Here’s something that should help defeat the notion about the representation of black people within the ranks of street gangs:
However, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, at the close of the last century, an estimated forty-seven per cent of gang members were Hispanic, thirty-one per cent were African American, thirteen per cent were white, and seven per cent were Asian.
One third of all gangs reveal a significant percentage of more than one ethnic group.
These are not the gangs of yesterday.
When examining the difficulties presented by gangs and gang activity, it is important to realize that gangs were neither created by Blacks, nor are Blacks the resounding majority of gang members around the nation. And, a huge percentage of the Hispanic gangs are illegal aliens.
A 1997 LA Times series included a confidential report by the California Department of Justice, revealing that sixty per cent of the Hispanic gang population was illegal immigrants.
Is this a statement to somehow indict Hispanics or illegal immigrants? No, but it is a statement to stop the wholesale indictment of young Black men, who are more frequently targeted and misidentified as gang members than any other ethnic group in the nation.
Black youth wear the face of gang members across the nation–on television, in politics, in the minds of cops, and sadly, in the minds of African Americans who have no idea what the real facts and faces are.
It’s funny how our thoughts are conditioned. On the rare occassions that I actually check out our local talk radio, I hear people attempt to attribute gang activity to black folks. However, in my hometown of Hamilton, OH (less than 20 miles away), we have a heavy influx of those belonging to M13 (a.k.a. “The Mexican Mafia”). I’m not knocking immigrants, I’m just saying that there are more than black people caught up in this mess. Also, for years, we have heard about “skinheads”. Aren’t they gangs, as well?
So, let’s face it. Gang activity, like any other criminal activity, isn’t just “a black thing”.
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Get your facts right before you post misleading info just like you have done by calling M13 “The Mexican Mafia”
M13 is a gang that has it’s origins in the Central American country of El Salvador.
M13 stands for “Mara Salvatrucha 13″
La “Mara” is a street name in El Salvador and “Salvatrucha” is the group of individuals who fought in El Salvador’s bloody civil war in the 1980’s which the United States is largely resposible for financing and arming.
The biblical saying of “for whatsoever a man soweth so shall he reap” is true like a muthafuka when it comes down to our nation and the times we are living in.
Appartly some one felt offended and wanted to share a little El Salvador history with us. I recenty pulled up the stats before I posted this comment, and it’s true…hispanics or mexicans(whatever you prefer), make up the majority of gangs in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. It’s also true that blacks or african americans fall right behind. It’s sad no matter how you look at it because both races are rapidly killing each other. We all need Jesus in and around our lives.
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