The historical account indicates that the emergence of the gang in America displays a regional pattern of development. Gang’s formation begins in the Northeast, followed by Midwest, and West parts of the US. Street gangs started after the American Revolution and the development of the East Coast in 1783. The first gang was acknowledged as Forty Thieves comprising of pickpockets, thugs, and local thieves who carried their activities in New York City. Other gangs include Kerryonians originating from Ireland, Bowery boys, and Five Points gangs. The second wave of the emergence of gangs in the Northeast happened between the 1860s and 1930s. During this period, gangs and other criminal organizations responded to both physical and social disorders in New York City. With time, the gangs expanded in slums, and in 1916 law enforcement officers launched their first war. The third wave of gang growth occurred between 1930 and 1980, which happened after Latino from the Caribbean, South America, and Central America.
In Midwest, the first period of gangs happened between the 1860s to 1920 in Chicago. The gangs developed among white kids alongside ethnic lines, Italian and Irish. In the 1880s, gangs like Shielders and Dukies were terrorizing Jewish, Germans, and Polish immigrants. The second period of Midwest gangs happened between 1920 and 1940, dominated by black and Mexican American gangs ( Howell, & Griffiths, 2018). The last wave in Chicago gang occurred between 1940 and 1980 due to the growth of the black population. In 1960, Caucasian and black gangs in Illinois prisons developed alliances. The other gangs operated independently and were not associated with any of these alliances. In mid-1980, the city of Illinois constituted the most significant gangs, and their alliances were known as gang nations and super gangs.
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In the west region, the first gangs developed due to Mexican immigration. Small groups of young men created solidarity and evolved in the form of banda and panilla. Notably, Mexican American gangs developed adolescent groups between the 1930s and1940s, with the first gang crystallized in Maravilla. In the second period, two significant events expanded Mexican America in West the zoot suits riots and Sleepy Lagoon murder( Howell, & Griffiths, 2018) Between the 1950s and 1960s development of black gangs in Los Angeles resembles the formation of black gangs in Chicago. The Mexican American gangs in the west were fueled by the Vietnam War, Mexican American movements, and the war on poverty. In San Francisco, gang activities involved Asians, African America, and Mexican gangs. Today, street gangs are well established in the US, which grew between the 1970s and 1990s.
Myths and Realities of Youth Gangs
In the US, there are several myths and realities regarding the development of youth gangs. First, it is believed that the majority of gangs usually have a formal organization. Gang activities function and organized in brutal ways. For example, the drug cartels have strong leadership and a code of loyalty that helps them invest and accumulate their drug sales. Second, gangs with similar names are connected ( Howell, & Griffiths, 2018). The reality is that local gangs copy big pictures of big city gangs. For example, gangs in Kansas City are affiliated with the Chicago folk’s gang.
Another myth is that children join gangs at a young age. For example, the youngest gang member in the US was said to four years of age. Additionally, children start to join gangs from elementary and middle schools. Fourth, most gang members spend a lot of time committing and planning crimes. Gang life usually spends a dull life and rarely finds time to sleep, attend schools and hang out with friends. Additionally, gangs have unusual initiation rites where members are supposed to endure a character test.
Moreover, most youths join gangs as a result of peer pressure. The youths usually join gangs when they attend parties, music dancing and given opportunities to participate with members of the opposite sex. Another myth is that adults typically recruit youths to join gangs. For example, prison gangs recruit new members using protection offers, force, and threats. Lastly, gangs actively involved in the crack cocaine epidemic. The majority of gangs are primary players of the illegal drug trade, mainly crack cocaine.
Reference
Howell, J. C., & Griffiths, E. (2018). Gangs in America's communities . Sage Publications.
