47 pages • 1-hour read
Renegade Dreams: Living Through Injury in Gangland Chicago
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Essay Topics
What is the significance of the book’s title, Renegade Dreams? How do dreams figure in Laurence Ralph’s analysis of Eastwood’s internal dynamics?
What narrative devices does Ralph use when conveying subjective elements of his subjects’ stories?
Compare this text to media coverage of Divine Knights’ activities. How do they represent the gang differently?
What do gym shoes signify in the text? Are they effectively used as a symbol? Explain your answer.
How does Ralph use popular culture, including figures like former President Barack Obama and rap artist Jay Z, in the text?
How does Darryl “Blizzard” Tremont’s story exemplify the struggle of Eastwood’s young men?
What role does faith play in the text? How does Ralph portray church representatives, such as Pastor Tim?
How does Ralph connect Derrion Albert’s death to the systematic problems of neighborhoods such as Eastwood?
The Divine Knights Gang exhibit at the museum features material that has been archived for decades. How does Ralph explore different kinds of evidence in the text, such as written word, testimony, images, and film?
How does Ralph counter the idea of isolation? How does Renegade Dreams open up the discussion about Eastwood’s status in Chicago, Illinois, and the US?
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