Jennifer M. Silva

nonfiction; oral histories from a PA coal-belt town, circa 2016 combined with a (very) brief background in socioeconomic history. 108 people were interviewed over many months), but maybe 40 of those are included in this book. Topics covered: public assistance (housing, food stamps), opiate epidemic and related drug dealing, drug addiction and treatment, reasons to vote/not bother voting (let's just say that nobody here is a fan of Hillary's regardless of party offiliation), reasons they moved to PA (cheap housing, less dangerous crime than the big cities), racism witnessed and experienced in town.

The author focuses on the class politics (and to some extent, racial politics) in this particular microcosm of society, providing a severe contrast to the America that has been featured daily on the news. I think the part that discusses the "crack epidemic" (p.34) should probably at least hint at the wider controversy behind the whole "drug war;" considering how racially charged the consequences have been (see [b:The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|6792458|The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness|Michelle Alexander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328751532l/6792458._SX50_.jpg|6996712]), but again, the author is just focused on the lives of these people in their relatively isolated community. So maybe not the most comprehensive text in terms of socioeconomic history, but I am finding the oral histories to be enlightening--since we so rarely get to hear these perspectives though plenty of "experts" offer their own speculative views.

At one point she attributes a long quote to two different men (with different aliases - everyone's identity is protected in this book):
1. Malcolm, a Black man who voted for Obama in 2012 and whose family consists of registered Democrats:
" 'I respect any veteran that put their time in the service. Me personally, I can't do it cuz I don't even know what the hell we fighting for. So I'm not going to be able to kill people that I have no problem with.' He muses, 'I feel like they brainwashed them [the soldiers] to believe that they [the enemies] are the bad guys.' " (p. 102)

2. Jeffrey, a Black man who voted for Trump in 2016:
" 'I respect anybody that's... any veteran that put their time in the service. Me personally, I can't do it cuz I don't even know what the hell we fighting for. So I'm not going to go to be able to kill people that I have no problem with. I don't have no problem for these guys. But I feel like they brainwashed them to believe that they are the bad guys.' " (p. 111)

Clearly, the organization and presentation of data is sloppy in this instance, and not enough information is provided to be able to trust her analysis of each participant's behaviors and backgrounds, but the words and stories and ideas of each participant is still of interest.… (mais)