In today’s society there are a few different levels or I should say categories which people fall into; high class, middle and lower class society. It is sad to say that African Americans mainly populate the majority of the lower classes. Lower class society tends to live in areas called the ghetto; high crime rates, many single mothers, people fighting to survive. With crime rates escalating in these areas, it’s to wonder what is causing this rise.
The code of the street is a silent code that everyone should know, or
assumed to be known by others, even though they do not live in or with the lower class society. In the article, Code of the Streets,” by Elija Anderson it is defined as, “ The code of the streets is actually a cultural adaptation to a profound lack of faith in the police and judicial system. The police are most often seen as representing the dominant white society and not caring to protect inner-city residents” (172). With the lack of feeling secured or in their own community many residents then take matters into their own hands. Where now, “…the street code emerges where the influence of the police ends and personal responsibility for one’s safety is felt to begin” (172). This concept is called conflict theory. Where the hierarchy is not doing much for the people below them or causing havoc, so that they’re distracted from what is really going on with the hierarchy. For example, when higher officials don’t pay their taxes but finally they get caught, they fork up the money and it’s done with. Now lets say this happens to a middle or lower class citizen, they are put into jail and prosecuted.
People that are living in lower class neighborhoods are having a tuff time making ends meet. Many mothers are single, having to raise more than one child and not making enough money to provide, it gets tough. Also, her patience is lowered, always tired, kids don’t have the supervision they should be getting, which leads them to the streets. Kids are fending for themselves at a young age, getting into confrontations that lead to physical harm. Mothers are accepting these violent gestures because there is no one to protect them. Most relatives are accepting this and telling these kids to, “ Watch your back. Protect yourself. Don’t punk out. If somebody messes with you, you got to pay them back. If someone disses you, you got to straighten them out” (176). This type of feedback is being engraved into the child’s mind with hatred and violence. This can lead to only more violent crimes when they grow up and become adults. What a child is exposed to, especially at a young age affects them throughout their lives, and will make them a better person or vise versa into a criminal.
Now that kids are being taught to fend for themselves and have no supervision they are more likely to be on the streets. Respect is one of the most important aspects of the code on the streets. Boys are fining and searching how to grab a hold of respect from others on the street. First is, “ The persons appearance-including his clothing, demeanor, and the way of moving-defers transgressions feels that he posses, and may be considered by others to posses, a measure of respect” (172). Having the right clothing, shoes, jewelry gains you respect, but also makes you more vulnerable to getting attacked. Since these boys are always seeking respect and be on top, yet they cannot afford them, they sometimes will jump others and take it away from them. Then making that person top dog.
Living on the streets each dog fends for himself. Everyone is competing to be the dog on top and needs to gain his manhood by doing so. Becoming a man means to fear no one and do what needs to be done without remorse. For example, “ If the victim of a mugging, …, does not know the code and responds wrong, the perpetrator may feel justified even in killing and may feel no remorse. He may think, Too bad but it’s his fault. He should have known better.” (179) The code of the streets says this type of attitude makes a young boy, a man. No one disrespects him or will attempt to walk over him.
With this dog eat dog world, its no wonder why crime rates are escalating in ghetto areas. There is no guidance, not even authorities are taking action. Conflict theory has so much impact on lower class society. With their actions and selfishness, their crimes being committed and not being punished for it, has affected everyone, except themselves. They won’t take action to help the smaller people, they need to keep them distracted from their evil deeds and make them fend for themselves. Children need guidance and role models to shape them into the best they can be, if not they may end up in jail committing endless crimes.
The way of the Street
In today’s society there are a few different levels or I should say categories which people fall into; high class, middle and lower class society. It is sad to say that African Americans mainly populate the majority of the lower classes. Lower class society tends to live in areas called the ghetto; high crime rates, many single mothers, people fighting to survive. With crime rates escalating in these areas, it’s to wonder what is causing this rise.
The code of the street is a silent code that everyone should know, or
assumed to be known by others, even though they do not live in or with the lower class society. In the article, Code of the Streets,” by Elija Anderson it is defined as, “ The code of the streets is actually a cultural adaptation to a profound lack of faith in the police and judicial system. The police are most often seen as representing the dominant white society and not caring to protect inner-city residents” (172). With the lack of feeling secured or in their own community many residents then take matters into their own hands. Where now, “…the street code emerges where the influence of the police ends and personal responsibility for one’s safety is felt to begin” (172). This concept is called conflict theory. Where the hierarchy is not doing much for the people below them or causing havoc, so that they’re distracted from what is really going on with the hierarchy. For example, when higher officials don’t pay their taxes but finally they get caught, they fork up the money and it’s done with. Now lets say this happens to a middle or lower class citizen, they are put into jail and prosecuted.
People that are living in lower class neighborhoods are having a tuff time making ends meet. Many mothers are single, having to raise more than one child and not making enough money to provide, it gets tough. Also, her patience is lowered, always tired, kids don’t have the supervision they should be getting, which leads them to the streets. Kids are fending for themselves at a young age, getting into confrontations that lead to physical harm. Mothers are accepting these violent gestures because there is no one to protect them. Most relatives are accepting this and telling these kids to, “ Watch your back. Protect yourself. Don’t punk out. If somebody messes with you, you got to pay them back. If someone disses you, you got to straighten them out” (176). This type of feedback is being engraved into the child’s mind with hatred and violence. This can lead to only more violent crimes when they grow up and become adults. What a child is exposed to, especially at a young age affects them throughout their lives, and will make them a better person or vise versa into a criminal.
Now that kids are being taught to fend for themselves and have no supervision they are more likely to be on the streets. Respect is one of the most important aspects of the code on the streets. Boys are fining and searching how to grab a hold of respect from others on the street. First is, “ The persons appearance-including his clothing, demeanor, and the way of moving-defers transgressions feels that he posses, and may be considered by others to posses, a measure of respect” (172). Having the right clothing, shoes, jewelry gains you respect, but also makes you more vulnerable to getting attacked. Since these boys are always seeking respect and be on top, yet they cannot afford them, they sometimes will jump others and take it away from them. Then making that person top dog.
Living on the streets each dog fends for himself. Everyone is competing to be the dog on top and needs to gain his manhood by doing so. Becoming a man means to fear no one and do what needs to be done without remorse. For example, “ If the victim of a mugging, …, does not know the code and responds wrong, the perpetrator may feel justified even in killing and may feel no remorse. He may think, Too bad but it’s his fault. He should have known better.” (179) The code of the streets says this type of attitude makes a young boy, a man. No one disrespects him or will attempt to walk over him.
With this dog eat dog world, its no wonder why crime rates are escalating in ghetto areas. There is no guidance, not even authorities are taking action. Conflict theory has so much impact on lower class society. With their actions and selfishness, their crimes being committed and not being punished for it, has affected everyone, except themselves. They won’t take action to help the smaller people, they need to keep them distracted from their evil deeds and make them fend for themselves. Children need guidance and role models to shape them into the best they can be, if not they may end up in jail committing endless crimes.
REFLECTION
The silent code of the streets is something that I was exposed to at a young age. While having some of my family members being locked up in jail, and hanging around the wrong crowd in high school let me see this first hand. There are so many young kids with potential to become something so great, but don't have much choice and need to stay in the streets.
It is sad to see how the kids family members approve of their wrong doing, yet wounder why society judges them. I can understand why they approve of need the kids to stand up for themselves. Many of the kids come from broken homes, with no father. They need to grow up fighting to survive each and every day.
The code of the street is a silent code that everyone should know, or
assumed to be known by others, even though they do not live in or with the lower class society. In the article, Code of the Streets,” by Elija Anderson it is defined as, “ The code of the streets is actually a cultural adaptation to a profound lack of faith in the police and judicial system. The police are most often seen as representing the dominant white society and not caring to protect inner-city residents” (172). With the lack of feeling secured or in their own community many residents then take matters into their own hands. Where now, “…the street code emerges where the influence of the police ends and personal responsibility for one’s safety is felt to begin” (172). This concept is called conflict theory. Where the hierarchy is not doing much for the people below them or causing havoc, so that they’re distracted from what is really going on with the hierarchy. For example, when higher officials don’t pay their taxes but finally they get caught, they fork up the money and it’s done with. Now lets say this happens to a middle or lower class citizen, they are put into jail and prosecuted.
People that are living in lower class neighborhoods are having a tuff time making ends meet. Many mothers are single, having to raise more than one child and not making enough money to provide, it gets tough. Also, her patience is lowered, always tired, kids don’t have the supervision they should be getting, which leads them to the streets. Kids are fending for themselves at a young age, getting into confrontations that lead to physical harm. Mothers are accepting these violent gestures because there is no one to protect them. Most relatives are accepting this and telling these kids to, “ Watch your back. Protect yourself. Don’t punk out. If somebody messes with you, you got to pay them back. If someone disses you, you got to straighten them out” (176). This type of feedback is being engraved into the child’s mind with hatred and violence. This can lead to only more violent crimes when they grow up and become adults. What a child is exposed to, especially at a young age affects them throughout their lives, and will make them a better person or vise versa into a criminal.
Now that kids are being taught to fend for themselves and have no supervision they are more likely to be on the streets. Respect is one of the most important aspects of the code on the streets. Boys are fining and searching how to grab a hold of respect from others on the street. First is, “ The persons appearance-including his clothing, demeanor, and the way of moving-defers transgressions feels that he posses, and may be considered by others to posses, a measure of respect” (172). Having the right clothing, shoes, jewelry gains you respect, but also makes you more vulnerable to getting attacked. Since these boys are always seeking respect and be on top, yet they cannot afford them, they sometimes will jump others and take it away from them. Then making that person top dog.
Living on the streets each dog fends for himself. Everyone is competing to be the dog on top and needs to gain his manhood by doing so. Becoming a man means to fear no one and do what needs to be done without remorse. For example, “ If the victim of a mugging, …, does not know the code and responds wrong, the perpetrator may feel justified even in killing and may feel no remorse. He may think, Too bad but it’s his fault. He should have known better.” (179) The code of the streets says this type of attitude makes a young boy, a man. No one disrespects him or will attempt to walk over him.
With this dog eat dog world, its no wonder why crime rates are escalating in ghetto areas. There is no guidance, not even authorities are taking action. Conflict theory has so much impact on lower class society. With their actions and selfishness, their crimes being committed and not being punished for it, has affected everyone, except themselves. They won’t take action to help the smaller people, they need to keep them distracted from their evil deeds and make them fend for themselves. Children need guidance and role models to shape them into the best they can be, if not they may end up in jail committing endless crimes.
The way of the Street
In today’s society there are a few different levels or I should say categories which people fall into; high class, middle and lower class society. It is sad to say that African Americans mainly populate the majority of the lower classes. Lower class society tends to live in areas called the ghetto; high crime rates, many single mothers, people fighting to survive. With crime rates escalating in these areas, it’s to wonder what is causing this rise.
The code of the street is a silent code that everyone should know, or
assumed to be known by others, even though they do not live in or with the lower class society. In the article, Code of the Streets,” by Elija Anderson it is defined as, “ The code of the streets is actually a cultural adaptation to a profound lack of faith in the police and judicial system. The police are most often seen as representing the dominant white society and not caring to protect inner-city residents” (172). With the lack of feeling secured or in their own community many residents then take matters into their own hands. Where now, “…the street code emerges where the influence of the police ends and personal responsibility for one’s safety is felt to begin” (172). This concept is called conflict theory. Where the hierarchy is not doing much for the people below them or causing havoc, so that they’re distracted from what is really going on with the hierarchy. For example, when higher officials don’t pay their taxes but finally they get caught, they fork up the money and it’s done with. Now lets say this happens to a middle or lower class citizen, they are put into jail and prosecuted.
People that are living in lower class neighborhoods are having a tuff time making ends meet. Many mothers are single, having to raise more than one child and not making enough money to provide, it gets tough. Also, her patience is lowered, always tired, kids don’t have the supervision they should be getting, which leads them to the streets. Kids are fending for themselves at a young age, getting into confrontations that lead to physical harm. Mothers are accepting these violent gestures because there is no one to protect them. Most relatives are accepting this and telling these kids to, “ Watch your back. Protect yourself. Don’t punk out. If somebody messes with you, you got to pay them back. If someone disses you, you got to straighten them out” (176). This type of feedback is being engraved into the child’s mind with hatred and violence. This can lead to only more violent crimes when they grow up and become adults. What a child is exposed to, especially at a young age affects them throughout their lives, and will make them a better person or vise versa into a criminal.
Now that kids are being taught to fend for themselves and have no supervision they are more likely to be on the streets. Respect is one of the most important aspects of the code on the streets. Boys are fining and searching how to grab a hold of respect from others on the street. First is, “ The persons appearance-including his clothing, demeanor, and the way of moving-defers transgressions feels that he posses, and may be considered by others to posses, a measure of respect” (172). Having the right clothing, shoes, jewelry gains you respect, but also makes you more vulnerable to getting attacked. Since these boys are always seeking respect and be on top, yet they cannot afford them, they sometimes will jump others and take it away from them. Then making that person top dog.
Living on the streets each dog fends for himself. Everyone is competing to be the dog on top and needs to gain his manhood by doing so. Becoming a man means to fear no one and do what needs to be done without remorse. For example, “ If the victim of a mugging, …, does not know the code and responds wrong, the perpetrator may feel justified even in killing and may feel no remorse. He may think, Too bad but it’s his fault. He should have known better.” (179) The code of the streets says this type of attitude makes a young boy, a man. No one disrespects him or will attempt to walk over him.
With this dog eat dog world, its no wonder why crime rates are escalating in ghetto areas. There is no guidance, not even authorities are taking action. Conflict theory has so much impact on lower class society. With their actions and selfishness, their crimes being committed and not being punished for it, has affected everyone, except themselves. They won’t take action to help the smaller people, they need to keep them distracted from their evil deeds and make them fend for themselves. Children need guidance and role models to shape them into the best they can be, if not they may end up in jail committing endless crimes.
REFLECTION
The silent code of the streets is something that I was exposed to at a young age. While having some of my family members being locked up in jail, and hanging around the wrong crowd in high school let me see this first hand. There are so many young kids with potential to become something so great, but don't have much choice and need to stay in the streets.
It is sad to see how the kids family members approve of their wrong doing, yet wounder why society judges them. I can understand why they approve of need the kids to stand up for themselves. Many of the kids come from broken homes, with no father. They need to grow up fighting to survive each and every day.
