JUMPED IN What Gangs Taught Me About Violence, Drugs, Love, and Redemption. Kirkus Reviews, 19487428, , Vol. 80, Issue 2

Database:

Literary Reference Center

This article is talking about the same thing im doing. Going around and asking various people about the gangs and the violence. So our research is similar. 

New J

Hanley,

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2008)

file); Oct 23, 2003;ersey Seeks to Stem Gang Violence

New York Times (1923-Current file);

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2008)

Oct 23, 2003;

The article is about the city of Newark in New Jersey stopping the rising crime in their city. Also talking about the crime scene that happened between the crips and the bloods.

Letter to the Editor

 The description of my project is Gang Violence. The percentage of gang violence has went up from five years ago. We as a community is going down all together, Orange in particular. My main goal for this project is to try to understand why gang violence takes place. If i can do that, then maybe i will be able to drop the percentage in gang violence in my community. Which brings me to my next goal. Try to stop gang violence because it is tearing Orange apart with all the violence. I remember when orange use to be a city where everybody loved everyone as a community, as a family. That wasn't to long ago neither, a couple of years ago. But now everybody is joining a gang to be cool or to prove something to someone. You don't have to be in a gang to be " down " or to prove something. Prove it through your school work and the things you do around your community. Don't show everybody that you are a negative person, when you are really not. 

  I've done a couple of things to understand this problem. I asked my peers what they think on the situation. Some of then gave really good feed back, which made me think about the violence in my community. For example, one of my peers stated " In my opinion, people join gangs to prove that they can be tough as well. They try to prove to everybody that they are no one to be messed with because they are in a gang. But little do they know being in a gang doesn't make you tough or cool, it makes you stupid and irresponsible. " When he said that response, i started to think about people i know personally who is in a gang. By joining a gang, you are putting your life in risk everyday. 

  I chose this issue because i see gang violence going on at least once a week. And it is really breaking my heart to see younger kids than me getting into fights, because of a gang they in. They are only fourteen years old, they should want to live their life to the fullest. Instead of worrying what color they can or can't wear. 

  I think the community leaders can do a lot to stop this situation. For one, they can put more cops in the area that has the highest gang violence rate. Second, the mayor can hold meetings about the violence in the community. Lastly, lock some of the participants in the gang violence up. Instead of just giving them a ride home.

What's Next ?

    What I learned in my interview? The information i received was very astonishing and disappointing. For example, gang violence usually takes place after school. The reason is because so that everybody in that gang or the majority of the gang can participate in this altercation. The more people the worse, but for the gang the more people the better. Another thing i learned was, the reasons behind this violence. Gangs involve themselves with this violence just because they think they are higher than everyone else. Only because they are in a gang, but little do they know they are actually below everybody else. The next person i will interview will be a gang member. I chose a gang member to interview next because i will get the raw material like no other. They will answer all my questions with the absolute truth. That's what i want, the real raw material like no other. I might also interview a social worker. They will also be able to give me their opinion on gang violence. That way i will have multiple views on this gang violence topic, and make my project more diverse.

Gang Violence

    Can we put a end to gang violence? It seems like we cant end this, it keeps escalating. The gangs think that they can do anything they want, because they are a gang. But that is not true, we have to find a way to stop this. Our friends, family, and peers is losing their lives to this gang violence. So we cant sit back and let this happen because that wouldn't be right. We need to start making a change for this situation. I have a couple of ideas that will help. First idea, talk to the police force to help us. They can really zero in with the gangs and their activities, to stop them in the action. Another idea i have, talk to one of the gang members. Try to convince them either to drop out the gang to benefit themselves or talk to the gang members.