Gang Violence

As the years went by, and as white ethnic gangs began growing, white gangs started discriminating against other races, which would affect the remaining course of race relations. In 1869, male African Americans were able to vote, which helped the Republicans advance in the elections. Therefore, white ethnic gangs started terrorizing the African Americans. The white ethnic gangs, ¨[t]aking names like the Shielders and the Boundary Gang, white gangs patrolled the “color line” through the 1930s. These activities intensified with the accelerated migration of black southerners during World War II, prompting the Mayor 's Commission on Human Relations in 1946 to establish a Juvenile Bureau to investigate the role of youth groups in anti-black violence¨ (Diamond). As a defense against the racial violence, African Americans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans gangs rapidly increased all throughout the 1950s. The African American, Mexican, and Puerto Rican gangs made their marks around the city and have been known for taking over a neighborhood all throughout the 1960s. The Puerto Rican gangs resided in Humboldt Park; the Mexican gang brimmed Pilson and 18th street, and the African American gangs stayed by the South and West sides.

but you may also see strange writing below it. They say to other gangs that

Gangs have been a growing issue across the United States for many decades now. Youth gang violence may have started around the ‘50s, but did not become a serious issue until the ‘80s and from there went through a downward spiral in some cities like downtown Los Angeles, which was where the notorious Bloods and Crips gangs both started. First, let’s simply define a gang as a group of people, mostly men ranging for ages 14-30, who claim territory and use it to make money for themselves and their neighborhood through illegal activities such as trafficking drugs and weapons. There are many reasons and components that are factored in when conducting research to hypothesize “why do people join gangs?” That is why it is necessary to compare and contrast all the social, biological, psychological, developmental, and substance abuse aspects and relate it to joining a gang. It is also important to touch base on the differences between males and females that join gangs, such as power differentials, social learning differences and social stratification differences.

When individuals decided to get involve in those type of activities many of them do it for specific reasons. For example, people join gang for acceptance, protection, and some are forced into it, because of their family are gang affiliated. Gangs partake endlessly in finding different method for individuals to more effectively get the things they want, particularly power. Therefore, people that are easily influenced tends to gravitate toward gang activities for recognition in the community. According to Goldman, Giles, & Hogg (2014), “Gang members’ actions impact other gang members as well as the wider community; everyone is at risk of being a victim of gang violence” (p. 825). Gang violence goes further than racial issue, but it more intensely touches African American and Latino communities.

The factors of the effects of oppression in the lives of African American teenagers is the opposite of the factors in which that would produce “The American Dream”. The restrictions and exclusions of the government, history, and irrational mindsets has caused many African-American teenagers to depend on unorthodox alternatives for the use of spare time, making money, and the feeling of acceptance. Oppression of African-American teenagers has caused poor education, violence, gang activity, broken or dysfunctional homes, and health issues. Hatred is another major factor of the effects of oppression in the lives of African-American teenagers. Oppression is also the cause of civil wars, and a disunited nation. Oppression doesn’t just effect the oppressed, it effects everything around it including the oppressors.

Fleisher & Decker (2001), note that there are several factors that can impede a successful integration back into the community when it comes to gang members. First, gangs are comprised of a vast network type system. Within this system there are countless members who become associates, this relationship does not have to include the same crime. The criminal link can be broad and range from misdemeanor crime to severe crime. Further, this is not only a complex network, but a social system where criminal activity is accepted. Therefore, desistance is an obstacle for offenders, especially if they remain in contact with these individuals. Also, gangs do not go away just because key members go to jail or prison. There are always others there to

The correlation between gangs and drugs has always been an issue for the United States government. Major cities often overlooked the problem of youth gang violence, thinking it was only a 1960’s trend. Sixty years later, gangs and drugs continue to be a problem, but in an increasing number within urban, suburban and rural areas in the United States. People may characterize this problem with words such as violence, increase drug activity, and delinquencies, but not many seem to see the bigger picture. Lack of interaction, collaboration, and strategies from law enforcement, youth centers, businesses, churches, and political icons are increasing gang violence and drug related offenses in major cities. In such cities as Chicago, minority groups are the most vulnerable to joining a gang, which then leads to an involvement with drugs; they are faced with barriers – lack of family support, poverty, segregation, unemployment, etc. An incident that happened in Chicago history is the closing of the Cabrini-Green Project, where people involved with gangs had to find a new home, scattering gang-members throughout the city, and eventually leading to their spread and growth.

A social movement is a group of individuals that focus on political or social issues. Though this explanation appears pertinent, movements are rarely that simple. In the case of racial militancy, a social movement is characterized by the need for justice, preserving the community and the emergence of the New Negro. What distinguishes racial militancy from other groups is the inclination to question society and combat relentlessly for their objectives. Frequently this movement employed empowerment, unity, and a new identity to define their movement.

Acts of violence are no stranger to the Greater Chicago Area. In 2016 alone, Chicago had suffered 786 homicides (“Crime in Chicagoland,” n.d.). Although this number is large, especially when compared to other major cities in the United States, it fails to depict the countless family members, friends, and communities who carry the burden of these senseless killings. BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development), an anti-violence organization serving Chicago neighborhoods since 1969, engages at-risk children in productive activities within their community in order to keep them out of trouble from the streets of Chicago. BUILD recognizes the debilitating impact that a violent environment has on a child and provides the means to help

The issue with the youth gangs in South Central L.A. has long roots back into the history of American community, attracting attention of the people who have interest and study the history of L.A. neighborhoods. The gangs are also known as the “Bastard of the Party”. The reason it was called with this name has traces back into the history of the former political party the 1960s known as the Black Panther party, Black self-organized party who fought against the white supremacy during their period of time in order to get equal recognition for the African-American people. The youth gangs were later formed, inspired by the Black Panther, with initial intention for self-defense from the White neighborhood

Compton took its most critical hit when deindustrialization struck. Manufactures followed other industries in seeking to lower their tax burden, open new markets, and increase their plant size. With more than one-third of Compton’s population employed in manufacturing, the city broke its social and economic threshold. The backlash stemmed from an increase in gang and drug related activities. The aging middle-class was increasingly outnumbered by a troubled youth. Children, who were once encouraged by their parents’ success, were now hanging their heads. By 1970 the Bloods and the Crips were created right outside of Compton. The “crack explosion” of the 1980’s only intensified crime, violence, and murder rates. From middle-class to neighborhood terror, the prosperity relinquished by African Americans in Compton had promptly crumbled right in front of everyone’s eyes. The issues created during this

The purpose of this paper is to review and verify a recent study by Scott H. Decker of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, entitled Collective and Normative Features in Gang Violence (Decker & VanWinkle, 1996). The study will attempt to address why our local increase in gang violence has reached monumental heights causing an increase in gang members appearing your court.

After reading professor Globokar's post on the gang violence in Chicago, in the late 1960s, I agree that criminals themselves should take some type of action to better their life and the lives of other offenders. Although at the same time I feel that it would be nearly impossible for known criminals to make a change in the field if they have no support and are constantly being criticized for their past actions or the actions of other criminals. This problem was shown first hand when the Vice Lords funding and support was taken away because of who they were and the misuse of funds by fellow gangs. Once the government took away their funding and the conventional society failed to support them, all of the good they had was washed down the drain.

Abstract: This review studies in depth research done on street gangs. Social issues have social scientists turning away from including this in their research around this time. Sociological views have been changed dramatically in the past 40 years due to gender and racial studies. Also, women have started to join gangs since America has been changed with woman equality laws passing.

The history of gang violence is a topic that I am dearly interested in because I have a