Gangs

The Chicago Police Department defines a gang as an organized group with a recognized leader. The group’s activities are usually criminal or pose a threat to the community. However, they don’t usually see themselves as the real threat but rather as a group that works to improve their community. Gangs exist in virtually every community in Chicago and in order to separate themselves and display their identity, they wear specific colored clothing, jewelry, make certain hand signals, use certain graffiti, and specific jargon. It’s usually assumed that gangs are composed of only males who have most likely dropped out of school and are unemployed. However, although that may hold some truth, it is still a stereotype. The number of women gang members has had a large increase over the past few years. In the National Gang Threat Assessment it states that gangs today have anything 10%-40% of their members as females.

Although the description of a gang provided by the Chicago Police Department is somewhat accurate it isn’t more than a book definition. It’s a quick way to sum up gang violence in their yearly reports. Yes, gangs are highly involved in the citie’s crime rate but they’ve formed and survived for a reason. More than a group of criminals gangs are a fight against racism. It was around the 1960’s that the Latin Kings formed in Humboldt Park to protect the Latino population from racist acts. Even before the Latin Kings, you had the Pachucos, which were active in the 1930’s and the 1940’s. The Pachucos set the path for today’s gang members. Much like gangs today, the Pachucos were also identified by their distinct clothing style and their unwillingness to adapt to the same mainstream society that continues to reject gang members today. In fact the Pachucos strived to be different in order to isolate themselves as well as stand out. This differentiation was made as an attempt to avoid the constant cultural conflicts between American society and the Latino culture. Instead the Pachucos created a subculture with values, traditions, and status (Harris 73-75). The creation of this subculture as a shield against a crude reality is something we see happening over and over again with every gang that forms. Although gangs today claim they continue to fight for the same reasons some have forgotten all about their cause and the mission on their street. You see gang culture and its meanings are constantly being transformed and interpreted to fit immediate needs (Conquergood 25).

One need gangs try to fill is the success that is uncommon in their environment. You see gangs are also a reflection of their surroundings. Everything from poverty, school, and a persons home life can influence their decision to join a gang.

“This perspective is best represented by Thrasher’s study of 1,313 gangs in Chicago. Thrasher demonstrates that gangs develop only in certain zones of the city, especially those areas marked by extensive poverty. Thrasher explains that gang activity commonly occurs where communities are too disorganized to provide constructive channels for the adventuresome spirit of youth. Thus, social disorganization leads to deviance.” (Harris 16-17)

In an environment full of poverty and prejudice the success rate for urban youth is low. This group of individuals then attempts to gain status and success through other means such as gang affiliation (Harris 73). ).

The particular branch or chapter of a gang that a person may choose to join also offers a sense of support