Death Of A Gangster As I Will Not Cry Essay

In the richly detailed autobiography of a pickpocket and con artist named George Appo, editor Timothy Gilfoyle brings to life the happenings of New York’s opium dens, organized crimes, and prisons that encompassed the quickly changing criminal underworld of late nineteenth century America. In doing so, a comprehensive introduction and various supporting documents, which consist of investigative reports and depictions of Appo and his world, all connect Appo’s life story with the bigger picture of urban New York and in what ways crime changed during this time in history. The autobiography also examines aspects like race and class that may have led some people to a life of crime, and the encounters of incarcerations and criminal justice that helped to define the nation’s criminal subculture. George Appo, being in the middle of all of this newfound criminalization, ultimately, found himself becoming part of the criminal underworld as he partook in pick pocketing, green goods scams, etc, as well as found himself in and out of prisons throughout his life. Overall, Appo’s unfortunate fall into criminal activity is due, for the most part, to impactful social changes that were taking place during this period. The social changes that were the most important in leading to George Appo’s life of crime were because of the influx of thousands of Chinese immigrants to New York City every year which led to the surge of opium dens, brothels and

but you may also see strange writing below it. They say to other gangs that

In society today, there is a major problem We live in a society where gangs are taking over our neighborhoods in numbers. It is the responsibility of the individuals to part take in getting their neighborhoods back under control. Gangs are becoming a growing problem in American society. More young people are turning to gangs to solve problems in their lives or for acceptance. When youths join gangs, they drop all their social activities with school, family, and friends. However, individuals ruin their lives, and the chances of them having a decent education, and a successful life by getting involved in gang activity.

Throughout the song, Tupac gives an inside look on the social problems affecting African-Americans and suggests possible solutions. In the first stanza of the song, Tupac first talks about how certain social issues are linked together; he makes a correlation between his skin color and being poor. Tupac says “I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.” Then he explains how poverty causes crime by saying “My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch.” And finally, he demonstrates the relationship between police brutality and race by saying “Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero.”

To help understand Tupac’s poem, you must grasp yourself around the image of a very young boy, who has no father, grew up in the rougher parts of New York, and was barely supported by his mother.

What ever happened to kids wanting saying they wanted to be a police officer, fireman, doctor or teacher when they grow up? Does anyone ever say, when I grow up I want to be in a gang? According to the National Gang Threat Assessment there are over one million gang members in California and over forty percent are under the age of eighteen. Just in Fresno alone there are over twelve thousand gang members and over 500 gangs (Overend). Gang violence is a growing problem and if we don’t try to control it now it will be a bigger problem in the future.

To gaze into the lyrics of both Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur is like living in the ghettos of New York City where violence never stops. Both of these artists grew up seeing and living a life filled with violence. Gunshots and drive-byes, death and murder were a daily occurrence. Although the lyrics of both artists are simply telling their life stories and how hard it was to grow up in their “hoods” they contain vulgar, hateful, and sexual verses that send the wrong message to their listeners. Whether these listeners are teens or adults, white or black, they are continually sending notions of hatred and fear through their lyrics and actions. Ultimately,

Independently, Shakur’s lyrics suggest the inequalities he has experienced throughout his life and of his race in general. In the first verse, Shakur expresses his upbringing without a father and the struggles with the racial tension in his neighborhood. He implies that he has been pushed into a world of violence and crime because of his low socioeconomic status. He states that peace can only be attained if the African Americans are offered a place in the society. The second verse focuses upon the broader oppression of the black body where he addresses the police violence and inequalities of the system. His lyric analyzes the violence in the streets and the fear of police officers that are willing to shoot him because he appears threatening. Finally, the third verse expresses that he is still waiting on things to change, yet the answer is not present. The greater meaning to his

Capture Attention- “Too Many Murders, Too Many Funerals, and Too Many Tears. Just seen another brother buried plus I knew him for years. Passed by his family, but what could I say? Keep yo’ head up head up and try to keep the faith and pray for better days” (Tupac).

On the streets of Chicago gang violence is common. 72% of people who die are murdered. Children everyday are affected by this atrocity. Schools are filled with drugs and violence. This was the everyday life of me, Jazmine Harper. My 18 year old brother Demaris was in a gang, the Reds. My mother was a construction worker and my dad left me the day I was born. My family lived in Riverdale, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago. Things haven’t really changed since I left.

Poncelet’s life and how he acts. It portrays him as a bottom of the line,

Tupac Shakur was born on June 16, 1971 until 25 years ago had disappeared from his fans, and family members. Tupac Shakur was also known as 2Pac, selling over 75 million records worldwide, also bestselling, and influential rappers of all times. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was fatally shot in drive by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was taken to Southern Nevada hospital where he passed six days later. According to the coroner’s report, Shakur was 6 feet and weighed 215 pounds, but he actually was 5.10 and weighted 165 pounds.

The purpose of this paper is to review and verify a recent study by Scott H. Decker of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, entitled Collective and Normative Features in Gang Violence (Decker & VanWinkle, 1996). The study will attempt to address why our local increase in gang violence has reached monumental heights causing an increase in gang members appearing your court.

From it's inception, rap indured a lot of hostility from listeners--many, but not all, White--who found the music too harsh, monotonous, and lacking in traditional melodic values. However, millions of others--often, though not always, young African-Americans from underprivileged inner city backgrounds--found and immediate connection with the style. Here was poetry of the

When was the last time you were able to turn on the news and not hear about some sort of violent act? Crime is a growing concern amongst most cities, and street gangs are behind a lot of the trouble. Street gangs have plagued the streets for centuries and there is no stopping the urge to commit such hideous crimes. Gangs grow from recruiting young kids but what makes a kid decide to join a crime filled lifestyle.