To write In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio Philippe Bourgois moved to El Barrio in East Harlem, New York. He actually moved his family there too. He correctly estimated that in order to understand the residents of this community he would need to establish a certain amount of trust. By living among them, he openly rejected social stigma and opened himself and his family up to participate in the culture which Bourgois hoped to understand better.
Bourgois engrosses himself in the El Barrio community. At first it's difficult because he's an outsider. And he makes some mistakes, like insulting a dealer, Ray, in front of other people. Quickly Bourgois identifies the problem. These people live according to an unspoken honor system where respect is key. He adjusts his behavior to be more socially successful and gradually becomes welcomed into the community. Although Bourgois remains an outsider, his willingness to live among the residents persuades them to confide in Bourgois. He remains scientific about his study, reserving judgement or prejudice to preserve the integrity of his research. In the conclusion, Bourgois finds that ethnic prejudice is almost solely responsible for the poverty of these people who are openly rejected by neighboring, white, middle-class communities. Without being able to find work, they turn to the underground where they actually can be successful.
Bourgois' focal point in the book is drug usage. He does not believe that addictive drug use or sale is the pariah that government agencies treat it as. Instead, he offers that the residents of this community are so stigmatized as to not benefit from equality of opportunity in the workforce or to receive protection government protection and support. They've become completely isolated. In response, the paranoia and frustration of their situation often leads to drug use, but it's a symptom not a cause. Bourgois concludes that the real dilemma of these communities is racial prejudice which propagates salacious rumors and prejudice, preventing equal participation in society.
