Code of the Street Violent Youths and Gangs

For several decades, researchers have studied the race/violence relationship. A number of explanations have been put forth to clarify the forces at play behind this relationship. Elijah Anderson, a professor of sociology currently at Yale University, presents a compelling argument for the high rates of violence among African-American adolescents. In his "code of the street" thesis, Anderson argues that the economic disadvantage, social dislocation and racial discrimination encountered by some African-American adolescents foster deviant, anti-social attitudes (ie: a street code) and developmental pathways that are related to violent behaviour. This book explores the research into the validity of the "code of the street" theory.