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Living Black breaks the stereotype of poor African American neighborhoods as dysfunctional ghettos of helpless and hopeless people. Despite real and enduring poverty, the community described here - the historic North End of Champaign, Illinois - has a vibrant social life and strong ties among generations. But it operates on its own nonjudgmental terms - teen moms aren't derided, school dropouts aren't ridiculed, and parolees and ex-cons aren't scorned. Mark S. Fleisher offers a window into daily life in this neighborhood, particularly through the stories of Mo and Memphis Washington, who fight to sustain a stable home for their children, and of Burpee, a local man who has returned to the North End to rebuild his life after years of crime and punishment in Chicago.