University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 40
Go Big Read Selects Evicted for 2016-17
By Kari Knutson
Matthew Desmond is an
associate professor of
sociology and social studies
at Harvard University and
an affiliate of the Institute
for Research on Poverty at
the UW.
Photo by Michael Kienitz.
40 | LIBRARIES Fall 2016
It’s the story of eight Milwaukee families
faced with losing their homes. It’s also a
powerful analysis of a little-known epidemic
affecting people across the country living
in poverty. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in
the American City, the best-selling book by
alumnus Matthew Desmond, is the 2016-17
selection for Go Big Read, UW–Madison’s
common-reading program. “This book
provides us an opportunity to talk about a
little-understood facet of poverty and the
profound implications it has for American
families, particularly in communities of
color,” Chancellor Rebecca Blank says.
“I’m proud that an alum has brought this
issue to the forefront and I look forward to
conversations in our community about this
important subject.” Desmond received his
doctorate from UW–Madison in 2010. He is
an associate professor of sociology and social
studies at Harvard University and an affiliate
of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the
UW. In 2015, he received a MacArthur “genius”
grant.
In his book, he writes that in the early
20th century, evictions in the U.S. were
somewhat rare and popularly contested. Now
they have become a frequent occurrence for
low-income families, especially those headed
by black women.
Milwaukee, a city of roughly 105,000 renter
households, sees around 16,000 adults and
children evicted in an average year, according
to Desmond’s research. This is equivalent to
sixteen eviction cases a day.
“Providing stable housing and lowering
evictions is a human capital investment
analogous to education or job training — one
that has the potential to decrease poverty and
homelessness and stabilize families, schools
and neighborhoods,”
Desmond says.
“Evicted is
astonishing — a
masterpiece of writing
and research that fills
a tremendous gap in
our understanding
of poverty,” says previous Go Big Read
author Rebecca Skloot. “Beautiful, harrowing,
and deeply human, Evicted is a must read for
anyone who cares about social justice in this
country.”
Go Big Read has a history of choosing
timely topics that are part of the national
discussion. This past year’s Go Big Read book,
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, highlights
racial inequality and the need to reform
America’s justice system. That success offers
a bridge to a campus dialogue on Desmond’s
central question: “Do we believe that the
right to a decent home is part of what it
means to be American?”
Initially, “immigration and community”
had been chosen as the theme for the 201617 academic year, but Evicted, with its new
insights on strengthening communities and
its relevance within and beyond Wisconsin,
made it a timely selection, Blank says.
Copies of the book were given to first-year
students at the Chancellor’s Convocation for
New Students, and to students using the book
in their classes. UW–Madison instructors
interested in using the book can request a
review copy.
The Go Big Read program is an initiative of
the Office of the Chancellor.
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