Sociology Essays Code Street Life

Sociology Essays Code Street LifeCode Street LifeInterpreting The Code of the StreetGangster liveliness is often portrayed as exiting and glamorous, while the news often stereotypes the urban slums as being corrupt by violent criminals. Elijah Anderson thoroughly explains in his admit Code of the Street that life in poor minority communities are not always portrayed correctly in the media. The actor offers a crotchety way of researching for this topic by living in the area he studies he is able to share information only known by experience.He int peculiaritys to expose and clarify the life of the inner city streets. The first chapter, Decent and Street Families, explains several issues many families face when raiding a suitable tiddler. The lifestyles of of these minority communities are, in reality, really complex and intricate.The book explains how the Code, or lifestyle, varies for many throngs within the culture. The difference between street and prissy families and the way they inter characterization with each other, the difference of communities, and the significance of respect are all main estimations explained within the first two chapters.The violent surroundings and unfair circumstances are the cable of each individuals lifestyle. The author uses the term structural circumstances to define the position unrivaled accommodates involved in as a results of their vest in society. one and only(a) specimen the author used in his novel is the life of a decent single mother, where the term decent is used to calculate the individuals that do not translate in to societys negative influences.Though one common theme among decent families that is currently on the climb up is grandmothers raising grand kidren particularly the increasing number of grandmothers raising grandchildren, often see their see their difficult situation as a test from God and gather great support from their faith and church community (Anderson 38). Single mothers and g randparents have a much more difficult time swaying their children from the negative influences of the street.One common trait of the decent child is the ability to code switch. A decent child is often mocked and teased by peers as comfortably as family members as explained in Yvettes Story, which is the reason for code-switching. One of the first stories titled The Decent Single Mother Explains the many hardships of having to raise a child in a dent manner with break through the support of a scramly figure. The ability to code-switch permits a child to use crude and vulgar language and act in a different manner while in the streets, thus giving a child a way to survive trusted situations. The author insists that this trait is taught by the parents, thought I believe it is learned thorough experience.In the street manhood is defied as how well one can act him or herself in a fight. And at the alike time, being able to fight and not let anyone else talk oneself down raises respe ct among the peers. The author claims delight in becomes critical for stating out of harms way (Anderson 66). There is a problem that might arise after(prenominal) a fight though, revenge. Revenge can become very dangerous depending on the person who was offended by being beaten.Examples vary form returning with a meeting of friends or even family members to intimidate others (An example taken from Marges story) to returning with a weapon where the outcome can result in serious injury or even death. This ravel for Respect arises when the people feel as if they are abandoned and will not receive help from authorities, feeling as if they are on their own. The author writes Many of those residing in such communities feel that they are on their own, that especially in matters of personal defense, they must assume the primary responsibility (Anderson 66).The subscribe to that portrays the best idea as to how the streets of the Bronx might have been like is the film Boys N the Hood. There are several scenes in the film that relate to the book. For example, in the fount of the film the main character, a troublemaker, is sent to live with his father to learn how to be a man. There is a whole chapter dedicated to the guide for respect a section of which is titled Manhood and Nerve. Here the author claims For many inner-city youths, manhood and respect are two sides of the same expunge both require a sense of control, of being in charge (Anderson 91).Loosing control over a situation can result in bleak effects. The author does not give any specific examples however since the film closely relates to the topic of the book, bringing an example from the film is appropriate. A scene from the film involves Doughboy, one of the main characters in the movie, and his attempt to recover his brothers stolen football from a group of much bigger and stronger boys. He stands up to the group of boys who are pushing him around.He stupefys in the face of one boy in particular and kicks him in the leg. The bigger boy retaliates by slapping Doughboy down and boot him in the stomach. Doughboy criticizes his brother for being stupid and bringing the ball in the first place. Doughboy is has been humiliated in front of his brother and at that time is in like manner feeling embarrassed and places the blame toward his brother.Doughboys attempt to retrieve his brothers football and the resulting assault has everything to do with juice and the cultural adaptations Doughboy has had to make as the street kid in his decent family. As a street kid he needs to be aggressive and assert himself physically. Therefore, when his brothers ball is stolen he reacts violently as this is the language of street life. The older boy, not to be shown up by a small, lesser boy, beats Doughboy up, about likely in order to maintain his reputation as a tough street kid.Also, just like a street kid, drugs and alcohol become a major part of his life later on as he is always seen drink ing a forty. As objects play an important and multiform role in establishing self-image (Anderson, 73) his car also becomes a source of juice as it has expensive features and is very well maintained.The main goal for the decent family is to give the younger generation, usually their offspring, a chance to develop and grow out of the raging violence of the streets. Instilling good morals in a childs early years is often emphasized In decent families there is almost always a real concern with and a certain amount of hope for the future.Such attitudes are often in a drive to work to build a good life, while at the same time trying to make due with what you have (Anderson 37). Instilling these morals into the children is important if that child is to make the right decisions while in the street. Even though this task is daunting on its own, it becomes especially daunting when there is a single parent.A household maintained under the supervision of a father figure creates a more stable environment for the child. Sure both parents may work double shifts and may work late night after night, but this only serves as another reason for the children to perform well. A passage from the book shares this idea The children nodded attentively. After the adults left, the children seemed to relax, talking more freely and playacting with one another.When the parents returned, the kids straightened up again displaying quiet and gracious manners all the while (Anderson 39). In this patriarchal family the head of the household, usually the father, the children remain obedient out of fear of disappointing their parents. The decent children in this passage have a slightly higher chance at success than their fellow peers solely because neither they nor their parents have given in to the street life.Respect, or Juice, is highly valued in the streets. It is something everyone should earn in order to live without being eternally picked on or harassed. Juice can be earned in multiple ways however the most common way is through fights. In the book, Anderson claims There are always people around looking for a fight in order to increase their share of respect (73).The alternative to engaging in random fights is intimidation through physical appearance. The way a person is viewed depends on physical their appearance where factors such as the more jewelry one has, the most expensive clothing, and even the way one grooms oneself determines the amount of respect they have.In the last example Doughboy seeks revenge for his brothers murder and, in the process the characters act out Andersons ideas about reasons for revenge and Tres decent kid dilemma. Ricky was a much loved and valued member of the group of boys featured in the film. By murdering Ricky, the group of other males has greatly disrespected Doughboys position in the streets.Doughboy, as Anderson would predict, does not appear to fear death as he will face Rickys murderers with his gun and kill them, knowing, as he discusses the next day with Tre, that he will most likely get smoked, meaning shot to death. True nerve expresses a lack of fear of death and this proves manhood, which is very closely related to respect (Anderson, 92). Like Tyree in Andersons book, Doughboy feels an obligation to hurt those that hurt his brother and gains power from hurting others in the most severe form (Anderson, 84). Doughboy is purely a street kid.In short, Andersons book, Code of the Street discusses ideas of decent and street families as well as the crucial concept of respect in a way that is in agreement with the film Boyz N the Hood. The actions of Tre and his father mirror those of a decent family living in poor minority community and Doughboys actions are characteristic of Andersons ideas about street individuals. Their lives warrant examination in order to determine causes of crime as well as reasons why not all individuals in these violent communities are criminals.It is clear that opportunities need to be afforded to the individuals in these communities so that they can have hope for the future and not end up with the mindset of Doughboy that it doesnt matter if hes shot because everyone has to die sometime. The people must be allowed access to the resources necessary to become decent families which include alternative avenues to gaining juice.As opposed to achieving respect through violence and drug dealing, other standards and means to reach those standards need to be instilled in the community. learning and job training should be stressed and drug problems should be treated. Violence in the community should also be controlled so that individuals feel safe and decent kids can listen to music and study as opposed to the popping sounds of gunshots.