I remember something that surprised me when reading about gangs: Contrary to popular belief, most gangs do not recruit young children, but rather young children seek out gangs.
I remember the two main reasons cited for why these children want to join gangs. For one, children do it to emulate family and friends. Secondly, children do it for safety. They believe their gang will protect them from the violence that plagues their neighborhoods.
I also bet that children join gangs to fulfill a natural human desire for social acceptance. Humans naturally have a desire to join groups of other humans.
To reduce unhealthy gang activity, we have to get rid of the incentives for children to join gangs.
First, we have to make sure children have a way to escape violent neighborhoods and otherwise avoid violence. Secondly, we need to create other ways for children to fulfill their social needs and join groups. This includes boys and girls clubs, sporting teams, and other healthy groups and clubs for children who may otherwise turn to gangs. These clubs can give children somewhere to go to escape the violence, but they cannot do it all.
We have to find a way to get rid of the violence that surrounds these gang-prone children. Increasing police presence can help–assuming the police focus on violence and not on victimless crimes. Also, legalizing drugs will eliminate a major funding source for organized crime and career criminals, and it will free up much of the state’s resources to focus on violent criminals and other victimizers.
What do you think?
Tuesday, July 21st 2009 at 12:33 am
TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE TO YOUTH
By: Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney
As a Cherokee Native American Activist and a former member of the Richmond California Violence Prevention Movement, I have seen close to 515 homicides in the City of Richmond from 2001 to the present.
The declaration of a ‘war on violence’ by the Richmond city government was not the panacea, instead it failed miserably.
I have often stated in town hall meetings and on television, the best way to win the ‘war on violence’ in Richmond is to ‘TEACH THE VALUES OF PEACE’.
In the killing fields of Richmond, most of the victims of homicides are youth or young adults. Teaching the values of peace begins with our youth and young adults. From a Native perspective, winning the war on violence begins in the home with a strong, spiritual belief and value system.
We believe that Creator made all generations, past, present and those of the future, holy people. This is what our Elders teach us from the time we are born.
Our families and Elders teach our young people that they must tear away the images and stereotypes that mainstream society has placed upon them as Native peoples.
Violence and killing is not traditional in Native culture, it is a learned behavior from mainstream society.
We teach our youths not to attack, punish or beat themselves up for crimes that they have never committed in regards to racism. Our Elders and families teach our young people to have good self-esteem, self-worth and self-value, for as the original holy people this was Creators plan.
Native people know that it is both family and community responsibility to teach the values of peace to our young people.
We teach our young people honesty and accountability concerning violence. It begins with accepting responsibility for self and acknowledging any past use of violence.
Admitting any wrongdoing, communicating openly and truthfully to renounce the use of violence in the future places our youth on the right path. We place a heavy emphasis that all life is sacred.
The final lesson in teaching the values of peace is quite simple. It is helping young people understand their relationship to others and all things in Creation.
Be responsible for your role, act with compassion and respect, and remember ALL LIFE IS SACRED. Native culture is prevention!
Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney
Saturday, February 14th 2009 at 12:23 am
you have a very interesting blog and it has given me some ideas for the Shawnee Westside Neighborhood Watch. Thanks for bloging on these subjects.
Tuesday, January 27th 2009 at 4:27 pm
I just want to tell you that I am sitting at my desk with two graduate students from Taiwan who are interested in gang violence in the United States. We stumbled upon this blog and found your comments to be extremely thoughtful and helpful as one of the students is going to study news related to gang violence this semester. Thanks you
Thursday, October 30th 2008 at 7:02 am
Totally agree with you on this one, except legalising drugs.
Somehow cant imagine that concept in my head.
Saturday, October 6th 2007 at 9:28 am
yes, indeed, i guess this is a common problem for our children. more and more kids take this unhealty and dangerous tipe of life. the only way we can prevent this is take care of a good communications with them, showing them the dangers that are exposed to by joining gangs
Wednesday, September 19th 2007 at 9:40 am
I think families need to stick together more. In other societies, extended families provide a safety for children. In the small nuclear found in the states, that just doesn’t happen. With both parents working, many kids have no one to turn to except other kids.
Tuesday, September 11th 2007 at 3:02 am
Interesting – I live in a community that has drugs and all the elements (to as much of a degree as possible in Madison, WI), and I can say I think that it takes a community to address issues within a community. Check out my blog when you have a chance – it’s a lot of the same issues from another view …