Aint No Makin It Essay
Molly Chiodo
Dr. Bywater
Intro to Sociology
10/28/14
Ain’t No Makin’ It In Jay McLeod’s influential book, Ain’t No Makin’ It (2009), he discovers new sociological theories and social reproduction through his research over many years. Through social reproduction McLeod shows us how education’s role gets passed down from one generation to the next from class inequality. He claims that aspirations/lack of aspirations is being reproduced. He deeply examines two resident groups of male youths that have opposing views on what their aspirations are in life. McLeod also deciphers what the American Dream is according to them. “The American Dream is held out as a genuine prospect for anyone with the drive to achieve it” (McLeod 2009: 3). One of the two groups of men is The Hallway Hangers who predominantly are white youths that ‘hang out in the hallway’. The Hallway Hangers are more associated with criminal behaviors and have given up on their educations almost completely. From the lack of opportunities they saw, the Hallway Hangers were drop outs and had no aspirations for a more successful life. The second group calls themselves The Brothers who are an all black group that are more hard-working than the Hallway Hangers. The Brothers are more determined and optimistic about their futures and upward social mobility. The Brothers believed that by having an education it will increase their chances of getting middle-class jobs. Any racial or prejudice issue would be overlooked with their hard work, determination and commitment to their work. The two groups come from the same economic backgrounds in Clarendon Heights, but have completely different values. McLeod explains the conditions of the Projects as, “overcrowding, unemployment, alcoholism, drug abuse, crime, and racism plague.” (McLeod 2009: 6). McLeod mainly wanted to emphasize on the occupational aspirations of the Brothers and the Hallway Hangers, how they formed and their significance for the
Dr. Bywater
Intro to Sociology
10/28/14
Ain’t No Makin’ It In Jay McLeod’s influential book, Ain’t No Makin’ It (2009), he discovers new sociological theories and social reproduction through his research over many years. Through social reproduction McLeod shows us how education’s role gets passed down from one generation to the next from class inequality. He claims that aspirations/lack of aspirations is being reproduced. He deeply examines two resident groups of male youths that have opposing views on what their aspirations are in life. McLeod also deciphers what the American Dream is according to them. “The American Dream is held out as a genuine prospect for anyone with the drive to achieve it” (McLeod 2009: 3). One of the two groups of men is The Hallway Hangers who predominantly are white youths that ‘hang out in the hallway’. The Hallway Hangers are more associated with criminal behaviors and have given up on their educations almost completely. From the lack of opportunities they saw, the Hallway Hangers were drop outs and had no aspirations for a more successful life. The second group calls themselves The Brothers who are an all black group that are more hard-working than the Hallway Hangers. The Brothers are more determined and optimistic about their futures and upward social mobility. The Brothers believed that by having an education it will increase their chances of getting middle-class jobs. Any racial or prejudice issue would be overlooked with their hard work, determination and commitment to their work. The two groups come from the same economic backgrounds in Clarendon Heights, but have completely different values. McLeod explains the conditions of the Projects as, “overcrowding, unemployment, alcoholism, drug abuse, crime, and racism plague.” (McLeod 2009: 6). McLeod mainly wanted to emphasize on the occupational aspirations of the Brothers and the Hallway Hangers, how they formed and their significance for the