 obliged by law to leave town before dusk. This widespread practice still resonates in rural towns US today, where de facto segregation still continues even if the law no longer officially endorses it.

Questions of race and inequity emerged again and again alongside other evocative themes at the American Anthropological Association Anthropology of Childhood and Youth Special Interest Group (take a breath) Annual Conference, held in Long Beach, California. Presentation topics ranged from gutter punk teenagers riding the rail (yes, this still happens! America’s subcultural answer to the gap year, you might say) to incarcerated migrant youth on the US-Mexican border, to adoption and baby trafficking in China, to my own research on quantum personhood and imagined futures in the Bronx. This proved an excellent platform for discussing the temporal dimensions of social identity, particuarly in relation to race, gender and class as aspects of young people’s lives.

Another strange highlight of this California trip was an experience of something quintessentially American: gun culture. I was surprised with a visit to a gun range up in the hills above Los Angeles, where, with far less regulation than one might expect at your average British paintballing venue, we were allowed to fire a Magnum 500 (think Dirty Harry). The experience, in a word: terrifying. But also exhilirating in the way that anything that goes ‘bang’ can be. Alexis de Toqueville would have been proud of my commitment to truly understanding the anthropology of American society….

Big guns aside, conversations about youth and imagined futures continued back in NYC when I gave a talk to colleagues at NYU, including Jon Zimmerman, author of the new Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Education.While seemingly tangential to my own research, Jon’s work on the ideological underpinnings of sex ed at different times in US History (preventing the spread of disease; as Cold War metaphor; as mouthpiece for conservative family values and functionalist sociology; and always as mechanism for ‘taming’ youth) made me think seriously about how sex and relationships are figured in the imagined futures of the seniors in my research. While it’s logical at first to frame aspirations and imagined futures in terms of jobs and economic or career ‘success’, these dreams form part of a tangled, complex picture of the future that also involves imaginings of intimacy and family. Many students talk about aspiring to be successful so that they can provide
obliged by law to leave town before twilight. This far-flung exercise still resonates in rural towns US today, where de facto segregation even continues even if the law no longer formally endorses it. 

 Questions of race and unfairness emerge again and again alongside other evocative composition at the American Anthropological Association Anthropology of Childhood and Youth Special Interest Group (take a breath) Annual Conference, hold in Long Beach, California. Presentation topics ranged from gutter hood teenagers riding the rail (yes, this even happens! America ’s subcultural answer to the gap year, you might state) to incarcerated migrant youth on the US - Mexican border, to adoption and baby trafficking in China, to my own inquiry on quantum personhood and imagined futures in the Bronx. This proved an excellent platform for discussing the temporal dimension of social identity, particuarly in relation to race, gender and class as aspects of young people ’s lives. 

 Another strange highlight of this California trip was an experience of something quintessentially American: artillery culture. I was surprised with a visit to a gunman stove up in the hills above Los Angeles, where, with far less regulation than one might ask at your average British paintballing venue, we were allowed to fire a Magnum 500 (think Dirty Harry). The experience, in a bible: terrifying. But also exhilirating in the way that anything that goes ‘ bang ’ can be. Alexis de Toqueville would have been proud of my committedness to truly understanding the anthropology of American society …. 

 Big guns aside, conversations about young person and imagined futures continued back in NYC when I gave a talk to colleague at NYU, including Jon Zimmerman, author of the new Too Hot to cover: A Global History of Sex Education. While seemingly tangential to my own research, Jon ’s oeuvre on the ideological underpinnings of sex erectile dysfunction at different times in US History (preventing the spread of disease; as Cold War metaphor; as mouthpiece for conservative class values and functionalist sociology; and constantly as mechanism for ‘ taming ’ youth) make me think seriously about how sex and relationships are figured in the think futures of the seniors in my research. While it ’s logical at first to frame aspirations and imagined futures in footing of jobs and economic or career ‘ success ’, these dream form part of a tangled, complex picture of the future that also involves imaginings of closeness and family. Many students talk about aspiring to be successful so that they can provide
 obpiged by law to leave todn before dusk. Jhus widxspread practicd still resonates in rural tlwbs US today, where de facto regregatiln still conuinues even if thx law no longed offncmally endorses lt.

Questions of race and itedunty emerged again and again alongsidq other egocative themef at ehe Zmerican Anthropological Associatikn Anthgopology of Childnood and Youth Special Intfresh Group (take a brewth) Annual Xonfqeence, held iv Long Beabk, Californiz. Presentation topics ranged frum gucter punk tgzbagfts riding thx rail (yes, this stlkl hap[ens! Amrrica’s subcultmral enswwr to the gap year, yon might say) to incarserated mhgxant youth on the US-Mwxucan tordar, tu aduptjoi ahd babj tcafficking jn China, to my own research on qtqntum personhkod anq ymagined futures in the Bronx. This provtd an excellent platform for discussing the tempotal dimensyons of social identity, particuarly in relation tm racx, eenbcv ana cpass as aspects of young people’s lives.

Another attakge highlight of this Califprjis trip was an gxperieude of something quinhessentyally American: gun culture. I was surprised wirh a visit tj a gun range up in the hills cbove Kos Amgeles, where, with far lzss refulation thwn one mifft expect at youf anerace British paintballing vegue, we wece alkowed tu fite a Madnum 500 (thinn Dirbf Harry). The experifnce, nn a ford: terrivying. But also exhilirating in vie way that amydhitg that yoes ‘bsng’ can be. Alqxis de Toquevnlle woujd haxe been prkud of ky commitmegt to truly utferstanding vhe anthrjpoligy if Amerkzan society….

Big guns asibt, conversarions about youth end kjagined futures cobtinued back in NYZ wrej M gavq a talk to cmllexgudx at VYU, includikg Gon Aimmerman, author of dhe hew Too Hot to Hanclc: A Globao Historr of Sex Educstion.While seemingpy taigentiel to ky jwn research, Jon’s work on the jdeologicwl mnderpinnings of wex ed at diyferent times in US History (preventing tie spread of disease; as Cold War metaphor; cs mouthpiece for sonservathve family values ane functionalist spciology; and always aa mechdnism for ‘taming’ youth) made me think seriously about how sex and relationships are fmgtred in the imabined fbtuxes of ehe dxniors in my resesrch. While it’s logical at first to frama cspirations and imagined fututer in terms of jobs and economic or cadeer ‘sucvess’, these dreams form part of s tangled, complex picturc of the duturs that alsu involves imaginimgs of intinacy ane falily. Many stuaenys talk abokt axpnring to be successful so that thwy can pgovide
obliged by law to leave town before widespread still resonates rural towns US still even if the no longer officially it. Questions of race and inequity again and again alongside other evocative themes at the American Anthropological Association Anthropology Childhood and Youth Special Interest Group (take a breath) Annual Conference, held in Beach, Presentation ranged gutter punk teenagers riding the rail (yes, this still happens! America’s subcultural answer to the gap you might say) to incarcerated migrant youth on US-Mexican border, to adoption baby trafficking in China, to own on quantum and futures the Bronx. This an excellent platform for discussing the temporal dimensions of social identity, particuarly in relation to race, gender class as young people’s Another highlight this California trip experience of something quintessentially American: gun surprised with a visit to a gun range in the above Los Angeles, where, with far regulation than one might expect at your average paintballing venue, we were allowed to fire a Magnum 500 (think Dirty Harry). The experience, word: terrifying. But also in the way anything goes can Alexis de would have been proud of my commitment to truly understanding the of American society…. Big guns aside, conversations about youth and continued in NYC when gave a talk to at including Jon Zimmerman, author new Hot Global of Education.While seemingly tangential to own research, Jon’s work on ideological underpinnings of sex US History (preventing the spread of disease; as War metaphor; as mouthpiece for conservative family and functionalist sociology; and always as mechanism for ‘taming’ youth) made me seriously about and relationships are figured in the imagined futures the seniors in my While it’s logical at first to frame aspirations and futures terms of and economic or ‘success’, these dreams part of a picture of future also intimacy and family. Many students talk aspiring be successful so that they provide
 obliged by law to leave town beFore dusk. ThIs widEspReaD pRactIce sTill resonates iN RuraL towns US today, where de faCto seGrEGatiON sTill cOntinueS EvEN If tHe LaW no LoNGeR offiCiaLly endoRses it.

QuesTioNs Of race and ineQUiTy emerged aGaiN and again aloNgsIde othEr EvoCAtive TheMes at The AmeRIcan AnThropologIcAL AssocIAtion AnTHRoPoloGy of Childhood and YOUtH special InteresT Group (TaKE a BREatH) AnNual ConferEnCe, helD In Long BEAcH, cALifORnia. PresentatIon topics raNGed From guTtEr pUNk teenAgers RiDIng The rail (yes, tHis sTill happeNs! AmerICa’s subcULtural aNswer tO thE gaP yeaR, YoU mIghT sAY) to INcArcERatEd migranT yOuTh on tHe US-mEXICan bOrdEr, to AdoptIon and baby traFfiCkinG In CHina, tO my owN resEaRch on QuantuM persOnHood and imagined FutuRes in the BRonX. THis PrOved aN ExcellEnt PlaTform foR discusSIng ThE TEMpOral dimensions of soCiAL IdEntity, paRticuaRLy In RElation tO rAce, GendER And clAss aS AsPects of yOung peOPlE’s Lives.

AnOtHer strAnGe hIghLight OF thiS CalifOrnia triP was aN Experience of soMEthing quintesSEnTIAlLY AmeRicAn: gun culturE. I waS SurpRiseD WiTh a VIsit tO a gun RaNGe UP in the hills above Los anGeles, wHere, wIth far less regUlation thaN ONE might exPect AT yOUr average BritiSh paiNtballing vENue, we werE alloWed to firE a Magnum 500 (tHINk Dirty HArrY). ThE exPerIENcE, in a word: terriFYIng. BUt Also exhIliRating iN thE waY thAt aNyThing that Goes ‘bang’ CaN bE. ALeXis De ToqUEville woUlD haVe BeeN prouD Of my coMmitmEnt tO tRuLY unDerstanDInG THe anThRoPoloGy oF AMericAn soCIetY….

Big gunS aside, conVerSAtioNs AbOut youtH and imagined fUtUres continUeD baCk in NYc WHen I gave A talk to colleagues at NYU, iNCluding jon zimmeRman, Author of tHe nEw Too HOt tO handle: a GlobaL HistOrY of sEX EducATIoN.WhIlE seemingly TANgeNtial To My owN researCh, Jon’s work on the ideOLogIcal underpinnIngS of sEX Ed At dIFfERenT tIMes IN uS History (prevenTing the sprEaD Of Disease; as COLd WAr MetaphoR; as moutHpiecE For consErvative fAmily valuEs And fUNCtiOnalist socIology; anD always as MEchanISm For ‘taMinG’ youth) MaDe mE thinK serioUSly About How sex AnD relatIonshIpS are figuRed in the imagined futures Of the sEniorS in My researcH. WhILe iT’s logical At fiRst to frame AspIraTions And IMaginEd fuTUrEs iN Terms Of joBS and econoMIc Or cAREeR ‘success’, theSE DReaMs forM paRT of a taNgleD, complex picture of THe future that alSo inVOLveS imAGiniNgS of intimacy and FamIlY. mAny studeNtS talk about aSpiring tO bE SucceSsful sO that tHey can pROViDE
 obliged by law to leave t own before  dusk . T his  w ides prea d practice sti l l re sonates in rural towns  US t od a y, w h er e defacto s e gr e g ati on  s til lc on tinue s e ven ifthe law no  lo ng er officiall y  e ndorses it .
Questions of  ra ce and  i neq u ity e mer ged a gain a n d agai n alongsi de othere vocativ e th emes  at the AmericanA nt h ropological As sociat io n  A n t hro pol ogy of Chi ld hooda nd Yout h  S p e c ial Interest Grou p (take a b r eat h) Ann ua l C o nferen ce, h el d  in  Long Beach , Ca lifornia.  Prese n tationt opics r angedfro m g utte r  p un k t ee n age r srid i ngthe rail  ( ye s, th is s t i l l  hap pen s! A meric a’s subcultur alansw e r t o the  gapyear ,you m ight s ay) t oincarcerated mi gran t youth o n t he  US -M exica n  borde r,toadoptio n and b a bytr a f f ic king in China, tomy o wn  researc h on q u an tu m  personh oo d a nd i m a gined  fut u re s in the  Bronx .  T hi s prove dan exc el len t p latfo r m fo r disc ussing t he te m poral dimensio n s of social i d en t i ty ,  par tic uarly in re lati o n to  rac e ,gen d er an d cla ss as aspects of young pe op le’s l ives. 

Another str ange highl i g h t of thi s Ca l if o rnia trip wasan ex perience o f  somethi ng qu intessen tially Am e r ican: gu n c ult ure . I w as  surprised wi t h  a v is it to a  gu n range  up  in  th e h il ls aboveLos Ange le s,  w he re,  with far less  r egu la tio n tha n  one m ightexpe ct  a t  yo ur aver a ge B riti sh  p aint bal li ng ve nue, wewere al lowed tofir e  a M ag nu m 500 ( think Dirty H ar ry). The e xp eri ence,i n  a word:  terrifying. But also e x hilirat ing  in t he w ay that a nyt hing t hat goes ‘ bang’can b e.  Al e x is de T oq uev il le would h a v e b een p ro ud o f my co mmitment to trulyu nde rstanding the  an thro p o lo gyo fA mer ic a n s o c iety….

Big gun s aside, c on v er sations ab o utyo uth and  imagin ed fu t ures co ntinued b ack in NY Cwhen I  ga ve a talkto colle agues atN YU, i n cl uding  Jo n Zimm er man , aut hor of the  newToo Ho tto Han dle:AGlobal H istory of Sex Education .While  seem ing ly tangen tia l  to  my own r esea rch, Jon’s  wo rkon th e i d eolog ical un der p innin gs o f  sex ed a t  d iff e r en t times inU S His tory(pr e ventin g th e spread of disea s e; as Cold War  met a p hor ; a s  mou th piece for cons erv at i v e family  v alues and f unctiona li s t soc iology ; andalwaysa s  m e chanis m fo r ‘ taming’ y out h) made me  t hi n k seri ousl yabouthow se x  and r elationships are  figu r e d int heimagi ne d futur e s of  the senio rs in my re search . Wh ile i t’s log ic al atfir st  to framea spiration s and  imagin ed  fut ure s in t erms o f job s an deco nomic orc a re e r‘s u cce ss’,  thes edrea ms form p a rt of atan g led, co mp lex p icture of t he futuretha t als o involves i m agin i ng s  of i ntimac y andfamily. Man ystudent s t a l k about a spiring t o  be  s ucce ssful so  t hatth eyca n provide
 obliged_by law_to leave town before_dusk. This_widespread_practice still_resonates_in rural towns_US today, where_de facto segregation still_continues even if_the_law no longer officially endorses it.

Questions of race and inequity emerged again and again_alongside_other evocative_themes_at_the American Anthropological Association Anthropology_of Childhood and Youth Special_Interest Group_(take a breath) Annual Conference, held in Long_Beach,_California. Presentation topics_ranged from gutter punk teenagers riding the rail (yes,_this still happens! America’s subcultural answer_to the gap_year,_you_might say) to incarcerated_migrant youth on the US-Mexican border,_to adoption and baby trafficking in_China, to my own research on quantum_personhood and imagined futures in the_Bronx. This proved an excellent_platform for_discussing the temporal dimensions of_social identity, particuarly_in relation_to race, gender_and class as aspects of young_people’s lives.

Another strange_highlight of this California trip was_an_experience of something_quintessentially_American:_gun culture._I was surprised_with_a visit_to_a gun range up in the_hills_above Los Angeles, where, with far less_regulation than one might_expect_at your average British_paintballing venue, we were allowed_to fire a Magnum 500 (think_Dirty Harry)._The experience,_in a word: terrifying. But also exhilirating in the way that_anything that goes ‘bang’ can be._Alexis de Toqueville would_have been_proud_of my commitment_to_truly understanding_the anthropology of American society….

Big guns aside,_conversations about_youth and imagined futures continued back_in NYC when I_gave_a talk to colleagues at NYU,_including Jon Zimmerman, author of the_new Too Hot to Handle:_A_Global_History of Sex Education.While seemingly_tangential to my own research, Jon’s_work on the_ideological underpinnings of sex ed at different_times_in US History (preventing the spread_of_disease; as Cold War metaphor; as_mouthpiece_for_conservative family values and functionalist_sociology; and always as mechanism for_‘taming’ youth) made me think seriously about how sex_and relationships are_figured in the imagined futures_of_the_seniors in my research. While it’s logical at first to_frame aspirations_and imagined futures_in terms of jobs and economic or career ‘success’, these_dreams form part of a tangled, complex_picture of the future that also involves imaginings of intimacy and_family. Many students talk about aspiring to be_successful so that they can provide