Socially Distant Book Club
Evicted by Matthew Desmond.
Matthew Desmond's Evicted is a stark and unflinching portrait of poverty in America. It draws on firsthand accounts of real events Desmond either witnessed or heard about while conducting field research for the book.
While pursuing his Ph.D., Desmond follows the stories of various tenants at the College Mobile Home Park.
Almost all the subjects of the book are poor, urban black individuals, many of whom have either criminal or substance abuse histories.
Desmond explores the exploitative role of landlords, details the oftentimes complex circumstances of renters, and highlights the consequences of eviction on people’s future housing prospects.
