In reflecting on what I’ve learned through this book, it is extremely clear that social control is in every institution, including the family and schools. This is true for everyone, but the effects of this are exacerbated for those who have little resources coupled with racism #so345

I think Rios is an excellent public speaker, and takes you through the whole span of emotions in a quick 10 minute video. However I think going off of his teachers advice, the “I’m here when you’re ready” is key. As much as you can want to help someone, you can only help insofar as they are willing to let you help. And that’s true of any relationship #so345

Rios really emphasized the point in this chapter that those who are bullied are not bullied because of their grades, but because of their appearance of participating in the police system. For the non-criminal boys, even just not fighting back was seen as participating. Do you think this has anything to do with masculinity? #so345

I think the idea that one of the boys "fit the description" is a micro-agression in it of itself. More than likely, the police saw someone who was Black, especially in a neighborhood where that was less common, and attempted to punish him for that. He left Oakland to get away from the punitive social control, but without success. #so345

The gender effects exist as another paradigm and paradox that exists in this book that increases the nuances that police (pun intended) the everyday lives of this community #so345

With this discussion of masculinity, there was a feminization of woman that was underlying Rios argument. Insisting that women can be masculine too, but that suggests that the norm is that they are not, and have not been. #so345

The method that these boys and poor communities use to take back an ounce of self dignity is crimes of resistance, which only leads to further criminalization and labeling #so345

The book isn't necessarily focused on this, but I personally believe that Ronny's story perfectly sums up the paradox of what it means to live as Black in America, and is further complicated by the prison industrial complex (making profits off of the criminalization of black folks), as demonstrated in this chapter #so345

There is seemingly an extreme lack of reality from parole officers to help get their parolees on the "striaght and narrow," but if but if after one arrest, it makes it nearly impossible to get a hob, I can see why some of these boys might stop trying to accept the little help that's being offered. Again, we are dealing with much larger issues than simply police. It's that those mindsets are everywhere. #so345

I have noticed that this is not an individual problem, while there may be "bad apples" there are most certainly more systemic issues than anuthing else. A lot of issues with where money goes and what politicians are supporting it. #so345