Gang Life

Gangs have flourished since the early stages of human inhabitants on the Earth. Organizations have always had a way of showing appeal to the masses whether good or bad. Many young people find fascinations with being apart of an organization. Some youth are attracted to sports or art organizations, other youth are attracted to different types of social clubs within their school or community; and many youth do not find either of the latter appealing, they want to be apart of a gang.

What would make a person want to be apart of something, even if it involves criminal activity? During adolescence, youth are trying to find their way. They no longer want to be under the wings of their parents or society. Many of them want to find protection and belonging outside of the home. For other youths, family members may force them into the gang. Some children forced into the unfortunate situation of being born into a gang family. They are expected to grow up and be like their family members. Some youth come from single parent homes or very low-income lifestyles and the only way that they feel a sense of protection in through gang affiliation.

Many youth will go through drastic measures to become apart of the gang life. Some gang members have been "jumped in" or beat up by members of the desired gang. Some have been "gang raped" by members of the gang or have even gone as far as to commit a murder during gang initiation.

According to Regoli and Hewitt, many gang members join the gang " into early or even middle adulthood, although most drift out of gangs over the years." Many of these youths end up in prison, on drugs, or dead. However, many gang members completely reform their lives as adults and receive an education, get married, and have children.

Gangs have an extremely strong impact on juvenile delinquency. If some of the members are stealing or robbing, it is more than likely that all or most of the gang members will have committed the same crime. Youths within a gang will be more likely to follow the crowd even if they know that there is a chance that they will be caught or retaliated against. The youths within a gang may also decide to longer go to school, which is a delinquent act within itself.

According to Regoli and Hewitt, the labeling theory "assumes that social control leads to deviance." I believe that this theory applies to why so many youths have turned to gangs as a way of life. Many youths are labeled as being deviant, even before they have committed any serious deviant acts. If a youth is brought up in a low-income, drug infested neighborhood, they may be labeled by society as being "a thug," "gang member," "hoodlum" or "problem child." Many youths hear these labels so much before they reach adolescence, that they begin to take on the expected role.

According to the differential oppression theory, Regoli and Hewitt argue, "Delinquency is the culmination of a process that begins at conception and evolves through adolescence." This idea implies that "delinquents and their delinquencies are a product and that adults are the producers." I also agree that this theory may help to explain why youth have a desire to join or be affiliated with gangs. I believe that children watch and learn and that they are basically born as clean slates and then corrupted by society. Children come into the world without any knowledge of gang or violent activity and then when they witness adults engaging in these certain acts, youth have the desire to follow or be like them. Regoli and Hewitt implied that children have "little power to affect their social world. Compared to adults, children have limited resources available to manipulate others." They also emphasize how adults "have control over their children and are considered to be more "free" than children." I have to also agree with this aspect of the theory. I believe that children are influenced by the actions of their parents. Children do not have the resources or the mind to make decisions like adults can. They have to go with the flow most of the time, whether the flow is good or bad because of their vulnerability. I believe that this theory ties into why youth who are children of gang members, are forced to take on the same role as their parents or family members. They are born into the organization so they are automatically affiliated and initiated into that lifestyle from birth.

Gangs are spread and designed to have a mass number of members. Many of the members are usually from the same province, neighborhood or territory. Some gangs only apply to certain ethnic groups. There are Black gangs, Latino gangs, Asian gangs, and others. It is very common to find ethnic groups who only affiliate with one another when forming their gangs.

The selling of illegal drugs has expanded mostly through gang involvement. Many of the social aspects of gangs involve increased consumption and selling of illegal drugs. Other social aspects of gang life also include the increased use of weaponry. Gang members may commit to using small handguns to semi-automatic weapons in order to protect their "turf," or territory. If members from other gangs invade their turf then the gang members may use violent force to remove them.

Loyalty is an extremely important social aspect of gang life. Members of gangs are extremely close to one another and show loyalty to one another in situations. Waln Brown claims "gangs provide very close relationships between people who will help each other in a crisis." Many gang members will refer to their counterparts as being "blood" or "family" because of their close relationship. Many of them feel that they all represent on another, so if one of them needs help then the other members should be loyal and ready to do whatever it takes to help their fellow gang member in need, even if that means physically assaulting another person.

I believe that gangs can be used for positive if the right people are willing to help make a change in society. The first person that comes to mine is Stanley "Tookie" Williams who was the founder of the street gang the Crips. He served a death row sentence in California for his leadership role in the establishment of this extremely violent and popular gang. However, he apologized for his affiliation and establishment of the gang and began to write children's books to deter youth from taking the same path as he once took. Despite his positive efforts from his prison cell, Williams was executed by lethal injection on December 13, 2005, after Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar rejected clemency.

I believe that Williams should have been allowed to continue living and providing positive support to all of the youth who were or could have been inspired by his books. I think that when we have people who have a positive influence and who have been through the lifestyle then we should give them a chance for their voices to be heard. Positive influences in society have the ability to help deter a youth from becoming a gang member and potentially saving their life.

I also believe that the media and music glorify the gang lifestyle. Rappers such as 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre glamorize murder, robbery, drug dealing and consumption. I think that too many youths have access to this type of media and they believe that it is the way to live. I think that parents should censor what their children see and hear and that they should try to do their best to talk to them.

I also think that Gangsta Rappers should also take responsibility for their own actions. They need to be aware there are youth out there that take "thug life" seriously. I know that many rappers talk about what they have seen in their lifetime, however, they need to make these things clear to the youth that this is not a good life to live.

Gang awarness is very important to teach our children if we want positive futures for them. We need to nurture them and let them know the importance and the dangers of joining gangs. We as a whole can work together in order to ensure that our children have better opportunities than in the past. Knowledge is the key we just have to give it to our children so that they are able to open the door to success. I hope that this article was of some benefit to you God willing.

Works cited

Regoli, Robert M., and John D. Hewitt. Delinquency in Society. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003