Gangs

A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In 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.

 

In the United Kingdom the word is still often used in this sense, but it later underwent pejoration. The word gang often carries a negative connotation; however, within a gang which defines itself in opposition to mainstream norms, members may adopt the phrase as a statement of identity or defiance.

Gang signs Gangs often establish distinctive, characteristic identifiers including graffiti tags colors, hand-signals, clothing, jewelry, hair styles, fingernails, slogans, signs such as the swastika, the noose, the cross, five-pointed and six-pointed stars, crowns and tridents, flags for example the Confederate flag, secret greetings, slurs, or code words and other group-specific symbols associated with the gang's common beliefs, rituals, and mythologies to define and differentiate themselves from rival groups and gangs. As an alternative language, hand-signals, symbols, and slurs in speech, graffiti, print, music, or other mediums communicate specific informational cues used to threaten, disparage, taunt, harass, intimidate, alarm, influence, or exact specific responses including obedience, submission, fear, or terror.

 

One study focused on terrorism and symbols states: "... Symbolism is important because it plays a part in impelling the terrorist to act and then in defining the targets of their actions." Displaying a gang sign, such as the noose, as a symbolic act can be construed as "... a threat to commit violence communicated with the intent to terrorize another, to cause evacuation of a building, or to cause serious public inconvenience, in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience...an offense against property or involving danger to another person that may include but is not limited to recklessly endangering another person, harassment, stalking, ethnic intimidation, and criminal mischief."

 

Before you get yourself in over your head, here are a few facts on gangs to give you some perspective.

 

• Gang members are 60 times more likely to be killed than non-gang members.

• Gang violence has become increasingly deadly in the last several decades as a result of the introduction of automatic weapons and drive-by shootings.

• About 95% of hard core gang members are high school dropouts.

• Once you’re in, it is often times extremely dangerous and difficult to leave.

• Many gangs resort to violence, even homicide, to enforce loyalty and 

prevent members from leaving. 

 

A child's self-esteem is nurtured in a supportive home where he or she feels safe, loved, and valued. A child with positive self-esteem is more likely to avoid dangerous situations and be less open to gangs. Building self-esteem must begin at a very early age and continue throughout childhood.