Why are latino youth so enchanted with gang culture?

Question

I've lived in LA a few years and made some good Mexican friends (yes I know not all latinos are Mexicans) but from talking to them a majority (not all but many) have had a "past history" with legal enforcement when they were younger. So here's the question, why are latinos so into gangs and in some instances black culture (the music, the attitude, the dress and yes the violence) when there own culture has so much to offer as well.

Answer 1

Because white people don't like gangs.

Answer 2

Interesting!

I find people like Russell Simmons, a middle-class black executive at Sony who created the hip-hop and rap industry almost single-handed, would be able to answer this for you.

He made every effort to appeal at the lowest level to the need for power and acceptance to people who had some (but not overwhelming) reasons to feel separated from the mainstream of American society. He and his ilk capitalized on this, shaming themselves by debasing women (especially black women) worshipping pimps and glorifying thug behavior.

When I see guys (and girls) with tattoos, gang colors, and the ever-present hip hop, I'm ready to create a hell and a special level just for him and his compatriots in this crime against the up and coming generation.

Answer 3

A gang is a place to belong, like a club, but more like a family. You tend to see gang members come from disfunctional homes, often without a strong male disciplinary figure, so from possibly single parent homes. The gang becomes the pseudo family.

Answer 4

I think they it comes from where they live. Low income neighborhoods seem to be breeding grounds for criminal activity. There is a mentality that if you are poor and disadvantaged it is ok to be a criminal. I see a lot of gang activity in my neighborhood. There is a distorted view on what is cool as there is nothing cool about dressing like a gang member or being a gang member and it just brings with it a future in prison or in the grave.

Answer 5

Not sure. In high school, I knew a lot of Latinos (and Latinas) involved in gangs...I really don't know what the appeal is. They have such a rich culture they could immerse themselves in instead.

Answer 6

Because advertisers tell them to. Then the advertisers sell them gang-related merchandise.

There are no principles of any kind involved. It's all about power and money. The gang members feel that they need gangs "to survive", but they're being had; they need gangs because the advertisers tell them they do.

Answer 7

Enchanted.....interesting. I'm not sure why we do things like that. I'm not in a gang and I won't ever be. But my friend joined one. I think some of them just feel pressured to join because a lot of other ones do. It's "cool" and you look tough and get respect.

Answer 8

Did you ever visit some of their neighborhoods ? That alone will answer your question. You join a gang to survive.

Answer 9

Generalization is not a good thing. Is similar to say: why are the Americans so ignorant?
In general the gangs are the result of an oppression over a minority group.

Answer 10

Because of the latino diasporia, and them wanting to "be cool".

Answer 11

yeah i know. our asian gangs actually get stuff done with loaning money, killing clients, and all (yes, like the mafia). those mexican gangs just live in dumps while claiming territory. i don't know y they do it.