Gangs in Los Angeles

Persuasive Essay # 116853

Criminology > Organized Crime Studies

A persuasive essay that street gangs are a problem not only in the inner cities, but throughout the Los Angeles area.

1,660 words () | 3 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper attempts to dispel the common myth in Los Angeles that gangs are only an inner city problem, mainly isolated in the inner city of Compton. The paper explains that this myth stems from the fact that many high profile gangsters actually come from the city of Compton as well as other factors that have had the effect of worsening Compton's reputation. The paper discusses how certain groups and individuals benefit from the myths surrounding this area, such as the recording industry, rappers, movie studios as well as law enforcement officials who do not wish to combat the gang related problems in their own areas.

From the Paper:

"Through things like the music industry and the film industry, inner city areas in the Los Angeles County have been the victim of a mythology. This mythology portrays the inner city as the only source of gang related activity in the area. The most famous example of this is the city of Compton, which has been made into a war ground by various movies and albums when the truth is, gang related activities are happening all over the Los Angeles area. This myth can cause people who do not know any better to both be scared of the inner city, and also be lulled into a false sense of security about their own area of the city. Street gangs are a problem that needs to be dealt with countywide, not just in the inner cities."

Sample of Sources Used:

Alonso, Alejandro A. "Racialized Identities and the Formation of Black Gangs in Los Angeles". Urban Geography. Los Angeles: V.H. Winston and Sons. 2004. pp. 658-674.
Evans, William P., Fitzgerald, Carla, Weigel, Dan. "Are Rural Gang Members Similar to Their Urban Peers?". Youth and Society. Vol. 30 No. 3. Reno: University of Nevada. March 1999.
Maxon, Cheryl L. "Street Gangs and Drug Sales in Two Suburban Cities". NIJ Research in Brief. September 1995.