List at least seven rules, laws, and policies (written and unwritten) designed to govern the behavior of the individuals within the society or community or group the writer is living in. Describe the rules and the consequences of violating them and/or the way the rules are maintained according to the writer.
1. Blacks do not date anyone else but blacks
This is obviously an unwritten rule, but a BIG one. In my last post, Obama's friend Ray talks about how he had asked out several girls of other races, to no avail. It is basically socially unacceptable to date a black person when you are white or Asian during this time, and Ray just overrides it because he wants a date. I feel bad for Ray, but Obama keeps telling him that it's because he's black in the nicest way possible. How much would it hurt to just be told, either directly or hidden within the context, that someone won't date you because of the color of your skin? Yikes.
2. Respect your elders
All throughout the book, Obama struggles with his relationship with his father, especially with the self-entitlement his father has to think he can dictate his son's life when he lives so far a way and is barely a part of his life. I think that a lot of children, from Obama's generation and on, have a huge problem with authority and being controlled. My generation and the younger ones are even worse. No one listens to their parents, teachers, the police, no one. Take those kids mercilessly kicking those newly planted trees over! Not only do they not respect the people who planted the trees, they just don't have respect nature, and that's just sad. Always respect the elders.
3. Don't judge a book by its cover
4. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself or your race
5. Saying white people does not make you racist
6. "Hot piece of ass" or "bangable" is degrading to women and it's kind of sexist
7. Avoid confrontation with racists
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