Code of the Street

In this chapter, Anderson sheds light on the value of respect in the inner city, particularly as a form of social capital. Respect is seen as the highest form of social currency. Anderson argues that “given its value and its practical implications, respect is fought for and held and challenged as much as honor was in the age of chivalry. Respect becomes critical for staying out of harm’s way” (66). According to Anderson, respect is earned mostly through physical assertiveness—the ability to defend oneself through fighting—and through “juice,” or self-image, which comes from a combination of physical prowess and material possessions (i.e., sneakers and leather jackets). Thus, young people in the inner city are constantly jockeying for position and status by way of respect.

In order to illustrate some of these dynamics, Anderson tells the story of Tyree, a 15-year-old young man who must assert himself after moving to a new neighborhood. After getting jumped by a large group, Tyree then literally fights his way into a group of young men (“bols”) to secure a place for himself. Without assuming the risks of violence, Tyree would remain both alienated and vulnerable. Tyree’s story highlights the importance of nerve as a pathway toward proving manhood. This definition of manhood relies on taking action in ways that often conflict with the norms of civil society; as Anderson points out, “a man shows nerve by taking another person’s possessions, messing with someone’s woman, throwing the first punch, ‘getting in someone’s face’, or pulling a trigger” (92).

Throughout this chapter, Anderson develops the theme of Violence and Respect in the Inner City, as he illustrates the inextricable link between the two. Without respect, violence becomes a real possibility, a constant threat that characterizes all interactions of those living by the code of the street. Therefore, the need to know how to handle oneself in violent situations becomes a necessary life skill. By focusing on Tyree’s story, Anderson also emphasizes that this awareness begins at a young age (in Tyree’s case, at 15). For young people like Tyree, living by the code of the street is not a choice but a survival mechanism, particularly as “the culture of the street does not allow backing down” (97). As the isolation and alienation from mainstream society grow among inner-city families, so too will the adherence to the code of the street increase.