Sociology of culture: key concepts and perspectives

¶ … Elijah Anderson's "The Code of the Streets," he introduces the idea that violence, aggression, stealing, and other socially deviant behaviors are not perceived as infractions of rules, but rather conforming to a different standard, a different set of rules. (Anderson, p. 154) Anderson does an adequate job of setting forth his ideas, along with providing sufficient evidence to support them. However, it is Anderson's detailed description of "decent" and "street" families that were most insightful. (Anderson, p. 154-157) He takes on the touchy subject of inner-city family life, which is often overlooked, and describes in vivid detail the stark differences that poor black families, coexisting within the same inner-city community, are faced with culturally. (Anderson, p.154-157) He misinterprets street families, however, when he proclaims that these mothers do love their children. (Anderson, p. 157) By calling it love, Anderson belittles the physical, and emotional abuse these children are exposed to, at the hands of the parental figures in their lives. Street code or not, no child should face abuse, and to call it love declares it "okay."

The contrasts between street families, and decent families are not always easily observed. As Anderson points out, most street families appear on the surface to be decent families. (Anderson, p. 157) The appearance of having "calm, respectful children" is often what the mother wants most, more than happy children. (Anderson, p. 157) Her desire for such a family is often so strong that she is "quick to beat her children...if they defy her law." (Anderson, p. 157) Anderson concludes that this abusive behavior is often perceived as acceptable behavior within the inner-citinner city the disapproval from the wider society as a whole. (Anderson, p. 157)

When Anderson proclaims that these street moms, who are "sporadic mothers," actually love their children - he is quite wrong. Love, by definition is the "intense affection for another arising out of kinship." (Webster's, p. 137) These women could not possibly posses any intense affection for their children. According to Anderson, street children are often left alone, with no adults to supervise, if the mother has the desire to go out alone. (Anderson, p. 157) Young children then learn that they are to fend for themselves - meaning they must clothe themselves, feed themselves, and sometimes even earn money any way they are able to. (Anderson, p. 157) This is completely unacceptable treatment of young children, whether there is a "street code" or not. With the violence within the inner-city community most often happening between members of the community, there should be a safe haven for children. (Anderson, p. 154) If children are not safe at home, then where are they safe?

Decent families "accept mainstream values" while sacrificing their own comforts for the comforts of their children. (Anderson, p. 156) Their ability to instill strong moral beliefs in their children reflects not only on the character of the parents, but also the love that the parents have for their children. Not all decent families are able to prevent their children from turning to the streets, for "even youngsters whose home lives reflect mainstream values...must be able to handle themselves in a street-oriented environment." (Anderson, p. 154) Clearly, the opportunity exists for parents to do right by their children, yet only the child itself can make the final decision.