This presentation sums up a case study of sociological aspescts behind crime in Chicago. One case in particular where Afican-American Hernando Washington raped a caucasian woman.

1. Code of the Streets Ryan Huelsmann ShemurahHardiman

2. The Code Poverty stricken inner city black community Code is based on norms of this subculture and is rather informal Focuses on the value of respect Revolves around presentation of self Major Concept: The Strong Survive

3. Decent vs. Street Decent-moral, religious, belief that hard work, respectful, cordial This group is a majority of families and residents Street-self-destructive behavior, drug addicted or alcoholics, angry, violent A minority but still powerful, highly influential Making it an oppositional culture

4. Oppositional Culture Subculture who consciously reject mainstream values and norms Not everyone is totally invested in the Code They have other ways of earning respect Doing good work Getting good grades Working hard at your job or career

5. Juice Juice equals respect, a highly valued commodity under the code Based on everything from clothes you wear to stealing anything that will elevate your status Main point don’t show weakness

6. Economics of Juice Plus or Increase Expensive clothes and other bling Stealing such items Acquiring any type of trophy Successful attempts at pay back and revenge Minus or Decrease Getting insulted or dissed Having expensive items stolen from you Losing a trophy Running away or retreating from a fight

7. Zero-Sum Quality Important aspect of this give-and-take The extent to which one person can raise himself depends on his ability to put another person down The more you hurt, the more you rise

8. “Going for Bad” Cavalier attitude for death Believe and accept they can DIE violently at any time Results in no fear of police or prison Because it can enhance their reputation

9. Vicious Circle Many young African-Americans have assumed a Street demeanor while embracing a moderate way of life These are decent people trying to raise families in nonviolent lifestyle, but racism and unemployment drives them back to violent ways of the Code Depending on situation, they can slip back and forth from Decent to Street Unless this cycle is broken, casualties will be claimed everywhere including black and white as well as poor and affluent

10. Discussion Question How does the code of the streets compare to other more well known codes? Ex. Code of Honor (Like King Arthur’s Knights) Code of Ethics for a business Pirate’s Code (parlay anyone?)

11. Discussion Questions Is Hernando Washington Decent or Street? Does he show elements of both? In your judgment are young men from more “middle class” cultural settings at all preoccupied with earning respect? How do young men in middle-class culture earn the respect of others and prove themselves to be “manly”?