Code of the Street

Abbergale Denton

11/13/14

098-099

Ms.Johnson

Code of The Street

In Elijah Anderson’s article, ‘‘The Code of The Streets’’, he writes about poverty. He also use values systems to separate street and decent people in society. Anderson mentions that people are different with the lifestyle they live in a mainstream society or neighborhoods. Throughout the article Anderson compares the difference between decent families moral belief and streets families in urban environments. However, America society a clear message to what they want and that is begin ‘decent’ regarding culturally approved of people should attend school; work hard, save money, lead lives of virtue, patience. The primary differences between street and decent values are violence, education, and family.

Street families use violence to teach their children code of the street. They teach their children that to be tough is a part of life.. Children in the street often become law breakers or drug users because of what their parent or parents told them and teach them. Street families never have the sense of what ‘ family time’ or dinner at the table.They will not have a sincere time with a parents. As result, street oriented families can’t switch back and forward with language because of what they grew up with in their neighborhood. Some of those bad actions cause trouble. There is often gang related fighting. Sometimes the police don’t come because of the community and the violence. Police often feel there is nothing they can do to help. Street values in the urban communities are normal because of the violence and the environment that causes young black men to adopt street behavior and not to be tested.

Education is not important to people with street values. They live for the present and not for the future. Students with street values often slack off in school. They do not go to school, and they are often in the streets. If they do go to school, they disrespect teachers, peers, and authority. They walk the halls and do not attend classes. They smoke and drink at school. These students do not do homework. They leave the house and go be with their friends. They believe that education is the least of their problems. They do not think that education is beneficial to them. Education is not a key role in the streets because most people make their living by being on the streets and selling drugs. Education for street oriented families is low because the average member in street family don’t go school higher than high school. They either drop out of school or become pregnant at a young age.

Street families have a lot dispute in situation that cause law breaker amongst them and families. Street families show that they don’t take part in the child life or school. They don’t values ethical beliefs or morals for themselves. When street families disciple their children they exhibit a different method For example,‘‘The street families advocate a culture of violence because hitting one’s children “is acceptable parental punishment in the view of these mothers” thus breeding a society where children “learn to hit those who cross them, and the dog-eat-dog mentality prevails”(5). This show that street families use aggression to talk or punishment their children. In addition , street families outright use offensive language to talk out situation or solve problem or family problem.

However, decent families have morals that they live up to. Decent families don’t use violence because morals beliefs that they believe in as a family or a person. They tend to more likely talk it out or be more civilized to each others. Decent families values more situation of calling the cops. Which