Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America

This was an amazingly informative and well written book about boys and boy culture. It also gave me perspective into life in the inner city; perhaps as foriegn to me as walking on the moon. We all live in the same world and yet live worlds apart, this book helped build a bridge for me into another world and towards understanding.

Walking in the other persons shoes teaches us so much. If we have ever wondered why the cycle of violence in our most impoverished and decaying neighborhoods affects us all, and how these conditions evolved, then read the books of Geoffrey Canada. He lived this experience and of all the poignant descriptions, this book, teaches us all the elements that come into play as youth are challenged to protect their very survival minute by minute in our harshest neighborhoods across this nation. Geoffrey, a gifted educator provides both forms of information: an incisive analysis of the inherent problems and their causes, as well as the devastating effects even more elevated and critical that face young males who, through no fault of their own, are born into these circumstances. Geoffrey also provides perspectives on solutions to this issues, ones he is successfully carrying out in his Harlem Children's Zone program now expanded to serve 97 blocks in Harlem and creating a safe zone where children and families CAN succeed and have now succeeded due to Geoffrey's firm guidance and the tightly woven network of services and schooling his program offers. Until I read Geoffrey's books, I thought I had a clear idea of the dynamics of the poverty syndrome, the effects on community and individuals and the deep and hopeless anguish and fear this generates. Geoffrey sheds more light on these dynamics. but also indicates how to move to eradicate a huge percentage of the downward pull holding so many innocent people in its vice-grip. If you are concerned for the future of young men in the USA, and this also goes for all young men, not just the most unfortunate, read Reaching Up for Manhood. You will be touched, you will be informed and taken to the inside of the traumatic environment faced by so many of our kids, which helps one to walk in their shoes, but also to listen closely to the ideas of the author, ideas of how to pull hope out of hardship, to avoid many societal pitfalls with youth, and to provide new systems that work FOR and not AGAINST getting these positive results. Please read Canada's books, please also read: Whatever it Takes, which profiles Canada, his trajectory as he develops into the visionary and establisher of the most remarkable educational community program I've always wondered how we could provide--- and Geoffrey has not only visualized it, but is ACHIEVING IT in Harlem.

In Reaching Up for Manhood, Canada effectively mixes personal history and policy analysis to describe a very serious problem facing a large segment of the U.S. population. He describes the trends, performing the difficult task of describing the difficulties without blaming the victims. While the victims are not blamed, neither are they left off the hook. The description of the young men who thought serving food at their community center was beneath them, and the consequences that followed, was particularly powerful. Canada is almost certainly correct that work and school must become a more expected part of life for the young men (and women) at risk. I'm concerned how this will be accomplished, however, with the manufacturing and similar work becoming more and more scarce as producers move overseas for cheaper labor and similar "benefits." While it is no means a solution, somewhere I would suggest for job training is within the field of developmental disabilities. There are many entry level jobs, and there is a career path. Every new avenue helps. Canada is also correct in calling for more responsible media conduct. I think it would be nice if the misogynistic thug-like actions of performers and athletes were not held up as "cool," but were instead treated as despicable by the media.

Reaching Up for Manhood is an excellent guide for the layperson as to the psychology behind the "cult of macho," by which so many youth are raised. Just as the author, Geoffrey Canada, points out, that today's fashions, be it sneakers or designer clothing, often originate in the inner city, so, too, has the inner city become a trend-setter in attitudes, which eventually pervade our entire culture. Consequently, this book is also important for those who are either parents of, or work with, middle class youth. Although the book is about boys, it is important reading for those concerned with girls to better understand the interaction between the sexes. The weakness of Canada's book is that it is too concerned with life in the "street" during his own adolescence, some 25 years ago. It would have been preferable to eliminate some of his own reminiscing and include more current anecdotes. On the other hand, Canada's style renders the book very intimate, as well as easily and quickly readable

The author has amazing insights which, after reading or hearing, one says, "I should have known that before. It makes such good sense." I believe this is the kind of book that has the ability and sense to change and save lives. Terry Gross featured the author on her NPR program, Fresh Air, recently