Family Life

As MacLeod describes the differences in the family lives between the Hallway Hangers and the Brothers, many distinct characteristics can be found such as differences in length of residence in Clarendon Heights and the presence or absence of positive, successful or semi-successful role models. One aspect I found particularly interesting was that many of the Brothers had parents that were not originally from Clarendon Heights or even from areas close to Clarendon Heights. Many of the Bothers’ parents were from other states or immigrated from another country. Perhaps the fact that their parents had come from other areas and countries may influence the Brothers’ more hopeful outlooks on their future because their parents were able to make a change in their lives, even if it did not significantly allow them social mobility. Thus, the Brothers may have more hope that their lives do not have to follow those of their parents. Also, the idea of immigrants coming to America for a better life pervades our culture and probably is something the Brothers, in part, believe in or at least hope is true.

Another interesting aspect of the family life, particularly with respect to the Hallway Hangers, was the difference in the proposed and observed approaches parents use to reconcile their children’s prospects for social mobility. On one hand there is the “premise that lower class parents project their frustrated ambitions onto their children in an attempt to reach their goals vicariously” (MacLeod 59). However, MacLeod challenges this theory because he actually observes that parents refrain from encouraging their children from dreaming to big because they fear that they will fail and be left with “disappointment, frustration, and feelings of failure and inadequacy” (MacLeod 58).

 However, when watching the Wire, particularly as the relationship between Bubbles and Sherrod develops, I found that parents probably experience a mix of both of these emotions. Bubbles and Sherrod form a family unit and in many ways, Bubbles begins to act as a parental figure toward Sherrod. On one hand, Bubbles encourages Sherrod to go to school and pretends to be his uncle so that he can be enrolled. Also, he questions the schools policy of social promotion where Sherrod will be place in eight grade even though he has missed three years of school because of understaffing and lack of resources. Bubbles clearly cares about Sherrod’s ability to succeed, but he lacks the cultural capital to actually argue against the school’s administration. Also, after Bubbles is attacked, he tells Sherrod that he can stay the night with him but that he cannot come back unless he goes to school the next day. On the other hand though, Bubbles chooses not to say anything to Sherrod as Sherrod pretends to be studying saying that a French book is the workbook for his algebra book. Although Bubbles clearly doesn’t buy this lie, he lets it slide, perhaps because he realizes that it probably won’t matter if he calls Sherrod out on his bluff. Sherrod may deny the Bubbles knows what he is talking about and will probably not be motivated to do any actual work. Also, by not calling him out, Bubbles allows Sherrod to feel successful, even just in tricking Bubbles.