Youth and Gangs

Paper Summary:

This essay analyzes Louis Rodriguez' book, "Always Running", which discusses why minority youths often involve themselves in gangs, drug abuse, and crime, and what influences enabled Rodriguez to spare himself such a fate.

From the Paper:

"The reasons that Luis Rodriguez got into a gang are quite similar to the reasons that many minority and marginalized youths participate in gangs. Overcrowded, crime-ridden, drug-filled, poverty-afflicted neighborhoods that lack decent opportunities for education, employment and socialization typically act as pull factors for gang membership. The issues of education, employment, minority status, immigration and others take a toll on the self-worth of many individuals. Faced with a lack of opportunities, many find drug-dealing and self-destructive behaviors the one sure way of fitting in to such..."

More papers on Youth and Gangs:

• Term Paper # 103060 : "Social Disorganization Theory and Gangs"
• Article Review # 115971 : "Youth and Violence"
• Research Paper # 4778 : "Youth Street Gangs: A Look Into African-American Male Membership"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: