Trevor Smith
Crips and Bloods: Made in America essay
Two well-known gangs in America, the Crips and the Bloods were started in America. These gangs are commonly known for their African American founders and are still known today for their crimes and founders. Why are gang numbers so large in America? Studies suggestpoverty numbers and lack of business growth in the community. In analysis of these numbers and facts, the gang problem is attributedto the ever growing levels of poverty in South Los Angeles. These poverty levels originate in a variety of different settings such as community, hospital clinics, crime, employment, the food industry, homes, hospitals, prisons, schools and the over all lifestyle in the area of South Los Angeles. These issues are all very complex and all lead to poverty and gang relations in this area.
All aspects of these gang related communities are failing. In the community clinics, the numbers of uninsured patients increased by 20 percent from the year 2000 to 2006. Diabetes is 44% higher, the infant mortality rate is 20% higher, and HIV rates are 38% higher than in the surrounding Los Angeles areas. Hospitals bed availability rates in South Los Angeles are 1.04 per person compared to the 4.15 per person in West Los Angeles. Southern LA resident’s unemployment rates are over 14% and the average family income is $33,021 compared to the average Beverly Hills income of $102,611. One third of all income earned in South LA is spent on rent. Overcrowding and an increase of 797% in home repossessions between the years of 2006 and 2007 are all large factors in the upbringing of future Crips and Bloods in South LA. 45% of restaurants in South LA are fast food joints. The average dropout percentage rate for LA is 25%. 43% of residents do not have a High School GED. All facts represented are not only attributed to poverty and gang’s but also for the surrounding community’s irresponsibility.
With the facts, the hope for a new child’s success in this community is nearly impossible. The access to the money made off drugs proves for faster payments. “Clearing the block with a gun is a powerful feeling” stated one gang member in the film Crips and Bloods: Made in America. The access to drugs and guns and violence is an easier way to gain access to money. Gangs provide for security and a sense of belonging. In the South LA area, you often join gangs for protection and if you don’t,you potentially become a target because of gang confusion just by the color of clothing and style of dress. People here are essentially locked in this system. Fathers started this battle not with each other but with the government then because of tension and problems in the government their motives changed towards each other. This then turned neighborhoods against neighborhoods and friends against friends. This never ending cycle has resulted in poverty and low rates of any success in these neighborhoods.
This gang problem is not just related to gangs. All Americans have created this problem. Originally this problem was because of the segregation and stereotypes in the 1960’s. Gang riots began to come about because of tension between the black community and the Californian Government. Today this tension and stereotypes still exist. Change is a must in order for success in this 32 square mile community. Unless Bloods and Crips can drop all differences, the gang war will continue. Businesses and employers and most of all hope needs to return to South Los Angeles. Without the outside community and the rest of the world stepping in to lend a helping hand, this problem will continue to grow. The Bloods and Crips are not racially bound anymore because of an ever growing ethnicity America. This problem is getting very complex and needs to change in order for the gang problem to cease in South Los Angeles and the recovery of all effected individuals in this problem.
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