My granddaughter, who is of mixed race, and her white middle-class friends in middle school, use the word 'ghetto' as an adjective to describe things they thing of as tasteless, tacky, kitschy, or over-the-top in a negative way. They also use the word to describe behaviors that they see in the same way, both about 'others' but also particularly about social errors committed by their friends, or errors of taste or style. Yes, the term is pejorative, but also used with equal parts humor and derision. They make no apparent connection to race, ethnicity or income in doing this.

Sent by Juliet McLaren | 3:25 PM ET | 03-29-2007

I feel that Mrs. Daniels is mistaken in that she seems to believe that a poor socio-economic standing is the result of "ghetto" and the ghetto mentality influencing the life style of people. Rather I think that Ghetto is an expression rather than an influence. Further because of her comment on the origin of the word, I feel that her perspective is somewhat holier than thou in that modern African Americans are not referencing WWII Jews but are describing their own experience, not actively "lowering the bar."

Sent by Tom Mares (Boulder) | 3:27 PM ET | 03-29-2007

I think this conversation (and this idea) is pretty elitist. As an English teacher and sometime linguist, I think that examples of speech like "tooked" exhibit a playfulness in language, and don't necessarily require a prescription for correction, and definitely don't mean that someone is "ghetto." As for the term ghetto itself, I think that in many cases it can be a positive: it's working with what you have, even if those means are reduced, reused, recycled. If I can only afford a $7 manicure in order to look pretty, am I going to get some bling and my initals in gold on those index fingers? Damn right I am.

Sent by Anne Convery | 3:29 PM ET | 03-29-2007

The word "ghetto" seems to be replacing the phrase "white trash" that I grew up with. This seems to have progressed from those people that moved about from rural areas to more urban areas during the depression and my mother tried to distance herself from that type of person and lifestyle.

Sent by Michele Johnson | 3:41 PM ET | 03-29-2007

Now the subway incident is troubling - but even in the fifties we played cops and robbers and the very non PC cowboys and Indians. Good Guys and Bad Guys - and sometimes the bad guys won.

Sent by Barb | 3:41 PM ET | 03-29-2007

It seems to me that this demonization of everything 'ghetto' is representative of an underlying societal racism, equal to the way jazz and blues were demonized throughout the first half of the 20th century. I think it makes people uncomfortable to have the poor and black (which is the origin of this phrase) represented in mainstream white media, both the good and the bad from that part of American culture.

Sent by Katherine Ogilvie | 3:42 PM ET | 03-29-2007

I think Ms. Daniels meant Venice when she said "Rome" as the origin of the Ghetto, the name of an island / ammunition magazine set aside for Jews to live on. Venice / Italy / Rome, whatever, she wrote the book.

Sent by Ivan Lee | 3:43 PM ET | 03-29-2007

Regarding "A Ghetto Nation", I am a little confused about the premise that our society has deteriorated. How so? Is there some imperical evidence to this or is this a general perception? As in you disapprove of the current way people are expressing themselves, e.g. "I'd rather they pretend to be president than pretending to stick up a train." To say "deteriorate" we have to compare this to something that has not. When was the US socially "better"? When blacks coudn't vote, when families couldn't express themselves, when child abuse and domestic abuse was swept under the carpet and when it was more "efficient" when women stayed at home and men worked? I call our current situation "growing pains" not deterioration. Ghetto or being "ghetto" is a concept that people who actually live in the ghetto have decided to accept their situation and turn the word "ghetto" into something that is acceptable and even hip. Whether this is good or not is very subjective.

Sent by John | 3:44 PM ET | 03-29-2007

The author seems to have a fairly "white|" perspective. The question shouldn't be why are we losing our standards as a nation. The question is why is white american constatly so bored and devoid of it's own identity and values that it constantly has to appropriate other cultures and slang, and completely destroy any original cultural meaning. Ms. Daniels is wrong that is't not about being black or brown. It's always about race. To try and deny it is a disservice to those who are victimized by race and the economic issues that go along with it.

Sent by Eric in Bend, Oregon | 3:46 PM ET | 03-29-2007

The problem I have with this discussion is that Daniel does not seem to offer any realistic solutions to the low expectations of the population. What, exactly, was the point of the book and of this episode?

Sent by Kathy | 3:49 PM ET | 03-29-2007

The epitome of the ghettoization of culture is the phenomenon of the guys who put mentos in soft drinks to make explosions getting tv contracts.

I think the author does us an important service by talking about this decline of expectations as something to combat rather than just acquiesce to. I don't think she means you ought not get a flashy manicure if you want it.

Sent by Emily | 3:52 PM ET | 03-29-2007

The Subway Incident Ms. Daniels relates leads me to a question: Recently three young African-American males, about 12-15 years old got on the "R" at 34th St. The youngest began to pace in the car shouting at his friend and using the "N-word" every third or fourth word as he continued his rant for two or three stops. Our car was filled with passengers ranging from college-age men and women of various races, a few kids and older folks, including a 60 year old African-American woman -- all looking at the floor.

My question is this: Should I have said what I wanted to, which was, "Hey! Excuse me! There are women and children on this train. Please stop yelling that word!"

I'm ashamed to admit that the only reason I did not is that I am a 40-year old white male and I honestly had hoped the 60-year old African-American woman would have spoken up and put this young man in his place.

Sent by Andrew in New York | 9:35 PM ET | 03-29-2007

I think this was a very timely discussion and elucidation of the ways in which this nation is heading down, down, down the drain. The coarsening of the population and the lowering of standards. Yes, this is a big problem; a problem best stated by an African-American so that the word "racism" stays at bay.

Sent by jackie pollock | 10:21 PM ET | 03-29-2007

I wonder if Ms. Daniels would be concerned if "that's so ghetto" were changed to "That's so redneck" or "that's so trashy"? Is she offended when Jeff Foxworthy refers to ridiculous behavor (i.e. sleeping with one's sister). There is a great deal of fun associated with his loving reference to his own background. I think that Ms. Daniels IS offended that a black idiom has been embraced by the larger society. If she were offended by Rap music I think thta she would have a more valid concern.

Sent by Claudia Miles | 12:06 AM ET | 03-30-2007

How does Miss Daniels feel about Ebonics (AAVE or BEV)?

Sent by Walker | 12:49 AM ET | 03-30-2007

Okay, I have visited Cora Daniels' own blog site and have discovered that she is, in fact, black. Puzzling, because her perspective does seem very "white" and judgmental. In any event, I still don't really get what she is trying to accomplish with her book...other than capitalizing on the very thing that she abhors....but then again, everyone should get a piece of the ghetto pie? right? why should she be left out?

Sent by Eric in Bend, Oregon | 1:53 AM ET | 03-30-2007

I was on hold during the program (whilst driving) and Neal apparently ran out of time. What I wanted to say on air is that so many of the callers were missing Ms. Daniel's point. I see that the comments on this blog reflect the same misunderstandings.

The first commentor (Julie) on this blog hit the nail on the head: Ms. Daniel is "reporting" a phenomenon which she has observed. This phenomenon is the increased use of the term "ghetto" as an adjective by young people.

She seems to have done an acceptable job of gathering qualitative data. She reports that "ghetto" is now used as an adjective e.g., to describe someone's outfit (those pants are way ghetto).

She then offers some insight. She says that the word seems to reflect the "lowering of the bar" in many aspects of American life due to a lack of shame.

As a college professor I see both of these phenomena every day. Students of all color, ethnicity and gender use the term "ghetto" precisely as Ms. Daniels states. And they often do so to "call out" someone for exhibiting some form of shameless action.

The English teacher who blogged here is an example of part of the problem. She has lowered her bar. She feels that students using the term "tooked" is "playful" and not in need of correction. It is "English" teachers such as she who send me a roomful of students each fall who say things like "I don't got no book yet."

Sent by Rodney | 9:06 AM ET | 03-30-2007

The way in which Nora Daniels explains her definition of Ghetto is to include it as being criminal. Her example of the kids acting out a subway robbery suggests that she links being Ghetto as being a criminal. This is unacceptable. You can be from the Ghetto and never be a part of the justice system. Try doing a poll to find out the percentage of people who have lived or currently live in the condition of a ghetto and find out just how unrelated that scenario is to reality.

Sent by Glenda | 10:16 AM ET | 03-30-2007

I don't know if this is ghetto, but what really bugs me are people that flaunt their affluence by naming their kids Lexus or having 3 baby wide strollers they push through the farmers market or push a shopping cart full of groceries into the express lane during lunch or jay walking their children across the street to private school or driving bmw/lexus/mercedes suvs and parking them in compact spaces. I don't know if ghetto is the word for this!

Sent by Justin | 10:20 AM ET | 03-30-2007

Regardless of the argument over the usage of "ghetto" as word in the current vernacular, Cora Daniels is on the correct track with her observations about American society becoming more shameless. I have taught in inner city, alternative ed, and rural settings over the last 10 years. The term "generational curse" as coined by one caller on the show sums up my observations: parents are not establishing any kind of modeling of socially acceptable behavior. Ranging from 1st graders watching inappropriately aged movies to middle schoolers piercing their bodies, parents are establishing "ghetto" life-styles, regardless of race, creed, and socio-economic status. This emphasis on "popular culture" by parents is the main problem. This bleeds into the issue of education and politics. Politicans use test scores as indicators that the American public schools need help. They blame teachers for students not doing well in school. Unfortuantely, this is a smoke-screen for the real problem: parents who allow their children to replace the value of education with popular culture's latest trends. Politicans need to take a risk and blame the parents for the incompetent jobs they are doing with raising our next generation of children. As we all know, no politican will ever point such an accusing and shameful finger at their constituency.

Sent by Bob Konczal | 11:13 AM ET | 03-30-2007

I find it strange that no one else quite came up with my thought of the "subway hijacking" incident. Just two weeks ago I was visiting a Barnes & Noble in Greenville, SC, that seemed pretty upper middle class as evidenced by the many BMWs and Lexus in the parking lot. When a young child in his cowboy outfit was encouraged to tell the counter person in the coffee shop "This is a stickup", I seemed to have a very different response from the people there. Personally, I worried that it wasn't good to encourage children to pretend to perform crimes in public places. In fact, I expected a bad reaction from people there. Then again, I remembered that the whole cowboy thing was popular when I was a child in the early 80s. I thought I might have done such a thing if a family member had said that to me as a child. I wouldn't have thought anything about that then, nor would my family members I think.

Now I live in the small urban city of New Haven, CT, but I grew up in mostly white middle class areas in the suburbs of southern California. I would think such behavior was bad or a bad example for children nowadays, especially in most cities where violence is a reality that affects even children so it shouldn't be perpetuated in the ways we raise children. Honestly, I also have to say that the fact that my neighbor-hood is mixed racial as is NYC would make me feel less comfortable if I saw such a display by children. I think other people around me might feel similarly. On my part, I think that is racial bias being that I am a white man. Nevertheless, why would I or many other Americans not think the incident I saw in Greenville should be perceived the same as the subway incident? Would any of us have stopped the boy in Barnes & Noble from going along with his grandpa?

Sent by Matthew Richardson | 4:59 PM ET | 03-30-2007

Thank you to Cora Daniels! My friends and fellow anthropology majors have discussed this topic for the last year, and Cora Daniels' discussion was on point.

Sent by Quinn | 5:39 PM ET | 04-01-2007

As I understand it, the term 'ghetto' refers to places that evidence a specific set of conditions - high poverty, high unemployment, and socioeconomic isolation. Using the word in a broader, watered-down context is either an excuse to ignore the very real ghettos that exist in our country or a sign that we are already ignoring them. While I, too, am bothered by our increasingly lax cultural ethos, I am more disturbed that we may be trivializing a more pressing social problam.

Sent by Sara Kniffen | 10:29 AM ET | 04-02-2007

I shop at Sam's Club when I need the "ghetto size."

Sent by Emory Gandrusin | 9:26 AM ET | 04-03-2007

So maxing out credit cards is "ghetto"? Playing at violence is "ghetto"? Pimping is "ghetto"? Bad taste is "ghetto"? The author doesn't see that the usual American habit of associating negative behavior-- even if it is All-American behavior that white people do, too, often in greater percentages-- with poor black people is same old same old American racism.

Sent by Claire Garcia | 12:17 AM ET | 04-04-2007

"ghetto" is a term that is used to discribe a behavior and well....a mindset....a midset that has alot of negatives associated with it. dumb words,no edu, and a group that is influenced by the media and has spread like a virus to a non asslimated group within the us

Sent by blank | 11:41 PM ET | 04-04-2007

Hi everyone. The caller from Kansas City said: "It is a sign of the decay of a society when the upper class starts to imitate the lower class" and guest writer Cora Daniels applauded. This is very unfortunate for it presumes that what the lower class does is always, by definition, despicable. "Ghetto" people are never going to get the kind of success that rich, white folks see fit for all humanity and I think it is fantastic they can take pride in what they do (and that is not always bad!!) and that people from different groups and walks of life are interested in what they do and want to imitate them, regardless of what class they are from.

Sent by GP | 5:23 AM ET | 04-07-2007

Call it ghetto, low class or trashy: What it means is people who won't grow up and give up without even trying, blaming everyone but themselves for their destructive lifestyle and refusing to accept responsibility for ANY of their actions. Don't make an effort to educate yourself; God forbid, someone might accuse you of acting white or acting 'better than' if you are already white! just keep talking a baby form of English, have kids you can't afford to feed properly who grow up in the same mess and wind up in prison: then try to glorify the whole thing as though it were some major accomplishment like the cure for cancer or something! This refers to people of all races who take the easy way out, sucking the life out of their society instead of contributing to its growth. Give up drugs instead of giving up on life and grow up! This tirade does not apply to those who try every trick in the book but still can't get ahead, those who have to live under ghetto conditions and make the best of it. My heart goes out to those folks, hard workers who are living a moral life. This includes making every effort to avoid the spread of disease, giving an employer an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, teaching children the same moral values, refusing to accept destructive parasitic behavior from those children, using money for necessities, not drugs. These are the people who should be glorified in the media, not the criminals. I could go on and on but those who read this are most likely those who already know it.

Sent by Chico | 9:45 PM ET | 04-15-2007

Who cares?

Sent by G- Unit | 7:19 AM ET | 04-26-2007

I think the book says what we all know needs to be heard. We embrace any word that demeans our race. No she probably isnt passionate about the use of the word redneck because it does not affect for directly. This was a call to wake up the black community because obvious we are sleep. I am a teacher in the inner city and I see my children use this as if it is a positive thing all the time. They are always saying things such as that just the way black people act or if you are black you must curse. When I read that people are surprised that she is black, I simply think that they must be using this lifestyle. Ghetto does not mean, at least anymore, making something out of nothing. It means that it is lower the average and only excepted by some. It a pass to do what you want because this is how you are defined.

Sent by M.D. | 4:34 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Ms. Daniels is very clear that Ghetto is not the same as being poor. She is talking about a mind-set. Her goal is to shine some light on a phenomenon. This topic is about the lowering of morals not about struggling working class people that have financial struggles. I grew up in the ghetto, but I was never ghetto. I applaud her efforts.

Sent by TM | 2:01 PM ET | 05-09-2007

I agree with the author completely. Think about it, where did the word "ghetto" originally come from??? Poor blacks. All of us know (i hope) that ALL poor blacks are not tasteless, ignorant, and uneducated. There are many many many blacks who have not become a product of their enviroment and are active members of our society. I'm still in high school and I hear in the halls all the time "Shut up! Your so ghetto!" I now for a fact white students don't think twice about saying it.
I am growing up in a upper middle class neighborhood in Washington, DC and my parents don't tollerate me speaking anything other than proper english at all times. I have ALWAYS gotten from other black students since I was in like 1st grade "Oh, she's an oreo" or "she's trying to be white," which is completely false. I am proud that my family is well-educated and hopefully I will be too. I am glad that a lot blacks are actually getting an education (especially in my generation) and bettering ourselves, because there is a lot wrong with the black community but there are also ALOT of good things in the black community.

Sent by V.E.Y | 9:03 AM ET | 08-17-2007

The term "ghetto" has grown to embrace a negative connotation. Everyone can argue until the cows come home whether there is a racial undertone involved in using the word ghetto. Simply put, ghetto is a broad term for all things broken, bootlegged, incorrect, and backwards. There are other words in the dictionary one can use to describe particular situations but this shows how society has a collective lack of vocabulary.

Sent by TheTruthIS... | 2:29 PM ET | 08-27-2007

I understand the frustration and anger by some in the black community when the writer uses the word "Ghetto" to describe the "lowering of the bar" phenomina. But aside from perhaps a bad choice in word to describe this situation she makes many valid points. I myself am only 46 years old, but I long for the time when people had respect for others; as well as, self respect. I have found myself wondering on many occasions, 'how bad is it going to get?' Are we going to see gladiator style executions, where tickets are scalped for hundreds of dollars more than the original selling price, are we going to see naked people frolicking in the streets or having sexual relations in the parks where children are playing. Are people who object going to be thrown into camps or prisons for intolerance. I seriously wonder these things. It seems like when I was a child your word meant something, I wonder how long before we all need to have a personal lawyer on retainer to handle the mundain aspects of life that used to be dealt with by a verbal agreement, the shake of a hand, or signing a simple document. Life has become so complicated. Tolerance for all lifestyles has led to in tolerance for anyone who objects...where will it end?

Sent by Cindy | 11:12 AM ET | 12-30-2007