Ain’t No Makin’ It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood (Third Edition) is a critical sociological exploration by Jay MacLeod, first published in 1987. MacLeod, who began his research as a graduate student, surveys the dynamics of social structures through his intensive ethnographic study of two distinct groups—the predominantly white Hallway Hangers and the mostly Black Brothers—in the Clarendon Heights public housing project in an unnamed city in the northeastern United States. This seminal work, situated within the genre of sociological case studies, critically examines themes such as The Limitations of Social Class, The Role of Race and Ethnicity in Shaping Opportunities, The Critique of Meritocracy in American Society, and The Role of Education in Social Mobility.

This guide references the 2018 Routledge Kindle e-book edition. This third edition provides updated commentary and follows up on the individuals’ lives, enriching the original findings with longitudinal insights.

Content Warning: The source material discusses poverty, racial discrimination, substance abuse, and systemic inequality. It also contains strong language, sexual content, and racial epithets, reflecting the unfiltered perspectives of the subjects studied.

Summary

MacLeod begins the book by questioning the idealistic American Dream. To support his idea that the American Dream is unattainable for some, MacLeod introduces the harsh realities of Clarendon Heights, an urban public housing project in the northeastern United States. Through the story of Freddie Piniella, a young resident skeptical of upward mobility, MacLeod sets the stage for a discussion on the pervasive inequality entrenched within American society.

In his exploration of Clarendon Heights, MacLeod first investigates the role of educational institutions in perpetuating social class distinctions by critiquing the notion of schools as equalizers, arguing that they often reinforce existing social structures, a concept supported by theorists like Samuel Bowles, Herbert Gintis, and Pierre Bourdieu. The author then shifts the focus to the contrasting lifestyles and attitudes of the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers. The former group, mostly white, embodies defiance and disillusionment, while the latter, predominantly Black, maintains hope and strives for educational and societal success.

MacLeod explores how family backgrounds influence the aspirations and futures of these young men, providing a comparative look at the two groups and highlighting how family stability, or the lack thereof, shapes their views on work, education, and their own potential for success. The author then contrasts the occupational aspirations and expectations of the two groups, with the Hallway Hangers resigned to low-wage jobs and the Brothers aiming higher, reflecting differing levels of optimism and resignation shaped by their social environments.

MacLeod then examines how Lincoln High School serves as a battleground where future socioeconomic statuses are, in part, predetermined. The educational tracking system further entrenches class divisions, affecting students’ self-perception and future opportunities. He argues that the educational system and societal expectations regulate aspirations, leading to a cycle where the poor remain poor, a process hidden behind the facade of meritocracy. The author revisits and critiques established theories of social reproduction, incorporating a more nuanced view that considers individual agency and the variability of outcomes even within similar socioeconomic backgrounds.

MacLeod returns to the Hallway Hangers eight years later. They are now adults grappling with the realities of economic changes, continued poverty, and social marginalization. Their stories underscore the persistent challenges of escaping the cycles of poverty. The author then follows the Brothers at this same time as they confront the limitations of their aspirations amid structural economic changes that curtail their hopes for middle-class stability, despite their efforts through education and work.

The narrative then revisits Clarendon Heights many years later for one final time. This chapter, co-authored by Katherine McClelland and David Karen due to Jay MacLeod’s commitments as a parish priest, probes the adult lives of the Brothers and the Hallway Hangers as they navigate the complexities of adulthood, parenthood, and economic realities.

The Afterword features a reflective update on Freddie Piniella, whose initial skepticism about education and upward mobility provides a fitting conclusion to the themes explored throughout the book. Despite his personal achievements, Freddie’s ongoing struggles highlight the continuous effort required to maintain and build upon gains made from escaping poverty.