Dictionary definition of how gangs work

HowStuffWorks “Gangs“
Gangs, groups of persons who associate for social or criminal purposes. The term street gangs is often used to refer to criminal gangs in inner cities. The discussion in this article will be limited to such  Gangs, groups of persons who associate for social or criminal purposes. The term street gangs is often used to refer to criminal gangs in inner cities. The discussion in this article will be limited to such gangs in the United States. In the 1990’s, it was estimated that organized gangs existed in more than 800 cities and towns.

FinalCall.com News

We must all be activists to stop youth violence
FinalCall.com News
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“We stop it by becoming activists. I mean all parents, professionals, clergy, teachers,” advised Dr. Alvin Poussaint, director of the Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston, and co-author of a 2001 book with Amy Alexander “Lay My Burden Down.” The book chronicles mental health issues in the Black community and covers teen violence. Dr. Poussaint is also a professor of psychiatry and faculty associate dean for student affairs at Harvard Medical School.

“We are all in this, all of the positive elements of the village that is,” Dr. Poussaint told The Final Call. The way forward is to support holistic efforts to strengthen well being by “demonstrating good parenting” and collectively “loving our children,” said the respected psychiatrist.

“How many of our 19-year-olds have a job?” asked Dr. Poussaint. “There they are, on a corner, nothing to do, angry and frustrated.”

From Bro Mike.

Gangs Are Nothing But T.R.O.U.B.L.E

T: Thieves
You Learn How To Steal

R: Rebels
You Hate Good Advice

O: Obstinate
Only Your Gang Is Right

U: Uncaring
Coldness Towards Family & Others

B: Begging
Won’t Do Legitimate
Work

L: Lying
You Enjoy Lying To Others

E: Evil
Follow After Bad Things!

MEMO: NOW APPLY IT!

BY MIKE RAMEY

Now that young people are involved once again with the annual pursuit of knowledge, let me congratulate the brothers who are getting the GOOD grades! Furthermore, I give these young men a tip of the hat for staying out of trouble, keeping out of detention/jail/ prison, and spending as little time as possible `connected’ to the criminal justice system by a pair of silver bracelets and D.O.C ID numbers.

And the parents said: AMEN!

Much of our society doesn’t focus upon the subject of education in a realistic manner. We think of `getting an education’ as being the `be all and end all’ of life. More education will not make a person better if they are already bitter on the inside. Putting a PH. D in the hands of a fool just makes a person a better educated fool. Meanwhile, at the `other end’ of the debate–after the Civil Rights years–seeing young African American males exchanging their futures for `thirty pieces of thrill’ sagging, bagging, and dying in the streets (while their parents are blissfully silent) should re-energize every Black educator every day they enter a classroom.

In terms of our people and education, we have not met the enemy in some cases; we have given ignorance a pass, an Ipod, and a front row seat on Madison Avenue and BET.

The Bible is very clear about self-deception, my brothers. Not only do we have to have a realistic assessment as to who we are on a daily basis; we also have to PREPARE for success. Preparation is that hard work which is often unrewarded until the `test’ that you have been readied to meet knocks–or pounds–on your door. Life is NOT going to beg you to be successful; but it will help you to find your spot in defeat at any time.

Education isn’t an idol to be worshipped. It is a needed tool for survival.

One of my heroes, author Tony Brown, said it well a few years back: “Speak and write the King’s English very well. You will need this for food, shelter and clothing. Speak anyway you want when you are at home.”

Over the last few months I have had the chance to keep up with some of the `side’ stories of the economic downturn this nation has been experiencing. However, a few are worthy of note when it comes to getting young men ready for real life outside of the classroom. The first item deals with the unemployment rate of young Americans; those aged 16 to 24. According to national reports, the `official’ unemployment rate for young adults is a record, resting above 52 percent. Add to this the fact that entry-level jobs are drying up in this recession, with little to no relief in sight.

Now, among people of color, the unemployment rate for the same 16 to 24 group USUALLY trends higher…about ten to fifteen percentage points higher. Thus, we can safely speculate that the unemployment rate for young people of color is hovering around sixty to sixty-five percent! Add to the mix? There are certain, well-placed economic gurus predicting that the national unemployment rate will hover above ten percent for the next few years. One can truly understand why an education is crucial to the economic SURVIVAL of brothers, young and old.

MANY STATISTICS ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE:

Yes, I know. I can hear the catcalls already. School is too hard. It’s not `culturally sensitive’. Teachers are stupid. I’m not motivated to achieve. Public schools are broken. You are a sellout to your race IF you read, write, and speak well. You ain’t down with the struggle if you achieve.

Fill in the blank, in case you have an excuse I haven’t listed.

The DLS? In hard economic times, those `pieces of paper’ that some of you knock, brothers, are worth their weight in GOLD when it comes to getting your foot in the door for a job interview and being hired. Spin it this way: the more people that are spreading the lie that `education ain’t all that…’ are the same ones who are going to be stepping over the statistical bodies of those who believe the lie–as they are grabbing the brass rings of economic success!

To my younger brothers, apply what you are reading. Get your education! Treat it like a job everyday in the classroom and on campus. Motivate yourself! Your ability to get paid a legal wage rests upon what skills from reading, writing, and arithmetic you retain and how many subjects you successfully master. Make your BRAIN rain!

I have yet to read an employment application yet that has the following spaces:

A) How many words can you `tweet’ a minute?

B) How fast can you download a bootleg video?

And the employers said: AMEN!

UNEMPLOYABLE THUGGS? VOLUNTARY STATISTICS!:

There are two major consequences of doing wrong in the streets and living the thugg life (my personal spelling), besides a trip to the `state spa’–meaning jail or prison. First, in tight economic times, it matters little how many diplomas and degrees you earn behind bars–employers WILL RARELY hire a person who had done time for anything.

That is, unless they can `make money’ from the government off that ex-con.

Anybody remember the “Jobs Training and Partnership Act!!??

I know that this will hurt some feelings, and ruin some photo ops and PR opportunities, but let’s be `on the up’ about this matter. There IS something to be said for staying out of the lock up. Second, I don’t care how many re-entry programs that may exist. In times of economic peril, the employer calls the shots as to whomever gets that available J-O-B! Let me assure you; your `jailhouse diploma’ won’t work very well in a showdown with those brothers–whom you LAUGHED at–who got their education and stayed out of trouble in the process. The squares and un-hip rule in recessions, Amen?

You’ve read it all before. This time, apply it. You’ll be ready for success!

RAMEY is the Pastor of The Forward Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the author of THE MANHOOD LINE. This syndicated column appears on fine websites and gracious blogs around the world. To correspond, buzz an email to him at manhoodline@ yahoo.com. © 2009 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications.

Great piece…

Why we need to start snitching
The Grio

There is an underlying thread in the untimely and senseless death of Derrion Albert in Chicago. This tragedy could have been avoided, but now we are witnessing something equally tragic: the ‘no snitching’ code is excusing the behavior of those who witnessed and were present at the murder of this exceptional young man.

The question that many people are asking after Derrion’s tragic death is: “Why?” Why would so many in the black community not cooperate? Why would we protect the killers among us who have no love or remorse? Is it because we distrust outsiders more? How do we rationalize this?

Great tune from Matisyahu…love the lyrics too.

when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pavement
keep on moving though the waters stay raging

Why join a gang? / Mental, learning and emotional disorders common …
StandardNet

Two characteristics define kids in gangs, Arturo Hernandez says.

The first trait is “a kid who is not in school because he doesn’t do school well,” he said. Second, “They have nothing else outside of school to compensate for that. These are kids who fail all day. They have no one out there who is saying, ‘Good job.’ ”

These kids, almost all boys, wind up running the streets with others like themselves, in a gang, selling and abusing drugs, committing violent crimes.

“The reason jail doesn’t work for these kids is they have nothing to lose,” Hernandez says. “The second the kid has something to lose — a job, a fight next Friday boxing at the local gym — they stop doing stupid stuff.”

Untitled

I went and seen my niece cause my sister said she didn’t know what to do. The big deal was my niece came home with a tattoo.

She had the three dots and in the middle was a tear drop. My sister told me when she seen it her heart stopped.

I walked up in her room and expected to see all her girly posters and her girly nick-nacks on her shelf. But instead I seen rags up and gang pictures all of the walls, but a picture of my sister, my homegirls and I is what caught me off guard most of all.

I turned to look at my niece who’s only 14, she didn’t have her warm smile, but a cold stare that made her look mean.

I sat down in front of her and told her to show me her hand. I asked her,” You feel good now, just like that of a cow with a brand?”

I told her to come with me and we went for a cruise. She was scared boy, she didn’t know what to do.

I took her to the cemetary, and I could see her fear. “This is where that tat will put you, for it will surely put you here.”

She turned to me”It didn’t do it to you or my mom. How do you know it will do it to me. What you want me to die?” she asked with anger in her eyes.

I took her to a whole row of graves and she asked me who they belonged to. I told her.”If that teardrop don’t kill you, it will for eternally make you cry. You see, all these tombstones hold the ones who had the same tear as you, it’s what it will do. You see your mom and I , we were spared, but in many ways we too died, only difference was weren’t buried, for our death is in the tears we cry.”

She didn’t quiet understand me so I went on.” You see Baby girl, it ain’t all you think it’s cracked up to be. It’s a cruel, cruel world. You lose a piece of yourself when you lose someone you once held close. It ain’t fair, but that’s how life goes. Do you think just cause you joined the gang they got your back and won’t let you die? If that was true then why gang-bangers droppin everyday like flies?”

We walked back and she was quiet for a long time after. She looked at me and said,”what does it matter, we all end up dead. What’s it matter if it happens later or now, it’s gonna happen anyhow.”

I looked at her and told her,” I agree. But it matters to the people who loves you. One day you’ll understand, you’ll see.”

That night I went home and I prayed. Prayed she would learn her lesson before the lesson got her, for her to understand what it’s like to lose a person you love, as I have lost my brother to the one up above.

Not too long after that I went and seen my niece cause my sister told me something happened. One of my nieces good friends got stabbed and was barely hanging on.

I entered my nieces room and the first thing she said was,”You were right and i was wrong.” Then I seen the tears trickle down her cheeks, then quickly wiped them off cause she didn’t want to appear to be weak.

She let everything out as I knew she would. I just held her hand and told her I understood.

She came to live with me not long after that cause she didn’t want to be down like before. She didn’t wanna bang anymore.

I pray this story helped somebody cause I know it saved my nieces life. There’s was no reason for her to die.

And I understand in some places you have to bang just to survive, but those who just wanna be down, don’t do it cause you’re gonna lose everything, including your life..

It’s been a long time since I posted up in here…but I ain’t quit writin..hope ya’ll are doing well…

Mz Froggy

Paul wrote to the Philippians, alone in a prison, broke, hungry, tired, and was awaiting the possibility of having his head chopped off when he wrote to the church to challenge them to do all things without grumbling or questioning so they could be blameless and innocent in the midst of such a thoroughly jacked up world. Pastor Mark Driscoll preaches from Phil.2:12-30, and describes how it is possible to find Joy in temptation.

Understanding Gang Mentality And Why People Join Them
GroundReport
by Thomas Conroy September 27, 2009

A gang mentality allows the individuals who are members to feel invincible, larger in importance and strengthened by the sheer volume of their number. The banding together of individuals who may alone be weak and ineffective becomes a collective force with a singular purpose, usually reprehensible, to exert their presence en masse. The mentality behind this is simple – in matters of violence or coercion gang rule cannot be defeated by a lone person or unorganized group.