The Relationship Between Urban Conditions and Street Gangs in the US - Essay Example

?The Relationship between Urban Conditions and Street Gangs in the United s, 1950 Generally, a gang can be taken to mean a loosely coordinated group of persons who team up together for social reasons. Under the modern world, gangs team up together mainly for antisocial reasons. A research has shown that these gangs always have a leader or group of leaders who gives the command with respect to their activities. It is from their antisocial activities that they harvest the fruits. Gangs do prefer identification trademarks for the group. In this regard, some wear colours, tattoos, certain types of clothing, sprint their gang name or makes brands. Many gangs are associated with certain types of hair style, walking style and communicate in a certain style using signal. Some adopt the use of graffiti on streets, walls, school property and school work. It is, however, worth noting that it in not illegal to be a gang. However, what matters is the mission for which the gang is formed. Gangs can also associate with a large city gang or at times prefer to remain turf in local areas. Over the years, in Arkansas, gangs have changed from being brotherhood and turf oriented to currently being involved in criminal like activities in enterprises. In this regard, most of them participate in selling drugs, rob, brutalize while others steal cars and other properties (Block and Block 1993). Research has also indicated that there is high increase in the number of street gangs since 1950 in US. These groups of gangs inflict atrocities on people in a manner of sorts. However, why is this increase in street gangs in urban centres? This is one question that an individual may be forced to ask. The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between urban conditions and street gangs in the United States from 1950 to 2010. Conser, Paynich, and Gingerich (2010) reveal that gangs are a continuing problem in the United States in many counties and cities. For instance, a survey conducted in 2009 by the national Youth Gang Survey revealed that 32.4 percent of all cities, towns, suburbs and rural counties in the United States experienced were faced with gang problems in 2008. The survey also noted a wide variation between protected gang problems and the jurisdiction size. A report by national Gang Survey revealed that activities of gangs would continue to be a problem in the United States in the future. United States Street gangs dates back to the beginning of 20th century. The most famous of the street gangs in America is the African-American. Its popularity rose due to the fact that black gangs initially were not perceived as a social problem. Siegel (2010 p. 230) notes that from 1930, and 1940, some group of sociologists began to study the sociopsychological interactions to criminology. According to this school of thought, a person’s relationship to valuable social processes such as family life, education and peer influence are key to understanding behaviours of human beings. Siegel asserts that social disorganization and poverty is not enough to cause criminal activity since many people living in severely deteriorated areas do not commit crime (Massey 1994). However, the study found out that, teenagers who grow up in homes that are prone to conflicts, have no adequate education and have the tendency to associate with immoral peer groups are highly exposed to forces of pro-crime. With regard to street crimes, a research shows that there are high street crimes in low class areas as opposed to middle class or areas where the rich leaves (Siegel 2011 p.122-132). This is mainly because in poor urban dwellings there are exceedingly high poverty levels. This is mainly occasioned by joblessness of the youths leaving in these areas. As a result, for this people to be able to make ends meet, they tend to organize themselves into a street gang. One of the main aims for this is to push the government to recognize their rights and provide them with jobs. This is a feature that was seen with the African-American street gangs. This is evident among in Texas City street gangs (Block and Block 1993). It is, however, noted that the Texas “Clique” of gangs have no formal streets, apartments or parts of apartments; instead they act individually (Kurtz and Turpin 1999 p.138-186). An investigation reveals that this group is headed by an organization termed as ‘OG’ for original gangsters. In this case, each gangster is assigned a specific task in a given part of the street. In most cases, they recreational drug trafficking and managing prostitution to get money. This situation, however, diminishes as one moves from low class urban areas to middle class and where the rich reside. The other factor that contributes to high street gang under such conditions is the fact that the majority of people cannot get enough education. As a result, most of their time is spent idling in the streets. But since they must fend for themselves, they resort to organizing themselves into a gang (Hailer & the University of Arizona, American Indian Studies 2008 p. 161-179). This is meant to give them the power to accomplish their missions. This has been witnessed in many parts of United States ghettos and slum areas. In carrying out their mission, some resort to the use of pick pocketing, while others robe people’s from their houses or businesses. They take advantage of the fact that, in slums and poor areas, security level is always not beefed up as opposed to high class areas. Take, for example, places that neighbors the White House that houses the president. Around these areas, it is not easy to find street gangs (Andrew 2001 p.69-99). This is mainly due to the fact that they are much aware of the security presence around these areas. This explains why, there are darned few cases having been reported that links street gang operation around the white house as opposed to ghetto areas where the scenario almost occur on a daily basis. Some of the street gangs are formed in the urban centre purposely for self defence and not for criminal gangs. A case in point is the infamous Latin King which is one of the largest street gang groups in the United States of America. The gang is associated with the Hispanic origin. The group’s formation dates back to 1940 in Illinois and Chicago. The group then joined forces in this urban dwelling to protect their communities from oppression and mistreatments by other communities (Bartoli, Nan and Mampilly 2011523-578). In fact, their initial intention was to bring together all Latinos into a one unit to fight atrocities inflicted against them so as to help one another overcome racism which was a serious social problem then. This was mainly because; they were opposed to seeing their fellow Latino immigrants being subjected to racism by white Americans. This is what led to the name Latino Kings and Queens. The name denotes members of Latino heritage (Block and Block 1993). However, the group was later banned by the government and lost their roots and touch. As a consequence, it later emerged as one of the largest and most dangerous street gangs that America has witnessed in history. The group did not spare any part of the city or whom they inflict atrocities on; instead they raided anybody. In most cases, they inflicted a lot of harm as some engaged in robberies, drug trafficking and other forms of criminal like activities (Hailer, J.A & the University of Arizona. American Indian Studies 2008 p. 161-179). Poverty has also been singled out to be a leading contributor of street gangs in the United States. For instance, some gangs are mainly formed for purposes of drug trafficking. America, for example, has faced a lot of problems in the recent decades in trying to prevent drug trafficking in the countries. In many cases, drugs, which come from, other countries like Mexico find their way into the urban centres. This is because most of this gangs street gangs who participates in drug trafficking are exceptionally well coordinated. The fact being, they have the power to influence police force and get their mission accomplished. A research also shows that more than 3% of police officers in the United States is a member of a street gang. This makes it easy for these gangs to operate in the city. In most cases, most street gangs who participates in drug trafficking are those who hails from middle or well of parts of urban dwellings (Ghent Urban studies Team 1999 p. 90-121). They, however, use their power and money they have to recruit the poor youths in slum dwellings to help them accomplish their deals. In some cases, they go beyond the city to the rural community to recruit the poor youths who are willing to join the group. However, it is worth noting that what this click does is to provide money to the group for purposes of accomplishing the mission of the gang. The youths are then forced to swear an allegiance to the group and are given protection that is necessary as to carry out their day to day activity. Conser, Paynich, and Gingerich (2011 p.301) note that most of the street gangs tend to migrate from urban areas to suburb, rural and slum areas for them to be able to expand their influence in most parts of the country. This form of networking they do purposely to expand their territories for drug distribution, recruiting new members, increasing their revenue, and hiding from law enforcers and escape from other gang members. Conser, Paynich, and Gingerich (2011 p.301) note that suburban and ghetto regions do experience high street gang related cases because these are the main targeted parts of the urban areas. The reason being, it has so many people who are unemployed and as such would be easily willing to join the gang force for whatever reason (Block and Block 1993). Contrary to the situation in low class areas, there are remarkably minimal cases of street gangs in areas inhabited by the rich in the United States. This is mainly because, a majority of people in these areas are well educated, have money. This makes it difficult from them to fall prey or be recruited to join street gangs. In conclusion, there are many reasons for becoming a member of the gang. For some, it is a quick and easy money making business and the prestige of being associated with the group. Research has revealed that about 42 percent of American youth street gangs’ main activity is the sale of drugs for purposes of making profits for the group (Block and Block 1993). The gang is believed to secure its members in the form of money and togetherness in exchange of obedience and hard work which varies from drug trafficking, robbery, violence or murder. It is a rule that ones investments whether money, time and energy should always be greater than the benefits that he reaps from the activities of the group. Members are supposed to pledge their allegiance to the group rules by respecting their leaders and obeying their commands irrespective of the type and degree of criminal activity that they commit (Hailer, J.A & the University of Arizona. American Indian Studies 2008 p. 161-179). The reward for obedience is safety guarantee in wherever they go and whatever they whereas disobedience brings forth physical punishment and even murder. Joining a gang is tantamount to forsaking the family, friends and relatives for the rest of one's life. Upon joining as a new member, one is placed at the bottommost level rank of the gang order. At this level, the reward is little compared to older members. According to the rules of the gang, punishments for law breakers are very heavy. Gangs usually inhabit the inner cities where poverty and criminal activities are prevalent. They also live in wealthy areas as well as cities outskirts and rural townships. America is one country that has the highest number of street gangs than any other country in the world. It has also been found out that American street gangs play a very influential role of shaping street gangs in the rest of the world. This is to say that they serve as models from which others imitate, directly through migration and indirectly through systems of communication. In America, streets gangs have been established with the aim of conforming to the American life. However, American street gangs are racially discriminative with ethically autonomous gangs forming the most common groups in America. Over the last fifty years, the spread of gangs has been witnessed in more than eight hundred American towns and cities. The contributing factors for this occurrence are easy accessibility of firearms, changes in ethnicity and age and drug involvement. References Andrew, D.L. (2001). Michael Jordan, Inc: Corporate Sport, Media Culture, and Late Modern America. New York: SUNY Press. Block, C.R. & Block, R. (1993). Street Gang Crime in Chicago: National Institute of Justice. December. Bartoli, A., Nan, S.A. & Mampilly, Z.C. (2011). Peacemaking: From Practice to theory. London: ABC-CLIO. Conser, J.A., Paynich, R., & Gingerich, T.E. (2011). Law Enforcement in the United States. Massachusetts: Johns & Bartlett Publishers. Cullen, F.T. & Wilcox, P. (2010). Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory. Volume 1. New York: Sage. Ghent Urban studies Team (1999). The Urban condition: space, community, and self in the Contemporary Metropolis. New York: 010 Publishers. Hailer, J.A & the University of Arizona. American Indian Studies (2008). American Indian involvement in urban street gangs: Invisible no more? Massachusetts: ProQuest. Kurtz, L. R., & Turpin, J. (1999). Encyclopedia of violence peace, conflict. New Jersey: Academic press. Massey, D.S. (1994). Getting away with murder: Segregation and violent crime in urban America. Rev. 1203. Siegel, L.J. (2011). Criminology. London: Cengage Learning. Read More