Customer Reviews

Ghettonation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're looking for a book fitting for an armchair sociologist...this is not the one. If you're looking to finally read something that speaks to something inside you; put words to that holy discontent that groans to articulate that there is something indeed wrong about our society at every class level and in every racial circle (period)...this IS the book for you. Cora Daniels is a master at taking very complex feelings, emotions, philosophies, psychological theories, and countless volumes of sociological and behavioral research and making it plain. This book is one for the ages that (just like her first book, "Black Power, Inc.") I will force my teenage children, neices, nephews, colleagues, friends, my wife, etc. to read. In fact, I've already asked my mother (60 yrs old), brother (26 yrs old), and close friend (30 yrs old) to buy it and read it ASAP. This book crystallizes conversations many people nationwide have on a daily basis, but helps invoke what is probably at the core of what they're trying to express in their attempts to make sense of the driving force behind this country's mayhem. It's very simple: America is...GHETTO!

Some weeks ago I watched as a mainstream television newscaster referred to the police as the "po po's," a term that is, at this moment used by inner city youth. It's obvious that when such language becomes "accepted" by the mainstream, the words are on their way out...or are they?

Author Cora Daniels would probably say that such usage is further indication of the ghettonization of America and she's more than likely correct. In her amusing and thought-provoking book, the writer exposes all the aspects of American society that reflects how the ghetto mentality flourishes. She sites the entertainment industry, Madison Avenue, professional sports, as well as the everyday instances wherein that which we once thought was only a part of the inner city has become commonplace.

As entertaining as the book is, she hits hard when she challenges readers to consider her words and take action in order to stop or, at least, slow down the spread of "ghettoism" in this nation.

This is a definite "must read" for all Americans that want to understand what's going, not just with the young people, but among us all as we fall further and further into the rationale of the street.

This is a great book. A must read for all "intelligent" minds to help enlighten "the ignorant". Ghetto Nation has a bold, in-depth look into what is now considered "American culture", intellectually exposing all the major, as well as minor flaws in our modern society. At the same time, reminding the reader that this a documentary piece, meant to entertain and educate, not discriminate and separate.

I pretty much caught on to the book through a blog on the author Cora Daniels, with Ghetto Nation as the controversial topic. Sho-nuff, there were enough respones made in all "ghetto" manner, where to me, clearly made "Ghetto Nation" a subject worth much more interest. Living and working in "ghetto environments" often made me wonder why as a young, Black American, I felt (no offense to who's reading)"trapped" in the very surroundings I should feel proud to call "home". Reading this book let me know that I wasn't alone.

For the first time in my life, Ghetto Nation was a book that I've read from cover to cover, almost non-stop, and finsihed in under a week. (I feel so proud of myself)All chapters were highly intriguing, yet some things do stand out. For me, my favorite highlights were the intro, which gives you the complete breakdown of the word "ghetto". Also, Chapter 4, talking about modern-day relationships, Chapter 5, discussing the (sort-of)"loss" of families in America, and Chapter 6, (this is a fun one)where you kinda eavesdrop on what's now a "typical" conversation across the ghettos of our great nation. Without a doubt, the best highlight, as anyone who reads the book will tell you, are the "That's So Ghetto" lists.

Cora Daniels is a great author, and a great journalist. I plan on collecting all of her books already on shelves, and in the works. You MUST read Ghetto Nation, It's definitely a converation piece worth talking about to your peers.

This is a book that I've been wanting to read every since it's 2007 release. I finally read it and enjoyed some of it. Overall, I felt that this book wasn't anything more than a very entertaining, hilarious and sometimes truthful rant. "Ghettonation" is a book that will spark up a conversation and while she makes a few good points, it's very obvious that Cora Daniels has a very disturbing, perspicuous cynicism about life in general. I say this because everything is ghetto to her.

Like Juan Williams (the author of "Enough!"), Daniels champions Bill Cosby for his "call-outs", but unlike Williams, she doesn't give explanations for why Dr. Cosby has said the things that he has said within the past several years. She starts out by saying that "ghetto is not limited to a class or a race" (although no other race of people considers any person or thing "ghetto" but black people). But who came up with the term to begin with? Besides, everyone has their own definitions as to what ghetto is and what ghetto is not. Throughout this book, she discusses the decline of the black family structure, the ugly realities of ghetto life, pop culture that black youth has chose to embrace (some of which was started by the "Pimps & Hoes" lifestyle of the 1970s), rap music videos, ghetto rap lyrics & love songs, lack of accountability, lack of discipline, children born out of wedlock, basic family values and misogynistic rap lyrics. She discusses black youths who are mentally ahead of their time, who also do not respect authoritarian figures and who memorize rap lyrics but have no idea about their own cultural or ancestral history. Some of these things I can strongly relate to, although these are things that people throughout the world have been talking about for years, believing that this "dirty laundry" corrupts American culture, children & family values.

She goes on to discuss how pop culture degrades women (black women in particular), including her own personal take of the 2005 film "Hustle & Flow"; a film she personally despises. While she accuses a "white boy from California" for writing a film that she felt was trashy, perhaps she forgot the fact that the film was produced by John Singleton, a mastermind of black cinema. She admits that she was disturbed by a scene in the film where a struggling musician kicks a woman and her baby out of his house due to her utter disrespect for him. But in many of Tyler Perry's movies, the shoe has been placed on the other foot. Daniels has nothing to say about how Tyler Perry paints African-Americans as imbeciles in his cinematic back catalog. I don't want to assume that she's a feminist, but the idea should pop up in the brain of the reader of this book. She finds herself disgusted by hip-hop mogul/producer Pharell Williams for admitting that he's not responsible for the images rap videos create, nor if the viewer takes it the wrong way. She accuses Bill Clinton of being ghetto for his sexual infidelities and other men alike (even JFK), regardless of race or class. She says in so many other words that single males searching for hookups, exploring their sexuality and not wanting monogamous relationships are ghetto. This also includes the dating scene where men meet women at nightclubs and bars, asking for phone numbers. How ignorant!

But it doesn't stop there!

She accuses Hollywood actress Gwenyth Paltrow for being ghetto simply because she names her daughter Apple, who also listens to Jay-Z's "The Black Album". Natalie Portman is also ghetto for admitting that in her spare time, she likes to dance on a stripper pole, saying that it's great exercise. Snoop Dogg is ghetto for producing and directing a porn video. Clothing lines such as Baby Phat & Apple Bottom made in celebration of the female derriere are also ghetto. Cars with tinted windows, televisions and DVD or Playstation players are also ghetto. So I guess the manufacturers of these cars and clothes are ghetto, too. Right?! She goes on to discuss hip-hop's relationship with derogatory terms that even white entertainers (Gwen Stefani & Eminem for example) have adapted. Female enthusiasts of prestigious musicians and entertainers (also known as "groupies") aren't spared, either.

Cora Daniels, an award-winning journalist, writes a book that is very interesting, entertaining and brutally honest in some areas. However, she not only makes assumptions about how ghetto life has influenced everything we do in public or in private (which includes infidelity). She also has a habit of repeating tasteless self-made clichés throughout, such as "I be ghetto". Well that's quite obvious. Her assumptions and her ugly contempt about life in general in itself is not only ghetto but subjective and utterly immature. I guess the ghetto will stick with all of us, as people in general, for the rest of our lives, leave it up to Cora Daniels to tell the story.

Mrs. Cora Daniels' book Ghetto nation is a very thourough, intellegent look on ghetto culture. It is an extremely well written, accurate take on the thingswe define as "ghetto" and reading it will be a life changing experience.

Ghetto Nation is an interesting book. The author is a journalist and obviously conducted a lot of research in the course of writing Ghetto Nation, but the book is written from a largely personal perspective. Cora Daniels describes things she has seen, heard, and experienced that are ghetto, and uses those vignettes as a jumping off point to examine larger issues. This style makes for a very readable journey into a subculture which has gone mainstream.

As an African American woman, much of her concern is for the impacts that ghetto culture has on the Black community. However, she does show how latinos and even whites have embraced the ghetto mindset of violence and misogyny, thus making it a universal problem. She finds a good balance between pointing out how racism and economic circumstances put African American youths at a disadvantage, while not shying away from pointing out areas where the same people need to step up.

Daniels admits that her book is only step one in solving the problem - raising awareness. She leaves the rest to the reader by calling for every individual to be a contributor to society. Although I wished she would have offered more concrete suggestions for how to address some of the problems she so engagingly describes, Ghetto Nation is a good starting point for an intelligent discussion.

The theme: Ghetto is a mindset.

The topics: sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, sometimes a bit redundant.

I think Cora Daniels does a good job explaining elements of modern culture that glamourize that which wouldnt have been seen as glamorous in a different day in age (i.e. rap lyrics, love affairs, high priced materials on lease, etc.) But she also tries to put the ghetto stamp on practically everything (i.e. people who recite a rap phrase, bill clinton for having an affair, listening to your radio on loud). The credibility of her argument suffers from some of these disconnects between what is really ghetto and what is not.

I would recommend you read this if you like reading essays on pop culture but please be warned: she will try and make you feel like everything modern is ghetto.

And that in itself is kinda ghetto.

Cora Daniels nails it, the ghetto-ization of an entire nation. The phenomenon of seeing wealthy white suburban boys acting all ghetto, with the bling and the droopy pants and the yo yo speak. And the Black icons (rappers, hip hoppers, and other celebs) who have become millionaires many times over by selling the bling culture to whites and Blacks alike - - even if it meant re-inventing themselves as po Black mo fos, when they actually led middle-class suburban lives themselves. Would have given it five stars, but it was just a bit too long, for one theory and one point. But I really loved it and would recommend it heartily. Or - ups to Cora Dnaiels, as we say in da hood.

I would have read this book in an afternoon had it been better at keeping my attention. It felt like a long magazine article, but without any hard data behind it. I enjoyed the author's personal insights, but I would have liked some "meat" to accompany it. The author tries to walk a fine line: condemning the negative aspects of urban culture while not wishing to alienate herself from those who accept it. The usage of "I'm ghetto" was meant to convey the fact that the ghetto mentality is something that creeps into all of our lives, but its constant repetition seemed simultaneously apologetic and a proud wink to those whom would alienate her otherwise.

I was greatly impressed by the author's character. I would have liked for her to expound when voicing her well-justified condemnation of a culture that, in her words, "celebrates mediocrity." Perhaps a second work will fill that void.

This book is short on information, and long on the author's personal thoughts. It's not hateful, because she doesn't exploit, but it's boring and tiresome to hear her doing little more than flinging out her own jazzy rhetoric instead of providing facts and details about what's really going wrong with black classlesness. Apparently she had a good idea, seeking to report on why and how black inner city culture glorifies staying down, but the message is presented in a look-at-what-I-can-do style that is very disappointing. She's much too much giddy with her own Hoo Ha reflections, such as her chronically annoying "(I'm ghetto)," and "(I'm not ghetto)" closings to every paragraph where she demonstrates a personal preference - and there are far too may of them. If you want to learn all about Cora Daniels' thinking process, Ghettonation is the book for you. If you want to find out, as I did, some basic information on the offputting black underculture, wait for someone else to report it.