"We Live in the Shadow": Inner-City Kids Tell Their Stories through Photographs

The inner-city world of at-risk teens through their powerful photos and stories 

"Kaplan gives a group of preteens from South Central L.A. the chance to document their lives in this moving work. After telling them to 'take pictures of anything you want to show me about your experiences,' Kaplan uses the results to assemble a well-researched narrative examining how the subjects 'experience and react to the social problems associated with South Central,' their reflections on living there, and how they deal with daily challenges, including gang violence and drug warfare... [Kaplan] interweaves her subjects' stories and pieces from their photo essays with her research, reflections, and observations, confronting issues of class, race, and identity. Even casual anecdotes point to larger problems - teachers who don't care and schools that don't work."--Publishers Weekly , April 2013 "Sociologist Kaplan uses a photovoice methodology to tell the experiences of at-risk youth in South Central Los Angeles in this thought-provoking narrative of youth voices combined with research. The black-and-white photos tell the story of courage, resilience, and hope amid poverty, crime, community violence, and social disorganization. The author incorporates her research about South Central into the narrative and offers readers an understanding of South Central's history and its impact on the lives of its youth. The photos and writings of the youth and Kaplan confront race, class, and identity. This visionary photovoice approach is a must-read for youth counselors and other professionals looking to engage youth in society and decrease the likelihood of delinquent behaviors. Summing Up: Highly recommended." - Choice "Adopting a photovoice methodology, Elaine Bell Kaplan provides an engaging account documenting why a group of disadvantaged Latino and Black kids want to succeed academically, and transcend their 'ghetto' backgrounds...The main strength of the book is that it offers many insights into how socially excluded youth are keenly aware of the structures that govern their lives... [A] rich and insightful piece of work." - Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books

 Elaine Bell Kaplan is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Southern California and author of Not Our Kind of Girl: Unraveling the Myths of Black Teenage Motherhood.