Lesson 1: Group Structure of Youth Gangs: Definitions

THE HARD CORE: These are the veteran gang members, the "old gangters" (called OG's). These are the leaders who are very knowledgeable about legal matters obtained through personal experiences such as "being busted" and having gone through the judicial system. These streetwise persons merit "respect" from all members and affiliates.

THE ASSOCIATES: This is the majority of gang members. They achieve status or "respect" through violence and criminal behavior. They look up to "Hard Core" members and strive to be like them! Getting "busted" is part of the process of earning "respect."

THE PERIFERALS: These are the "wannabe's" (Want-to-be gang members). They are usually younger children who are not yet initiated into gangs. They "hang" and "kick it" with gangs in the "hood" (neighborhood). They participate in gang social activities such as drinking beer, taking drugs, socials with girls, etc. They usually are excluded from violent main gang activities. However, they are the most dangerous of the groups because they are trying to impress the Associates and the Hard Core members with their courage and violence, and their willingness to do anything to prove they merit "respect." What is respect!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please explore this notion in your research and in Always Running.

THE CLIQUE: These are the subgroups within an existing gang. Girl affiliations are cliques. Children around the ages of 8-9 years form cliques. Their names are usually attached to the larger gang name such as the "The Little Valley Midgets," where the main gang is "Little Valley" and "Midgets" serves as the indicator that they are the younger members or affiliates. E.g., 8-9 years olds = Tiny, Midget, "Enanos" (Span: Midgets); 14-16 year olds = Chicos; 17-19 year olds = Rascals, etc.

A FOCUS ON THE WANNABE'S FOR THEY ARE THE GROUP
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT NOW!!!

Most youth counselors agree that parents and educators can re-direct "wannabe" children into positive paths since they are at this point in time "exploring" the possibility of being in a gang or starting one. What are the early warning signs? Here are but a few to consider.

1. Graffiti: For example, they write gang graffiti on their books, papers, and even on their clothing. Graffiti is also displayed on the walls of their bedrooms and on buildings in the neighborhood around the child's home. Parents and educators should learn how to read graffiti for they serve as gang "newspapers." Please explore gang graffiti on the net!

2. Flashing: They "flash" or throw up hand signs broadcasting their preferred gang affiliation ("their hood"). Flashing is also important to understand. Many "wannabe's" flash gang signs even when they are not members---and this may be a dangerous activity because rival gang members may mistake you for an actual member!

3. Clothing: They begin to wear clothing associated with neighborhood gangs, or with hard core gangs in the cities. This includes special letters, numbers and other symbols on their garments. Some gangs adopt certain over-the-counter "NBA" team jackets to broadcast their gang. Can you imagine the potential consequences if a parent naively and innocently buys such a jacket for their children?

4. Ages: "Wannabe's" start as early as the fifth grade!

5. Colors, and the "walk" and the "talk:" Children begin by imitating…they wear the "colors" associated with specific gangs; some begin to "shine" tattoos; they begin to "walk" differently and to "talk" using gang lingo.

NOTE: Again, imitation is very dangerous because some other gang might challenge the wannabe as a rival gang member, thus becoming victims of gang violence!!!

6. Other Signals: Wannabe's will begin by challenging authorities at home and at school! They stay out late at night! If this is not addressed immediately, they soon behave as if they can come and go as they please!

7. Friends: "Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are! " Parents and teachers should be aware of their children's friends! If your child's friends tend to "hang" in front of your home, and are displaying symbols and doing the walk and talk etc., you should be concerned.

NOTE: Gang involvement affects the home---the entire family and the neighbors! If confrontation occurs, gangs will sometimes attack rival homes (e.g., drive-by shootings).

8. Other: Children will go to great lengths to conceal their involvement to parents and sometime to teachers. Brothers and sisters and other relatives will often know before parents about their children's gang involvement. Ironically, parents often refuse to believe that their children are involved. "Denial" on the part of parents often endangers the life of their children, themselves---the entire family including the extended family members!

Many claim that children living in single-parent or dysfunctional family households are more prone to gang activity. However, nuclear two-family homes are not immune!

Parents and teachers should not accept the excuse that "everybody's doing it! It's the fashion!" Parents and teachers should not just accept this as a "passing pre-adolescent and adolescent stage!"

Clearly, parents and teachers should "communicate" with children. One parent confessed that "…when my children come to us and say, Dad and Mom, can we talk? We give them money and tell them to go see a movie. We're too tired to talk right now."

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