Off the Books

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Questions and Answers

What role did Marlene Matteson play in the neighborhood?

Head of the local school

President of the 1700 1 2 Off the Books South Maryland Avenue Block Club (correct)

Leader of the Maquis Park Kings gang

Owner of a local grocery store

How did Marlene feel about the death of Johnnie 'Big Cat' Williams?

Indifferent and uncaring

Happy and carefree

Grieving and sorrowful

Relieved but apprehensive about the future (correct)

What similarity did Marlene note between the deaths of her husband and Big Cat?

Both were killed during daytime without any witnesses

Both were killed in different neighborhoods

Both were involved in illegal activities

Both were slain late at night in the presence of their bodyguards (correct)

Which term is NOT used by social scientists to describe unreported earnings according to the text?

Official Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized as the challenge in documenting the underground economy according to the text?

Difficulty in determining the exact activities involved Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes licit activities that are illegal from criminal activities?

The level of government regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated annual tax revenue loss for the federal government due to underground economic activity?

$83-$93 billion Signup and view all the answers

According to some reports, what percentage of the labor force was working in the underground economy in 1983?

25% Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary concern for politicians and law enforcement regarding the underground economy?

The social impact on individuals and neighborhoods Signup and view all the answers

What role does Big Cat play in the underground economy of Maquis Park?

Operating as a trader and broker Signup and view all the answers

How do some businesses in Maquis Park supplement their legitimate earnings?

Renting out space to underground traders Signup and view all the answers

Why do loan sharks become a necessary evil in the community of Maquis Park?

Acting as a lender or creditor with access to cash Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of Big Cat's death on the Southside black community?

Increased violence and uncertainty due to internecine battles among local gangs Signup and view all the answers

Why were the community leaders reluctant to discuss the financial implications of Big Cat's death openly?

Because they were involved in the outlaw economy and benefited materially from Big Cat's presence Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of the shadow economy in Maquis Park?

It was complex, interconnected, and essential for survival, involving off-the-books exchanges ranging from day care to pimping and prostitution Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant risk faced by self-employed prostitutes compared to those working for pimps?

Higher risk of physical assault by johns Signup and view all the answers

Why do some self-employed women turn to prostitution, according to the text?

To support their drug addiction Signup and view all the answers

What impact does having a pimp have on the work of sex workers?

More regular work and higher income Signup and view all the answers

What is a common additional revenue stream for women working in Maquis Park?

Selling handmade crafts Signup and view all the answers

What do women in their late thirties and forties prefer to do in terms of work and family care?

Work from home and take care of their families Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes licit activities that are illegal from criminal activities for women in Maquis Park?

Providing counseling services Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of women in poor households, according to the text?

To manage public welfare and hide male income earners Signup and view all the answers

How do small amounts of money, such as $20, impact poor families, according to the text?

They lead to various purchases and experiences for a poor family Signup and view all the answers

What shapes men's participation in domestic affairs in poor households, according to the text?

Structural factors, including public subsidies and their own refusal to contribute to domestic labor Signup and view all the answers

What does the text caution against when classifying individuals as 'decent' or 'street'?

Reliance on expressed moral or political views Signup and view all the answers

What pragmatic concerns do the women in the community face, in addition to their dreams of a better future?

Making rent payments and putting food on the table Signup and view all the answers

How do the women in the community view their lives in relation to poverty and constraint?

They view their lives as opportunities for social mobility Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the work activities of Marlene and Eunice?

Performing informal jobs at schools and establishing monopolies over opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern for women engaging in illicit income-generating activities, according to the text?

Facing personal danger and the risk of physical abuse Signup and view all the answers

According to Elijah Anderson, what distinguishes the two distinct groups inhabiting today's inner cities?

Adhering to mainstream values and ethical codes of conduct Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the underground economy in the households discussed in the text?

It provides a material foundation for the development of a moral framework. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges do the women in the community face, in addition to their desires for a better future?

Balancing a just life with financial needs Signup and view all the answers

What role does the underground economy play in shaping social relationships in the households described in the text?

It fosters practical relationships among diverse groups of people. Signup and view all the answers

What did Marlene Matteson observe regarding Big Cat's transformation in Maquis Park?

Rise in gang presence and various criminal activities Signup and view all the answers

What was Marlene's primary concern when considering involving the police in making the park safe for children?

Maintaining her capacity for timely response to domestic violence incidents Signup and view all the answers

Why was Marlene unsure about the loyalty of other community leaders and social service agents?

Because of potential under-the-table relationships with the gang Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary source of family stability for residents on Marlene's street?

Homans Park Signup and view all the answers

What did Big Cat do to infringe on the space used by residents of Homans Park?

Recruiting merchants to ply their trade in exchange for a street tax Signup and view all the answers

What does the struggle between the gang and residents over Homans Park highlight?

The importance of underground jobs for households and communities Signup and view all the answers

What makes Homans Park an attractive spot for gang activity?

The park's close proximity to busier streets attracts customers for drug sales Signup and view all the answers

What led to new annoyances for local families after 1999?

Increased gang presence and new forms of criminal activity Signup and view all the answers

What have residents negotiated with gang leaders for regarding Homans Park?

Drug selling limitations and reduced police presence Signup and view all the answers

What was Big Cat's response to losing money due to the declining crack cocaine trade?

He diversified his business ventures by extorting various illegal businesses and persons Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of Big Cat's Homans Park initiative?

To increase gang revenues and establish himself as a more prominent figure in Maquis Park Signup and view all the answers

How did the residents of Maquis Park view the gang's activities when it began to change?

As a part of the neighborhood fabric, creating challenges for the residents Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Marlene Matteson and other residents of Chicago's historic Southside black community gathered at Maquis Park Prayer and Revival Center to discuss the impact of Big Cat's death on their neighborhood.
Big Cat was a local gang leader who brought violence and instability to the area, but also provided support to the community through donations and protection.
With Big Cat gone, there would be internecine battles among local gangs to fill the power vacuum, leading to increased violence and uncertainty.
The community leaders in attendance, including a pastor, hair salon owner, handyman, and social service center director, all relied on Big Cat's gang for financial gain, political power, or to carry out their own work effectively.
Big Cat provided Marlene's block club with funds for kids' parties, gave James Arleander a near monopoly on local off-the-books car repair, and let Ola turn her salon into a thriving nightclub.
The shadow economy in Maquis Park was complex and interconnected, with various actors relying on each other to survive. Off-the-books exchanges ranged from day care and domestic work to pimping and prostitution.
The community leaders were aware of the chaos that would follow Big Cat's death, but were reluctant to discuss the financial implications openly due to their own involvement in the outlaw economy.
Everyone in the room, including Dr. J. T. Watkins and Pastor Jeremiah Wilkins, had benefited materially from Big Cat's presence and would need to find new sources of philanthropy now that his donations had ceased.
The demands of the ghetto required an economy that was vastly different from the mainstream economy, with various actors relying on each other to keep the streets tolerable and the goods and services flowing.
The shadow economy in Maquis Park was dangerous but essential for survival, bringing together an assortment of actors who may otherwise have had little reason or interest in exchanging or communicating with one another.
Eunice's block has two women, Marlene and Eunice, who work in schools and earn under-the-table income performing odd jobs, such as food preparation, cleaning, and running errands, averaging $50 per week for 10-15 hours of work.
They have worked in their respective schools for three years, increasing their work from five days per month to fifteen days on average.
They also do additional jobs like washing cars for school employees, and selling soul food lunches.
Marlene and Eunice have established monopolies over such opportunities at their respective schools, preventing others from getting hired without consulting them.
Oceana, a thirty-three-year-old mother of six, earns less than $200 per month through various informal jobs, such as garbage collection, selling drugs, and baking cakes.
Women who engage in illicit income-generating activities can face different levels of personal danger. While women selling drugs or engaging in stolen car rackets face more jail time and physical abuse, women who hide their income from the government may still have recourse to the law.
The personal dangers experienced by women in the illicit sectors can affect their own outlooks, perceptions of security, and relationship to their families.
The lines between different kinds of underground economic activity can blur for poor families, as they struggle to keep their household income from various sources separate.
The residents of Maquis Park have varying opinions on the illegality of certain behaviors, such as narcotics use, gun possession, and prostitution.
Elijah Anderson believes that today's inner cities are inhabited by two distinct groups, those who attend church, participate in social institutions like schools and labor markets, and accept the laws and ethical codes of conduct of mainstream society, and those who do not.
The first group is oriented toward "decent" values, while the second group is less concerned with adhering to mainstream values and norms.
The text emphasizes the importance of understanding the decision making of residents of inner cities in the context of their overall strategies for managing their households and keeping their communities habitable.
Big Cat, a local gang leader in Maquis Park, was losing money due to the declining crack cocaine trade by the late 1990s.
In response, he "diversified" his business ventures by extorting various illegal businesses and persons, including sex workers, pimps, gypsy cab drivers, homeless individuals, and gun traders.
Big Cat transformed Homans Park into an underground economic bazaar, providing a relatively secure space for underground entrepreneurs to conduct their businesses and warding off competitors in exchange for protection fees.
He aimed to replicate this economic regulation model in other local public areas to increase gang revenues and establish himself as a more prominent figure in Maquis Park.
Big Cat's need to work with residents and local organizations was pressing due to his ambitions to rise to a more influential position in the community and his reliance on residents' tolerance and purchasing power.
Bird, a resident on the 1700 block of South Maryland Avenue, recalled Big Cat's attempts to extort profits from local card players and gun traders in Homans Park.
Big Cat's Homans Park initiative was about more than just increasing gang revenues; it was the start of his personal upward-mobility path and a way to help people make money and feed their families while controlling the area.
Marlene, another longtime resident, viewed the gang less as an enemy and more as a part of the neighborhood fabric, which created challenges for residents when the organization's activities began to change.
The residents of Maquis Park were familiar with an entrepreneurial street gang centered around a lucrative crack cocaine operation, but Big Cat's new business ventures came as a surprise and required new forms of negotiation and interaction.

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Test your knowledge of underground economy traders, brokers, and hawkers through this quiz. Explore the world of local stakeholders and economic disputes resolution.