Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Gangs

My father, Bishop Fred Rubin, is doing a presentation today on the subject of gangs. In our discussion of the subject, he asked a question, "With the same fundamental issues prevalent 30 years ago (broken homes, economic strain, racial marginalization), why does gang involvement appear to be more prevalent today than in the '60s and '70s?"

Here's what I think I understand:

Individuals join gangs for a sense of belonging. When they don't have anything meaningful to belong to, like a family or a sports team or a music group, they seek those bonds in other places--even if the group is negative.

Gangs have an economic component. Gangs today aren't just a group of bullies on the street, stealing lunch money. Often, these gangs represent organized financial machines that specialize in the production and distribution of "illegal pharmaceuticals".

Failure to participate could be dangerous--if not fatal. It's not easy to "just say no". It's not always easy to stand up and be different when the threat of getting shot is a real possibility. So even if you don't want to join, you're afraid not to.

But there's still a whole lot I don't understand:

Why are so many of our young men, and young women, joining these gangs?

As many as can, PLEASE ADD YOUR COMMENTS! Even if you post anonymously, I'd love to get your thoughts on this one.
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am, like you - clueless as to why one would join a gang. Clueless as to why violence is so widely accepted when the end results are so tragic. As a teen in high school, I wasn't one who needed friends or a need to be a part of a group or club. If I skipped school, I did alone. I didn't need external or a legion of forces to drive me. So I really don't understand gangs period. I saw the girl gangs and ignored them.

I am not clueless however, as to why violence is so widely accepted. It has in recent years been glorified by the media - mainly the motion picture and music industries. The message seems to exclaim all too loudly - "real men (especially) are real tough and do really destructive things even if it kills them or everyone else". Gangster movies such as The Godfather and Scarface started it, "gangster" rap expanded on it with music and movies. Every hero or bad guy from Bruce, Arnold, Wesley, Denzel even - shoot to kill. Now every rapper with $1 million dollars will make some sort of "ghetto fabulous" movie, complete with bad script, bad acting and a whole lot of shooting. You can literally watch The Godfather Trilogy or Scarface on cable the entire weekend. The networks continually play the movies. I don't understand why we need to be so tough. This how I interpret the messages I am receiving. Poor innocent children - what are they receiving.

So I suppose some young women are accepting this notion also. I don't understand girl gangs because my entire teen years was spent making sure I looked good - the brawling life did not line up my makeup, jewelry and clothes. But it does happen. My step-daughter loved the hard reputation she received for being hard and fast on the punch. She loved the stories and reinactments of her latest brawl. She loved the glory of her ghetto fabulous reputation. The marks and scratches on her face and body grieved my Spirit, so I kept praying. "There is always someone bigger and badder". After gaining a court case in every county in the Detroit tri-county area, she slowed down. What really slowed her road was that she became responsible for all her court costs (my idea). Attorney fees and fines - this family didn't commit any crimes - you did - we are not paying - you are. Big chunk out of college fund and her Burger King salary was exhausted. She wised up and went on to graduate high school June 2006.

One incident I recall, when my younger daughter explained that the FBTs were fighting the BBC (Blackstone, Burgess and Chapel streets). I stopped her mid-story and asked what the acronyms meant. I was astonished to discover that the FBTs were the (Henry Ford High School) Football Team. (Why in the world would they call/name themselves as if a gang? Did the school & the coach know they were referring themselves as gang letters?) She went on the say the that the FBT girls had to fight the BBC girls and thus the latest incident. My older daughter was dating a FBT player and "had to" fight!!??!! along with the other foolish girls who had no clue as to why they "had to" fight. To this day, they still don't know why they "had to" fight. I know the answer: they didn't want to look weak, like punks (putting it mildly). Whatever happened to "sugar and spice and everything nice"?

Whenever I can I stop to watch one of the "ghetto fabulous" movies my teens are watching. After about 10 minutes of this garbage, I always present my commentary (which I know they love). I know my kids. I know my kid's friends. I know my kid's friend's parents. So whenever, a movie, TV show or video glorifies violence, sex or any other negative activity. I ask them "Who do you know that lives like that?" My commentaries usually includes, but are not limited to: "It is entertainment, and it is bad acting. And 99.5% of society does not live like that. Not your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, friend's parents, parent's friends, neighbors, no one. Name one person we know who lives such a life - no one. Our lives are home and work and all the business that goes along with daily living as a normal human being. This will be your life too. Only a small fraction of folks strut around all day smoking blunts, snorting coke, drinking Martel & Cristal and shooting at folks, all the while making big cheddar. Ghetto fabulous will not be your life - I am praying for you. Go to school, get a job or career and live the same lives we are living only better - hopefully." I'm sorry if I seem to blame the media for it all. I don't, I know it is the parents & family and church - the foundation.

My husband and I grew up in the "mean streets of Detroit" (it's not that bad. It's all in the company you keep). We had a strong family with rules and expectations. Our lives - we go to work, come home and do it again tomorrow. Our kids say we lead boring lives - Amen. So do they, they just don't see it - Wendy's, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, church, cheerleading practice and competitions, basketball, they barely get a chance to sleep. They can only squeeze in one movie or mall day a month. Keep'em busy. Our kids grew up very sheltered, because we didn't want our life for them. So I am praying they don't try to live up to the hype. We teach at every opportunity. I incorporate Christ, my husband - what he knows. I talk to the ones I come in contact with and pray I am planting a seed and making a difference. Our family motto: "sit down, shut up, go to school, get a job, get out of my house then, have kids" It is the parents (the foundation) job to raise our children properly and if you see one that needs assistance, go the extra mile to teach. I commend you both for caring so much for the community at large and society as a whole. God Bless.

12:56 PM
Anonymous said...

I guess I am just posting to be posting , (as you have so politely requested) because being honest, I too am clueless as to why the violence and the need to produce gangs is so widespread.
In school, I tended to lead more than to follow, so if some one came to me with a idea that I viewed as cockamamie, nayyyyyyy, I wasnt having it.
You see, a sense of who I am, and what my life should be, emerged from my dad. He always tried to instill in us to lead rather than to follow. So I find that I tend to stand back, observe, and arrive at my own conclusions on things rather than go with the mainstream. I can only conlude that followers tend to go with the mainstream to develop a sense of self.

Sista Elliott

1:51 PM

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