NCJ Number
167452
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1997) Pages: 37-46
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article identifies and explores in a systematic way the issues and problems that seem central to understanding the social and political reality of African-American criminal street gangs.
Abstract
The author examines the impact of race on the political structures that have the constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens from the criminal elements of society. A second concern is to describe and evaluate the social, economic, and political forces that have contributed to the evolution of African-American criminal street gangs. The third concern is to critique some of the landmark theories that explain gang behavior. African-American criminal street gangs have a history that differs from white ethnic criminal street gangs. Different social, economic, and political experiences have contributed to their rise. Racism in America causes some African-American males from dysfunctional or oppressive environments to become more vulnerable to feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness, helplessness, and ultimately aggressive behavior. Research shows that when certain classes of people are oppressed, they often form their own anti-establishment groups. African-American criminal street gangs did not exist prior to the late 1950's, nor are there any early accounts of African American high profile gangster personalities. The first large African-American street gang was organized in 1958. The Vice Lords were founded in the Illinois State Training School for Boys. As conflicts and disputes increased between African-American inner-city males and those of various communities, fighting gangs emerged in neighborhood after neighborhood. With the help of recruiting efforts by the well-established fighting gangs, such as the Vice Lords, gang membership and affiliation became a necessary integral aspect of urban survival. In addition to providing a social reality that helps meet the social and emotional needs of inner-city black males, street gangs also provide a structure for achieving economic goals through drug trafficking. The gang problem is aggravated by the harsh penalties and the criminal justice strategies used against black gang members. Because the government spends more money on prisons than on public education, there is little reason to believe that African-American criminal street gangs will diminish in the near future. 45 references