Slim's Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity - Essay Example

Slim's Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity Introduction If one takes a close look at the society, one can not help noticing that it should be named among the irreplaceable prerequisites for the development of the inner potential of a human being. Nevertheless, it must be noted that there are might be situations when the social environment is not the best possible platform for one’s personal evolution. This might be conditioned by different factors: a person may belong to a racial or ethnic minority; one might adhere to values that are regarded as out dated; the list can almost be endless. The purpose of this essay is to show how Duneier was able to depict the day Black urban males deal with various ethical issues such as income disparity, self-destructing behavior as well as racial profiling. In order to accomplish this I will first analyze the way the group of people who gather around Slim’s table position themselves with regard to ghetto and middle class blacks. Then, I will examine how they structure their lives. Finally, I will review the way media portrays such men. Caught in between ghetto and the middle class The account that is provided by Duneier is extremely significant and valuable since it shows people who are not able to fit the contemporary categories. On the one hand, some might be willing to recognize them as African Americans who live in the ghetto. Indeed, they live on the South Side of Chicago and geographically might be related to this level of social environment. However, the author suggest that unlike the typical ghetto Blacks, these people worked hard and lived successful lives. Each of the characters was able to achieve something in the course of his career. On the other hand, the men who are depicted sitting at Slim’s table surely belong to the lower strata of the society. Therefore, they can hardly be seen as representatives of the middle class. According to the author, Slim and his friends distance themselves from the African Americans who belong to the middle class since the despite that fact that the latter think that they are intellectually or financial superior to the working class. In spite of the fact that they may be earning more money, it can not be used as the only measurement of the quality of work. Furthermore, while Slim may not feature an academic degree, he is quite a wise man and his wisdom can not be dismissed because of the fact that he did not receive proper education. Finally, the author points out that the character should be recognized and praised for the effort that they put into their work. In spite of the fact that they may not have made brilliant careers that would bring them to the top of a corporate ladder, each of them was successful in the area one has been active. In other words, their work defines them to a certain extent. So, unlike ghetto Blacks who are not willing to work and middle class Blacks who perceive their work as something that makes them superior to their counterparts, Slim and his friends are honored to have a job and do their best while performing it. That is why their attitude towards it is what does not allow them to fit in the existing categories that are conditioned by income. This leads to the understanding that the latter can hardly be perceived as an effective method of social stratification. Proactive way of life While examining the behavior of the characters Duneier points out that they feature a lot of life affirming habits. Indeed, contrary to the majority of the population who often complains about the existing conditions, these men accept the reality as it is and refuse to give up. In spite of the fact that life may have been harsh to them, they know that they have chosen the right path and are happy to follow it. They understand that by generating negative attitude that will not help the situation. That is why try to live their life to its fullest regardless of the fact that it may not always be easily. Another point that should be mentioned is that these men redefined the concept of masculinity. Nowadays, when people often gross the previously strict limits of masculinity and femininity, these ideas are primarily associated with certain external attributes. For example, short hair and beard are regarded as a sign of a man in the contemporary society. Nevertheless, each of the character show with their own example that a man is one who takes care of his family, brings home money from work and does his best to achieve the results. This means that while these men may not fully fit the contemporary definition of masculinity because they may lack some of the external attributes, they surely prove that they are worthy to be called men by their actions. Furthermore, nowadays when the society does not think that addiction to anything is a strictly negative phenomenon, these men promote appreciation for independence. For example, there are people who argue that the government should help them. However, Slim and his friends were able to achieve their outstanding results without any external help. They show that being independent is the only logical way to become a successful person. At the present moment, when people rely on connections that are made in the virtual environment and when one is encourages to share their intimate thoughts with the users online, Slim provides an alternative path of development: the worth of a man should note be calculated according to his position in the society; it is one’s ability to work and to produce that should be taken into account. In this case the emphasis is put on the real values. The negative depiction in the media However, the biggest ethical problem that is being addressed by the author is the way the media depicts African American men in the cities. According to him, the media fails to acknowledge the contribution that is made by the working class and the real strength that is has. In other words, Slim and his companies constitute the backbone of the society and are responsible for the prosperity of the economy. Nevertheless, the media will not highlight this aspect, but is likely to enhance the association of black men with crime and robbery. In spite of the fact that there are instances of criminal behavior among African Americans this one size fits all approach is not correct since it does not take into account the peculiarities of other real people. Moreover, media often puts emphasis on African Americans from the middle class, suggesting that they should be seen as morals guides of the people who belong to lower classes. Contrary to that, the author of the book points that Slim as well as his companies were able to develop a stable frame of moral reference and do not need any guidance that is provided by the people who belong to a different environment. In addition to that, by making the middle class Blacks role models for their counterpart from the lower classes, the media diminishes the significance of the latter suggesting that they were not able to come up with effective moral principles. The lives of Slim and his friends prove quite the opposite: African Americans who belong to lower classes form quite self sufficient social environment. Finally, all this results in the fact that the media is directly responsible for constructing the image of African Americans which is incorrect. What is more important is that if this image is maintained, it is likely to have a negative impact on the reputation of this part of the population. This means that if there is no force that is strong enough to reverse this negative impact, the media will continue oppressing African Americans for no particular reason. The author of the book insists that the story of Slim and his friends should be perceived as a rule rather than an exception. In other words, people should take a close look at the Black community and see the difference between the actual state of affairs as well as the image that is being promoted. Conclusion Having examined all the points that were mentioned in the paragraphs above, one might come to the following logical conclusion: in his book Mitchell Duneier touches on some serious ethical issues. First of all, he points out that it is not rational to develop a rigid system of classes in the society that is based on income as this approach will not be able to fit numerous groups of people that will be caught in between. In addition to that, it is suggested that successful citizens can be characterized by a proactive approach to life, contrary to the growing. Finally, the author suggests that the media is responsible for an incorrect depiction of the African Americans who belong to lower classes. That is why the people in the society should see for themselves what these black males look like and not follow the idea that is being promoted. Works Cited Duneier, Mitchell. Slim's Table: Race, Respectability, and Masculinity. Chicago, IL: U of Chicago, 1994. Print. Read More