Violence and today’s gangs
The term “gang” has been fearfully and romantically used to describe groups of people who band together because of common emotional and social needs, most of the time their behavior is anti-social and criminal. Gangs in the 1800’s like the Dalton and James gangs were romanticized in newspapers and books, a fascination which continues to live on in today’s cinema.
Today a gang member is very likely to have a gun, and being a gang member today is much more dangerous than ever before.
Most Americans are fearful of soaring crime, random violence, daily murders and the presence of youth gangs, not only in the inner cities, but in calm rural and suburban areas. The reason for this fear is the violent crimes committed by gangs are unpredictable, victims are often randomly selected, usually people who are unable to defend themselves and the assailants are increasingly younger. Innocent by-standers are routinely killed or injured in drive-by shootings from speeding cars. The fear and personal tragedy inflicted by gangs has touched millions of Americans who’s children have been seduced by the glamour of having something to belong to, and something to rebel to. The emergence of the delinquent street gangs as a trend didn’t begin until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Isolated cases of delinquent gangs have always been present, but delinquent street gangs as a trend is a recent development, and the violence and criminal activity of these gangs runs the gamut. . . .assault, theft, burglary and drug trafficking.
Today’s gang killings have nothing to do with manhood or heart, and everything to do with dope, money and power. The principal source of income for today’s gangs are drug sales, and this activity often requires gang members to rob or act as strong-arm men to protect drug dealers from take over.
Gangs often include boys as young as 8 or 10 who are recruited and controlled by men usually in their twenties or thirties. Today making the choice to join a street gang will more than likely result in death, or a life of incarceration.
According to the FBI during 1995, every 17 seconds on average, a violent crime was committed somewhere in America; a forcible rape every 5 minutes, a murder every 23 minutes, an aggravated assault every 28 seconds, a robbery every 51 seconds. In addition, a larceny or theft occurs every 4 seconds, a burglary every 12 seconds and a motor vehicle theft every 20 seconds.
Street gangs have become a major social problem in communities nationwide. Growing gang involvement and gang violence can be found in almost every ethnic group. More than 250,000 young people are gang members, this figure does not include as many as 750,000 marginal or aspiring gang members who drift in and out of a gang, depending on their needs, because they have no one to guide them toward socially acceptable choices. Breakdown in the family systems, housing projects, ghettos, unemployment, poverty, welfare, substance abuse and dependency, crime, child abuse and neglect; domestic violence, ethnic and cultural differences, are just a few of the social problems that have had a dramatic impact on teens and the choices they make.
Most gang members, by their own choice, are dropouts from conventional society, many feel different, outcasts and alone, so they create their own social group as a basis of power. As a gang-banger, they have a name, an identity and the feeling that they belong. Each gang has its own distinctive physical appearance, clothing, colors, tattoos and language - hand signals and signs, street names and graffiti.
Membership based on loyalty
Membership is usually based on absolute loyalty from the member to the group and from the group to the member, it may include initiation rituals that require illegal acts, even killings. Male members are usually “jumped in” or “beat in”, girls are usually “sexed in” or “beat in” as an initiation rite.
Peer pressure and peer affiliation
The influence of peer pressure and peer affiliation is very strong among gang members. Some join gangs for status, if they are unemployed or performing poorly at school, they join groups where they feel they can excel. Their bonds with each other becomes stronger than their ties with family. They spend most of their time together, kicking back, hanging on street corners, partying, drinking, using and selling drugs; cursing and provoking other gangs into violence. They often develop a false sense of being invincible, and find danger to be exciting. Once they are a caught up in the gang culture they are, in many cases, lost forever.
Beneath the surface, most gang members feel angry, empty and bored. Most feel that nobody understands them, they isolate from the rest of the world, and play by their own rules, and their rules supersede all other law. The greater the pressures from the outside, the more suspicious and more guarded they become.
To Avoid Gangs
To avoid gangs adolescents have to see through the lies about friendship, power, riches and excitement that gangs use to attract new members. They also have to take a good look at who they are and what they want. This can be painful. Some of their needs might temporarily make them feel vulnerable and frightened. But once they are able admit their needs, they can go about satisfying them in realistic ways. Kids should be encouraged to look at the people they know who are gang members. How are they doing in school? Are they in school? Are they happy? What are their plans for the future? Are they in jail? Crippled? Dead?
If a young person’s home life is violent or insecure, if their parent or parents are using alcohol or other drugs, and absent a great deal of the time, then as a community we need to do something about it. Kids need to know that help is available through communicating with school administrators or law enforcement agencies. Friendships need to be formed with teachers, coaches, counselors and members of the clergy. Police departments in most communities around the country have special gang units with officers who go into the community to educate and deal with gang members on a one-to-one basis. Many combine police work with fathering, community activism and helping kids exposed to gangs. Kids need to know that people in their community care about them, won’t demand absolute obedience or won’t let them down when they are in trouble. If confronted, it may take a lot of strength and courage for a kid to stand alone and resist the temptations to join a gang, as a community we need to teach kids to respect themselves and their environment. Love and respect from others may not be available to them at home, their neighborhood may not be a place where love is often expressed, so they need to learn that love does exist in the world. . . . the message we need to send to kids every where is that they are worthy of love. Kids need to learn that they will get love from people who have respect for themselves and respect for others. They will not get love from those who intimidate them and are obsessed with showing the world they have power.
Parents, teachers and community leaders need to learn how to discuss gangs with children. Many parents are unaware that their children are involved in gang activity. It is the parents role to help kids understand the realities of a criminal record. They need to know the finality of death, which so often is the result of gang violence. Parents should encourage children to identify and report other youth who are pressuring them to use or deal drugs or participate in gang activities. Intimidation and fear can preoccupy and destroy a child’s ability to concentrate on schooling and a meaningful life.
Look for warning signs of adolescent gang activity
Changes in child’s behavior
Truancy, declining grades
Changes in friends
Late hours
Isolation from family activities
Use of a new nickname
Graffiti or tattoos
Sagging pants, oversized or other new clothing
Positive steps that parents can take to prevent gang involvement by their children
Don’t ignore warning signs
Demand accountability for time spent, money and clothes
Meet and greet friends and parents of friends
Be observant of dress patterns and jewelry
Require positive activities for your children
Talk to your child about gangs