The Rise of Gangs: America's Dynamic Counterculture
Abstract
In the first part of this paper, I will detail the prevailing sociological
conditions behind the emergence of two major ethnic gangs: black gangs and
Latino gangs. The sociological conditions include the family structure or lack
of, the street culture and lifestyle, traditional ethnic group culture, and the
economic conditions of the minorities in gang infested areas (including a
possible ethnic group marginality compared to whites). The second part of
the paper will detail the effects of these conditions on the minority youth
(i.e. how do these conditions affect their outlook, temperament, values, and
norms?) The third part of the paper will describe what aspects of gang life
are particularly appealing to these kids. What makes them want to join
gangs and what do they see in the gang lifestyle that they don't see in
mainstream American culture? My research brought together many of my
own ideas and opinions in this respect: there is no longer any point in
throwing blame around for the existing conditions in many of the major
American cities. Gangs are only one problem that have risen from the plight
of the cities. American history (recently) gave us those conditions and
problems. We cannot go back and change history nor can we simply sit back
and watch history go by. The problems must be dealt with now. Whatever
happened in the past cannot be changed but what will happen in the future
depends on us.