Code Of The Street Reflection
Code of the Street Reflection
Emily Hayward
Anna Maria College
Author’s Note:
This paper was prepared for Introduction to Sociology 201, MWF 9:00 am-10:50 am, taught by Professor Talbot.
While reading “The Code of The Street” It is clear this book is related to sociology and the studies we have learned so far. This book is an ethnographic of African American families in Philadelphia. Sociology is “the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specifically: the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings (sociology, 2014).” This book describes two different types of families within the city described by Anderson as the decent and the street. The “code” of the street means respect and violence is a major problem. Each of these social types have different actions and values. Although they are different they coexist in the same society, city, and may even be part of each other’s extended families. They also coexist in the schools, streets and the public. The decent families …show more content…
“Respect becomes critical for stating out of harms way” (Anderson 66). People in the decent family group obtain respect through hard work. They also obtain respect through the church, and education. One must be street smart and act the right way on the streets. On the other hand the street families are the complete opposite. In order to get respect one must be tough and make people not want to mess with them. These people obtain respect through violence and fights. “There are always people looking around for a fight to increase their share of respect (Anderson 73).” One cannot look vulnerable. If one from the upper class does not act accordingly they are in danger. Also respect for the street families can also be material. For both of these families it is hard to gain respect but very easily to lose
Emily Hayward
Anna Maria College
Author’s Note:
This paper was prepared for Introduction to Sociology 201, MWF 9:00 am-10:50 am, taught by Professor Talbot.
While reading “The Code of The Street” It is clear this book is related to sociology and the studies we have learned so far. This book is an ethnographic of African American families in Philadelphia. Sociology is “the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships; specifically: the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings (sociology, 2014).” This book describes two different types of families within the city described by Anderson as the decent and the street. The “code” of the street means respect and violence is a major problem. Each of these social types have different actions and values. Although they are different they coexist in the same society, city, and may even be part of each other’s extended families. They also coexist in the schools, streets and the public. The decent families …show more content…
“Respect becomes critical for stating out of harms way” (Anderson 66). People in the decent family group obtain respect through hard work. They also obtain respect through the church, and education. One must be street smart and act the right way on the streets. On the other hand the street families are the complete opposite. In order to get respect one must be tough and make people not want to mess with them. These people obtain respect through violence and fights. “There are always people looking around for a fight to increase their share of respect (Anderson 73).” One cannot look vulnerable. If one from the upper class does not act accordingly they are in danger. Also respect for the street families can also be material. For both of these families it is hard to gain respect but very easily to lose