Beneath all the problems and chaos in poor inner city communities, there lies a code of rules. These rules govern violence and then controls it; The Codes of the Streets. The problems that are faced on a daily basis are put behind the true issue of interpersonal violence and aggression. It all adds up to alienation and a sense of hopelessness. The stigma of race, the jobs that barely make ends meet, the rampant use and trafficking of drugs, all spring and form violence. The environment is rough and places younger people in positions to be aggressive. The inner city residents say “decent” families are the one force that can stop negative aspects of the inner city. The “decent” family is strong, loving and committed to middle class values. The oppositional culture to that of the streets, is similar to mainstream society. Both cultures, street and decent, create an environment that the children must be able to handle themselves in. Most of the homes do reflect mainstream values, but the street-oriented environment counteracts it. The street culture has adapted to a set of informal rules called a code of the streets. It controls interpersonal public behavior such as violence. The code regulates violence and the people who use aggression to an extend that is oddly approved. The rules are enforced and established by the street-oriented. The decent and street both know the rules and understand the penalties when broken. Although the decent family is opposed to the codes, they still have their children become familiar with it. The heart of the code, is respect. The people who follow the codes want to be treated “right” or the respect they deserve. The inner city leaves people feeling like they can’t control certain forces, so the respect they deserve becomes uncertain. Respect is viewed by young people involved in the street culture “as an external entity that is hard-won but easily lost.” They must constantly be on guard to maintain the respect they fought for. The rules provide a base for negotiating respect. If a person has enough respect, one can be not “bother” in public. If he is bothered then it brings disrespect and he is then “dissed”. Maintaining eye contact for too long is an example of a diss and those actions are serious to people following the code. The traces can be connected to the alienation from mainstream society and the structures created by it. The codes are an adaptation to a lack of faith in systems. The police and the judicial system are the main organizations. The cliché that the police do not respond in the poorer parts in the city, is sadly true. It makes the residents feel as though they must defend themselves and their loved ones. They feel a distance from the rest of America. The decent families instill mainstream values in their children. They’re “working poor” and are generally better off financially then the street oriented. They also hold a value hard work and self-reliance. They’re willing to sacrifice for their children. They harbor hope for their children, they go to church, have interest in their kids schooling, and believe its all a test from God. Their church community provides support along with their faith. They’re well aware of the dangerous environment their children face and often are strict. Their children are encouraged to respect authority. The street parents on the other side, have a lack of consideration for other people. They give off a superficial sense of family. Its not that they do not love their children, rather they are unable to cope with the demands of parenthood, physically and emotionally. They believe in the code and judge not only other people but themselves according to its values. When street and decent kids come together, tensions build because the child understand they must choose an orientation. Children that develop a decency orientation after being from street orientated families usually learn those from another place. School, youth groups and churches can provide a caring adult role model.
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