Street Gangs
From LoveToKnow Teens
America’s street gang problem can be traced to the dawn of the country, a time when many Europeans migrated to the East coast with the hope of making a better life for themselves, and their families. But the new world was expensive, and many of the newcomers quickly found that they did not have enough money to buy the things they needed. Strapped for cash, they turned to local merchants, and colonization companies for high interest loans.
History of Gangs
In those days, gangs were generally comprised of members of the same race and ethnic background. They banded together for protection, recreation, and financial gain. In Manhattan, the Forty Thieves Gang operated as professional murders, muggers, burglars, and pickpockets. In 1825, Forty Thieves, and a host of other gangs forced New York City officials to finally announce their city had a gang problem.
Today, gangs operate in every major city in America, and are responsible for roughly half of all homicides, and their numbers show no signs of declining. To the contrary, the number of people in street gangs seems to be on the rise.
Why Teens Join Street Gangs
There are many reasons why teens feel the need to join a gang. Here are a few:
| Reason | Explanation |
| Identity | Needing to belong, and to be “somebody,” some teenagers join street gangs because they believe the gang will make them feel like they belong, or give them a sense of identity. Cliques are a part of school life. Unfortunately, some teens may view a gang as just another clique, or club to belong to. |
| Money | Other teens feel that joining a gang is a quick way to make easy money. They see hip hop music stars rapping about drug dealing, take in the images of pretty girls, and expensive cars, and conclude that they can live that lifestyle too. Little do they realize that making money is never that easy, and that it can lead to unforeseen consequences, like jail time. |
| Love | Teens may feel unloved by their parents, or primary caretakers. Looking for a sense of love, or brotherhood (or sisterhood as the case may be) are not uncommon reasons for joining a street gang. |
Different Types of Gangs
There are three distinct types of gangs, and they are either defined by location, who is allowed in, or the gang’s activities.
- Ethnic gangs define themselves by their nationality or race. Some are defined by who they hate. For example, the Neo-Nazi, skin head, and white supremacist gangs are united by their hatred of non-Protestant Christians, Jews, African Americans and Hispanics.
- Turf gangs define themselves by the territory that they control. The gang members themselves usually live within this territory. There may be a common ethnicity within the gang, but this can be incidental because some neighborhoods have a certain amount of ethnic homogeneity. These gangs often name themselves after the areas they control. If members from rival gangs stray into their territory, the punishment is usually a beating, (a beat down) or even death.
- Prison gangs flourish in the big house because they offer protection on the inside. Once members are paroled, they sometimes form a chapter of the street gang in their neighborhood.
There are an innumerable amount of street gangs in operation American, but some are very well known. Here is a list of the best known gangs:
- Aryan Brotherhood
- Black Gangster Disciples
- Black Guerrilla Family
- Black P-Stone Nation
- Bloods
- Crips
- Latin Kings
- Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
- Mexican Mafia
- Nazi Low Riders
- Netas
- Nortenos
- Nuestra Familia
- Southeast Asian Gangs
- Surenos
- Vice Lords
Gangs Are Not A Good Idea
Joining a street gang may seem like an attractive option, especially if money is tight, or if you are looking for a sense of identity. Don’t. The truth of the matter is, that once you join a gang, it will be expected, and required that you conduct, or participate in an illegal activity. Whether that activity is mugging someone, breaking into a home, or dealing drugs, none of your options will be good. On the other hand, the chances of getting caught, and ending up in prison are very high. If you are one of the lucky few that don’t get sent to prison, you still face a major dilemma; you may never be able to leave the gang. Ever. Be smart, and say no if approached to join a gang. It’s the safest and most reasonable thing to do.
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