American gangs

Résumé du document

. Street gangs, today, are forming at an alarming rate. They are increasingly seen throughout the US, in cities and communities, large and small, urban and rural. Today, street gangs seem to comprise from all races and from most socio-economic levels, and is not limited only to the larger cities.

Extraits

[...] If racist gangs do not especially attract new inmates, they actually join gangs to get protection. Some new inmates did not harbor racist feelings before they entered in jail, but because of the prison system, they have to segregate themselves according to race. Some already harbored racist feelings even if they have not acted on them before, and become more radical in a racially charged environment like prisons. Those gangs lead some inmates to commit race-based violent crimes when they are released. [...]

[...] The president might direct the gang's business dealings and the vice president might keep members in line, overseeing the gang's communication network, including car phones, walkie-talkies, pagers and beepers. Gang members use these devices to coordinate drug deals and to protect themselves from arrest. The warlord keeps order at gang meetings, plans fights against rival gangs and controls the gang's arsenal. Highly structured gangs can be found all around the country, but are most common in New York where competition for drug money and status is high. [...]

[...] It is not necessarily the cause, but the little push that makes them turn to gangs. In the same way, violent music and violent video/computer games (Doom, Quake, Mortal Combat) are blamed for the same reason Instability and identity confusion as a result of family problems: Another important explanation finds its origin within the family. Low self-esteem, unloved feeling domestic violence at home, lack of solid family unit, parent denial of a gang problem and difficulties in communicating with others appear to have the biggest influence on whether children turn to gang or not. [...]

[...] College people are described as individuals who act like "know it-all, trying to be Anglo- like". It is also not "cool" to be studious. Instead, "cool" is cutting classes and not doing homework. Other forms of anti-intellectualism are subtler, although prevalent throughout the society. They are embodied by sports heroes since many behave like hoodlums themselves (the wife beaters, drug abusers . There are no final solutions to fight American gangs and violence. Funds and the evolution of ethics are necessary to its success. [...]

[...] Symbols formed and flashed with the fingers, hands, and body have very specific meaning to the gang. But all of these may be area or geographic region specificity and meanings may change. Common Identifiers: FLAGS Shows affiliation to a certain gang or nation. Displayed on a particular side of the body or is worn as part of a uniform. TATTOOS Usually shows affiliation to a particular gang. Tattoos may have the names of other gang members for those that died in gang wars. [...]