Introduction
The text “Dead End Kids” brings into perspective the various issues that young adolescent’s teen’s face in Kansas City, Missouri and how the social and economic hardship pushes them to gang membership. Primarily, it narrates a firsthand account of the gang activities of the Fremont Hustlers gang to reveal the contemporary issues in the lives of the young kids who join the gang and the fundamental factors that lead them towards embracing the life of crime, drugs and child prostitution within the territories controlled by these gangs. In retrospect the subsequent discussion will respond various aspects of the life of these children in the context of the “Gangs” and their activities.
Fleisher definition of a “youth gang” and Critique
According to Fleisher, the term “Youth Gang” makes reference for a “set of pernicious social and economic processes in communities, neighborhoods, and families living in select low income areas organized in a particular group. The definition, from a sociological point of view makes reference to the conceptual roles of these organizations within the context of where and why they exist. For the author, it is more of the conceptual framework and the existence of these groups rather than the activities they engage in, which in my view, is rather biased in that it does not capture criminal element of these group. The label “Youth Gang” as correctly pointed is a criminal entity that engages in criminal behavior. While some degree the socio-economic role of these grouping may be accurate, it only defines one side of the story, because also these gangs’ activities are mostly criminal. In acknowledgment of this flaw in Fleisher’s definition, I therefore disagree with the definition because it is one-sided.
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Impact of the Lack of a National Definition of “Gangs”
Fleisher postulates that in the national and state level, both spheres of academia and the law enforcement agency bodies have not been able to create a definition of the term “Gangs” with different cities adopting different definitions. The ensuing paradox greatly impede in various ways how the community and the relevant stakeholders involved in dealing with gang activities understand and conceptualize strategic interventions targeting them in the following ways:
The lacks of accurate data on the total number of gangs that exist in these cities making the existing estimates contain error very high margins.
It makes the existing information especially for the juvenile cases very unreliable for the use in both research and policy development activities
It affects the classification of such crimes by City Police Departments especially for the crimes that occur within their jurisdiction. Mis-categorization of the crime, thus makes the distinction of the “gang related crimes” and non-gang-related crimes” impossible or precisely inaccurate.
It makes it impossible for the creation of national data base of “gangs” in the country which makes it hard for the Federal budgetary allocation at the national level to agencies and relevant community organizations that help to deal with the issue.
The lack of a national definition acts as a part of the problem further complicating the issue of gang activities. The pre-requisite strategies to intervene are there impossible to develop. In my opinion, there is need to ensure a framework that helps to create a national definition as a part of the solution to the problem.
Chill Spots and their Significance to Street Gangs
A “chill spot” refers to a particular area where the young people in the Ghetto where the Fremont hustlers gang operated their drug trade. In retrospect, going by the description in the text, it makes reference to a place where the young people and other members of the gang spent most their time socializing, consuming drugs and planning their criminal activities. Their significance in the social fabrics of the low income neighborhoods under study is the role they play in supporting the activities of the gang related activities. Accordingly, the “Chill Spots” are the base of operations for the gang activities. Wendy’s house, the largest of the Fremont moms “Chill spots” in the text is described as the most popular of them all. In my view, the “Chill Spot” concept explains how the gangs operate within these neighborhoods because not only is it the key revenue stream sources but also the harbor where the gang stored its earnings and weapons. To understand the way that these gangs operate, “Chill Spots” are the first point to start because it shines light on all the operational framework of these gangs.
Ways the Freemont Hustlers territory acts a Sanctuary to Young Kids
The Freemont Hustlers’ territory is a sanctuary because it is not just under the protection of the criminal gang thus they can come and go as they please without any judgment but also offers opportunity to young poverty stricken seeking economic rejuvenation. It is a safe haven for the young children in these neighborhoods because it accords them a sense of self-peace from the harsh criticism of the outside world.
The Freemont Hustlers’ territory is unique because despite the harmful exposure to drugs and criminal behavior in the Fremont territory, it makes them feel safe from the harsh realities of the outside world. They feel protected appreciated and more importantly, an opportunity to make a living for themselves; something the external world has denied them. Within these boundaries, they have what the world outside has constantly deniued them. In my view, the terroties only offer temporary solutions amidst the various issues thay face in their life. At the very end, it is not sustainable. Nonetheless , in the context of the realities describes in the text characterizing these neighboorhoods, thy are a better choice them than the outside world.
Conclusion
As the above discussions show, there are a myriad of issues that the kids who join these gangs face in their lives that drive them to these group. From an impartial point of view, it is accurate to theorize that while the actions of the gangs may not be justifiable, the factors that drive them are; thus to address the problem. These issues must be tackled conclusively without prejudice and utterly from a scholarly evidence-based point of view.
