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Why Join?
As part of S2 RMPS we will be examining the topic of Gangs and Gangsters, more specifically, the moral implications of joining, leaving and being involved in such groups.
Task 1
Answer the following in your GoogleDoc:
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Why do you think people might join a gang?
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Type in at least three different reasons.
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Over reliance on
anti-social peers.
Alcohol/drug abuse.
Unsafe and violent
neighbourhood.
Become a victim of violence or even death.
Overly available weapons.
Police record.
Lack of close relationships.
Prison.
Over exposure to stress.
Poor self-esteem.
Task 2
Answer the following in your GoogleDoc:
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What do you think are the potential dangers of joining a gang?
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Type in at least three different potential dangers.
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Once done have a read of the hover boxes below.
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Poor employment
potential.
Community
disorganisation.
Severe Anxiety
Pro-violent parents (when parents are also in a gang).
Permanent tattoos/ identification to a gang.
Violent initiation ceremonies.
Low attachment to previous friends and family.
Learning difficulties.
Overly aggressive.
Participate in illegal activity: drug and human trafficking.
Below there are four different gangs.
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The Mongrels
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The Crips
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Yakuza
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The Latin Kings
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Choose two gangs to read over.
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You have three minutes to read, gather and write down information about one gang and another three minutes for the second chosen gang.
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It is up to yourself what important information you will write down.
Gangs Around The World.
The Mongrels
New Zealand
The gang claims to be surrogate families for young men. Especially young Maori and Pacific Islanders who struggle in the big cities. Up-rooted from home, short on cash, lonely and sometimes dependent on alcohol and drugs. Many teenagers find the kinship and protection they need in this gang.
The MOb's main rival are the Black Power gang and there have been several very public and violent clashes between the two groups over the years. The Mongrel Mon members have been involved in a lot of criminal activity, including: Manslaughter, rape and murder, drug laboratories, shooting members of the Black Power gang with a sawn off shotgun, crashing their bikes and killing people whilst drunk, assault, brawls, ambushing the Black Power gang during a funeral, deportation from Australia and supplying drugs.
The Latin Kings/Queens
U.S.A
The Latin Queen agenda is composed of self-respect, independence, family support, ethnic identity and self-empowerment.
Their members seek this group for support. They often have experienced drug addiction, neglect and victimisation from family members and partners. The group gives them a home and the support they need.
The Latin King/Queen reputation continues today, as evident by the violence in the U.S.A prisons and communities in New York and Massachusetts. The Latin Kings are known to traffic weapons and utilise automatic weaponry. High ranking members of the Latin Kings are known to have bodyguards who are armed and wear bullet proof vests.
Of all gangs, members of the Latin Kings are hardest to gain information on. They won't even admit their membership numbers in many cases.
Yakuza
Japan
Yakuza, also known as violence groups, adopt samurai like rituals and often have very elaborate full body tattoos.
It is hard to say where the Yakuza originated from, but they are thought to have descended from gangs of ronin (masterless samurai) who became bandits.
Different Yakuza groups involve themselves in different types of businesses, with varying levels of morality. For example, Yamagushi-gumi forbids drug trafficking and still earns about $6 billion every year.
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In general the Yakuza are renown for gun smuggling, illegal gambling, blackmail, extortion, sex-trade industry, human trafficking, politics and protection racketeering.
On the flip side, the Yamagushi-gumi helped out after the earthquake in Tohoku. They sent trucks to affected areas to deliver tonnes of food, blankets and supplies. They even responded quicker than the Japanese government.
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Due to the hierarchy of the Yakuza they help keep troubled youths off the street due to the strict behavioural code (or they risk losing their fingers!).
Crips
U.S.A.
The Crips have a strict colour code in their gang, blue. The colour blue came about in the 1970's when gang member Buddha was shot and killed.
Buddha would always wear a blue bandana, and so, as tribute to him, a blue bandana is worn.
When someone is wanting to join the Crips they try to filter out the snitches. Often initiates are given a task involving a gun and will be sent to prison to prove that they will not give details about the Crips.
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Whilst the Crips push the idea that they are a close-knit community, there are many negatives. Such as: prison time, dead friends, poverty, drug addictions, living your life in feat, ruined families, orphaned children, suicide, lack of trust, back stabbing and endless suffering.
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It is now one of the largest gangs in the world with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 members.
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Several celebrities are also members: Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Eazy-E and Ice Cube.
Reflection
Read over the two gangs you have written about.
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On your GoogleDoc type in which gang you think is the most morally wrong AND at least one detailed reason for your answer.
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