"The Code of the Street"

Paper Summary:

In this paper, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "Code of the Street" by Elijah Anderson. Specifically, it discusses the ways the campaign for respect organizes street life for younger people. The writer explains that the campaign for respect is a street code that helps inner city residents stay alive on the streets. It organizes life for young people by gaining them the respect of others and teaching them how to survive in their neighborhoods. The writer concludes that the code of the street is a complex mechanism of survival and respect. Finally, the writer points out that the campaign for respect might not work in every area of a city, but on the streets of the inner city, it is a rigid method of survival and self-respect.

From the Paper:

"This is especially important in impoverished areas, where children may come from broken homes, or the parents work many jobs, and are rarely home to interact with and teach their children. Thus, they organize their lives by what they learn on the street. By seeing what works for others who may be in similar situations, they make sense of their own lives and gain valuable life skills in the process. Without this organization on the street, these children might not have the ability to learn these lessons, and they might feel alienated and alone, as if they are the only ones going through a particular problem. The campaign for respect helps them discover solutions to their problems and gives them a feeling of belonging and peer approval."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, Elijah. Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999.

More papers on "The Code of the Street":

• Analytical Essay # 16438 : "The Code of the Streets"
• Analytical Essay # 133452 : "Anderson's "Code of the Street"
• Book Review # 118995 : "Code of the Street"

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