Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2014 Mind Playing Tricks: Individualism, Upward Mobility, and the Commitment to Self- Determination Among the Urban Poor Will Bryerton Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Bryerton, Will, "Mind Playing Tricks: Individualism, Upward Mobility, and the Commitment to Self-Determination Among the Urban Poor" (2014). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 204. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/204 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. MIND PLAYING TRICKS: INDIVIDUALISM, UPWARD MOBILITY, AND THE COMMITMENT TO SELF- DETERMINATION AMONG THE URBAN POOR A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Sociology by Will Bryerton A.A., William Rainey Harper College, 2006 B.A., Concordia University Chicago, 2008 M.A., Louisiana State University, 2013 May 2015 Acknowledgements I was the lone researcher and author in this project; I did it in absentia from my university and independent of any ongoing or established research program from my graduate committee – all of which means that I have a lot of people to thank, go figure. Getting to know new people, experiencing the cultural flavor of different communities, and going to restaurants, concerts, block parties, and other functions are indeed socially stimulating and one of the perks of this kind of project, but I also found many aspects of this research alienating and emotionally vapid (particularly during analysis, writing, and revision). The people acknowledged here are those that helped me out - both in substance and in spirit, in the process and in the product - by making this dissertation more manageable, more personally gratifying, more logically consistent, and more rewarding of all of the participants’ time, honesty, and trust. First off, to my parents: You don’t know much about sociology, graduate school, or academic careers but you know me, which has meant so much. Thank you, Bill and Jayne Bryerton (the greatest woman in the history of the world!!!), for always seeming to know what I need, whether it is to talk, to be left alone, encouragement, consolation, money, humor – anything, really. I’ve been away for the past few years and yet I find myself relying on you two in new ways. I love you both. …My brother too: Brad Bryerton, thanks my man! To Margaree Cookbey, I don’t think people really understand how important you are – to me, to this, to the work that I do, to the way I see the world, and to the way that I live and the way that I try to live. I could (and probably should) go on-and-on about you but for the purpose of these acknowledgements, I’ll just say that you made these issues about poverty and culture and aspiration and humanity a personal matter to me. I have known no greater honor and blessing in ii all my life than to call you my friend. To Lorine Guilford and Iseano McDonald, thanks for all that you’ve done. To my dissertation committee, Rick Weil, Sarah Becker, Troy Blanchard, and David Chicoine: David, you were much more than a perfunctory presence mandated by the Dean; your input, encouragement, and willingness to accommodate each of our schedules were important assets throughout this process. Troy, thanks for believing in me and seeing promise in my work, and for your advice on navigating through the dissertation and the job market. Sarah, thank you for your devotion to doing what a committee member is supposed to do. You read drafts multiple times, gave the feedback that I needed to receive, directed me to helpful literature, and were so dependable, prompt, and clear in all of the tasks that go into advisorship – all with no real reciprocation on my end. Thank you, as well, for going to lunches with me, introducing me to your family, and including me in your research program with the garden on Eddie Robinson Dr.; it was always a pleasure! Rick, thank you for, well, everything. I could never say that I felt constrained, nor could I ever say that I was unsupported. Looking back, I cannot recall a meeting or conversation with you in which I did not leave feeling better about my circumstances than I did beforehand. It has messed with my head at times, because I wish I could have the same pride and confidence in my work that you do - it has truly been invaluable to me though. Your ability to absorb and be open to new ideas – and to engage what many would just characterize as “urban,” “ghetto,” or “street” topics – while identifying their association to broader historical, political, or philosophical currents has been so impressive for me to witness. I’m additionally grateful for your taking me out for lunch and dinner, bringing me to all kinds of events in New Orleans, recommendation of great books, compliance with all the rigmarole from my applications and petitions, taking my anxiety-induced phone calls, and, perhaps most of all, iii your understanding. I’ve never known anyone like you …and of course I mean that in the most praising and admiring way. Aside from my committee, LSU as a whole deserves thanks as do several people within the institution. I am grateful to have been chosen for a dissertation year fellowship; it allowed me to stop working a “9-to-5,” focus my attention on writing, and finish the dissertation in a timely fashion. To everyone at the Graduate School, Registrar, Bursar’s Office, and Institutional Review Board, I know you don’t have the best reputation but you always worked with me to get me the information – and usually the outcomes – that I needed. To Yoshinori Kamo, the Graduate Director throughout my entire graduate school tenure: I imagine I was a real pain-in- the-you-know-what at times. My unconventional route through graduate school required countless appeals to you – to clarify policies and procedures, to strategize applications / petitions, and to help me out with registration issues (thanks to Mary Kinney and Stephanie Partin for this as well). You stood by me and, most importantly, stood up for me. A lot of things that could have easily turned into a mess actually unfolded quite smoothly; I attribute this to you. I also acknowledge the contributions of Roberta St. Pierre, Tim Slack, Dana Berkowitz, and Bill Bankston – if not for your direct consultation throughout the dissertation, then for assisting me or giving me good advice throughout graduate school. To my cohort members, fellow students, and friends in LSU’s sociology department: I won’t say that I couldn’t have done this without you (because I pretty much did do this without you) but it would have been much less memorable and enjoyable if you all weren’t by my side for those first three years. To Joe Cleary, my friendship with you will be one of the best things I’ll take away from this time in my life; let’s keep it going – balls to the wall (ha!). Tifanie Pulley, I relied on you quite a bit in the early stages of our graduate program and you never let iv me down. Our conversations, dinners, outings, and whatever we would end up doing were always a highlight – really proud of you! Michael Cope, Landon Douglas, Crystal Paul, Ya- Feng Lin, Mandy Cowley, Chandra Joseph, Bindu Samkutty, David Maddox, Dari Green, Matt LeBlanc, Danielle Thomas, and Nile Patterson – thanks for camaraderie, a helping hand, good times, and good memories! I’ve benefitted from many great teachers – going all the way back to Mrs. Larson at Immanuel Lutheran Kindergarten – that I would be remiss not to acknowledge. H. Robert Hayes, Mary Ellen Konieczny, William Pierros, Greg Herriges, Eric Maass, Tom DePalma, David Richmond, Frank Brooks, Chris Quick, Lynda Appino, and Vinh Le – not only did all of you leave highly favorable impressions on me and show me that I could have some kind of future in education and academics, but as I see myself transitioning from a student to an educator I’m often able identify certain habits, tendencies, or techniques and say “I must have picked that up from so-and-so.” …It’s weird, and yet a pretty cool affirmation of your influence and effectiveness. Everyone at the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation and all those in affiliation, of whom there are just too many to list comprehensively: Kathy Payton (you set a lot of things in motion for me and I won’t forget that), Rosalind Walton (one of the kindest spirits I’ve ever known – thanks for all the help), Krystal Hasselmeier (my friend), Van Nguyen (you’re so sweet), Erin Jones (enjoyed working with you and thanks for the help), Omar Randle (thanks for looking out for me – you’re a genuine dude), Harvey Clemons, Joel Goza, Eleanor Jones, Justin Thomas, Ora McGrew, Tramisha McGrew, the Mission Year team, and Tony Morris. I can’t imagine this project would have gone very far without the valuable referrals, insight, and support from the following people I met in and around the Fifth Ward. To Alesia v Shealey, how exactly you know everyone in Houston (and so many in NY and DC too) and roll with the heavy-hitters while still finding time for me is both mystifying and downright awesome.