There's no excuse to be in a gang
By Danielle Skinner
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: Opinion
Gang violence is a recurring issue in the Black community, particularly in big inner cities, and poverty-stricken areas. It harms our neighborhoods, schools, and families. Even on music videos gang violence is glamorized. Just as disturbing, it is not something new at dear Langston. Despite the negative impact gang violence has, many communities do not act on this problem.
The National Alliance of Gang Investigators reported that 31 percent of communities in America refuse to acknowledge gang problems. Several communities only began to address gang issues when high-profile gang-related incidents occurred.
The National Gang Intelligence Center found that enforcement agencies in the United States reported increases in gang activity in their jurisdictions from 45 percent in 2004 to 58 percent in 2008. In 2008, within the United States, 900,000 active gangs were reported, with a total of one million members. The bulk of these members tend to be Black and Hispanic young males, according to the National Alliance of Gang Investigators.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most gangs use violence to control neighborhoods and boost illegal money-making activities, such as drug trafficking, robbery, theft, fraud, extortion, prostitution rings, and gun trafficking.
To the average person, joining a gang might seem insane, but there are many reasons why people, particularly Black males, join gangs.
According to the Violence Prevention Institute, there are two major reasons why people join gangs. The first reason is to find their identity. Society can often make it impossible for Black men to find out who they are. Negative images of Black men are displayed throughout the media, showing them who they should be. Since gang members feel they cannot achieve an identity in their environment, they try to
gain it through gang activity.
However, Black men should realize that only YOU can find and define YOUR own identity. Following the negative norm that society has presented to you is not finding out who you really. I am not a psychologist, but I do know while on the road to finding yourself, making good decisions like attending dear Langston, instead of making bad decisions like joining a gang, is imperative.
The second reason individuals join gangs is fellowship. A tight family structure may be lacking in the home. Gang activity offers closeness, and a sense of family that is often lacking in the home.
Not having a good upbringing or a mother or father figure is no reason to join a gang. Gang activity may offer "male-bonding" or a sense of family, but it also offers a life of crime, violence, and can even lead to death or imprisonment.
Instead of joining a gang, young males should attend college and join other male organizations, such as fraternities, so that they can find their identity, experience a sense of family, and engage in something positive.
The National Alliance of Gang Investigators reported that 31 percent of communities in America refuse to acknowledge gang problems. Several communities only began to address gang issues when high-profile gang-related incidents occurred.
The National Gang Intelligence Center found that enforcement agencies in the United States reported increases in gang activity in their jurisdictions from 45 percent in 2004 to 58 percent in 2008. In 2008, within the United States, 900,000 active gangs were reported, with a total of one million members. The bulk of these members tend to be Black and Hispanic young males, according to the National Alliance of Gang Investigators.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most gangs use violence to control neighborhoods and boost illegal money-making activities, such as drug trafficking, robbery, theft, fraud, extortion, prostitution rings, and gun trafficking.
To the average person, joining a gang might seem insane, but there are many reasons why people, particularly Black males, join gangs.
According to the Violence Prevention Institute, there are two major reasons why people join gangs. The first reason is to find their identity. Society can often make it impossible for Black men to find out who they are. Negative images of Black men are displayed throughout the media, showing them who they should be. Since gang members feel they cannot achieve an identity in their environment, they try to
gain it through gang activity.
However, Black men should realize that only YOU can find and define YOUR own identity. Following the negative norm that society has presented to you is not finding out who you really. I am not a psychologist, but I do know while on the road to finding yourself, making good decisions like attending dear Langston, instead of making bad decisions like joining a gang, is imperative.
The second reason individuals join gangs is fellowship. A tight family structure may be lacking in the home. Gang activity offers closeness, and a sense of family that is often lacking in the home.
Not having a good upbringing or a mother or father figure is no reason to join a gang. Gang activity may offer "male-bonding" or a sense of family, but it also offers a life of crime, violence, and can even lead to death or imprisonment.
Instead of joining a gang, young males should attend college and join other male organizations, such as fraternities, so that they can find their identity, experience a sense of family, and engage in something positive.
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