Monday, April 27, 2009
Conclusion Gang vs. Family
Overall, there are many factors on why children join gangs. One of the reasons is lack of parental support and lack of parents in general. There are a lot of other factors to keep in mind on why children join gangs. If children are looking for support, they need adults to show them other ways of finding support instead of just joining a gang.
Parental Influence
Parents have a great influence over their children. They need to teach them that fighting is not the answer and that families, real families, help each other by supporting one another. Families help each other in ways that don’t harm others or cause people pain. Children need to know that there are others places they can go if they don’t have stable homes, they do not need to get involved with gangs. There are after school activities they can join to meet new people, they can volunteer at the local libraries, or just play pickup games at the local basketball courts. Children can find so many things to do and so many places to go where people are willing to help them and be there for them. They don’t need gangs to replace the void they feel from their lack of families. I know that local YMCA’s have activities for children to do after school that helps them stay off the streets and get involved. They have sports activities, volunteer opportunities, and there are field trips to go on. Even if children don’t have parents that are there for them, there are adults out there that would be willing to be there for children and places like the YMCA have those adults.
In the survey my group took for this project, one of the questions was do you know how use a gun? The answer out of 100 people was that 35% of them knew how to use a gun. Are the parents teaching children how to use a gun? If the parents are, why are they teaching their children ways to protect themselves using violence? Guns are extremely dangerous; recently so many young children have died due to accidental, self inflicted, gunshot wounds. Parents need to teach their children other ways of dealing with anger, and they need to teach them that killing is wrong. If parents put out a strong message against violence, children will listen.
In the survey my group took for this project, one of the questions was do you know how use a gun? The answer out of 100 people was that 35% of them knew how to use a gun. Are the parents teaching children how to use a gun? If the parents are, why are they teaching their children ways to protect themselves using violence? Guns are extremely dangerous; recently so many young children have died due to accidental, self inflicted, gunshot wounds. Parents need to teach their children other ways of dealing with anger, and they need to teach them that killing is wrong. If parents put out a strong message against violence, children will listen.
Getting Out
Once someone joins a gang, it is almost impossible if not completely impossible to leave. Family members can attempt to move their children away from the gangs, but it is an extremely hard and risky process. The “bond” gangs have are very strong, and they don’t want you to leave for fear you will join a different gang and become a traitor. If a child does manage to get out of a gang, they have to move the whole family away, change their name, and live in fear that every day the gang will find them.
Why Children Join Gangs
In an article written in 1997, titled Why Girls Join Gangs, girls join gangs to help deal with the frustration, rage, and anger they obtain from living with dysfunctional families. Joining gangs help the girls feel wanted, needed, and important. When they join a gang, they join a new family, a family that will stick up for them and fight for them without any questions ever being asked.
Some children chose to join gangs because they are lonely. Their parents both work full time, they have no one to talk to, and they want friends and people that will watch their back. They chose to join a gang because they will no longer have to be alone. There will be someone that’s there for them when they are upset, and they have something to do during the day.
However, some children join gangs for other, hurtful reasons. Some young children join gangs to spite their parents. In an article written in 2002, titled “Adult Absence Can Lead Teens to Join Gangs”, a girl named Kim claimed to join a gang because “she just didn’t like her mom”. Her mom had abandoned her and left her with an alcoholic father. So in order to get back at her parents for hurting her, she joined a gang at the age of 13. She wanted to be a part of something that honored her, and respected her. Kim found that honor and respect she wanted in a gang.
Some children chose to join gangs because they are lonely. Their parents both work full time, they have no one to talk to, and they want friends and people that will watch their back. They chose to join a gang because they will no longer have to be alone. There will be someone that’s there for them when they are upset, and they have something to do during the day.
However, some children join gangs for other, hurtful reasons. Some young children join gangs to spite their parents. In an article written in 2002, titled “Adult Absence Can Lead Teens to Join Gangs”, a girl named Kim claimed to join a gang because “she just didn’t like her mom”. Her mom had abandoned her and left her with an alcoholic father. So in order to get back at her parents for hurting her, she joined a gang at the age of 13. She wanted to be a part of something that honored her, and respected her. Kim found that honor and respect she wanted in a gang.
Gang Violence and Families
There are two types of families to consider when discussing gang violence, the actual birth family of the gang member, and the gang community. Most gang members however, only consider the gang as their family. Children feel lost and abandoned from their birth families, so they join a group that will always be there for them. The group they join is a dangerous one. It is a gang.
Conclusion For Community vs. Gang Violence
Overall, people have to stick together to keep gangs from causing harm to the families that live in the gang ridden communities. Children should be able to go outside and enjoy themselves instead of worrying about whether or not they will get caught in cross fire gang activity. If neighborhoods want their communities to be a safe place, it’s up to them to stop the gangs. More and more workshops are beginning to come up to show neighborhoods how to work and live in a gang infested community. If the public sticks together to help fight the gangs, one day all of these children will be able to go out and have fun instead of living in fear of accidental death by gang activity.
School Community vs. Gang Violence
The schools in the gang affected area are also part of the community. If the community is threatened by gangs, then the schools are threatened as well. I know from personal experience, about gangs in schools. My high school had two gangs that always fought each other at school and some days I was afraid to go to school because I feared the gang fights.
In a survey taken by my group for this project, we asked 100 people questions about gangs and if they knew people in a gang, or had problems with gangs during school. One of the questions we asked was if gang violence ever broke out during school hours. Out of the 100 people we asked, 50% said yes, that some type of fighting broke out because of the gangs in the school.
When children fear going to school because of the gang violence and what can happen, the results from an academic stand point can be awful. In my third text I read for this class, And Still We Rise, Miles Corwin discusses the point that children who go to school in gang ridden communities fall to the pressures of gangs all the time. If these children in gangs go to school at all, they go to hang out with the other gang members. The children that actually go to school to learn have a hard time doing so when every day; a fight breaks out because of gang competition.
In a survey taken by my group for this project, we asked 100 people questions about gangs and if they knew people in a gang, or had problems with gangs during school. One of the questions we asked was if gang violence ever broke out during school hours. Out of the 100 people we asked, 50% said yes, that some type of fighting broke out because of the gangs in the school.
When children fear going to school because of the gang violence and what can happen, the results from an academic stand point can be awful. In my third text I read for this class, And Still We Rise, Miles Corwin discusses the point that children who go to school in gang ridden communities fall to the pressures of gangs all the time. If these children in gangs go to school at all, they go to hang out with the other gang members. The children that actually go to school to learn have a hard time doing so when every day; a fight breaks out because of gang competition.
How To Make The Communities Safer
Acts are being done however to make the communities safer. In 1992 an ordinance was created that stated that gangs were not allowed to loiter with other gang members in certain public areas. This helped to eliminate some of the cross fire gang violence because it decreased the chances of gang rivals getting in fights when they were seen loitering around each other. However, the issue of freedom is brought up because people believe that every person has a right to be anywhere they want. Does it cross the line when innocent civilians’ lives are in jeopardy? This is why gang violence in the community is still so common today. Due to the fact that people believe they that should be free to hang out where ever they want, gang fights continue to break out. With the continuous break out of fights, cross-fire activity occurs, resulting in serious injury and death for the civilians.
Gang Violence vs. The Community
What are the effects of gang violence and the communities in which these gangs live? Numerous times, adults and children alike live in communities where just going outside could cost them their lives. In times where children should be outside at the park playing, they must be inside their homes for fear of accidental death by cross fire gang activity. For example, a three year old girl was shot and killed by a gang member because the gang member assumed the girl’s father was a member of an opposing gang. What the shooter did not know was that the girl’s father was not involved in a gang at all. Why should children have to live in fear that they will be mistaken for a rival gangs child, or even part of a gang they know nothing about? Communities have to continuously be on the lookout for cross fire gang activity every time they think about leaving their homes.
The community suffers greatly when gangs enter their towns. Not only do they have to fear for their lives, but there are increased problems in other areas as well. For example, every town experiences their fair share of graffiti and vandalism. However, in a community where gangs are prevalent, the vandalism is increased with territorial graffiti. The graffiti becomes etched all over the town and ruins the town’s appearance.
The community suffers greatly when gangs enter their towns. Not only do they have to fear for their lives, but there are increased problems in other areas as well. For example, every town experiences their fair share of graffiti and vandalism. However, in a community where gangs are prevalent, the vandalism is increased with territorial graffiti. The graffiti becomes etched all over the town and ruins the town’s appearance.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Gang History Podcast
SECOND STOPSET IN GANG VIOLENCE PODCAST:
That was the Digable Planets with Rebirth of Slick here on Dorm 106.
I’m Lindsay and we’re talking gang violence today. Gangs have been around for centuries in one form or another.
By definition, a gang is a group of people who through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage share a common identity.
According to trusty wikipedia, in its current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen. But more often than not- it carries a negative connotation.
American city gangs for the most part seem to have spawned from racial tension. During World War I, tons of African-Americans came looking for work in the city of Chicago.
This led to increased tensions between workers of different races a eventually a race riot broke out in 1919.
More on the race riot coming up and we’ll uncover a bit about the little talked about subject of white gangs in the city.
But you gotta stick around because right now I have a live track heading your way about life on the streets. So without further ado, here’s Snoop Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson and their live version of “Can’t Say Goodbye” performed on last year’s American Idol event Idol Gives Back on Dorm106.
That was the Digable Planets with Rebirth of Slick here on Dorm 106.
I’m Lindsay and we’re talking gang violence today. Gangs have been around for centuries in one form or another.
By definition, a gang is a group of people who through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage share a common identity.
According to trusty wikipedia, in its current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen. But more often than not- it carries a negative connotation.
American city gangs for the most part seem to have spawned from racial tension. During World War I, tons of African-Americans came looking for work in the city of Chicago.
This led to increased tensions between workers of different races a eventually a race riot broke out in 1919.
More on the race riot coming up and we’ll uncover a bit about the little talked about subject of white gangs in the city.
But you gotta stick around because right now I have a live track heading your way about life on the streets. So without further ado, here’s Snoop Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson and their live version of “Can’t Say Goodbye” performed on last year’s American Idol event Idol Gives Back on Dorm106.
Effects of Gang Violence on Youth
Effects of Gang Violence On Youth
• 2 types of violence:
o Predatory violence (usually a stranger trying to take something of value using physical threats or direct violence)
o Violence arising from nonfamily interpersonal conflicts (this usually concerns acquaintances involved in an altercation)
o Both types of violence may include brutal acts such as shootings, rapes, stabbings, and beatings.
• Many children and adolescents are exposed to violence in their own neighborhoods and schools.
• Community violence is now recognized as a public health issue, especially among the young.
• Focus on youthful victims and the consequences of their trauma exposure, including the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
How much violence are youth experiencing?
• Those of lower socioeconomic status, those who are nonwhite, and those living in densely populated urban areas do appear to bear a disproportionately high burden of violence.
• Children from all walks of life and all ages are at risk for exposure to community violence.
o In a national survey of girls and boys 10 to 16 years old, over one-third reported being the direct victim of different forms of violence including aggravated assault, attempted kidnapping, and sexual assault.
o Researchers have found that an even higher number of urban children have been exposed to indirect community violence (e.g., they have witnessed violence or know a victim).
o One study comparing urban elementary school children living in low-violence neighborhoods to those living in high-violence neighborhoods found that over 75 percent of those in high-violence neighborhoods had been exposed to community violence.
Are some youths at greater risk for exposure to community violence?
• Factors that increase exposure to violence
o Living in poor, inner-city areas and being a minority appears to increase the risk for community violence exposure.
o Gang affiliation appears to be a key risk factor, as is involvement in substance abuse and exposure to domestic violence.
o Gender is another risk factor; males witness more community violence and are at higher risk for physical assault and other direct forms of community violence, whereas females are at higher risk for community-violence related sexual assault.
What are the effects of community violence?
• If injured, a child or adolescent may have to cope with surgeries, disabilities, convalescence, and rehabilitation.
• In addition to the physical aftermath of traumatic injury, the psychological consequences can be serious.
o PTSD commonly develops after a child has been exposed to community violence. Some people think that young children are not psychologically affected by exposure to community violence because they are too young to understand or remember the violence. However, studies have found posttraumatic symptoms and disorders among infants and toddlers.
o Symptoms expressed by children tend to look different from those expressed by adults. Children with PTSD display disorganized or agitated behavior and have nightmares that may include monsters. They may become withdrawn, fearful, or aggressive, and they may have difficulty paying attention. They may regress to earlier behaviors such as sucking their thumbs and bed-wetting, and they may develop separation anxiety. They may also engage in play that compulsively reenacts the violence.
o Other trauma-related reactions can include impaired self-esteem and body image, learning difficulties, and acting out or risk taking behaviors such as running away, drug or alcohol use, suicide attempts, and inappropriate sexual activities.
• 2 types of violence:
o Predatory violence (usually a stranger trying to take something of value using physical threats or direct violence)
o Violence arising from nonfamily interpersonal conflicts (this usually concerns acquaintances involved in an altercation)
o Both types of violence may include brutal acts such as shootings, rapes, stabbings, and beatings.
• Many children and adolescents are exposed to violence in their own neighborhoods and schools.
• Community violence is now recognized as a public health issue, especially among the young.
• Focus on youthful victims and the consequences of their trauma exposure, including the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
How much violence are youth experiencing?
• Those of lower socioeconomic status, those who are nonwhite, and those living in densely populated urban areas do appear to bear a disproportionately high burden of violence.
• Children from all walks of life and all ages are at risk for exposure to community violence.
o In a national survey of girls and boys 10 to 16 years old, over one-third reported being the direct victim of different forms of violence including aggravated assault, attempted kidnapping, and sexual assault.
o Researchers have found that an even higher number of urban children have been exposed to indirect community violence (e.g., they have witnessed violence or know a victim).
o One study comparing urban elementary school children living in low-violence neighborhoods to those living in high-violence neighborhoods found that over 75 percent of those in high-violence neighborhoods had been exposed to community violence.
Are some youths at greater risk for exposure to community violence?
• Factors that increase exposure to violence
o Living in poor, inner-city areas and being a minority appears to increase the risk for community violence exposure.
o Gang affiliation appears to be a key risk factor, as is involvement in substance abuse and exposure to domestic violence.
o Gender is another risk factor; males witness more community violence and are at higher risk for physical assault and other direct forms of community violence, whereas females are at higher risk for community-violence related sexual assault.
What are the effects of community violence?
• If injured, a child or adolescent may have to cope with surgeries, disabilities, convalescence, and rehabilitation.
• In addition to the physical aftermath of traumatic injury, the psychological consequences can be serious.
o PTSD commonly develops after a child has been exposed to community violence. Some people think that young children are not psychologically affected by exposure to community violence because they are too young to understand or remember the violence. However, studies have found posttraumatic symptoms and disorders among infants and toddlers.
o Symptoms expressed by children tend to look different from those expressed by adults. Children with PTSD display disorganized or agitated behavior and have nightmares that may include monsters. They may become withdrawn, fearful, or aggressive, and they may have difficulty paying attention. They may regress to earlier behaviors such as sucking their thumbs and bed-wetting, and they may develop separation anxiety. They may also engage in play that compulsively reenacts the violence.
o Other trauma-related reactions can include impaired self-esteem and body image, learning difficulties, and acting out or risk taking behaviors such as running away, drug or alcohol use, suicide attempts, and inappropriate sexual activities.
Monday, April 6, 2009
.jpg)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Gang Violence and The Family
There are two types of families to consider with gang violence. The family the gang member has before joining the gang, and the family the gang creates once you become a member of the gang. Most gang members however, only consider the second type of family their actual family. The reason behind this method is the fact that most gang members consider the family they were born into, not to be a family at all. Whether they never see them or whether they don’t associate with them, the answer is not there, they just don’t consider their immediate family to be their family at all.
In an article written in 1997, titled Why Girls Join Gangs, girls join gangs to help deal with the frustration, rage, and anger they obtain from living with dysfunctional families. Joining gangs help the girls feel wanted, needed, and important. When they join a gang, they join a new family, a family that will stick up for them and fight for them no matter what the situation is.
Some children have a situation where both parents work full time and they are lonely. They may or may not have siblings, and they want people to talk to and hang out with. These children want some where to go and they resent their parents for working so much and not having enough time for them. In an article written in 2002, titled “Adult Absence Can Lead Teens to Join Gangs”, a girl named Kim claimed to join a gang because “she just didn’t like her mom”. Her mom had abandoned her and left her with an alcoholic father. Thinking that she had nothing else to offer, she decided to join something that could really help and benefit her. Instead of fighting people, she could join a gang and they could help her fight her enemies. There was no one to stop her or control her and at the age of 13, she joined a gang for life.
Once someone joins a gang, it is almost impossible if not completely impossible to leave. Even if the gang members real birth family attempts to get the child out of the gang it is extremely hard. The child has to change their name, move from the town, and fear everyday that the gang they were in will come and find the ex-gang member.
Parents have a lot of influence over their children. Their children look up to them, if parents want their children to be safe, they should try as hard as they possibly can to be there for them. They need to teach them that fighting is not the answer and that families, real families help each other by supporting one another. Families need to help in ways that don’t harm others. Children need to know that there are others places they can go if they don’t have stable homes, they do not need to get involved with gangs.
In the survey my group took for this project, one of the questions was do you know how use a gun? The answer out of 100 people was that 35% of them knew how to use a gun. Are the parents teaching children how to use a gun? If the parents are, why are they teaching their children ways to protect themselves using violence? Guns are extremely dangerous, and parents need to tell their children that using a gun is a dangerous thing and guns are not toys. Too many children find guns and attempt to play with them and then tragedy happens.
Overall, prevention of joining a gang and using a gun can happen if parents are there for their children. Children need love and support from their parents and families. They need real families, not families that are offered to them by gangs.
In an article written in 1997, titled Why Girls Join Gangs, girls join gangs to help deal with the frustration, rage, and anger they obtain from living with dysfunctional families. Joining gangs help the girls feel wanted, needed, and important. When they join a gang, they join a new family, a family that will stick up for them and fight for them no matter what the situation is.
Some children have a situation where both parents work full time and they are lonely. They may or may not have siblings, and they want people to talk to and hang out with. These children want some where to go and they resent their parents for working so much and not having enough time for them. In an article written in 2002, titled “Adult Absence Can Lead Teens to Join Gangs”, a girl named Kim claimed to join a gang because “she just didn’t like her mom”. Her mom had abandoned her and left her with an alcoholic father. Thinking that she had nothing else to offer, she decided to join something that could really help and benefit her. Instead of fighting people, she could join a gang and they could help her fight her enemies. There was no one to stop her or control her and at the age of 13, she joined a gang for life.
Once someone joins a gang, it is almost impossible if not completely impossible to leave. Even if the gang members real birth family attempts to get the child out of the gang it is extremely hard. The child has to change their name, move from the town, and fear everyday that the gang they were in will come and find the ex-gang member.
Parents have a lot of influence over their children. Their children look up to them, if parents want their children to be safe, they should try as hard as they possibly can to be there for them. They need to teach them that fighting is not the answer and that families, real families help each other by supporting one another. Families need to help in ways that don’t harm others. Children need to know that there are others places they can go if they don’t have stable homes, they do not need to get involved with gangs.
In the survey my group took for this project, one of the questions was do you know how use a gun? The answer out of 100 people was that 35% of them knew how to use a gun. Are the parents teaching children how to use a gun? If the parents are, why are they teaching their children ways to protect themselves using violence? Guns are extremely dangerous, and parents need to tell their children that using a gun is a dangerous thing and guns are not toys. Too many children find guns and attempt to play with them and then tragedy happens.
Overall, prevention of joining a gang and using a gun can happen if parents are there for their children. Children need love and support from their parents and families. They need real families, not families that are offered to them by gangs.
Survey For Gang Vilonce
English Survey for Gang Violence
Circle One: African-Amer. Caucasian Hispanic Asian-Pacific Islander Other
Gender: Male/ Female
1. Has anyone you known been killed/ injured due to gang violence? YES/NO
2. Do you know how to use a gun? YES/NO
3. Did gang violence ever break out during your school hours in high school? YES/NO
4. Did your high school have a dress code due to gang colors/affiliation? YES/NO
5. Were there any gang related awareness programs available at your high school? YES/NO
RESULTS OUT OF 100
English Survey Results
Demographics:
Afr. Amer-29 Caucasian-68 Hispanic-5 Asian-Pacific-4 Other-4
Gender: Male-40 Female-60
#1- yes: 42 no: 58
#2- yes: 35 no: 65
#3 yes: 50 no: 50
#4 yes: 56 no: 43
#5 yes: 29 no: 71
Circle One: African-Amer. Caucasian Hispanic Asian-Pacific Islander Other
Gender: Male/ Female
1. Has anyone you known been killed/ injured due to gang violence? YES/NO
2. Do you know how to use a gun? YES/NO
3. Did gang violence ever break out during your school hours in high school? YES/NO
4. Did your high school have a dress code due to gang colors/affiliation? YES/NO
5. Were there any gang related awareness programs available at your high school? YES/NO
RESULTS OUT OF 100
English Survey Results
Demographics:
Afr. Amer-29 Caucasian-68 Hispanic-5 Asian-Pacific-4 Other-4
Gender: Male-40 Female-60
#1- yes: 42 no: 58
#2- yes: 35 no: 65
#3 yes: 50 no: 50
#4 yes: 56 no: 43
#5 yes: 29 no: 71
Gangs & Youth Violence
This article discusses the idea of how to stop cross fire gang activity in the community, by allowing the reader to view different book and research gang violence.
FULL ARTICLE
FULL ARTICLE
Monday, March 30, 2009
Chicago Police Teach Seminars On Resolving Conflicts To Curb Gang Violence
This article discusses the ideas of holding seminars to stop gang violence.
FULL ARTICLE
FULL ARTICLE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)