Reading Guide for Remnick’s Dr. Wilson

 

Instructions:  Read the questions below first, so that you will know what you are looking for.  Then read the entire article, underlining & marginal-noting as you go and mindful of the questions you will answer.  Then answer the questions below in your own words and without referring to the text as much as possible.

 

Wilson's Answer to "What is to be done?": (page 1) (page 11):

 

A Brief History of Chicago's Decline (pages 3-4):
 

 

 

I           The Man…

 

            Describe WJW’s personal, educational and professional backgrounds.

 

 

 

(Why is the trajectory of WJW’s own career a “dangerous” model for urban policy wonks?)

 

 

 

II         And his Books

 

Describe the context, thesis and WJW’s own assessment of Power, Racism and  Privilege (1973).

 

 

Describe the context, thesis and reception of The Declining Significance of Race (1978).

 

 

Describe the context, thesis and reception of The Truly Disadvantaged (1987).

 

 

 

Describe the context, thesis (work and race), and likely reception of  When Work Disappears (1996).

 

 

 

III        And his Ideas

 

           

 

 

            What would Wilson say to Dr. Hilfiker?

 

            What would Wilson say to Mr. Coates?

 

 

            What would Wilson say to Mr. Liebow?