Welcome to Gaia! ::

so someone posted in the bod mod thingy and they were talking about how their principle or something told them they couldn't dye their hair because it can be considered a gang affiliation. They mentioned that they couldn't be in a gang because they weren't black.

..what?
...excuse me? Black?? what does it have to do with anything. I'm like 1/16 black, but does that make me 1/16 a gang member?

Let me give this person credit because he/she obviously was not bent on offending/annoying someone. But as a human being you have to straighten out your facts and clear your mind of the stereotypes we are often presented with to try our best and see clearly. understandably much gang violence has revolved around the African American community at one time but that has not even last long but the stereotypes do.

anyway here is what I said:


so this is going to be considered off topic...

What the heck is it people thinking every black person is in a gang?! Being part of a gang has little to do with being black. I'm a little pissed, because you're not the first person I've come across who has something like this. I know there's some stupid stereotype that all black people are in a gang, and talk lyke 'dis. let me just set it straight for you.

yes, there are black kids in gangs.

There are also alot of white kids, Latino kids, and Asian kids in gangs.

I'm barely part black, but I feel offended on the part of any race when there is some stupid stereotype slapped on their name as a human being. my friends dad is black. He is also an engineer who teaches science and mathematics, he has also recently finished three exams for being a water treatment official who will supervise the drinking water of U.S. citizens. Do you think he's in a gang.

... and wearing colors has alot to do with gang affiliation. In a high school near me many kids can't even wear their own hats to school because there are gang problems beginning to fester all around the U.S.

Oh! I remember one! Last year the principle said white people wearing black t-shirts, eyeliner, nail polish were in a gang that uses those tyhingies to show their affiliation. So that friday, all the white kids dressed like that. I didn't partake cause I ONLY wear make up for events in which I abosulty have to.

*nods*More or less.

In many areas, and in several specific gangs, being in a gang requires a specific race. This does not mean, for example, that every oriental or even every Chinese individual is in the Triad, but you can pretty much wager that only non-Chinese can be in such a gang if their are special circumstances.

That's how I intepreted his comment, anyways; he was trying to say that he didn't think his assumed gang affiliation mattered because he wasn't black. Of course, this comment ALSO belies that fact that he could be seen as a poser of such a gang or group, as well as a potential threat and/or target by differing gangs in the same area.

Also, while stereotypes are a bad ruler to utilize in most situations, they inevitably have a stem from truth somewhere. For example, many gangs in impoverished areas do have minorities such as blacks in them.

sweatdrop Well, I'm glad that this guild exists to help squash ignorance through open communication, rather than feed it with hostility or resentment. Though ones ethnicity, and gender, doesn't decide your level of gang involvement, it does play a significant part in what gangs you maybe allowed to join, or will approach you to join them. And though I find the idea that blacks pioneering organized crime to be a slight boon to my male ego, given the fact that I know so much about American history, especially the more criminal aspects of it, I know it's both a lie, and a dangerous one that stands likely to hurt blacks, more than it could ever help them.

The issue here is, if you're in a school that's really concerned with gang colors suddenly showing up, they better start enforcing a professional dress code, and seeing how students react before they do anything next. Though not all rappers are glorifying gang life, the reality of the contempt that has always existed in the US for pop culture, that doesn't support middle class values, leaves it easy to note that any and all negative aspects of a given medium will be brought up for scrutiny, and others will be vilified by their association with it regardless of what they communicate to their audience through that medium.

Gang activity typically inspires fear, especially from those ignorant of it, and for good reason. People who work in academic institutions, like schools, colleges, and universities in particular, who have a focus that allows them to isolate themselves from the world are the biggest perpetrators of this sort of ignorance. They're ignorant of it because what organized crime that does happen in their neighborhood is nowhere near as obvious to public scrutiny as what they've heard will typically leave them feeling threatened in such a way as to pull them from their comfort zones. It also sheds a light on how distant the people working in schools, and other municipal centers of learning and advocacy are socially, economically, and culturally from the communities they work in.

Ah, gangs. I remember when pretty much every single guy from middle school was already into lesser gangsta stuff, small things like spending the entire day outside, spraying tags in the walls. Last thing I heard, one of them was already smoking weedz and whacking people.

I usually look at gangsta rap as just the way real gangstaz talk about their lifestyle and why they love it or hate it. Those who love it say you have money, power, you're tough, you're the king of the streets, you got all the hoes in the world, how "Blood" means "Be Loyal Or Otherwise Die (B.L.O.O.D.)" and s**t. Those who hate it talk about all the people who have died, all the sorrow, the hatred, and how there ain't no way of getting out unless you get thrown to jail or die. They might promote it, yeah, but have you thought that someone who claims to be an Original Gangsta just because he listens to too much hip-hop is called a fake-a** wanksta? They don't go too far. Those who actually are in a gang are those who say "they were born into it", that is, those who were seduced by the promises of power, money and friends ever since they were children.

Sometimes I wish I could do something for these people... a promising mexican who becomes cholo is a lost person, unless they finally think about what they have done and become what I called "reformed gangstaz", those who stepped out of it in time to do something useful out of their lives...