Tally's Corner: Study of the Streetcorner Men

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Dr. Elliot Liebow, in his novel “Tally’s Corner: The Study of Negro Streetcorner Men” looks to understand the lives and behaviors of marginalized urban Negro males. In his second chapter “Men and Jobs”, Liebow states, “ What lies behind the response to the driver of the pick-up-truck, then, is a complex combination of attitudes and assessments”(Liebow 44). This specific quote refers to the subjective and structural issues that are restricting these “Streetcorner men” from breaking through the chains that confine them to this impoverished life style. Rather than simply attributing the general rejection of work to laziness, Liebow looks to relate this occupational rejection to the structural an ideological factors that have shaped these men to constantly follow the path of avoidance in order to not remind them of the disappointments they have created for themselves and their families. This is why the “ men wouldn’t take the job even if it was handed to them on a platter”(Liebow 33). Just like any other job, this pick-up-truck, with a man offering an honest days work, is just another reminder to these “Streetcorner men” that they will constantly be stuck in this vicious cycle of dissatisfaction and alienation. Rather than breaking the cycle and accepting the job, these men see this offering as another chance of failure rather than success. Because they all reject the job in there own way, it shows that on a large scale, these men are the same. The Streetcorner acts as a area of comfort. “Failures are rationalized into phantom success”(Liebow). Seeing how these men are somewhat adrift, the Streetcorner is the only place that allows these men to feel comfort within their lives, which are peppered with struggle and regret. From an ideological standpoint, these “streeconer men” use their lack of success in life, as a factor that binds them closer together. Rather then
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