Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Refer to the texts :

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds ( ONLY TO PAGE 234 ).

Elijah Anderson’s Code of the Streets.

Question 1:

Explain the events of Long Way Down up to this point(TO PAGE 234) in terms of social and/or norms Elijah Anderson’s “The Code of the Streets”. How would sociologists describe what’s happening to Will?

Find two moments/interactions from the book, and discuss how it fits in with Anderson’s theory.

Refer to https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-norms/ as needed.

Question 2:

At this point(TO PAGE 234), what do you think the smoke/cigarette metaphor means?

Find at least two examples from the book that prove your point.

How do these examples show your definition of the metaphor?

Question 3:

Refer to the Long Way Down Character List and Themes.  ( Picture Below )

Which two themes best represent the events of the novel? Explain why these themes are “best”.

Which characters most effectively illustrate the themes you chose? Find one character per theme, and explain how that person represents that idea.

Question 4:

Think about how this book and your reaction would be impacted if Reynolds told the story from Shawn’s viewpoint. What would be:

similar?

different?

Which version would be more effective? Why? (What would be gained/lost if we knew Shawn’s thoughts?)

Anderson describes the Code of the Streets as: The operating assumption is that a man, especially a real man, knows what other men know–the code of the streets. And if one is not a real man, one is somehow diminished as a person, and there are certain valued things one simply does not deserve. There is thus believed to be a certain justice to the code, since it is considered that everyone has the opportunity to know it. Implicit in this is that everybody is held responsible for being familiar with the code. If the victim of a mugging, for example, does not know the code and so responds "wrong," the perpetrator may feel justified even in killing him and may feel no remorse. He may think, "Too bad, but it’s his fault. He should have known better." In "The Code of the Streets (Links to an external site.)_", Elijah Anderson explains the distinction between the decent and the street family as representing "two poles of value orientation, two contrasting conceptual categories" that are labels generated by the residents themselves, and which "amount to evaluative judgments that confer status on local residents" and are "often the result of a social contest among individuals and families of the neighborhood." He defines these two groups as such: Decent Families Accept mainstream values and attempt to install them in children Represent the "working poor" Generally are involved in a church community Tend to be strict with children Respect authority Are polite, cooperative Street Families Lack consideration for others Superficial sense of family/community Disorganized Aggressive with children (physical punishment) Children generally "come up hard" "These families, who are more fully invested in the code of the streets than the decent people are, may aggressively socialize their children into it in a normative way. They believe in the code and judge themselves and others according to its values." Anderson explains that part of a "trial by manhood" is that something valuable is at stake in every interaction.

Characters William Holloman: Fifteen»year»old African American teen who is the narrator and protagonist of the story; wants to avenge his brother’s death. Shawn Holloman: Older brother of William; avenges his friend Buck’s death by murdering a gang member; gets murdered by gun violence at the beginning of the story. Shari “Mom" Holloman: Heartbroken by her son Shawn’s murder; husband was also murdered by gun violence; has severe eczema. Carlson Riggs: Dark Suns gang member who allegedly murders Shawn. Pop (Mikey) Holloman: Will and Shawn’s father who is murdered when Will is three years old; he murdered a man named Gee who he thought murdered his brother Mark. Uncle Mark Holloman: Will and Shawn’s uncle who dreamed of making a movie; his murder is related to drug dealing. Buck (James): Man who looked out for Shawn after Will’s father was killed by teaching him "the rules" of the streets; he was murdered by Frick. Dani: Girl who was Will’s childhood friend who kissed him when they were eight years old; she was shot in front ofWiII while they were playing on the monkey bars. Frick (Frank): Dark Sun gang member who murdered Buck for his gang initiation. Tony: Will’s friend who is with him when Shawn is murdered; repeatedly referred to as trying to "fly.” To which category do each belong: victims, perpetrators, rescuers, or bystanders?

Themes I Search for identity I Individual identity vs. Group identity I Independence I Coming of age I Culture I The importance/role of family I Forgiveness I Trust I Hope I Determination I Prejudice I Compassion I Empathy I Peace and nonviolence I Maintaining values and morals in the face of adversity I Revenge I Honor I Respect

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