Final answer:
Elijah Anderson identifies respect as the core characteristic of the code of the street, which guides behaviors in certain urban communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Elijah Anderson, the characteristic that is at the heart of the code of the street is respect. The code of the street refers to a set of informal rules governing interpersonal public behavior, particularly among urban, African American communities. Anderson's work describes how respect is achieved and maintained, and how the search for respect can influence one's behavior in environments where authority and protection from institutions are often compromised or seen as inadequate.