Code of the Streets by Elijah Anderson

Code of the Streets by Elijah Anderson

Introduction

The book “Code of the Streets” is a constraining examination of poverty, savagery, and ethics in the inner city neighborhoods of Philadelphia. The complexity of Anderson's work furnishes an empowering investigation of inner city neighborhood subculture. His interviews with city inhabitants present a demonstration of the code of the streets and communities. Anderson's documentation of the “code of the streets” is an intriguing and fascinating read for researchers and people. This book is regarded as one of his best works.

Discussion

About the Author & Contribution

Code of the Streets is written by Elijah Anderson (Anderson, 1999). He is a sociologist and professor with a keen interest in undefined and implicit laws prevailing in the society and streets. This extent can be observed in the book. His vast experience in the field of education has won him several awards. He has written and edited numerous books, book chapters, articles, and scholarly reports on race in American cities.

The degree and gravity of Elijah's analysis is evidently obvious in his book. He has a keen sense of observation which has led him to critically produce many works based on his speculations. He was able to see through the crowded bustle of daily life into the inherent and concealed reality. Thus, he is known for his vision and perception related to the social aspects prevailing around him.

Elijah Anderson has done a remarkable work in his book “Code of the Streets”. He explains the culture and norms of the streets which have evolved with time and attitude of people. The clear distinction between both aspects of the society is illustrated. It is an ethnographic account of street violence in the disadvantaged African American communities of Philadelphia. The author has provided a description while combining various elements of honor, loyalty, and respect in streets. People tend to gain these elements by aggression or any other means. The Code of the Streets presents an informal system used to regulate social interactions in impoverished areas. The issues and challenges in societies such as economic deprivation, crime, and drug communities, the code of the street emergences as a subculture that governs behavior, particularly violence. As a result of epidemic joblessness and enduring racism in mainstream society, inner-city African Americans are pressured to abide by the code of the street as a survival mechanism.

The adjustment and adaptation to this culture requires aggression and relentless performance. It is complicated and intricate by socializing or person while keeping the factors such as self appearance in account. Therefore, the dependence on sole survival is insufficient. It requires more than mere instinct to survive in such community. The author makes these features of the community more prominent while imposing the methods such as aggression and domination. The social identity of the person determines his chances in community. This implies the fact that tough image should be developed in order to gain respect and admiration. Therefore, people should adopt aggression as their ...