Ascension

The Sociology of an African American Family's Generational Journey

By Lois Benjamin | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

In this masterful work of family-focused sociology, Lois Benjamin considers the lives of Pennie and Roscoe James and their children, revealing how a large, close-knit African American family with humble origins in a small town of North Carolina is shaped by the contours of its religious and ethical value system. Despite the challenges of daily experiences, the James elders transmitted values to their children that provided them with the resources to thrive and the resilience to meet adversity. The James children recount their personal, unique perspectives on how faith, familial solidarity, and savvy entrepreneurship led to their continued generational success. Benjamin uses a blend of ethnographic and qualitative methods to place the James family’s experiences in broader historical context. In doing so, she shows that the family’s values of compassion, empathy, and communitarian and enterprising spirit offer hope in this polarized society.

Editions of Ascension

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469678665
Paperback
ISBN 9781469678672
EBook
ISBN 9781469678689
EBook
ISBN 9781469678696
EBook
ISBN 9798890887030
PDF
ISBN 9798890887023

Read an Excerpt

In this masterful work of family-focused sociology, Lois Benjamin considers the lives of Pennie and Roscoe James and their children, revealing how a large, close-knit African American family with humble origins in a small town of North Carolina is shaped by the contours of its religious and ethical value system. Despite the challenges of daily experiences, the James elders transmitted values to their children that provided them with the resources to thrive and the resilience to meet adversity. The James children recount their personal, unique perspectives on how faith, familial solidarity, and savvy entrepreneurship led to their continued generational success. Benjamin uses a blend of ethnographic and qualitative methods to place the James family’s experiences in broader historical context. In doing so, she shows that the family’s values of compassion, empathy, and communitarian and enterprising spirit offer hope in this polarized society.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ascension about?

In this masterful work of family-focused sociology, Lois Benjamin considers the lives of Pennie and Roscoe James and their children, revealing how a large, close-knit African American family with humble origins in a small town of North Carolina is shaped by the contours of its religious and ethical value system. Despite the challenges of daily experiences, the James elders transmitted values to their children that provided them with the resources to thrive and the resilience to meet adversity. The James children recount their personal, unique perspectives on how faith, familial solidarity, and savvy entrepreneurship led to their continued generational success. Benjamin uses a blend of ethnographic and qualitative methods to place the James family’s experiences in broader historical context. In doing so, she shows that the family’s values of compassion, empathy, and communitarian and enterprising spirit offer hope in this polarized society.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Ascension?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity

Where can I read a sample of Ascension?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469678665

How long is Ascension and how many pages does it have?

Ascension has 190 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Ascension?

Lois Benjamin

Who is the Publisher of the book Ascension?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Ascension is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469678665) and paperback(ISBN 9781469678672) and ebook(ISBN 9781469678689) and ebook(ISBN 9781469678696) and ebook(ISBN 9798890887030) and pdf(ISBN 9798890887023)

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Where can I buy Ascension?