Most recent public comments by Nicole Abdullah https://nowcomment.com/users/6040 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=506226 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=506226 I think you make a good point and actually clear up a little bit about what Camille and Lauren talk about earlier. Moskos brings it up and we've talked about in class how arrests, however small they begin are rampant in the U.S. A cop will pull over a black man for fraud charges and dig something else up that are impossible to avoid. It's a broken system for sure. I think though when you relate Alexander's thoughts to Moskos' you help make clearer what Camille brings up about short-lived incarcerations in The Wire. It is more about getting arrests, asserting institutional power and preventing African Americans from upward mobility. Tue, 05 Apr 2016 18:25:02 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505975 https://nowcomment.com/documents/52798?scroll_to=505975 I think Alexander hits on something increasingly important since 2010, when her book was published. She concedes that a black president does not just automatically change racist systems in the US. However, I believe this is where the activist and the protestors come in. The people that make noise and bring attention to horrible instances of racism within the justice system and other institutions. There is no denying that the Michael Brown shooting received massive attention and inspired activists. His murder also sparked the Black Lives Matter campaign which broadened activists power through social media. Because of the Ferguson community, their outrage and their ability to get the country as a whole to rally around this racist system, the power has been held in the hands of the activist. While one politician cannot change an entire system, perhaps an entire group of loyal civilians can instigate this necessary change. Mon, 04 Apr 2016 23:59:54 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486795 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486795 Although we don't see a lot from the religious institutions, especially in providing alternatives to hanging on the street, we do see this after school innovation with Cutty. When he opens his gym, he not only provides the kids (and their caretakers) with a space and activity to do after school but he also acts as a trustworthy mentor. He actively pursues his students and cares for them in an attempt to get them in the gym and off the streets. Thu, 03 Mar 2016 06:47:17 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486793 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486793 Initially I also thought the Martinique was similar in structure and function to Hamsterdam. However, I think you make a good point about police monitoring and prevention. Hamsterdam was only 'successful' in the show because it was exactly what the police wanted it to be. They sought a lower crime rate in the city so they manipulated the area and what they thought the root of crime was. However, the Martinique is different because it isn't run for any particular parties' benefit (except arguably it was for the homeless' benefit as a shelter). When there is no external benefit (for police, or politics or any other institution) it appears to be left up to the corrupt guards and owner who will take advantage in any way possible. Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:39:48 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486792 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49882?scroll_to=486792 I think your comparison to the public school system in The Wire is a really great thought. When watching Prez and Colvin's efforts in the classroom we are torn because 1. we admire their patience, innovation and determination to teach and better these students. Yet 2. we understand that even they know their teachings will not lift these kids out of the streets and into a college or a job. And often their efforts do not go contested. Prez is advised to stop teaching math altogether and Colvin was gaining negative feedback from the board for his 'socializing' of the students rather than 'teaching' the test. Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:32:20 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486540 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486540 I think this notion has a lot of value in understanding the 'corner kids' values and reactions. Not only do we see students like Namond flashing football jerseys instead of his uniform, but we see this in students reactions as well. When Colvin takes the three students to Ruth's Chris, it is unnervingly clear the students' disgust with what they see as conventional. The camera pans the restaurant full of white adults and emphasizes the nuances of fancy restaurants (multiple forks, no straws, fancy words, etc). The students completely reject this convention and quickly revert back to their old attitudes and moral codes. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:48:26 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486535 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486535 I mean, I think there is a clear connection between what Anderson is saying here and what we see with Namond and his mother. Not only does Delonda expect Namond to provide for her and himself, but to do it in the same way his father did and the most available option for him. Although his relationship with Colvin at school allows him to gain better social skills to an extent, he hardly learns ways to stay away from the street. In fact, Colvin concedes that Namond and all the corner kids will just end up going back to the street anyway. It seems that the kids, their parents and their mentors give up on other options. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:36:22 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486527 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49884?scroll_to=486527 Clearly a lot of factors are at play in terms of young African Americans finding jobs. I think even if we consider the education system, there is still no real motivation to bring boys into the work force eventually. While Prez works hard to try to teach his students real and applicable math values, they are often shown using this knowledge on the streets. Similarly, when the corner kids are separated, Colvin admits that these students will go right back to the street. Rather than trying to educate with the purpose of job preparation, the public school system in The Wire, even the altruistic part, seems to be failing to prepare kids for salaried jobs. Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:05:16 -0500 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483767 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483767 I think you make a really interesting point regarding police action. As audience members, many times throughout the seasons we see explicit ways the police could shut down a case or prevent a murder, etc. from existing in the first place. One thing I have noticed particularly is the way communications between units would help exponentially in solving crimes and perhaps event destroying the cause of much of the drug parade and violence. I think that is why the Major Crimes Unit (particularly in the 1-3 season) is so successful. It pulls in detectives and officers from different units and comes up with ways to prevent certain crimes from taking place -- through the wire tap. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:56:29 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483765 https://nowcomment.com/documents/49881?scroll_to=483765 I also note a lot of potential similarity between this quote and what we see in The Wire. While it is clear that mayoral figures are shown doing for the police department only things that will help their campaign in the end, I think another interesting part of the picture is the police department itself. Every policeman and police head is very aware of the corruption and decision-making that is going on within their political system, especially with Mayor Royce. Just as Officer Grasso is aware that the mayor will listen to her and her team on this case, the police in The Wire, to an extent, know the mayor's influence in their cases. The line between police and mayoral power is very fragile as either end can influence the other's success greatly. Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:49:56 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453129 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453129 I think another essential difference between nonfiction and fiction writing comes from the connotations of each. For example, last week's readings provided insight into how the older generation tends to trust satirical news sources less than they do classically defined journalism. While satire and fiction maintain distinctions, I believe the same idea applies. Many might say fictional television is less reliable than nonfiction, however fiction can give real insight into modern problems and news. Perhaps a study comparing those who prefer fictional television vs. those who watch hard news in terms of answering the most correct answers would allow for more concrete answers to this topic. Wed, 03 Feb 2016 01:01:20 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453124 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453124 This scene with the elderly woman also confused and saddened me. The show, for many reasons, does not simply show 'decent' people doing 'decent' things, like an old lady in church or two cops helping her cross the street. The show certainly exaggerates the game, but in my opinion not without purpose. The part of the show that has won me over is that the definition of decent can be stretched and tethered. Rather, no action is without consequence. This became evident when D'angelo's mother reminds D that if their business gets taken down then so does the rest of them -- his mother, his uncle, his son. While this can be taken as a "street code," I believe this aspect of the show reveals that decency and morals are more complicated than simply following the law or going to church. Perhaps decency can also be making a living so your son can eat. Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:19:39 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453123 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453123 While I agree and believe that fiction television can inspire, encourage and produce real change, especially on an individual level, I believe the political and economic arenas may require other platforms. I believe political and economic change require an overall agreement between all parties involved which, unfortunately, often comes from fact, evidence and 'non-fiction' so to speak. The fiction realm, while convicting, would not hold up in court or as a basis for institutional change. Tue, 02 Feb 2016 23:07:28 -0600 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453114 https://nowcomment.com/documents/46407?scroll_to=453114 I have two thoughts on this: 1. Much like the comparisons drawn between institutional corruption on both the police side and the street side, I believe Simon wanted to compare the two parties in terms of achievement/excellence. Police characters such as Greggs, McNulty and Freamon, who often bend the rules in order to fully utilize their abilities, find a way "out the door" (of selfish corruption, I assume) and excel in their work as detectives. On the other hand, through characters such as Wallace and Orlando, it is clear that achievement on the street is met strictly by following the rules and playing the game. In fact, trying to understand, excel or utilize one's full ability on the streets will get one permanently out the game. 2. This idea of ticket out the door is ambiguous. While we know that these detectives demonstrated excellence in their work and therefore, in a sense, conquered the prevalent corruption seen among judges, majors, etc., they by no means received a ticket out the door. McNulty got stuck with the Marine Unit and Greggs in the office. The notion is confusing. Tue, 02 Feb 2016 22:44:54 -0600