Interview with a L.A. Gang Member
This entry was written in response to the Research Blogging Assignment for Stanford's Fall 2008 Cultural Interfaces class. For more about this assignment, click here. You can leave a comment on this post by clicking on the "comment" link below.
My cousin is very lucky; he is 21 years old and currently finishing a sentence of 5 years at a state prison. As this in itself is not the most conventional depiction we make of luck, we should consider why indeed he is fortunate. Born into a rather poor, gang populated neighborhood located in the heart of Los Angeles, he was drawn to this gangster lifestyle after he became a relative academic failure and lacked family support—he was an only child raised by a mother who worked more than the standard 9-to-5. Participating in crime, associating with drugs, engaging in illegal ways of making money, he was quick to form relationships with correctional facilities starting at age 16. Being in and out of jail for several years, however, he developed a unique interpretation about a very compelling issue facing the Los Angeles area.
And it was through mentioning this brief summary of his gang involvement—along with many of the stereotypes we hear from the media as well as contemporary society—that sparked our conversation over the phone. He was restricted to only 10 minutes, but this short interview was critical to bringing a primary resource to my research topic that focuses on gang culture, and more specifically highlights how it is only through a shift in paradigms that we may understand the struggles of this subculture in order to progress in the fight against it. To do this, I plan to emphasize the incentives for joining a gang, the violence that affects many, what we may be able to do to hinder its advancement, and I might even narrow my scope from gangs in L.A. to Latino/Hispanic gangs in L.A. Considering that my cousin is indeed Hispanic, one thing he said that stood out to me was that a main belief of “my crew was you either kill, or let yourself be killed. They didn’t care what color I was and I didn’t care what color they were, I knew they would shoot me just as fast as I would shoot them.” Thus, surprisingly, he at times prefers to be “locked up because at least I don’t have to worry about being killed everyday on the streets. Yea we still fight in here like everyday but there are no real guns so it’s not as bad,” he states. This comment was interesting to me, as I did not normally think of prison as a safe haven, and this is why I found this interview particularly useful—it gave me a unique unexpected sense of knowledge that I can now integrate into my final project.
Comments
Carlos, this was an awesome blog post. I think that interview brings a great deal of perspective and credibility to your project. I hope you're able to include more comments from him in your paper or at least reference what you gained from the interview. Was his gang really a refuge to him? I'm assuming he's currently in prison for something he did associated with the gang- does he blame the gang? Himself? Anyone?
Posted by: Chris Schaller | October 30, 2008 10:53 AM
Wow, that is interesting. And it's nice to have a family member as one of your sources--you know he will be sincere in what he's telling you. It's hard for college students like us to fathom a lifestyle where you wake up every day and don't know if you will be alive to go to sleep that night. For your research project, I'm sure you will use pathos very well to awe your audience and introduce them to a completely different culture. And focusing on latino gangs in LA is also a wise choice in narrowing your focus/research and closing in on a specific thesis.
Kill or be killed,
Ben
Posted by: Ben Halpern | October 30, 2008 10:57 AM
This is a really interesting topic. Growing up in Pittsburgh, gang culture and violence was not very common. Its hard for me to imagine how large and out of control the gang life is in California. The interview with your cousin was really interesting. I couldn't believe it was sometimes a relief to be in jail because the streets were so dangerous. I think your'e onto a good paper about an intense subject.
Posted by: thomas keiser | October 30, 2008 10:59 AM
Awesome blog post, Carlos! You have a very unique and fascinating source here that will definitely draw the audience in and lend credibility to your argument. It's such an great source that I am tempted to suggest using it as an attention grabber at the beginning of your essay. Of course, you can develop the idea further in the body. It's just really cool to hear a first hand account on a topic that most of us are so removed from. I am definitely interested in hearing more about how your research argument. I agree with Ben that narrowing your topic is a good idea. There seems to be so many gangs in LA, each with their unique beliefs that its really hand to generalize them. I have seen ethnography studies on single gangs in LA so building an argument shouldn't be too difficult. Good luck writing, and good job on the post.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 3, 2008 01:46 AM
Great job Carlos. This is such an awesome source. To find a first person account on a topic that is so removed from the lives of most of us will definitely lend credibility to your argument. This is also such an interesting perspective. I am tempted to suggest that you consider include it in your openning to draw the reader in. Of course you can develop it further later on in the essay.
I agree with Ben that you should definitely narrow your topic. At least according to the little I know about gangs, there are a lot of them in the LA area, each with a different belief system and a different culture. I have seen whole ethnographical studies done on single gangs and even sub-groups of one gang, so there should be a lot to talk about. I think focusing will definitely give you more direction in your argument. Overall, great job. Can't wait to learn more about your topic.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 3, 2008 01:53 AM
Great job Carlos. This is such an awesome source. To find a first person account on a topic that is so removed from the lives of most of us will definitely lend credibility to your argument. This is also such an interesting perspective. I am tempted to suggest that you consider include it in your openning to draw the reader in. Of course you can develop it further later on in the essay.
I agree with Ben that you should definitely narrow your topic. At least according to the little I know about gangs, there are a lot of them in the LA area, each with a different belief system and a different culture. I have seen whole ethnographical studies done on single gangs and even sub-groups of one gang, so there should be a lot to talk about. I think focusing will definitely give you more direction in your argument. Overall, great job. Can't wait to learn more about your topic.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 3, 2008 01:53 AM
Great job Carlos. This is such an awesome source. To find a first person account on a topic that is so removed from the lives of most of us will definitely lend credibility to your argument. This is also such an interesting perspective. I am tempted to suggest that you consider include it in your openning to draw the reader in. Of course you can develop it further later on in the essay.
I agree with Ben that you should definitely narrow your topic. At least according to the little I know about gangs, there are a lot of them in the LA area, each with a different belief system and a different culture. I have seen whole ethnographical studies done on single gangs and even sub-groups of one gang, so there should be a lot to talk about. I think focusing will definitely give you more direction in your argument. Overall, great job. Can't wait to learn more about your topic.
Posted by: Ming Jia | November 3, 2008 01:54 AM
Quite a story, that's for sure. I'm not sure I agree with your perspective on it, but interesting nevertheless. My brother linked me here in e-mail because one of his friends is in the same situation.
Posted by: Cigars | November 10, 2008 01:46 PM
These gangs look to recruit young inner city kids who are looking for that support that they dont get from their parents, saying that it puts more responsibility and encouragement for schools to be involved with the way our youth pertains to values and morals and goals.
Posted by: franco | November 13, 2008 03:25 PM
It starts in the classroom. Teachers need to take initiative and show some authority when teaching a class when these kids are young. establishing a boundary where when you come to this room you come to learn and behave! The parents play a huge role in their attitude as well.
Posted by: classroom management | November 17, 2008 10:24 AM
I see Gang members as a detriment to society. If there was an island where we could send all these prisoners id be all for it. Obama is closing down Guantanamo Bay so its not looking good for our incarsaration period.
Posted by: printing service | November 18, 2008 10:54 AM
For the most part these gang members arent exactly brought up with a silver spoon in their mouth. They struggle day to day when it comes to eating and defending their "turf". They say its a miracle to live after 25.
Posted by: joomla templates | November 24, 2008 12:46 PM
It's always very helpful, even crucial, to solve the background issues, in this case, the combination of poverty, single mother, gang community that make your cousin into prison. He's lucky because he can still turn around his life at age of 25. I really hope that he can have a new start and be a healthy, helping person to our society.
Posted by: voip | November 25, 2008 03:22 PM
Agreed,people should work at improving the attitude of students an early age,this help them to be transpire their childhood into their adulthood in most cases and basically reduces overall crime.
Posted by: Dr.Best | November 28, 2008 12:38 PM
Im sure the percentages of families that are broken up and disfuctional have a much higher rate of gang violence within the family. These young teens are just looking for guidance and role models, its just matters who gets to them first.
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Posted by: Jack | December 12, 2008 06:43 AM
Its kind of sad to see the creations of society. I mean there is no reason whatsoever to be a gang member. In my point of view I think its just a ficticious high of power the reason they even think about it.
Posted by: SEO Interactive | December 18, 2008 11:32 AM
I'm not sure I agree with your perspective on it, but interesting nevertheless.
Posted by: Pro-Rent | December 18, 2008 11:35 AM
I am not in full agreement with you here on all the issues, but I do believe the dissolution of the full family has had a lot to do with the rise in gangs. Kids end up finding a new family outside the home, and i completely understand why.
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