El Rukn Analysis

¨Gang members have been responsible for 61 percent of all homicides [in Chicago] in 2011, up from 58.7 percent in 2010¨ (Hidden America). These are some of the few disturbing statistics about gang violence in Chicago; however, as many people do not know, gangs have not always been about drugs and violence. In the early 19th century, gangs are not what people perceive them to be today. Gangs in the 19th century were volunteers with the fire department back in the Antebellum Period, which is the period before the civil war and after the War of 1812. As time went on and as the professional firemen forced the volunteers to break up, they started spreading apart. Then by the late 19th century, gangs started developing on the south side. This is

In the 1940s the black population grew onward and since there were now more blacks in Chicago, there were buildings that were being built for low-income and poverty families and since the blacks were just now coming into Chicago looking for better employment they had to move to where they could afford. Now these buildings were being built on the west and south sides of Chicago. These buildings became like forts to these gangs These gangs grew intense over time in Chicago as well in New York. Gang war erupted over drug trafficking turf, which made black gang problems explode in the 1960s. It got so bad that law enforcement said that it was too dangerous for them to patrol around that area. Gangs of Chicago controlled many things like drug distribution

When individuals decided to get involve in those type of activities many of them do it for specific reasons. For example, people join gang for acceptance, protection, and some are forced into it, because of their family are gang affiliated. Gangs partake endlessly in finding different method for individuals to more effectively get the things they want, particularly power. Therefore, people that are easily influenced tends to gravitate toward gang activities for recognition in the community. According to Goldman, Giles, & Hogg (2014), “Gang members’ actions impact other gang members as well as the wider community; everyone is at risk of being a victim of gang violence” (p. 825). Gang violence goes further than racial issue, but it more intensely touches African American and Latino communities.

Gangs originated naturally during the adolescent years of a child. They started from small play groups that eventually found themselves in conflict with other small groups of youth. Due to the conflict between the two small groups of youth it became a part of a child’s mind set to come together as a gang and protect their rights and satisfy the needs that their environment and families couldn’t provide. There are about 24,500 gangs in the U.S and out of those gangs 40% of them are juveniles (Hess, Orthmann, Wright, 2013). There are numerous reason why a child would join a gang, and the

Social movements emerge for a number of different reasons, specifically for gangs it is injustice and inequality: police brutality, racial discrimination, colorism, and poverty, due to a lack of education and school funding because of corrupt politicians. Gangs of America were born out of police brutality and low income areas, which tend to be segregated from other communities of wealth. Not only are their interactions with law enforcement negative, but they have a “dog eat dog” mentality with each other because of such high poverty rates.

Gangs have existed in the United States for over 200 years. It all started when the first immigrants came to the U.S.A. Most of them came for a better life but many of them ended up in poverty. The first gangs were formed among poor adolescents who grouped together for the sake of socialisation and protection. They were of the same race or the same ethnic background. The first known gang specialized in crimes was called "The Five Points". They consisted of Irish immigrants and was established in New York City. They dressed in a specific way and used monikers or nicknames. Another early gang were the "Forty Thieves". Their gang leader was Edward Coleman and they formed in 1826. New York City's early gangs had an easy time of it because of

The correlation between gangs and drugs has always been an issue for the United States government. Major cities often overlooked the problem of youth gang violence, thinking it was only a 1960’s trend. Sixty years later, gangs and drugs continue to be a problem, but in an increasing number within urban, suburban and rural areas in the United States. People may characterize this problem with words such as violence, increase drug activity, and delinquencies, but not many seem to see the bigger picture. Lack of interaction, collaboration, and strategies from law enforcement, youth centers, businesses, churches, and political icons are increasing gang violence and drug related offenses in major cities. In such cities as Chicago, minority groups are the most vulnerable to joining a gang, which then leads to an involvement with drugs; they are faced with barriers – lack of family support, poverty, segregation, unemployment, etc. An incident that happened in Chicago history is the closing of the Cabrini-Green Project, where people involved with gangs had to find a new home, scattering gang-members throughout the city, and eventually leading to their spread and growth.

The Black Guerilla Family gang originated in the California prison systems in the 1960s and 30 years later eventually made its way to the prison systems of Maryland and onto the streets of Baltimore City and Howard County. This organization is considered among the most powerful gangs in the state, and has been known for its criminal activities in and outside of correctional facilities. The Black Guerilla Family gang increased its strength through numbers as they heavily recruited during the inflow of criminals as they were being processed into the detention centers and facilities. It was reported that nearly one-third of more than 3,000 identified gang members within the system were affiliated with the Black Guerrilla Family, and they even

Gangs reorganized and many combined their gangs into one bigger enterprise. Gangs were mostly run from prisons during the 1970’s and on (Brief outline); therefore one could not escape the gangs. Gangs shaped Chicago early on.

The Black Guerrilla Family was started in the year 1966 by W.L. Nolen, Lester Jackson, James Carr and other racist who were black in the San Quentin state prison in California. The founders adopted the militia structure and ideology of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The gangs were started so as to unite the black prisoners and get rid of a violent uprising. This uprising was believed to be from a racist prison administration that was white. The gang attracted thousands black American offenders, and was listed for a number of staff assaults and the murder of Marin County judge in 1970. Its territory is in California and some selected areas in the United States. It also has a paramilitary kind of structure. It has around 50,000 members. If one wants to join the gang, one has to be black and must be nominated by an existing member. They have a symbol of a dragon that is attacking a gun tower of a prison. This gang is still growing in most of the American prisons with some of its members outside the confinement.

Drug trafficking has been the most common way of getting money. Gang members come up with

Martin Luther King Jr brings up a great point in this quote, "And one day we must ask the question, "Why are there forty million poor people in America?" And when you begin to ask that question, you are raising questions about the economic system... When you ask that question, you being to question the capitalist economy." Capitalism is one of several methods whereby societies attempt to meet the basic needs of citizens in terms of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services (Shelden, Tracy, & Brown, 2013, p. 231). But the basic needs are not being met for millions of citizens in our country and this is a problem. Capitalism did not create gangs, but the gang members are a product of capitalism. Gangs were not created with the intention on selling drugs, guns, or killing people. They were created by like-minded people that relate to one another, who live close to one another, and want to hang out. Gangs saw the need for profit in our society so they followed suit with characteristics in a capitalist system, power and control. Control over capital, gives people more than prestige and distinction; access to capital is power (Shelden, Tracy, & Brown, 2013, pg. 232). Gangs start by exerting their power and control over their neighborhoods and pretty soon this gang has spread from neighborhood to neighborhood to large cities. Law enforcement tries to respond to gang involvement, but because of racism, crime, and poverty represent class issues the

Abstract: This review studies in depth research done on street gangs. Social issues have social scientists turning away from including this in their research around this time. Sociological views have been changed dramatically in the past 40 years due to gender and racial studies. Also, women have started to join gangs since America has been changed with woman equality laws passing.

and gangs were formed by the American Mafia. As years passed, the location of gangs had

Raymond Washington has been credited with creating the gang while still in High School at Freemont. It was originally created as a political organization which grew to provide protection from other gangs and profit from criminal activity. Washington imitated the Black Panther party when creating the organization of the Crips and after the help of a few other original members in recruiting young men they increase the gang’s involvement in violent criminal activity. Initially there was no formal leadership in the gang how ever leaders were recognized by other members due to their charismatic personalities and influence. These leaders would make it a priority to expand the reach of the gang and expand the influence and power that the Crips had. By 1978 they had already grown to 45 separate gangs showing how quickly their ideas and influence caught on it Los Angeles.