Constructing Belonging

Looking at the communities of Central and West Harlem in New York City, this study explores the locus, form and significance of socioeconomic differentiation for African American professional-managerial workers. It begins by considering centuries of New York City history and the structural elements of class inequality to present readers with the larger context of contemporary events. The primary objective of this study is to examine the everyday lives of black professionals in Harlem and determine what bearing income-generating activities have on ideology, consumption patterns and lifestyle, among other factors.

1. Race and Class in Manhattan and Harlem History 2. Locating Class and Race in Anthropology and History 3. Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Artists: Harlem's African American Professional-Managerial Workers 4. Work and its Impact on Income and Housing 5. Lifestyle, Consumption and Ideology 6. Negotiating Socioeconomics Boundaries in Kin Networks 7. Negotiating Socioeconomic Boundaries in Community Life 8. Conclusion: Race, Class, History and Identity