Gangs Influence On Black Youth Essay - 2031 Words

Gangs have existed in America since the early eighteenth century, they first rose a outsider institutions that provided membership and sense of self to individuals who were not seen as part of the community. Traditionally, gang membership correlates to familial membership; parental and family membership in a gang elevates the possibility of youth also joining a gang. Though these outsider institutions have developed overtime, they pose some of the most violent threats to public safety, but also to those they say they will protect. It is this violence and lifestyle dominated by power associated with gang memberships that create an appeal to black youth and change the course of their lives. Gangs are a creation of an ongoing cycle, in which society has failed to improve conditions for teens who are looking for new ways to belong in the community. When analyzing gangs influence on black youth, it is important to first understand what motives lead them to join in the first place. In the article, â€Å"Predictors of Gang Membership: Variation Across Grade Levels,† the authors Antoinette Farmer and Timothy Hairston establish that risk factors for gang membership fall within five domains. These domains are individual, family, peer, school, and community Therefore, it is found that the individual factors accounting in the chances of joining are being an African American male, negative life events, and low self-esteem. Research found that the loss of a parent or close family member orShow MoreRelatedThe American Of American History Essay1523 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the course of American history, the usage of gangs has always been embedded in the striving desire to be rebel, such as defeating the overhanging stature of the British empire. However as the 13 colonies formed a colonial gang in an effort to eliminate Bri tish influence in America, the definition of the word gang has transformed into an entirely different meaning. 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