Reflections - Gang Violence
Imagine being afraid to go to school because gang members have threatened to retaliate against you because of your refusal to join. Or you join and find yourself spending most of your teen and adult years behind bars. This is the epidemic that is occurring throughout our inner cities. In New York City there are over 15,000 gang members. These members now use social networks like Twitter and Facebook to recruit and get messages out quickly to other members. There are even Gang Initiation Days. So again,. imagine what it is like to live in this environment? Well, teens throughout NYC were asked to write about their experiences last spring and what they would do to fix the problem if they were NYPD Commissioner. Two students from Jane Addams High School, Bronx, NY have agreed to share their submissions:
Gang Land
By: Deandre Bryant
Senior, Jane Addams, HS, Bronx, NY
Senior, Jane Addams, HS, Bronx, NY
In my eyes the most pressing crime in New York City is gang affiliation.
A majority of the youth in my community think that it is cool to be “down” with a gang.
Statistics state that 70 percent of deaths in New York City are gang related. When teens are young they admire people that they think are cool. Teens end up doing stuff to impress these “popular” people. For example, they get into fights to receive their approval or they start selling and using drugs. Being “down” does not take a person anywhere that they want to be in life. Gangs don’t help you or benefit you in your academics.
Statistics state that 70 percent of deaths in New York City are gang related. When teens are young they admire people that they think are cool. Teens end up doing stuff to impress these “popular” people. For example, they get into fights to receive their approval or they start selling and using drugs. Being “down” does not take a person anywhere that they want to be in life. Gangs don’t help you or benefit you in your academics.When you are young you are innocent inside, but when you break the law you lose that innocence. Many New York City youth assume that because of their age they cannot get locked up or go get hurt. I used to think the same thing until I was arrested for the first time in my life for trying to be “down” with a gang. In my early sophomore year I was influenced to do something bad and I had to pay for it by spending a night in central bookings. While I was in the cell I thought to myself, ‘This is not the life that I am suppose to live’ and I set my mind on being someone important. For every action you do in life there is a consequence, and from that point on my actions would be good.
When I was younger I always wanted to be a “blood” just like my father, until I had a turning point in my life. I saw my dad get shot nine times in front of me. I cried for nights wondering why this happened? God gave my dad a second chance to come home and show me the way to success and I'm on the road to graduate from high school.
My dad’s experience taught me why people should not do drugs or be associated with gangs. There is not any good outcome to being part of a gang as you only end up in two places and its not success (dead or jail)!
If I was the NYPD Commissioner I will have former gang members talk to current gang members. By doing this, teens will be transformed and see first hand that gangs are very serious. Additionally, I would set up a trip to a prison and have youth stay there for a day or two and show them what it is like to be caged up most of the day.
Your freedom is the most important thing, therefore do not let pressure get to you! We need to immediately educate our youth that hanging on the corner and being part of a gang is not the right choice.
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Inside My Hood
By: Madelinne Diaz
Senior, Jane Addams, H.S., Bronx, NY
The most pressing crime concerns for New York City youth are gangs.
Gangs have become a major issue through out America and their impact has been deadly. Teenage gang members are more likely to get involved in drugs, violent crimes and being a victim of a homicide. Statistics show that there are about 760,000 gang members in the United States, imagine how many of them are in New York State?
Gang influence among youths is a major issue that has a negative impact on the community and their future. Living in a community filled with gangs brings an influx of violent crimes.
My school Jane Addams High School, is in The South Bronx of New York which is surrounded by projects and considered to be a gang haven. Many kids get robbed after school by gang members for their electronics, clothing or any expensive items. Kids are afraid of coming to school just because they might get harmed or robbed on the way.
Young adults are not only getting victimized around school, but in neighborhoods where police presence is low.
Recently, more then three young males were murdered by gangs. One of the victims was shot outside of a subway station on January 11th, 2011. Another young man was killed, because we won a recent fight with a gang member, and in retribution he was shot in the head. Wait! There is more…Malik Jenkins was shot dead over a $600 coat on March 22nd, 2011, another gang related robbery in a city where this has become the norm.
Gangs are also prevalent in schools and that’s where most young adults decide to join. The youth are easily influenced or peer pressured by friends to be “down” in order to be protected or to gain “respect”. The gang problem is pervasive in school and in the community, there is no escaping. Living in the Bronx you see kids representing smaller gangs or “teams” such as “YGz”, and “YBz”. They identify each other with colors, tattoos and hand signs. You hear new gangs everyday, but the major ones are the Blood’s, the Crip’s, the Latin King’s and the DDP’s.
To join a gang you have to do something to prove that you are going to be faithful to your “family.” They make you kill, rob, or fight somebody. Females have to fight or have sexual intercourse with one or more guys in the gang. You have to be loyal all the time; if not there will be consequences like loosing your life.
Our community needs to address the gang problems. These organization spread fear, just like terrorist create unsafe places to live. As NYPD Commissioner I would first set up community out reach with leaders and youth to asses their problems and speak with gang members on creating positive alternatives. The neighborhood can also use community centers or different type of programs that these young adults will enjoy doing other than being part of a gang. Educating parents with the right information about gangs can help too. They need to get more involved with the issues these gangs are causing to the youth and the community. Lives are being taken, more kids are joining and some do not want to be involved, but are forced.
Never will I want to be gang associated or think of it just because I see all the people dying and the crime rate increasing. As a teen, I would much rather be enjoying my life instead of being frightened to go out and be the prey of a violent gang. Any teen wanting to be someone in this tough world has to try and keep away from any gang related action as they not only are most likely to get engaged with bad things, but will end up closer to their death.
Senior, Jane Addams, H.S., Bronx, NY
The most pressing crime concerns for New York City youth are gangs.
Gangs have become a major issue through out America and their impact has been deadly. Teenage gang members are more likely to get involved in drugs, violent crimes and being a victim of a homicide. Statistics show that there are about 760,000 gang members in the United States, imagine how many of them are in New York State?
Gang influence among youths is a major issue that has a negative impact on the community and their future. Living in a community filled with gangs brings an influx of violent crimes.
My school Jane Addams High School, is in The South Bronx of New York which is surrounded by projects and considered to be a gang haven. Many kids get robbed after school by gang members for their electronics, clothing or any expensive items. Kids are afraid of coming to school just because they might get harmed or robbed on the way. Young adults are not only getting victimized around school, but in neighborhoods where police presence is low.
Recently, more then three young males were murdered by gangs. One of the victims was shot outside of a subway station on January 11th, 2011. Another young man was killed, because we won a recent fight with a gang member, and in retribution he was shot in the head. Wait! There is more…Malik Jenkins was shot dead over a $600 coat on March 22nd, 2011, another gang related robbery in a city where this has become the norm.
Gangs are also prevalent in schools and that’s where most young adults decide to join. The youth are easily influenced or peer pressured by friends to be “down” in order to be protected or to gain “respect”. The gang problem is pervasive in school and in the community, there is no escaping. Living in the Bronx you see kids representing smaller gangs or “teams” such as “YGz”, and “YBz”. They identify each other with colors, tattoos and hand signs. You hear new gangs everyday, but the major ones are the Blood’s, the Crip’s, the Latin King’s and the DDP’s.
To join a gang you have to do something to prove that you are going to be faithful to your “family.” They make you kill, rob, or fight somebody. Females have to fight or have sexual intercourse with one or more guys in the gang. You have to be loyal all the time; if not there will be consequences like loosing your life.
Our community needs to address the gang problems. These organization spread fear, just like terrorist create unsafe places to live. As NYPD Commissioner I would first set up community out reach with leaders and youth to asses their problems and speak with gang members on creating positive alternatives. The neighborhood can also use community centers or different type of programs that these young adults will enjoy doing other than being part of a gang. Educating parents with the right information about gangs can help too. They need to get more involved with the issues these gangs are causing to the youth and the community. Lives are being taken, more kids are joining and some do not want to be involved, but are forced.
Never will I want to be gang associated or think of it just because I see all the people dying and the crime rate increasing. As a teen, I would much rather be enjoying my life instead of being frightened to go out and be the prey of a violent gang. Any teen wanting to be someone in this tough world has to try and keep away from any gang related action as they not only are most likely to get engaged with bad things, but will end up closer to their death.
