Jordan Samuel Allen

Dr. Dewees

Youth and Adolescent Development

12 February 2020

The Review of There Are No Children here

The book There Are No Children here by Alex Kotlowitz is about the author Alex

Kotlowitz following the lives of the River boys Lafayette and Pharoah and how they navigate

through their changing bodies in an environment that is not conducive to an aging boy growing

through different stages in their life. It outlines the relationship between siblings, illustrates their

transition to adulthood in an urban environment. And how their environment is a collectivist

society with individualistic motivations.

The book illustrates the relationship between siblings in an environment that is not

portrayed and or talked about in the American culture often. Through the study of the two

brothers there is a clear indication that there is a caregiver relationship. This is easily displayed

through the overprotective nature that Lafayette displays for his younger brother Pharoah and the

set of triplets. The research of this topic provided in this book was primarily indicated through

the way of Ethnographic research. Alex Kotlowitz spent two years with the River family in close

quarters going through their daily lives. This was a great strategy for identifying a relationship

because there's no other way for getting a true understanding for their relationship. Through the

witnessing Lafayette guarding his brothers from shootouts from rival gangs to making sure

Pharoah always stays by his side. He consistently makes sure that his brother is doing what's

right and staying out of trouble. This information is very important for today's society to see

because so many people overlook children in inner city and think they are all juveniles. But in
actuality there are many children in these cities are trying to get out of these situations that would

either lead them to prison or death. And they're trying to get out of these places but at the same

exact time are also watching over their siblings to make sure they do not fall into any bad habits.

But this does not always allow for these children to truly be kids. And there are other times

where there is laughter and fun and they are not stuck being caregivers. And their is that light at

the end of the tunnel for these children and that's what it displayed for some of the children in

these neighborhoods.

In the inner cities of Chicago the transition to adulthood for these children start at a much

younger age than in most areas of the country. Children as young as the ages of twelve and

eleven years old were joining theses gangs and selling drugs, killing rival gang members and

breaking and entering into different places all to survive in the society they live in. Calvin

Robinson, also known as “Bird Legs” was a fifteen year old boy three years older that Lafayette

was a friend that transitioned into adulthood earlier than other boys in most areas of the country.

At his age he was out on his own stealing and taking care of dogs in an abandoned garage

providing them with food and support that they needed to survive. Once that came to an end he

turned to the Vice Lords, a local gang that claimed his area as their territory. From what was

stated he was not selling drugs or dealing for them he was participating in their activities and

training dogs to fight and rolling with the gang. In the end him being a part of this gang ended up

getting him killed. He was murdered in broad daylight shot through the center of his chest. This

child was taken from this earth too soon. And it all stemmed from the hyper masculine society he

grew up in and how the boys in this area are expected to be tough and fight to survive. And as a

result they “transition” into what they think is adulthood at an early age. One could propose the

idea of Lafayette being one to grow up earlier than he needed too. Being a part of a family of
seven he refused to grow up like his older brothers and cross paths with the law and drop out of

school. In the end he did run into issues with the law and he was not too well in school and he

was abusing some recreational drugs but what is different for him is that he kept fighting and

continued through school and made sure that he was trying his best to be successful and not go

down those roads again. The media depicts a lot of stories where children in inner city areas are

in difficult situations where they have to fight and press through all of the outside obstacles in

their societies and it is all sunshine and rainbows. When in actuality these children make

mistakes just like everyone else it is how they develop as human beings. They have lost friends

their age have watched people come and go but still will come out on top. But then there are

cases like Bird Leg where they do not get so lucky and end up passing away because they did not

have any other option and they resorted to gangs for help in order to survive.

One thing that was intriguing was the fact that this area of Chicago was a collectivist

society but was individualistically motivated. Meaning each person thought about how each of

their actions as a whole community or family but was always making sure in some way shape of

form that it benefited them. For example the different gangs in Chicago did things to help benefit

the community and to attempt to help make it a better place but in actuality was attempting to

make themselves more favorable to the community to where they are not seen as a major threat

and the police do not watch them as closely. For example the El Rukns’ gang in Chicago, a part

of the Nation faction, brought in money to help aid federal agencies in order to provide job

training programs for younger adolescents and adults in the community. As well as during the

Martin Luther King Jr. riots providing local businesses with protection from vandals. This

display is one of the most important pieces of information read. All over the media gangs are

depicted as violent and ferocious groups that just sell drugs and fight over territory. But in
actuality they fight to help their community but then they also do wrong. It does not make them

right but it also does not make them wrong. They are groups of men and boys trying to find their

place in this world and sometimes it does not always turn out correct but other times they just

want to support their community. The Vice Lords, a notorious gang was also seen having a

neighborhood barbecue in the local park for all of those that lived nearby.

In conclusion personally the book had very valuable information and illustrated many

different perspectives in many troublesome situations. The only flaw found in this ethnographic

study is that the conclusions drawn cannot be generalized because its personalized to the people

in contact. And also the information is not current so it would be very intriguing to see what the

outcome of an ethnographic study in this same environment would be like today.