whose father was an alcoholic, a former boxer, and a wife-beater (Wynn, 2002). He encouraged Frank to be the most violent street fighter in the South Bronx by making him fight with other kids as he watched. Frank's mother was a fragile religious woman who lived in fear of her husband and cleaned houses to put food in the table. Frank ended up becoming a jailbird at Riker and even after a lot of efforts to change; he could not get an employment or a decent life. Frank relapsed several times, before completely changing seventeen years later. According to him, the positive environment and hanging out with doers and achievers instead of muggers and thieves helped him to stop him from relapsing (Wynn, 2002). Frank's criminal life and drug addiction align with Wilson's theory where the society one lives in creates mechanisms that affect race-neutral processes that ultimately influence the outcomes. Making wise decisions in life requires access to good information and positive energy. However, socially isolated and dislocated or segregated people like Frank are less likely to access reliable information concerning labor, schools, apprenticeship programs, financial markets, and so on. Due to a lack of information, Frank could not find any job and had to break the law in the bid to live.

People like Frank, Benjamin, and Rivera, who grew up behind bars or have criminal records are handicapped by their records, psychological social, and intellectual tall that years in prison have taken on them. Such kind of people emerges out of prison way behind the curve, with outdated skills, antisocial tendencies, hatred for authority, and sagging self-esteem. The criminal lives in such people's life start by chance as a result of living in socially isolated and dislocated societies. Lack of education and reduced perceived connection between work and upward mobility, as well as education and meaningful employment further creates obstacles that hinder them from sizing opportunities common among more economically and socially diverse neighborhoods.

References

Wilson, W. J. (2012). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. University of Chicago Press.Wynn, J. (2002). Inside Rikers: Stories from the world's largest penal colony. Macmillan.