Between Good And Ghetto Analysis

Shedding light on the dangers faced by young African-American girls in the inner city, Nikki Jones writes to a general audience in with her book Between Good and Ghetto. I believe her purpose is to enlighten society on the realities of young African-American women in the inner city. Today, society has marginalized the young African American inner city woman because of her race, her lifestyle, class, and education; without trying to understand why she is the way she is. Not only does society neglect the opportunity to understand the life of the black inner –city girl, society doesn’t seek solutions. Instead of programs to support them, they’d rather isolate them to alternative schools, detention centers, jails or to kill each other off. Jones …show more content…
They create a truculent person within themselves due to the circumstances they’re subject to. Fighters aim to build their reputation and establish identity to ensure their place in society; insuring freedom of movement within their community. Unlike “good girls”, moving freely means being able to walk the block, roam around school with confidence, and even occupy what is perceived as “male dominated” areas. Ghetto girls also completely defy the hegemonic “white” femininity expectations, and more so emulate the cultural media that is put out there. The very media glamorizes the “tough, independent black woman” who “holds her man down” by being ready to hold his drugs, fight for him, and in extreme cases; do jail time for him. This gives new definition to Black femininity. As you can see, in discussing “good girls”, it brought the element of appearance to our attention but discussing “ghetto girls”, it brings in the element of capability. Being able to fight becomes a key characteristic of Black femininity, and a ghetto girl will take pride in that because in order to be a “tough, independent black woman” and a “ride or die bitch” she must know how to fight and protect