Social Reproduction

The American ideology is heavily reinforced within our society through academic institutions. This ideology states that if an individual strives hard within school, they are destined to make it. Although the American ideology may be true in some instances, it has become a myth for many individuals residing at the lower level of the economic ladder. These individuals must overcome incredible obstacles in order to ascend to a higher-class level. The competitive occupational and economic race, which is assumed to be equal and fair, has placed several stumbling hurdles in front of the poverty-stricken oppressed. These hurdles, which include racial and class discrimination, downturns in the business cycles, and inadequate cultural and scholastic education, have forced many to quit the race, and accept their class-born positions. As a result of this withdrawal from the American, Olympic race, many individuals blame themselves for their failure to reach the finish line. They never take into account how structural institutions have worked to recreate their inherited class-standings. The book Ain’t No Makin’ It, explains how schools, as well as the job industry, create social reproduction, while emphasizing the mythic aspects of the American ideology.

Ain’t No Makin’ It begins by describing two different male-dominated groups, residing in the poverty-stricken, drug-infested projects of Clarendon Heights. The first group called the Hallway Hangers, consists of eight youths named Boo-Boo, Chris, Slick, Frankie, Shorty, Stoney, Steve, and Jinks. Boo-Boo is African-American, Chris is interracially mixed with African-American and white, and the remaining of the Hallway Hangers are considered white males of Italian and Irish lineage. This group is prone to violent behavior, resilience in school, drug and alcohol abuse, involvement in the illegal bartering of crack cocaine, and especially racial prejudice and discrimination against African-Americans. With pessimistic attitudes toward the future, the Hallway Hangers see their subsequent time as bleak and disheartening because of their economic standing, residency, and the disappointing outcomes of their own family members’ lives. With all of these factors in mind, the Hallway Hangers resist the American ideology, and engage in blue-collar work, where low-wage, labor-intense jobs become the only means to receive a fair amount of income. Due to the absence of educational aspirations and non-conformity within the school system, the Hallway Hangers ultimately become permanent residents at the very depths of the economic ladder.

With different attitudes and aspirations, the Brothers are firm believers in the American ideology. This group is composed of seven male teenagers named Craig, Super, Juan, Mike, Mokey, James, and Derek. Mike is the only white member of the Brothers, whereas the remainder members are African-American. With optimistic hopes for the future, the Brothers