Ghettonation: A Journey Into the Land of Bling and Home of the Shameless

In this cheeky, heartfelt and hip exploration of all things ""ghetto,"" author and journalist Daniels (Black Power, Inc.) begins by mocking Paris Hilton's use of the term on reality TV and works her way into an empathetic, insightful consideration of what Americans mean-and what they should mean-when they call something ""ghetto."" She approaches the topic through interviews with people from all walks of life: ""knuckleheads"" on her corner in Brooklyn, friends and coworkers, academics, high-school students and anyone else willing to converse on this complex, potentially troublesome subject. The result is not an academic analysis; rather, nostalgia, outrage, humor and bewilderment stand front and center, along with personal investment (beginning in earnest with her prologue, ""I am Ghetto""). The result is a work quite different from that of other race writers such as Cornell West or Michael Eric Dyson; Daniels' casual, extemporaneous tone keeps this sophisticated work accessible to a wide audience who might not be willing to engage a more academic offering. Despite Daniels's sometimes flip approach (playful ""That's So Ghetto"" lists end each chapter), those looking for more substantial analysis will not be disappointed, especially in her later chapters.