Harlem Supers

Terry Williams is Fellow at Yale University, USA, and Professor at the New School for Social Research, USA.

"Terry Williams's book is much more than a great ethnography of supers. It presents a long duree participant-observation theoretical critique of the tragedy of the neoliberal gentrification of Harlem and between the lines delivers a very personal coming of age autobiography; from working as a super's apprentice, a bonafide super and eventually as an insider landlord/speculator without ever abandoning his roots or his solidarity with his everyday neighbors. He offers a unique voice as an inner-city survivor."- Philippe Bourgois, author of In Search of Respect: Selling Crack and El Barrio and Righteous Dopefiend "I enjoyed Harlem Supers and the depth you have gone to show that supers are not just the guy in the basement doing the garbage and the cleaning the building, but in fact the super is responsible for the residents health, safety, security and comfort and their overall quality of life in the building. We all very much appreciate [Williams] for writing this book."- Peter Grech, Director of Education of the Superintendents Technical Association

• 1. Introduction2. Making A Living3. A Day In The Life: Sharif and Allan4. Doing What Supers Do: Daily Duties5. The Super and Informal Encounters6. The Super and the Community7. The Super and the Building8. Race, Class and Poverty 9. Working in the Field