(ThyBlackMan.com) Turn on any news channel and within 15 minutes you hear about violence coming out of a populous city. While Chicago seems to achieve more negative publicity than other cities, New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, have their fair share of violent gang-related crimes too.
Where Does it Begin?
It’s nothing new clashes between races or even of the same ethnic background trying to seek dominance. In fact, it’s a male role to be the strongest and the leader. Unfortunately, demographics in housing and school place the black youth in a highly vulnerable position to predators looking to expand their area of dominance and control.
The Appeal of the Gang
For a young teenager living in a world where dreams often remain safely tucked away in their mind, having the offering of joining a gang gives them a sense of belonging to something. The young minds want to feel secure and connected to anything. This is where a gang grabs ahold of the black youth and takes their future from them.
Hate and Violence
Of course, in order to stay in the gang, you must perform various tasks to prove your worth. Young teens learn quickly how to steal, do drugs and protect the gang they now belong to. Unfortunately protecting the gang doesn’t have anything to do with standing guard in a doorway. It means that you must defend your gang by violence. And, again, not wanting to lose their place of belonging, they do exactly what the gang leader tells them to do. 
Breaking Free
A few years into membership many teens now rapidly approaching manhood want out. They now see any sight of their previous dreams eluding them. However, that’s not how a gang works, once a member, always a member; this is now your life. Some of these young teens pursue their desire to leave and end up seriously injured or dead. However, you do have rights. For instance, if you are assaulted and live in New York City, you can contact a New York personal injury lawyer and bring about a lawsuit for your medical bills and pain and suffering. Though, sadly, many young teens choose to walk away in silence.
Life After the Gang
Some of the people lucky enough to leave a gang often try to give back to the community and counsel other young teens who may also want to leave the gang but are too afraid of the consequences to take action. A former gang member can act as a mentor and provide a beneficial service that teens trust because they lived it too.
Going from Criminal to Citizen
Transitioning from a life of crime and violence to working a regular job and staying on the straight and narrow can present challenges. There is no longer someone watching your back and making sure you have a place to stay. You are now on your own, and independent. The good news is that you can move forward even if the first couple of jobs you apply for turn out to be unappealing.
Earning an Education
When you have little schooling behind you, your job search can lead you straight back to the gang. However, if you stay strong and get an education while working by studying for a GED or attending school, you can acquire the skills and knowledge you need to enter the workforce and earn a decent living.
Pick Yourself Up
Initially, when leaving the sanctity of a gang, you can feel alone and worthless. Just remember why you left, it was bad for you and your community and you want to make something of your life. Acquiring new friends at school or on the job can help you to return to society.
Young impressionable children barely into their teens are often a prime target for gangs looking for new members. Parents of these teens who live in highly populated cities with several known gangs need to do everything they can to keep their children off the streets.
Staff Writer; Todd Brown
