Criminal street gangs in the U.S. Why do gangs exist?
Who joins street gangs? Are they bullies or
gang members?
Street gangs have existed in the United States for years and their
history and origins can be traced back to many large metropolitan areas. Many gangs originally formed as a means of self-protection for family and friends within their neighborhood.
Street gangs in today’s society exist for one reason – to conduct
criminal activity and this activity usually involves the sale of drugs. While gangs may have had some good intentions sixty years ago, today's
gangs are nothing more than bullies and other losers who hide until
they can form a group.
Street gang members, when confined, frequently carry their gang affiliation to the prison where members of the same gang will band together or they may join a larger, more powerful gang, to include the traditional prison gangs.
Inmates who maintain their street gang affiliations pose many security problems for the prison staff, due to their general lack of leadership and discipline.
Many people think of all gangs as being the same as the Chicago
gangs, the Los Angeles gangs or the gangs of New York. Gangs
OR Us shows you that they are not the same. Generally speaking,
most gangs in other parts of the country may call themselves Bloods,
Crips, or Gangster Disciples, but most have absolutely no connection
to the original gangs. Many of these gangs are what are
referred to as copy cat gangs and many of the thousands of copy cat gangs that have formed throughout the United States are based on the Chicago and California gangs.
WHY KIDS JOIN GANGS
Youth will join a gang for various reasons. The overwhelming reason for
kids to join is to meet a need that is not being fulfilled by their
family, school, or environment. The following are some of the reasons
why youth decide to become involved with gangs.
Naivety
Attention
Low self-esteem
Desire for friendship and a sense of belonging
Love
Peer pressure
Respect
Fear
Need for protection
Sense of power
Victim of poverty or inequality
Family tradition
Excitement
Access to drugs, guns, sex, and money
A belief that gang life will make them superior
Family problems/lack of positive communication
None or little adult supervision - no role model
Glamorization of gangster life by media (movie, TV, music
industries)
Former Chicago street gang leaders and founders speak out against
gangs
Memphis TN Leaders (including former gang members)
Speak Out
Anti-Gang Message From Actual Bangers
Caution: Lots of profane language
Supremacists, Cults, Other Groups
There are many groups that do not fall into the categories of either a "street" or a "prison" gang. Due to the many inquiries to Gangs OR Us for groups of this type, the page below has been added for information only.
