Most recent public comments by Jada Pratt https://nowcomment.com/users/18584 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315111 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315111 After analyzing this first sentence in the paragraph, it made me think about the double standard surrounding the availability of jobs and the necessary wage to live. As stated in the sentence, Primo could potentially not participate in illegal activities if the legal careers were open to hiring him. However, Primo is stuck in a position where he needs to make money to survive and the best money seems to come from selling drugs, which steers him on a path to illegality. This makes me wonder how individuals are labeled as good and bad based on their actions and if there is more to be accounted for, such as need to make a living, when discussing good vs. bad people? Thu, 04 Apr 2019 06:26:12 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315109 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315109 This sentence addresses the idea of drug sellers taking from their own stash and becoming addicts. This is a theme that is less talked about in the Wire, which is slightly surprising considering the amount of references to drugs within the show. I believe that this sentence reaffirms the ideas surrounding the "game" and how there are no set rules to it; some people are more strict and set on the rules like the Barksdales while others just plan as they go, like Ceasar. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 08:29:46 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315108 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315108 I believe that familial relationships like this kind are used as a method of control and manipulation. Avon and D'Angelo's relationship always stood out to me because of how genuine and fake it seemed to me at the same time. On the one hand, Avon seemed like he truly cared about D'Angelo as his nephew and wanted what was best for him. For this reason, I believe that Avon would sort of take on a fatherly role for D'Angelo, which made D'Angelo's allegiance to Avon stronger. However, Avon did not stop D from getting killed in the prison once D stopped giving Avon what he wanted, which shows that the "blood is thicker than water" scenario only applied for Avon and D'Angelo when D'Angelo was doing whatever Avon was telling him to do. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 06:17:42 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315107 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315107 I agree that it is not an accident that Bourgois uses minimal space in the novel to address the perspective of women in the "game" and their understanding of the way things work. As Emily pointed out, women are rarely associated with the game in the Wire, and when they are they are usually characterized similarly with masculine traits or anger. I do think that it is important to addres s this lack of context within the story and understand why Bourgois has chosen to leave more details out about situations like this. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 06:11:22 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315092 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1315092 I agree that I thought the partriarchy shown in this sentence was different compared to the role that women have in the Wire, but I do not see it as far-fetched from the stereotypes surrounding the role of women compared to men. As shown in the sentence, the male figure is making the money while the woman is putting in all of the work. The word delegating also threw me off because it seemed as if he was controlling her and placing her in a subservient role. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:59:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309417 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309417 After reading this section regarding criminal justice reform, as well as analyzing the drug bust that imprisoned "15 percent of the black population of the town". With the large amount of individuals arrested in the same day, it is easy to assume that the black community is targeted and often caught because they are being watched/seen. This, however, is an invasion of the Civil Rights policies because black individuals are slowly losing their human rights as well based on the tone of their skin. This makes me wonder whether or not minority individuals, such as black people, hispanic people, etc. are more likely to be targeted by the police even though the have not provided suspicion to the police officer. How does this constant surveillance of black individuals lower their ability to succeed in America? Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:23:32 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309416 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309416 I found this term "adaptable racism" really intriguing because of the message that the term holds with it. The term is defined as a dynamic where "white privilege is maintained through the rules and rhetoric change". Alexander uses this term to describe the adaptability of racism throughout the years by the changing of racial slurs or depictions to continue racism and maintain a sense of inequality. By adjusting these rules to new rhetoric, the government is able to allow racism to continue without it outwardly persisting because of the outward changes made to the definition of the term. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:12:36 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309415 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309415 I found this final sentence interesting because it accurately described the way that society reacted towards having a black president. Although I am honored to have had Barack Obama as my president, I believe that there was some sort of belief that his presidency was proof of the end of racism as a whole. I do believe that Obama's presidency was a step in the right direction towards the establishment of policies and reforms that were equally tailored towards the black community. This final sentence is important to analyze because it is pertinent that individuals understand that making strides in a negative situation does not mean that the situation is fixed. Racism has continued to be an issue in America, even during Obama's presidency. People's view of Obama as the end to racism is a representation of the colorblind issues that currently exist within America. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 05:05:29 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309414 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1309414 As stated by Joelle, I believe that the negative labels surrounding being a felon is related to the stigma that has been placed upon them in society to inhibit them from receiving jobs and maintaining their human rights. Voting is one of the most basic rights enacted onto citizens of the United States and it is an opportunity for individuals to make changes within their community. However, with a limitation on voting based on prior prison sentences, it shows the damage that the label itself can cause on an individual and their ability to properly readjust in the community. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:56:57 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307839 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307839 In my criminology course that I took last semester, we talked a lot about the challenges of individuals who were released from prison and could not adjust to the new limitations that existed for them in their society. These limitations created barriers for ex-felons and often led to them returning to prison soon after because they were unable to successfully adjust to life outside of prison. This is why it is important that prisons enact programs in the prison system because it allows ex-felons to have a smoother transition back into society and allows them to resume their normal lives through the availability of jobs and possibly housing. Mon, 25 Mar 2019 23:47:16 -0400