shelby, justice, deviance, and the dark ghetto (2007)

(127) if overall social arrangements are unjust, then one has to think about the obligations of the poor quite differently than if the society were just. we distinguish between civic duties that they have as citizens (which clearly they can't be said to have), and natural duties that they have as moral agents (which they can't escape)

(144) in effect, what gives us the right to demand that someone play fair in a game that is unfair

(151) duties to each other without their being duties to society (not to be cruel, to help the needy, not cause unnecessary suffering, etc.)

(152-153) there is also the duty of justice -- obligation to help bring just institutions into existence (applies to both the wealthy, and the poor provided that it doesn't impose particularly onerous burdens on the latter)

(in sum) criticism of the ghetto poor is legitimate--but hardly ever of the traditional sort (deviance in an unjust society can be justified). instead, criticism has to be founded on progressive grounds--the basic, natural duties remain important, and we should also be working for a better world