Image a thirteen years old boy, smart and well-behaved, but lacks social skill. He lives in South Central Los Angeles and his only guardian is his full-time mother. His neighborhood is surrounded by gang members as well as delinquent youths where illegal activities occur every day. He never feels safe when walking down the streets because gang members would bully him and threaten to kill him. Since his mother is working constantly, no one is there to protect or to nurture him. He feels isolated from society. Therefore, from his perspective and his peers, he feels the need to join the gang crew in order to feel safe in his own home. By joining the gang he feels protected and develops secure relationships among his new “family.” Because of some of these risk factors, some young adolescents have no choice but to enter into the gang world.
Today, more and more youths are joining gangs. Youth gangs are growing larger in society because of social and economic key factors. Such disadvantages include living with a poor-parent-child communication or an absent parent(s), and living in poverty or with a parental substance abuse or parental neglect. Also, a child growing up with a family history where family members are in jail or drug/alcohol addicts are factors that may lead to gang life. Since many youths need a sense of belongingness, security, and acceptance, and to enhanced status, identity, and feel physically protected, they tend to join gangs in order to sympathize these feelings and enhance their emotional strengths and self-esteem because no one else can do it for them. It is also a place of refuge and a sense of purpose. Furthermore, according to Baron Davis, NBA Guard, Los Angeles Clippers, who grew up in South Central LA, says that “People need to understand that in communities in which family units have broken apart and there are few, if any, economic opportunities, gangs become like surrogate families, identities (2009). See Risk Factor Chart at http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/jjbulletin/9808/chart.html
Because youths feel that gangs are the only options for them to feel secure and accepted, governmental officials, the community which includes schools, churches, and organizations need to focus on prevention and intervention programs. They need to provide and promote programs to children to join after school programs, sports, and leisure activities for them to unite with their peers and BE GANG-FREE!!!
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/baron-davis/breaking-the-cycle-of-inn_b_196785.htm
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention
http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/jjbulletin/9808/chart.html
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention
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