Most of the American society follows a certain set of rules. There are social niceties that must be observed, and while there are variations depending on what area of the United States you live in, for the most part people value good manners, morals, and politeness when dealing with others. However, as Elijah Anderson’s book explains, there is a different set of rules for those who live in the inner city, and a different source of social capital, respect. Nothing is more important in the inner city than the concept of respect, and as Anderson explains a lot of the actions that seem foreign to those who live outside of the world of the inner city make sense when thought about in this context. The book, as a whole, separates itself into seven
…show more content…
The decent father is a relatively rare character in inner city society and he is known as a strong person who holds to his convictions. He is strict with his children and his word is law within his household. Both his wife and children respect him and he usually has a decent job, sometimes working two of them to provide for his family (Location 2938). The grandmother also has a significant role in raising the family in inner city life. Some of them become grandmothers as young as early as their early thirties and their children are not fit to take care of their children. These grandmothers take on additional responsibilities, sometimes by choice sometimes because they feel a societal pressure, of raising their grandchildren. At times they can even take over the role of the parent all together, taking custody from the mother (Location 3640). Both of these types of people try their best to provide strict moral guidelines for their children. They do their best to combat the influences of the street and try and keep their hold on their children. However, the lure of the street sometimes is too much for them to combat and they find themselves discouraged, thinking that their efforts are doing little to combat the influence of the street (Location
The decent father is a relatively rare character in inner city society and he is known as a strong person who holds to his convictions. He is strict with his children and his word is law within his household. Both his wife and children respect him and he usually has a decent job, sometimes working two of them to provide for his family (Location 2938). The grandmother also has a significant role in raising the family in inner city life. Some of them become grandmothers as young as early as their early thirties and their children are not fit to take care of their children. These grandmothers take on additional responsibilities, sometimes by choice sometimes because they feel a societal pressure, of raising their grandchildren. At times they can even take over the role of the parent all together, taking custody from the mother (Location 3640). Both of these types of people try their best to provide strict moral guidelines for their children. They do their best to combat the influences of the street and try and keep their hold on their children. However, the lure of the street sometimes is too much for them to combat and they find themselves discouraged, thinking that their efforts are doing little to combat the influence of the street (Location