Describe the major elements of what Anderson calls “the code of the streets.” How does this “code” oppose mainstream values? The code is really only alive in the ghetto, while it may reach parts of the suburbs it is not as predominant as in the ghettos. At the core of the code is respect, the code was described as the framework for gaining respect on the street, along with respect is loyalty and honor. The respect is getting respect and not giving the respect to any person of authority, such as parent or a cop. The loyalty is given to your street family not necessarily to your real family or people of authority again and honor is very similiar to respect. These values are described as what one needs to know to survive on the streets. Survival on the street is the important thing, and obtaining respect is imperative even if it costs your life. Obtaining respect, loyalty or honor on the streets are obtained through very different means than if you were in the suburbs or growing up in a middle to upper class neighborhood. Not only the way these are obtained different but also they are different from the mainstream in who is the receipent of them. To obtain respect, loyalty or honor it is achieved through aggressive behavior not as you would if you grew up in a middle or upper class suburb. For example one would gain respect in the ghetto by stealing something coveted by another person and then displaying the theft proudly. These values are also obtained through obtaining the right clothes, jewelry or cars, by whatever means necessary, not through hard working normal jobs, it may be by theft or dealing drugs for example. The code would be considered deviant behavior or going against the “cultural norms” (Macionis, 2011, p. 172), to live by the code you are encouraged to commit crimes, use violence when most would not and teaches you that these things are ok to do or are normal to do, and many may not be aware that this is not how the majority of society behaves. Many do not attend school or if they do they are doing poorly, skipping classes and do not show respect to their teachers. They usually avoid any type of structure, do not have any rules or if they do they choose not to follow them. Most likely have gotten involved in gangs, drinking, fighting, and drugs at an early age. Our text asks a great question on page 180 which I think sum up mainstream society and the streets very well; Emile Durkheim states “society as a moral system, built on a set of rules about what people should and should not do” I think this clearly outlines mainstream society and as for the streets, BlaisePascal notes “cheating is the foundation of society” (Macionis, 2011, p. 180).
How is “the code of the streets” a product of the disadvantages, social isolation, and racism faced by manny inner-city people? Many consider the code as a product of their disadvantages and they feel that they are disadvantaged because of racism and social isolation. Poverty certainly does not discriminate but many feel they are poor due to these elements. Racism does occur but can also only be perceived by members of the ghettos, people who operate by the code feel this may be the only way to live. If the poor were not discriminated against they would have had better opportunities, in general becausethey would have better schooling. Their parents would have had these opportunities and would have taught their children more mainstream values. Because many are poorly educated they turn to prostitution, selling drugs and/or murder and violence to obtain the respect they feel is deserved. Crime is not as prevalent in richer areas, people in richer areas generally did not grow up having to fend for themselves, finding their own meals, while their parents may have been out leaving them alone for days at a time. Mainstream society tends be made up of middle and upper class, since the code opposes mainstream values, it can be argued that your socioeconomic status also determines whether you will taught the code. Poorer members of society become frustrated with their poverty and not being able to provide what they may consider a “decent” family and being able to provide for their family causing anger, which causes them to act in ways that are also considered to be against mainstream values, they may not work, they may drink or do drugs and get into a routine of this type of behavior, which is also common in the code. This is a way to earn respect, you get loyalty from your “family” that you associate while taking part in these activities. This behavior also leads into the crime to obtain your drugs or alcohol. The members of poor society are generally segregated from mainstream society because they have little reason to leave there neighborhoods. They do their shopping, they most likely do not work, or if they do this is one of the few times they get out of their neighborhoods. As we learned about in Macionis, which is demonstrated in Anderson’s the code, prejudice and discrimination is a vicious circle, generally minorities to have lower paying jobs and less than stellar schooling, this in turn makes one feel that they are inferior and may not try to get out of their environment, so they conform. The code is a defense, used for survival in their environment, to get by, one needs to obtain respect from their peers, they also need to have loyalty and street honor, they must also exhibit these traits. As they say, its sink or swim.

Why do most inner city people - even those who are poor - reject the street code? Overall in most inner cities as Anderson described there are two types of families, “decent” and “street” and I think the majority are what would be described as decent. The decent families are more mainstream than the street families. They attend church regularly, have steady employment, enforce rules on their children and they show respect to authority and try to enstill these values on their children. Decent families also value hard work and self reliance, and try to avoid danger, while street families do not value hard work, they are looking to get what they want easily, by stealing it, or possibly dealing drugs, or whatever means they can with as little effort as possible. Most street families also have the attitude that they are owed because they were wronged in some way by society, so they do not feel it is up to them to work for what they want. While a decent family may adapt to their surroundings and adopt portions of the code when needed, they generally avoid the typical behaviors of a street family. Many are seeking non violence as well and a large part of the code is rooted in violence and it is considered acceptable and the proper reaction to respond in most situations with violence. These decent families, which may be single mothers, single fathers or two parent household, are just trying to enstill mainstream values in their children with hopes of their children someday getting out of the poor neighborhood. Another reason is that these families themselves recognize their differences and at times there can be a mutual respect for each other and they may leave each other alone, so to not cause conflict, although this is likely rare.

Explain how Anderson’s “code” can be theorized to work as a protective factor against victimization. The code can be looked at as in protecting oneself in your neighborhood, if you adopt part of the code and use it only when necessary you can protect yourself from being a victim of crime. If one displays that they are able to defend themselves and are not afraid to do so if needed than they may not be challenged which can protect them from crime. It will also gain them respect in their neighborhood, and with respect as Anderson points out, you may not be messed with. Of course there is always the possibility that someone will want to challenge you to diss you but this could occur if you do not adopt the code. It is also thought that if you do not take care of yourself than you can be taken advantage of, this is not just a theory in the code, many in the mainstream feel this to be a truth, myself included. Another instance in which the code can be thought of as a protector is it does teach one to let others know that you are not easily intimated and teaches confidence, again this is another mainstream value. A study by National Institute of Justice published in February of 2009 noted that street families also use the threat of violence as a deterrence (Simmons & Stewart, 2009, 15). As some of the decent families living in the poorer neighborhoods do when needed, using parts of the code are not all bad and can also be done without using violence, or aggressive behavior, that can affect you and others negatively. For example, such as exuding confidence in not letting yourself be taken advantage of, or not being easily intimated but in using this values in our mainstream culture they can be a very effective weapon.

Reference Page
Anderson, Elijah (1994) The Code Of The Streets, Atlantic Monthly 1072-7825
Macionis, John J. (2011) Society The Basics, Upper Saddle River NJ, 172, 180
Simons, Ronald L. & Stewart, Eric A. (2009) The Code of the Street and African-American Adolescent Violence Washington D.C., 15