Gangs: Finding Love In All The Wrong Places

Why are youth gangs spreading out of the big cities and into America's hinterlands? What is the appeal? Where is this coming from? What should society do to help the plight of young males that need gang association to help them feel good about themselves?

I posed these questions to psychologist Richard Majors, a visiting fellow at Michigan State University. He is also the editor of the Journal of African-American Men.

Majors recites a litany of the usual problems facing society - an increase of poverty, fatherless families because of an increase of divorce and unwed parenthood, absent dual income parents who are frequently stressed and exhausted, and a decline in the influence of church, school and community.

The role of the media. The decline of the family and social institutions leaves the media and peer groups in charge of raising kids - of communicating basic values and attitudes. What a combination! The popular media has a major destructive influence on youth because of its incessant glamorous depictions of violence and sexual themes. Majors believes the media also glorifies and romanticizes gang life.

The public is frightened and appalled by gang activity but is also awed and fascinated by the lifestyle, power and control it projects. Kids learn about gangs from the news, rap and rock music, movies, videos, television, concert specials and especially MTV.

Everything you want to know about gangs is available without any direct instructions or contact with hard core gang members from big cities. Teen-agers have easy access to these images, lifestyles, styles, lyrics, mannerisms and attitudes. Kids think it is cool.

Middle class white youth make great "wannabe's." Half of rap music sales are to young white males. They look to African-American youth as trendsetters for style, clothing, demeanor and ways to be cool. They act out what they think real gang members do. This is their way of making their own unique statement of a rebellious and "way cool" identity. The dress is there, the attitude is there, but real gang members they are not.

Youth in small rural communities, small Midwestern cities and major cities away from big cities with real gangs have just as much access to media images and information as youth anywhere. If they want to shore up their provincial and personal image, all they need to do is flip a switch and see what is on. The values and styles are right there.

The search for love and respect. Majors feels that minority youth living in poverty are vulnerable to gang involvement. Minority males in particular feel disrespect and fear coming from society. Often they are angry, lack skills and experience little control in their lives. They resent authority figures such as teachers and law enforcement officials who talk down to them. Negative stereotypes abound.

Society has given up on them. All they have is each other. The gang offers them what they are not getting anywhere else - male role models, love, acceptance, belonging, respect, control and self-esteem. They have respect and family. The gang is a substitute family that offers structure, organization, loyalty and belonging.

Gang violence. Why is there so much hatred, rage, violence and crime directed toward rival gangs - members of the same ethnic or racial background and who live in the local neighborhoods? Gang members are fearful and shy outside their usual circles of street cool subculture. Their fight for self-esteem and respect is taken out on the people closest to them and in terms they understand - territory, identity wars, macho posing and posturing. The competition for respect and dignity becomes more important than life itself.

White males and gangs. Some feel equally undervalued, unloved, and hopeless about their life prospects. They can't explain or blame their outcast status on racial discrimination or prejudice.

They are a minority within the majority culture without the access to power or status symbols of success of their white peers. Feelings of social alienation coupled with a media-fueled over-romanticization of lives of minority adolescents makes them ripe candidates to experiment with gang involvement.

What are the answers? Majors believes that punishment for juvenile crimes is a justifiable response but an insufficient answer on how to deal with the real issues. Basic needs of children and youth need to be met. Children respond to love.

Majors believes that if communities would open their hearts and provide meaningful nurturing and developing experiences, youth would respond. He cites community recreation programs, adult mentoring and role models, Boys and Girls Clubs, employment opportunities, and schools and churches kept open and filled with activities, as examples of the right kind of approaches. Meaningful caring relationships and skill building activities need to be substituted for huge blocks of unproductive time.

Now you know why gangs are coming to towns near you. What is society willing to do for youth who have little else but each other?