Gang violence is contributing to a disturbing crime trend across the country -- in 2006 murders were up 6.7 percent in cities with a million or more residents. According to FBI data there were more than 670,000 assaults with firearms between 2001 and 2005.

MIKE RAMEY, known for his biblical, business and common sense long running, award winning column THE MANHOODLINE, which has appeared on fine websites around the world, is even more dangerous with his NEW column The Gang Line. 

MIKE RAMEY is a nationally certified Street Gang Specialist and former Felony Probation Officer for a Juvenile Court.  He's also the pastor of THE FORWARD CHURCH in Indianapolis, Indiana.  In this capacity Mike is able to bring a spiritual perspective to the discussion.  As a longtime substitute teacher Ramey understands why many of our children are "latching on" to colors, guns, and mayhem.  Mike Ramey understands that winning the battle against modern street gangs (MSGs) requires out-of-the-box thinking and solutions.

Mike Ramey is passionate about his work.  After witnessing firsthand the impact of gang related crimes in his community he serves as a consultant, trainer, and speaker on gang issues for schools, the media, and law enforcement via his training and consulting firm THE GANG LINE.

In addition, through his syndicated column Ramey provides information for an increasing public, and provide real life examples of what's really happening in the streets and in the suites. 

There's a lot of work that needs to be done.  Many black media outlets have been ignoring the gang issue.  Many churches, politicians, black leaders and think tanks have been silent.  Not here, and not now!  

You can read two of Mike Ramey's "primer" articles about gang violence in his column The Manhoodline.  Click here to go there now.

Click here to read our exclusive interview with Mike Ramey.

THE GANG LINE:  O PARENT--WHERE ART THOU? (PART TWO)  BY MIKE RAMEY

Tip From The Old School: If your child comes home with bruises, burn marks, new tattoos, or other marks on their body, call CPS! Gang initiations practiced on those under the age of sixteen may be regarded as child abuse--and should be investigated.

(LAST IN THE SERIES)

I’ve spent a bit more than a year writing about the ins and outs of Modern Street Gang issues (MSG) on the Internet in column form. Several major articles, a major interview and about a year’s worth of individual columns on the issue--with this being the last--puts the information into the hands of parents and others who have been searching for answers.

Therefore, it is fitting that this last column goes out to parents in order to--again--supply the answers that they are seeking.

THE CONTINUATION:

In the first portion of my commentary, I explained how Modern Street Gangs (MSGs) have become an INTERNATIONAL phenomena. I hit upon the TRUE power that parents have over their teens and how such power could be used to bring their children out of the gang scene. I started to unfurl the Ramey Quick Seven tips for parents in order for them to check on their child’s interest and involvement in gang activity.

Make no mistake about these facts: First, ALL gang issues are LOCAL. IF parents are not stepping up to the plate in a particular city there is little that the police or a gang expert can do to break the cycle of crime, misery, and violence. Second, the authorities are going to do all they can to protect their budgets, and are NOT really going to provide information or intelligence to help the public until after a problem has started to sap THEIR resources. Amen?

True story. One night, I stopped by a local pizza place. On the wall above the cash register were nearly a dozen apartment complexes that were considered ‘off limits’ to drivers at all times, and one complex that drivers could ONLY deliver to during the daylight hours. In the complexes cited, delivery drivers for different pizza outfits had been roughed up, beaten up, had their money stolen, and a few were murdered…most of the perpetrators were tied to local gangs.

Think about this parents. When the prices of good and services start to go up because gang members--many of them local teens--have to commit a crime to get initiated, who REALLY pays the bill? Right! The entire portion of town where the criminal activity is taking place. If businesses continue to be victimized by the gangs, what will they do? Right! Close up shop and move to another, less crime-ridden location. This ALSO means longer trips to the mall, grocery store and drug store.

If one wants a selfish reason for parents to get involved in breaking the back on gang crimes, here is the best one: The small business that closes in your area because of gang crime today WILL NOT be there tomorrow when YOUR teen needs their first job.

#3--PARENTS NEED TO REGULARLY CHECK THEIR TEEN’S ROOM:

I’d like to say that this is the final in ‘The Gang Line’ Internet series on Modern Street Gangs. The intent was to cover the basics; to--again--put the tools in the hands of the parents. So, let us continue on down my ‘Quick Seven’ list for parents.

Point Three: Check your child’s room, early--and often.

You have NO idea as to what is really in there, nor as to whom has been asking your teen to ‘keep’ stuff for them. During probation sweeps I’ve been on, parents have looked truly shocked as to what probation and law enforcement offices ‘found’ in their teen’s room. Imagine what YOU could find on random checks of your OWN!

#4--PARENTS NEED TO CHECK THEIR TEEN’S LOCKER AT SCHOOL:

Nothing says ‘parental concern’ than mother or father or both visiting their teen’s school and requesting that school officials come along with them as their open their child’s locker. Lockers, to teens, are regarded as an ‘extension’ of their social life. Sometimes they serve as ‘drop zones’ for a group of friends--or the local gang. Many teens KNOW that adults and school officials rarely check lockers. Even with random drug sweeps, teens generally get ‘tipped off’ through the underground on a rough time table when the searches take place. Few teens will see it coming when mom or dad show up at school during office hours and ‘check out’ what has been going into the lockers…other than books. Don’t forget to talk to the school security personnel while you are there, too!

#5--PARENTS NEED TO MONITOR THEIR TEEN’S COMINGS AND GOINGS:

Once upon a time, our parents determined a time for the kids to be home. It was call ‘curfew’. Mom and Dad were serious about their children being at home at a specific time. If you weren’t at home on time--there were repercussions.

A legal curfew works in the same way.

In many states, if a teen is on probation or parole and is arrested for/cited for a curfew violation, this would be one of those possible ‘last straw’ situations that could have them heading back to lockup.

Parents, when a cop catches your teen out in violation of your local curfew ordinance and brings them home, PLEASE thank them! The police officer COULD have just arrested them and taken them to lockup. You see, unless the teen is out working or attending a church service, the likelihood of them doing the right thing after 9pm and before 3am on a school night is fairly low. Those are the hours of prime gang activity.

#6--PARENTS NEED TO MONITOR BRUISES/TATTOOS ON THEIR CHILD: 

Whether you call them Child Protective Services (CPS) or Department of Child Services (DCS), there are a host of people who have been made legally liable IF they spot bruises, tattoos and scratches on your teen--even IF they are of high school age. By law, in most states, professionals from teachers to court officers HAVE to report to Child Welfare if bruises, scratches or welts appear on a child. My dear parent, you are with your teen more than they are. I have both heard of and seen parents ‘shocked’ when their little darling is sporting a tattoo or gang clothing or ‘flags & colors’ on their bodies. 

It is STILL a criminal offense for an older teen to ‘beat’ on one who is younger than they. Thus, when youngsters want to be ‘beaten into’ the gang (and run the gauntlet of punches and kicks) they are often left bloody and bruised after the experience. Parent, you had best keep an eye on your child as to these physical issues. Someone else is already watching. Your inactivity opens up someone else’s RESPONSIBILITY. The LAST place you want to end up is in front of a Child Welfare worker who is ready to snatch your kids from you because you may be ‘abusive’. In reality, your teen may be on their way into the gang universe, and YOU will have to be the one who either takes the fall for their stupidity, or the blame for your inactivity.

7#--PARENTS NEED TO MONITOR THEIR TEEN’S CLOTHING CHOICES: 

There are a variety of clothing choices for young people in the marketplace. Since advertisers COUNT on teens being able to tap their parent’s wallets and purses, it is up to the parents to KNOW not only what the popular styles are…but how they could be interpreted by society and gang members. I realize that parents may not want to read about this (as they are under enough pressure) but they need to be aware of what their children are wearing--or not wearing. 

The teen of today is like the teen of yesterday; they know what is acceptable and what ‘may’ be dangerous in terms of clothing choices. If one wears too much ‘red’ or too much ‘blue’, or wears the wrong numeric combinations (as certain numbers represent certain gangs) they could be placing themselves in harm’s way at school and on the street.

It would take me far too long to cover the vastness of the clothing issue. However, there are great on line resources for parents to scan. The best ‘first’ place to start is to listen to your teen and find out if there are gangs active in your area. The next step is to be observant of what teens are wearing around your neighborhood and school and ask ones that you trust the ‘real deal’ on what the clothing means.

THE SERIES WRAP UP: 

“The Gang Line” has laid out the basics on fighting gang activity. The secret weapon is parental involvement! Parents--along with some solid, biblical training and prayer--are still the best weapon in not only breaking up gangs, but stopping gangs from forming. As I wrap up this venture in contributing to the Internet knowledge and action base, I’d like to take the time to thank each of you for your emails. I’d also like to thank those who had the courage to run these columns, as these brave men and women have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they care for their families and communities from more than the ‘talking’ stage. I’ll be taking my leave now, and just want to say that God be with you…until we meet again. 

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist, consultant, trainer and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This column appears on fine websites around the world. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak at your school, church or facility; OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

 

THE GANG LINE:

O PARENT--WHERE ART THOU? (PART ONE)

Tip From The Old School: Contact your local police department for information regarding their ‘ride along’ program. It will give you a ‘true view’ of what IS happening in your area! It will also give you a contact IF there is trouble later! 

In the garden, God called out: “Adam, where art thou?” 

In the homes of America--from the projects to the suburbs--God AND society are making a different type of call out: “O Parent, where art thou?” 

I realize that there are those who may reaching for their phones attempting to call some protest group because I dared to bring ‘religion’ into the discussion of parental responsibility in combating Modern Street Gangs (MSGs). I’d like to say to those critics the following: Modern Street Gangs are using their own brand of ‘religion’ to expand their deception, and draw in more recruits, aka ‘disciples’. Faster than a cop can say ‘traffic ticket’, law enforcement and prison experts confess that the religion dynamic--that ‘First Amendment’ staple--is making it harder to monitor the true activities of Modern Street Gangs. In order to break up MSG activity at the root takes informed parental control, and a DECREASE of government interference.  

You read me right…a DECREASE of government interference. 

Gangs are now an INTERNATIONAL phenomena. From Alaska to Atlanta to Australia, MSG crews are recruiting and expanding. My aim with these columns is to informing parents--be they single, two parent, or guardians--to encourage, uplift them AND remind them of the need for their DIRECT involvement. I also have a very simple piece of logic at work: even the most hardened of gang thugs has a parent/guardian in the mix of their lives and they will STILL listen to them, no matter how ‘tough’ the teen may try to carry themselves.

RAMEY’S ‘QUICK SEVEN’ FOR PARENTS: 

Thus, for the remainder of this column, I’ll be spelling out my ‘Quick Seven’ tips for parents and guardians to ‘see’ if their son or daughter are actively involved in MSG activity. These tips will also determine how ‘close’ their child is to the ‘action’ on the streets, and whether or not their teen is ‘developing’ a taste for the ‘street life’. 

Let me say upfront that rebellion is ‘normal’ for a teen. That sweet little face you saw in the crib at three to six months; the same son who wanted to play race cars with you at six years old; the same daughter who wanted to hug your knee when a stranger approached at seven years old WILL be the same child who wants to ignore you at fifteen. 

Like Barney Fife said, you have to “Nip” it in the bud! 

I developed these little items based upon spending some of my career as a Probation Officer with a local juvenile court. I was amazed that not only did my client know other clients coming in and out of court; the parents/guardians ALSO knew each other.

In fact, SOME families had been active in their local courts for YEARS.

A true way to test the length of time some family had been involved with a court: IF a family name were mentioned during staff meeting by junior staff, you would most likely get a weary: “Yeah, I had his mother, father, sister, or brother on my case load years ago.” From a Senior P.O.

#1--PARENTS NEED TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH OTHER PARENTS: 

I’ll get some mail on this one, but I’ll risk it. A single parent; a guardian, or a two parent household has an EQUAL chance of success in keeping children in line as LONG as they are ‘pro-active’ rather than ‘re-active’.  

In short, don’t be your child’s friend; be their PARENT! Put the FEAR of GOD into them EARLY and remind them FREQUENTLY that you are in CHARGE of your home, right down to the use of corporal punishment to reinforce that point. IF you are ‘of color’ like I am, you KNOW that talking and time outs are PC fairy tales. The backhand, the front hand, the ‘stare’ and the taking away of things are in the arsenal too!  

Tip #1: Parents NEED to maintain contact with OTHER parents in the neighborhood and at school. Yes, parents may ‘see’ each other at church, or at the mall, or at the store…but parents need to do more than drive-by communication with other adults. Just because trouble doesn’t show up on the TV, or in Ebony, or in your local headlines does NOT mean its not brewing.  

I found it simply amazing that parents/guardians and the teens who were ‘locked up’ at juvenile all KNEW each other. Yet, when the cops came for ‘their baby’ the fight was ON! Parents were shocked that the judge was serious when a warrant was issued for their child. Many of these same parents were also the ones on camera--crying--when their baby was gunned down in the street; an unwilling player in a ‘three bullet opera’. 

Parents--IF your child is involved in gang activity, best take him/her to the police yourself. Always remember: the cops have a very liberal ‘pick up’ policy--and they can and WILL visit you if your child is in trouble.

#2--PARENTS NEED TO MONITOR THEIR TEENS’ ELECTRONIC CHOICES: 

Cell phones, MP3 players, CD portables and video players are NOT a RIGHT! You, PARENT--in MOST cases--will be shelling out of YOUR pocket so your teen can look ‘cool’ and fit in. Sadly, all a teen has to do is mention the words “Well, everybody ELSE has one…” and the modern parent turns to jelly and caves in. 

Those who created these toys KNOW this; so do gang members. 

And…to be a ‘good’ gang member, juveniles have to have four things: 

*A Cell Phone w/Text Messaging/Camera for instant and wide communication. 

*An MP3/CD rig to listen to the favorite Rap/Hip Hop gang songs. 

*A DVD Player to view the favorite movies of the gang. 

*A PC/Laptop to maintain communication to gang’s web universe. 

Now, parents--if you are giving them these things, without providing any monitoring of what they are ‘doing’ on them, you are asking for trouble. That present you buy for them and place under the tree in the old year, will possibly be their ticket to juvenile court in the new one. The FIRST place that there usually will be instances of gang membership and activity found by police is tied to those four electronic items I just mentioned. 

Parents, gang membership is supported by keeping teens ‘off balance’ and mother and father in the dark. If your teen is spending four to six hours or more a day ‘plugged’ into their electronic universe and is listening to or watching the ‘thug buster’ of the week video again, and again, and again…they are conditioning themselves to either DO the act, or forget they have DONE the act. They are counting on you not knowing what your teen is listening to, because you are a parent, and not held to be ‘hip or with it’. 

Want to throw your teen a curve? Pick one of THEIR favorite videos and have them SING it OUT LOUD and EXPLAIN the words. Better yet, have them sing their school fight song or the words of a church hymn. 

Oh yes, it will get quite comical…especially AFTER they fail your test. 

IF they pass (because a few will read this and brush up) create another test. This will mean that it will be time for them to go on an electronics ‘diet’ of sorts, as you start to confiscate their toys until their ‘minds’ get right with school and home. Yes, they will fuss! Expect It! Some may be so bold to try to break in and steal their stuff back! Keep it from them for a longer period of time, or PAWN it! Hold your ground and keep their stuff locked up in a secure location and without batteries until you see--and hear--them thinking right and acting right.  

More to come in part two next month! 

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This column appears on fine websites around the world. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

 

THE GANG LINE:  BY MIKE RAMEY

“STYLING, PROFILING--AND DYING”

        Tip From The Old School: School uniforms may add to gang problems rather than prevent them. It is up to PARENTS to show up at local school board hearings and get the full facts on school uniform choices BEFORE school officials make decisions. 

        Modern street gangs are composed mainly of teens that underestimate their worth to themselves, to their families, and to the society at large. This is the way gangs want it, and this is the danger that the government, public nor church seems to want to see. Of course, since teens are vulnerable to wrong decisions--as they are teens--Madison Avenue is more than happy to extract a buck from your child’s body and/or corpse. 

        If this sound brutal, you are right…but it is still the truth. 

        If I may get biblical for a moment, there are--in the Scriptures--many solid examples of young people who made a difference in their teens. In current society, there are countless examples of teens having a vision or dream or product idea that was later sharpened and directed with great results. Take away that vision, and you have nothing more than teen lemmings--especially among teens of color. 

        Businesspeople--Black, Hispanic and white--continue to shout down the potential of many of our youth with the voice of “…you need THIS product to be cool.” I recently stopped by one of my local, storefront “hip hop” clothing stores, just to keep up on the latest fashions. Never did I realize that so much money was being made by “The Tribe Of Dollars”. Hats going for $25 to $50--complete with appropriate gang colors and logos--many of them sports oriented. Oversized “T” shirts being snapped up for $10 a throw. Plus, what thugg (my personal spelling choice) of the future would not be complete with the various belt buckles, cash wads (yes, they DO sell them--LOL), plus jeans, jackets and jerseys--right down to ‘Lil G’ sizes. 

         It costs a lot to slouch into the criminal look, these days. 

        Here’s another one: local gas stations has become a boutique of sorts for gang wear. Some of them sell the oversized T-shirts, bandanas, and other assorted gang wear at lower prices…but cheaper quality. Gas stations have to be diverse to make a buck from the gang crowd in more ways that one. A few years back, blunting became the rage. A blunt is a cigar that is center filled with marijuana by an individual in order to mask the smell of weed. (Unfortunately, because of the make-up of the cigar in the first place, the weed tends to stay in the system longer, thus ensuring positive drug test results). Many gas stations were reluctant to sell cigars--but more and more ‘local customers’ demanded them. With a shrug of the shoulders, large and small cigars became a part of the inventory at many stations.  

LOOKING FOR BACKBONE AMONG THE UPRIGHT:

        One of the rules of the street gang life: One has to maintain a certain style, or profile in order to be in with their peers. Even IF that style could get one killed either deliberately, or by accident by being worn in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

        While the Rap/Hip Hop industry has been experiencing plummeting sales for the last five years, sales of jerseys, caps, and T-shirts have been climbing upwards. The ‘dream machine’ of cable, HD, Hollywood, and various and sundry television and movie shows have been developing and releasing a constant stream of youth clad in gang colors past many pairs of anxious eyeballs. Though the public has put up some small amount of protest, the media kabal continues to push--in 24 news cycle fashion--those items that ‘makes’ one ‘hip and happening’.. Even the latest video games have the inclusion of character bad guys--mainly Blacks or Hispanics--clad in what the entertainment industry ‘believes’ to be gang attire based upon their focus groups and field research.  

        Pro sports has been putting up a ‘mild’ protest about how some gangs have been using their merchandise as a means of ‘flagging loyalty’ to their local gang or crew.

I’ve yet to see the NFL or NBA sue MS-13 over how they use team jerseys. 

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CASH: 

        School corporations have instituted school uniforms--with the parents paying the tab--in order to ‘cut down’ on school gang violence (that is, IF they admit they have such problems). Unfortunately, many of the color schemes are already established gang color patterns. Be sure to thank your local school corporation if your teen is recruited into a faction of the Vice Lords or BGDs on school property because of their uniforms. 

        But I digress. 

        To subsidize evil is to allow it the grace to expand. Gangs, since 2001, have been steadily expanding from the back alleys, into the malls, sport teams, and schools with little admission as to their existence…until one turns on their nightly news. 

        The quest for coolness--even with a high price tag--silences many objections.

        Now, I realize that there are those who may think that I am making too much out of nothing. Sagging pants, gang handshakes, colors and Hip Hop/Rap music are ‘just teen rebellion’. What’s the harm, right? 

        Balderdash! 

        You see, the same people who make such statements are the same ones who ignore the fact that their own teens are wearing the same fashions and mimicking the same behavior. They would rather duck behind gated communities, padlocked mailboxes and quickly lock their doors when one of OUR teens come near their cars. All of a sudden, the ‘compassionate’ expect the police to ‘roust’ potential gang members away from them and their families because of their ‘looks’. Meanwhile, it is perfectly ‘natural and okay’ for the ‘marauding marketing mobsters’ to pour their wares into the eager brains of our youth.  

        They don’t have to attend funeral--only board meetings. 

PARENTS: SEND A STRONG FINANCIAL MESSAGE! 

        I feel it getting awfully quiet out there at this point in my column, but I’d like to remind parents that they can VETO the bad financial choices of their teens by NOT contributing to the madness. 

        Yes, I can fondly remember my days of ‘teen rebellion’, and it is true that what you do as a child does ‘force you to come around’ when you grow up and become a parent yourself. You remember and reflect upon the ‘money motive’ of those in the advertising game when YOU were a teen. You also tend to get a little irritated in the way that MP3s, downloads, iPods and photo/phone/text messaging systems bring teens unapologetically into a 24/7 marketing blitz that never seems to leave them (or parents) alone.  

        I am also aware that not every child who dresses up in today’s fashions are gang members…but I would also like to make you aware of the fact that at two o’clock in the morning, when a suspect is being sought by police, clothing DOES count! 

        Let us remember parents--single, married, and extended--WE control the purse strings and have the mandate to teach our young and teens the difference between style and being hustled by Madison Avenue and the mall. No matter how much a teen may ‘whine’ about wanting the ‘coming thing’, it is up to the adults in their lives to explain the differences between good choices and deadly consequences. Truly, there IS a lot more at stake than one may think, and the “The Tribe Of Dollars” won’t cry one tear IF you don’t do your job. Neither will they attend your child’s funeral IF they get happen to get caught in the wrong clothing in the middle of a gang shootout. 

        See you next month. 

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist, consultant, trainer and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This column appears on fine websites around the world. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak at your school, church or facility; OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

 

THE GANG LINE:  TALE OF THE RED FLAGS

BY MIKE RAMEY

Tip From The Old School: Do NOT seek to ask your Pastor or Church to be involved with your child’s appearance before school, court, or other authorities UNLESS you and your child have developed MORE than a “Hi/Bye” relationship with your house of worship. 

          A few years back a pastor and I were talking about juvenile justice issues. One of the families in his congregation were going to have to attend an expulsion hearing, and they wanted the pastor as a ‘character reference’ concerning the child. The pastor was more than happy to be involved. I, on the other hand, was a little suspicious. 

          I am going somewhere with this. 

          I spoke up. “Did the mother provide you with paperwork on the hearing, or did she just ask you to attend?” I was greeted with a quizzical “No,” as by his facial expression the pastor seemed puzzled. “I’m not trying to get into your business, preacher…but if you do NOT have ‘full disclosure’ from this family on the incidents leading up to the expulsion, you may hurt your reputation by being so ‘quick’ to testify.” 

          Now, I don’t know if he testified--or if he did not. In truth, we are living in the ‘deceptive’ days of our society. Folks will go out and do wrong on a grand scale, then--as they are about to face the consequences of their actions--they run to get their own ‘posse’ of friends and experts in order to explain away their actions. All the posse gets to know is that the person whom they are supporting ‘got’ into trouble. After the dust has cleared, the money spent, and the time and emotions invested, it is ‘learned’ that the person involved had more to do in starting the trouble than previously believed. 

          There is a biblical admonition for those of us who wear the Christian label to ‘count the costs’ of our actions and involvements. The Bible warns us not to be quick to ‘co-sign’ onto the trouble of others. If folk are not forthcoming about the extent of their troubles, you are not obligated to provide resources. 

THE FAMILY CAME FIRST: 

          These next few items may shock more than a few groups and churches, but I’ll state them anyway. First, the Bible does give people the power to judge, along with the power of individual choice. When Jesus sees people deliberately not noticing legitimate ‘red flags’ (such as the Pharisees), His solution was to rebuke them loudly, and in public.

Second, God created the institution of marriage first, and the family unit second in the Book of Genesis. Those in the courts, law enforcement, and even the church who attempt to develop programs or to secure grants in order to form a wedge between parent/guardian and child are making mistakes of biblical proportions. One can not successfully break up the spread and impact of gangs without empowering the family. This may sound ‘simplistic’ to some. Needless to say, I am a person who believes more in solutions and less in ‘wishful’ talk as I have seen the problem and the damage up close and personal.  

GRANTS, TAXES AND RECESSION: 

          Parents/guardians BEST know the capabilities and talents of their own children. This is why THEY are best to know when their kids are turning towards gang activity, because they recognize the ‘red flags’ of troubled youth. Developing treatment and intervention programs for juveniles WITHOUT the consideration OR involvement of their parents/guardians is just a waste of resources. 

          Nevertheless, society continues is drive to proudly skirt parental authority. 

          As I have mentioned before; suppression and detention of gang members only will only work in certain circumstances, and over a limited span of time. Gang members change street tactics roughly every six to twelve months. It takes--by my estimation--some three to five YEARS for local authorities--including churches and schools--to respond with plans to alert the public to gang dangers and try to contain gang activity in their own locales…provided those in these authority positions AND in the community are willing to admit that they have a gang problem in the first place. 

          In many cities, the denial continues and the crime rate increases.  

          I’ll repeat this next item again for the record: There are many institutions and agencies that make money off of the gang issue through various grants and funding sources. As I was putting this column together, a high-ranking federal law enforcement official was the subject of an article about the ‘reality’ of what grants could and could not do in putting more local cops on the streets. In short, this official noted that the current recession, coupled with local and state governments having to hold the line on taxes and expenses would NOT be able to count on federal grants to add more local cops. 

           But wait, there IS more.  

           A few weeks earlier, another article came forth pointing out that more and more cities were going to hire more civilians to handle lesser crimes, freeing up more cops for street duty. Lastly, because of the fuel price crisis, another well-written article on law enforcement issues came forth, explaining how police agencies were investing in bicycles and other ‘gas friendly’ vehicles to save money on gas costs. 

UNDERSTANDING THE RED FLAGS: 

          What does this all mean? As I read these articles, MY take was the following: local law enforcement agencies--including the courts--are going to be ‘prioritizing’ their handling of certain crimes. Mr. And Mrs. Taxpayer are going to have to do more about fighting crime themselves--at the ROOT! 

          Thus, it is time for the ‘meat’ of this column…recognizing the red flags of gang activity from the home to the street. Parents, you DO have the power to blunt much of the negative activities of YOUR OWN children, contrary to the ‘PC’ crowd. 

          IF you coddle them; indulge them, and take their side over legitimate authority, your child will wind up either on TV or in the morgue. Teach them the value of hard work, staying crime free, the need for church & faith in God through Jesus Christ, the benefits of a good education--including graduating and going on to trade school or college--and you will have a successful child. 

          Why does it rest with the home and/or the parent or guardian? 

          Simple. A child is blessed with the internal ability to love and follow their parents--both of them--into right, or wrong behavior. Three immediate red flags involve the activity of parents. Should one--or both--of them have criminal records, be on probation/parole, or have been or are spending time in jail or prison, you have the potential of the child wanting to ‘follow’ in their footsteps. It gets worse if the child is being raised by a custodial parent who has done their level best to ‘slam’ the non-custodial parent--especially if that parent is incarcerated. 

          Two other red flags are parent/guardian controlled. These revolve around who your child ‘hangs out’ with, and whether or not your child is regularly attending school.

I’ll make these sweet and simple. If your child sees you hanging around shady characters; if your child sees you not continuing your education or even ‘keeping up’ with current events through the newspaper, magazines or books, your child will be inching ever closer to truancy problems, school suspensions and/or expulsion. Waiting for them on ‘the street’ will be those older juvenile delinquents who will be happy to use your child as a ‘toy’. Some of these older juveniles are of the opposite sex, and have no problem in training your child to be a liar, cheat, criminal and gang member. 

          The advice for summer now that school is letting out? Get to know your child and recognize potential red flags and address them at home. It is better for a parent/guardian to get involved with their children now, than sitting in a courtroom later having to explain their inaction--to a judge. See you next month!

 

THE GANG LINE:  GANGS & MUSIC--A SIXTIES REPLAY

BY MIKE RAMEY 

Tip From The Old School: There are dozens of places in a community where a parent may get their child drug tested or ‘urine dropped’. Your family doctor is a great resource AND can recommend ‘over the counter’ drug tests that you may use at home. 

          On one afternoon in my city, a local high school was letting out. Traffic was being directed by school police as teens were heading home. One could hear rather quickly the steady ‘thump-thump-thump’ coming from various teen vehicles. I actually laughed as I saw one car full of teens shooting gang signs in time with the music (stacking) at another car load of teens in front of them who, in turn, were shooting the same signs back at them.  

          Ah, the days of youth…and disposable music. 

          In spite of the Alicia Keys/50 Cent slamfest about modern music, the truth has started to come out. MOST Rap/Hip Hop recorded, produced, released, and sold in America has no lasting value, save to ‘rile up’ the passions of teens that don’t know any better, and filling the pockets of the artists who wouldn’t know sheet music from a copy of “Jet.” 

          More and more of the KNOWN artists are recording ‘the standards’ as they have ‘discovered’ that their genre won‘t last past a milk carton expiration date. Industry moguls know Rap/Hip-Hop has been losing revenue over the last five years. More ‘traditional’ songs are being recorded as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and Diana Ross are the ‘new cool.’ The ‘thugg’ look is quietly being put away, out of fear that the general public will finally wise up and crush Rap/Hip-Hop sales.

THE MAINSTREAM IS ALWAYS THE AIM: 

          Oh, you KNOW that this is TRUE. While industry experts like to hush that some seventy percent of Rap/Hip Hop music IS purchased by whites--young white males in particular--it should also come as no shock that many street gangs get their ‘bravado’ from consuming Rap/Hip Hop songs and videos, some of them made by artists with KNOWN gang affiliations.  

          The objective is the mainstream my friends; by influence, buck or power. No matter how creative we Black folk may be, there are few business ventures that can ‘only’ be supported by Black patronage. Thus, Black artists push to get to the mainstream as quickly as possible, just like other artists. As far back as the 1930s, Black musicians, vocalists and artists knew that for anything to sell, it has to be brought to the mainstream--which is--like it or not--white-controlled.

A REPLAY--OF THE SIXTIES?

          Recently, the History Channel came out with a documentary about the Hippie culture and its impact on society. I noticed something right away concerning the music of that era. Music moguls of today have taken the trends of the sixties, revamped them and brought them forward with money in mind. If you remember your younger days, music drives society and word of mouth drives music sales and trends. Money, like The O’Jays said, drives them both. Songs are produced, sell and are well received, or they go to the bargain bin.  

          Rap/Hip Hop is no different.  

          The more outlandish, the more flesh that shows, the more ‘buzz’ a particular song generates, the better the sales. Teens could care LESS that the props are rented, the homes are borrowed and many of the people in the videos have jobs elsewhere. If it feels good (makes them forget reality) then its OK with them. 

          The gangs know this and they are succeeding to use music to fuel their ‘reps’.

THE MUSIC IS THE MESSAGE, THE MESSENGER--AND THE MATCH! 

          Let us not kid ourselves…gangs run on rebellion, and most Rap/Hip Hop serves as the fuel in the tank. In order to be a successful gang member, one must not only be able to stack out (using hand signs to tell a story) their gang affiliation, but to impress or to intimidate others. Don’t tell me that gang members are ‘dumb’. It takes hours of practice to stack with precision. They proudly use spare time that could be used for doing homework or learning a trade or skill to ‘impress’ their peers and increase their reputation. 

          Think Rap/Hip Hop is not getting the once over from Wall Street? Forbes magazine, as of last year, annually tracks how much rappers make with their ventures. 

          Needless to say, the millions made does not qualify as ‘chump change’. To a banger, the music is the message, the messenger and the inspiration. It not only ‘excites’ but ‘ignites’. Every gang member, or former gang member that I have come across admits that they like to get high, put on their tunes, and play their favorites…for hours. The music was their pride and joy, their shield and personality.  

          Sounds like the same things about music said when I grew up with during the ‘summer of love’ era. But, I digress. 

          Eventually, a banger reaches a saturation point whereby they are either egged on by gang leaders, or just get into a situation where they decide to ‘act out’ what they have been listening to. Hours--or days--later it ‘sinks in’ as to what they have done while they are in a cell, or on their way to trial or prison.

CAN WE STOP THE MUSIC? 

          For those who think that I make too much of the power of music, I have additional information. In 2007, according to a survey by HealthDay some of the best selling songs as selected by Billboard Magazine for the year 2005 yielded some eye opening results. They found that 77 percent of the top Rap/Hip Hop songs had references to substance use in them. Whether it be booze, drugs, or other items to ‘bend mental reality’, the proof was in the music. By the way, some 37 percent of Country Western songs had substance use mentioned, and 14 percent of rock songs. These findings are NOT new, but let me do the math. Teen anger, plus drugs, plus alcohol, plus aggressive music, plus gang members, plus problems at home or school or in just growing up; mix in some promises of excitement and thrills and this equals a new gang member OR potential gang leader. 

          I’ve heard those in law enforcement say the following time and time again: “Parents, be they single or married are the BEST weapon in the fight against gangs!” Add to the discussion THIS fact: MOST gangs have in their rules, bylaws, or constitutions the fact that they are supposed to listen to or protect their parents. 

HOUSE CLEANING IN ORDER:  

          Parents; YOU have the power of the purse. YOU determine what comes into your home! Complaining about what is on the public airwaves is pretty lame when each household with an authority figure has steps they can take. From monitoring and limiting entertainment choices to examination of what their teens are listening to or watching, parents ARE the authority of the home. It does NOT hurt to have a foundation involving church, the Bible, and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Since Christ cleaned out the temple; He can strengthen parents and guardians to clean UP their OWN homes IF they want to see a change in their teens. Remember: There IS no separation of church and state in a jail cell, or in the morgue autopsy room. Until parents get a grip on their teens’ ears and limit their spending on bad entertainment choices, the flow of young people into the gang scene will continue.  

          The incentives are worth pursuing if parents would start teaching! I would suggest that parents dust off their Bibles--and their vinyl-- and provide a few history lessons about where our music came from, and what it stood for--and against. The history of our music is more about the spirit…than the pocket. 

          Even in an unfair fight, Mississippi Mass can still take down 50 Cent. 

          See you next month.

 

THE GANG LINE:  LAUGHING OFF THE SPIRITUAL

BY MIKE RAMEY

Tip From The Old School: Be aware of your child’s friends and acquaintances. Kids & Teens often take their first drink, smoke their first cigarette or blunt, commit their first crime, or get involved with the wrong crowd thanks to those whom they believe to be ‘good friends’. Teach your child the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’! 

If you have ever spent time in front of your TV watching some of the offerings from shows like “Gangland” or “American Gangster” for any length of time, you soon notice a few things: 

1. The tactics of evil seldom change; they are recycled. 

2. Many of today’s ‘gang leaders’ were ‘brought in’ by ‘friends’. 

3. They are ‘proud’ of the fact that they manipulate many to do their will. 

4. They get ‘upset’ when THEIR family members get killed by gang activity. 

5. Lastly, the belief that they can not change is firmly planted within them. 

Of course, IF the same ‘leadership’ would tell their thousands of their followers to stay in school, graduate, steer clear of criminal activity, work hard at legitimate enterprises AND register to vote, you would not hear from them--or their gang--ever again. IF--in addition--the same gang leadership told their followers to stop breeding OOW children, get married, and become positive forces in the church and community, you would see politicians awarding pardons like confetti. 

Modern street gangs are not ‘social clubs’ like their predecessors of the last century. Today, they ARE ‘criminal enterprises’ AND ‘religious worship outlets’ in our post-9/11 world. The reason why law enforcement, elected officials, social workers, and church leaders are not effective against their spread is simple: Many have ‘laughed off’ the spiritual underbelly of modern gang activity. Smatterings of Islam, Santeria, Roman Catholicism, Nazism, Witchcraft, Roman, Egyptian and Greek Mythology, even gangster history from the 1930s and 40s have been found in the modern gang scene with a religious twist.

CANNOT DISREGARD THE SPIRITUAL: 

As the ‘informed’ continue to shovel more tax money at the problem, the gangs have been ‘rolling’. THEY believe in the spiritual side of their activities, even though many have dismissed the obvious religious signs. 

I include the realities of the spiritual when I do presentations on Modern Street Gangs. I’m not one to ‘laugh off the spiritual’ like many power brokers, gang experts and churches, because of the risks involved. You see, men, women--and even teenagers--have been created by God to be drawn to the spiritual. Each of us, though, have the right to be drawn to either the light of spiritual matters, or, revel in the darkness of spiritual trappings. To deny the spiritual aspect of gang life and not include such realities in the discussion of solutions is a formula for disaster of immense proportions--as we have already been seeing on the streets of many a city. 

Let me bring you up to speed. Modern Street Gangs (MSGs) have their own unique rituals, prayers, bibles, benevolence activity and sacrifices. Gangs have their own ways of ‘witnessing’ with their signs, slogans, codes and graffiti. MSGs even have their own way of ‘canvassing’ or ‘proselytizing’, with VERY effective results. While they may tweak some of the visible portions of their rules, the average gang member views being in a gang a lot like being in a religious denomination. The difference? While ‘real’ religion is supposed to ‘uplift’ the follower and community, gangs don’t adhere to this belief.  

If you doubt me, ask some of the former participants of gang life who are now crippled in their bodies and minds; maimed in their economic, educational or relationship choices, or are just plain DEAD from being a member of the ‘church of the Gangbanger’ was a benefit.  

Their answers will surprise you--IF they can speak.

THREE DOORWAYS TO THE SOUL--AND RUIN: 

Right about now, there are those who may be reading this column and are getting uncomfortable about the discussion of religion. A few in law enforcement, government, even in the church house will clamor about the ‘mythical’ separation of church and state. 

Modern gangs don’t have a problem in mixing the two…to their advantage. 

A few others among the professional ranks are more interested in getting their checks and fees rather than helping the public to be self-sufficient. Unfortunately, gang members are still going to their ‘churches’, helping to destroy ‘the state’ with their criminal activities, and will take as many willing (or unwilling) followers WITH them to the jailhouse, the church house, and/or the morgue. 

The Bible says that there are works of the flesh (Galatians, Chapter 5) and, in addition there are three doorways into the soul that will corrupt even the best of men and women if they are breached. These are: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (I John 2:16). These are the three doorways which gangs use to turn many a young person into an unfeeling, underachieving, uneducated killing machine. 

Even some of the ‘good’ teens of society who, incidentally, may go to church. 

What? You think that it is an ‘accident’ that many of the colors, signs, and methodology for gangs comes straight from the Bible? Even Satan and his demons can read scripture! They just have a problem with two words: Jesus Christ. 

But, I digress. 

How then are gangs able to recruit, train and ‘make their own disciples’? Simple. The gang--through their recruiters--systematically break down the ‘three doorways’ of resistance, and unlock the evil already stored in the average teen. All it takes to be ‘successful’ is to breach these doorways alone or in combination. A little ‘peer pressure’ here, a little ‘blunting’ there, a little spending money or some sexual thrills. Mix in some intimidation, immorality, and ignorance, and you have a gang member ready to serve their ‘leadership’.

THE CHURCH ASLEEP--AND GANGS LOVE IT: 

Like clockwork, there have been a host of gang tragedies around the country as the weather has gotten warmer. Unfortunately, the one group which should be able to reach out to the gangs (and set the captives free), support the home, and speak out against sins on the streets of many a city are too interested in politics, parties, and entertainment. 

Interestingly, there will be FEW churches in our land who will be holding gang conferences this spring and summer to expose local gang activity. However many churches WILL have: 

*Political rallies & voter registration drives. 

*Fundraisers For HIV/AIDS. 

*Lively funeral services for gang slaying victims. 

*But NO conferences to inform their congregations about gangs. 

Gang activity is like any other vice: It’s ‘out of sight and out of mind’ as it will hurt some feelings and point some fingers at those IN churches who are either involved in MSGs, or, those who ‘support’ such activities from the sidelines. It seems that many churches have been ‘laughing’ off the spiritual side of gangs as well. 

Which is EXACTLY what the gangs want to continue to have happen. 

See you next month.

 

THE GANG LINE:  GIRLS NIGHT--WHAT!?

BY MIKE RAMEY 

Tip From The Old School: A Single Parent CAN be JUST as effective as Two Parents in the supervision of children IF they choose to become pro-active vs. re-active. However, marriage is God’s BEST model for parenting success with children! 

        When I had left the substitute teaching ranks back in the late 90s, school administrators were beginning to see a rise in girl on girl disruptions and disputes. Now--nearly ten years later--we have teachers breaking up even MORE fights between 13 through 17 year old female students on a DAILY basis.  

        During my time as an Intensive--and later as a School Based Probation Officer with a juvenile court, the number of teen females who arrived on my caseload for violent and/or major offenses increased. Not only this, but more and more teen females of school age ARE getting involved in the gang scene. 

        In larger cities girl gangs have been in place for a long time. As I write this particular column, there are FIVE identified female MSGs (Modern Street Gangs) in my city. Word on the street is that in rural areas, there are girls who are starting their own gangs.

Unfortunately, the criminal justice system refuses to believe that Sharon and/or Shanniqua--aided in some cases by their mothers and/or older, female relatives--are putting their own spin on street violence--girrl style. Interestingly enough, many feminists, social workers and education leaders--most of them female--have remained quiet about or are blissfully ignorant of this ‘new trend’.

FROM ACCESSORIES…TO PREDATORS: 

        Time for a history lesson. From the 1950s to the mid-1970s juvenile females were seen (and used) as accessories by many street gangs. They were placed in such ‘lofty’ posts as look out, drop zone, or get away driver.  

        Girls were viewed by boys--and the system--as coat holders and initiation helpers. 

        That is--until the feminist movement kicked into gear.  

        The unanticipated side effect? Older women declared by action and deed that they no longer ‘had’ to teach girls how to be girls. A ‘hardening’ of the attitudes of what constituted a quality young woman began to take root in society. Even in the church, women felt ‘bound’ by Proverbs 31 or the Books of Ephesians or Titus. They ‘freed’ themselves (mentally) to ‘do their own thing’ by the spirit of the age.  

         But wait, there IS more! 

         The late 1980s saw girl gangs growing with their own rules and reputations. By the 1990s, girl gangs were entrenched in major cities, and moving to the secondary cities. By the end of the 1990s, more and more young women were heading to prison for more violent offenses. Our new millennium has seen the rise of more sexually aggressive female teachers; teen girls calling teen boys at all hours of the day/night for dates, and more and more teen girls staging in school gladiator fights to show who is the ‘baddest chick on the hall’. 

        This next section is not for the faint at heart.

RACISM ABOUNDS AMONG WHITE FEMINISTS: 

        Not to shock anyone, but the ‘first’ generation of young women after modern feminism have not experienced the ‘liberation’ that their older female counterparts proclaimed. Young Black and Hispanic women are not seen as ‘equals’ by their white female counterparts. There are more and more young women of color heading to juvenile hall, jail and prison, and fewer and fewer programs developed by women to reach them! Of course, there are dozens of programs being compiled and run by women AND men for wayward boys, complete with grants and equipment. Thus young women are not only angry; they have taken to the very behaviors that feminists ‘claimed’ not to like in men and boys ‘just‘ to get some overdue attention from their mothers or other older women in positions of authority. Amidst the anger is some ‘street wisdom’. The DLS (dirty little secret) is that teen females KNOW that the courts won’t hold them as accountable as their male counterparts. All they have to do upon arriving in court is dress nice, mention their self-esteem issues and the press and public seem to ‘wish away’ the fact that one girl ‘shanked’ another girl for talking to ‘her 15 year old man’ in the hallway of the local middle school.  

        Let’s be honest here. The chief reason WHY we have girls in gangs RESTS with the women in their lives, and the lack of spiritual training. In my home city, girl bangers arrived in several CARLOADS, with OLDER females--INCLUDING mothers and aunts--to ‘settle’ a score, and ‘handle some business’ with one or two local teen girls from school. During the early fall of 2007, a few girls showed up on the doorstep of two female rivals. Their brother and mother tried to stop a fight. Shots were fired by the visiting teen female terrors. The brother died at the scene, and the mother--who was pregnant--was hospitalized, in serious condition.  

A MATTER OF ORDER: 

        As a pastor myself, I know how easy it is for society to point the finger of blame at the church. Frankly, the modern church HAS been guilty of being more interested in pizza parties and bringing kids and teens to Sunday Schools, rather than encouraging their parent or parents in becoming Christians, and having THEM bring their OWN children to church.

        Today’s churches KNOW they need a better dynamic. When I talk with fellow pastors and find out what they are NOT doing to strengthen the homes in their communities, it sickens me.

        The TRUE source of spiritual training DOES rest with the HOME! Marriage was the first institution ordained by God, followed by the family. The New Testament maintains that parents/guardians have the primary responsibility in training family members as to their spiritual and moral duties. AFTER that, older men of the church are to be training younger men, and older women training younger women.

        When a girl can jack a car, break down a ‘nine’ or roll a joint better than she can cook, clean, and work on her lessons, there is a problem at HOME. Any solution in breaking teen girls out of their gang mentality RESTS with encouragement and teaching to rebuild the authority of the home. Whosoever wins the White House--or Congress--will never have as much impact upon children than parents.

        My closing words this month are aimed at older women in the home, church, and corporate America. Shame on you for abandoning your younger sisters in pursuit of your own ambitions, thrills and chills.  Twenty years ago, you were quick to ‘tell’ men what they weren’t doing when they were trying to get teen boys to pulling their pants and attitudes up. Ten years ago, some of you picked up the mantra: “Well, I don’t NEED a Man”…but you had help getting pregnant by someone. Presently, we now are seeing young women--some of them your daughters--partially angry at you for not having enough time to spend with them.

        This is not my message, but the message some of your younger female counterparts have been spilling across desktops while they have been on probation, or, parole. The real struggle over the next decade will be re-training young women to be MORE than gang members. There is no sin in learning to cook, clean and sew or getting married before having children. These are the traits of home builders.  

        One of the worst messages a mother can get from her daughter is the following: “If only my mother…” in the midst of a court hearing on a major criminal charge. 

        See you next month.

 

 

THE GANG LINE: WALKING IN THEIR SHOES

BY MIKE RAMEY

 

Old School Tip: Communicate daily with your child about happenings in school, the neighborhood, etc. Such conversations unearth items on gang activity in your area! Don’t wait for the six o’clock news to tell you about gang activity in your own hood! 

I was getting a haircut in my local barber shop not that long ago, when I happened to notice a young man in the waiting area with his shirt turned inside out. The color of his shirt was blue, but the number on the BACK of his shirt was reversed, and clearly visible.It was the number 5--traditionally associated with ‘People Nation’ or ‘Red based’ Modern Street Gangs (MSGs). While the young man couldn’t have been more than twelve or thirteen years old, he had a grasp of street issues that made him wise. The number on his shirt and the COLOR of his shirt did NOT go together in this neighborhood. He had enough sense to know what he had to do to avoid a beating--or worse--from a possible ‘offended’ gang member. The young man turned his shirt inside out and ‘ducked’ the number for safety. Since the neighborhood where the barbershop was located was in Vice Lords (and other miscellaneous gangs sympathetic to them) territory, the teen had enough wisdom to avoid potential problems.  If a child had such wisdom, then how is it that parents, the police, and government officials ‘miss it’ when it comes to gangs in their cities and communities? Could it be that many who profit from examining gangs think more of the money to be made on ‘the grant train’ rather than putting the existing gangs in their cities in check? 

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES:

In terms of the street, my young brother was wearing something that could have been interpreted as a ‘slam’ (insult) to a gang. He knew what many adults do not want to admit…there IS trouble in paradise. The young are waiting for the adults of their communities--especially their parents--to ‘catch up’ and ‘admit’ that there ARE gang problems in our respective neighborhoods, and deal with the offenders.  This is one of the sub-issues within the modern gang scene. Until those in positions of authority admit gangs exist (instead of living in denial) we will ‘allow’ the mayhem in our streets, schools and churches to continue. Let us be blunt. The good teens of our communities cannot confront the evils of the gang culture alone! They need for their parents and other adults to back them up when evil comes. Too many teens have heard that they need to tell an adult whenever such activity is sighted, but when they start calling adults for ‘back up’; many adults are AWOL, and nowhere to be found. In fact, parental ignorance continues to abound when it comes to the gang issue. Let me provide an example. A pastor friend of mine invited me to speak to a graduating class of church counselors as to some of the things they would be confronting as they went about offering comfort to some of the troubled teens in our city. I put forth the ‘basics’ of the MSG scene, including clothing and lifestyle cues. The counselors took notes on my presentation, got their certificates, and all was well with the world.  My pastor friend later informed me that his nine-year-old daughter talked a blue streak about my presentation on the way home. She had provided my friend with even MORE information on the gangs operating around her neighborhood. It seemed that Dad had gotten an earful of reality because of what his daughter was seeing on a daily basis in her world. Needless to say, there have been more conversations on this issue between them. 

KIDS AND TEENS ARE NOT DUMB:

Parents--whether you are single or married or foster--please remember that communications between you and your children are a two way street. We cannot say that our ‘door’ is open to their questions if we are not on the other side of it when they need us! The Bible instructs us who are adults NOT for forget our youth. The reason for such an admonition rests with the shape of our hearts when we become parents. It gives us an added bit of wisdom when our kids wind up in some of the same ‘pits’ we were in when we were THEIR age.  One of the sad commentaries of our modern times is that many parents have forgotten their youth. They have also forgotten their role as authority of the home as society has demanded that the home ‘trust’ its authority to media pundits, self-help shows and counseling twits on flat screens. When trouble comes, parents are often left holding the bag, as the ‘experts’ are nowhere to be found…something that delights many a gang member today. 

THE REAL MARKETING PLAN:

Let me hasten to add that another group who are happy over parental inaction are those in the marketing game. They are targeting your purse or wallet THROUGH your children. Their cause? To ‘enrich’ the entertainment or sports industry--no matter how harmful their wares may be. In the marketing mix of today one has a hit movie when one has a video game, a hit soundtrack and accompanying video (with high rotation), plus a ton of publicity BEFORE the movie is released.  ‘Street Credibility’ (a.k.a. the MSG ‘lifestyle’), is also part of the marketing plan. The rougher, more tattooed, more vulgar the personality, the more money that can be made from MP3 downloads, and other revenue boosters. No, the marketers are not ‘denying’ that there are street gangs…they are making money off of their misery, and injecting JUST enough entertainment to separate families from their money.  Unfortunately, the sports kabal have been having separate problems with the real marketing plan. Much of today’s sports paraphernalia has been assimilated into the gang lifestyle. Team jerseys can be bought or custom made. It is not by chance that NFL, NBA, MLB and even College/University sports teams are used by gangs as their ‘colors’. 

12 TO 18 MONTHS VS. 3 TO 5 YEARS:

If you think that I am exaggerating, please remember that it wasn’t very long ago when young men knew how to keep their pants up, and young women knew how to keep their skirts down. Modesty, sexual responsibility, along with mental and moral purity was held to be ‘cool’. No longer. The ‘jail/prison’ life is held in high sway. Yes, there is more. Every 12 to 18 months from constitutions, to membership rituals, to music, gangs undergo changes as some in society catch on to their codes and signs. The last change on the street saw more gangs aligning themselves with either the Red or Blue Nation color scheme. Thus, a Red-based gang in Los Angeles would be acceptable or could form an alliance with a red-based gang in Chicago, and/or a red-based gang in New York, regardless of race--in some cases. Their enemies would be the same--even in prison, jail, detention or street. Sadly, it takes an average city government some three to five YEARS to develop a top-to-bottom plan to combat MSGs--that is, IF they admit that gangs are active in their city.Many of us need to take a deep breath and begin to walk a mile in our children’s shoes. We need to be up front with our kids about what is REALLY out in the neighborhood. When trouble does come--and it will--we can give our teens more to stand on than turning a shirt inside out. Perhaps--parents--we can spread some terror of our own. Perhaps we can ‘lock up’ those who would dare inflict terror on our children, churches, schools and communities.  That, my friends, is up to you! See you next month. 

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist, consultant, trainer and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This column appears on fine websites around the world. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

 

 

THE GANG LINE:  THE ‘NO SNITCH’ SOLUTION?  DON’T CALL ME BROTHER!

Tip From The Old School: Should Your Child Be Arrested, DO NOT ONLY Rely Upon A Public Defender. FIND The Money And PAY For A Private Attorney With Experience In Juvenile Justice Issues. DO NOT Play Your Child’s Rights ‘Cheap’!

Many of those who work in, or have worked in law enforcement, the courts, or the prisons ALWAYS get a good laugh when the subject of the infamous "No Snitch" code comes up. It does not exist…except in someone’s imagination. 

Since I have worked as a probation officer in a juvenile court with male and female teen offenders from truants to armed robbers, let me share some truths.  

*Point One: The ‘No Snitch’ Code is a L.I.E.  

*Point Two: He/She who gets to the police, and/or the prosecutor/district attorney FIRST, OFTEN gets the BEST DEAL! 

*Point Three: If I needed information on a particular case which involved a threat to a juvenile, or the general public welfare, I found more than enough ‘birds’ who were willing to sing their little heads OFF! 

Sure. I had received more than my share of threats--from teens and their parents--especially when it came to ‘putting a teen away’ for some time in a state facility. However, when the lawyers, my clients, their family members and the judge were all seated before the bench in either a violation, commitment or services hearing, no one could ‘plead’ ignorance. The rules were spelled out well in advance. 

There IS no honor…among thieves.

THE NO SNITCH CODE IS NOT NEW--ONLY REPACKAGED:

The current version of the ‘No Snitch’ code has two very successful ‘street and Internet bootlegs’ floating around. Newspaper articles, and television talking heads have been treating this as if it is something ‘new’. 

The DLS? It’s as old as the gangsters of the prohibition era. 

Remember how they were ‘turned out’? Eventually, the public got tired of the Capone Mob, Murder Inc., and the Commission. Over the course of time, corrupt cops, elected officials and appointed lackeys were swept out of office simply because a few brave souls INSIDE of these organizations ‘spilled their guts’ to law enforcement. They ‘got tired’ of the carnage, the dirty deals, and the poisoned politics that made sure the criminal got off free while the victim was six feet under, and their families were destroyed.

Fear was overcome and justice won out.

You see, fear is only an effective weapon when folk are truly scared. Eventually, those who are fearful--over the course of time--get a bellyful and decide that it was better to stand on their feet rather than crawl on their knees.

The ‘color’ of the man or woman who is making you fearful is truly a nasty slice of life when it is of your OWN race. To counter this, a saying: “When one gets sick and tired of being sick and tired, then--and ONLY then--will action be taken to correct the problem.” With fear successfully tossed over the side, the old gangsters were eventually outgunned by the truth, and the constitutional amendment that started prohibition was also repealed. 

Fast forward some 50 years.

A new wave of gangsters in the form of Modern Street Gangs are in the terror business. This time, they use the media, a pushed materialism agenda, and the manipulation of the truth of the criminal justice system to encourage teens and pre-teens to ‘roll the dice’ on a life of crime. These new ‘fearmongers’ dress well and talk slick in order to line their own pockets. They also use the subtle art of intimidation against their OWN race in order to impress someone higher up in the crime or entertainment business. 

They don’t impress nor intimidate yours truly.

Why?

Right is right, and wrong is wrong. The truth WILL hunt down a LIE and blow it out the sky, whether those involved are living in a shack, or a mansion.

PARENTS--WAR NEEDED TO BE DECLARED ON THUGS:

A few years, I was standing in a parking lot after midnight trying to console the mother of a teen that I knew. He and a questionable friend were out riding around in the family car. One teen got locked up for mouthing off to the cops, and the other was set free. Guess who got to tell ‘his’ story to the mother? Right. ‘Mr. Questionable’. Not only was he set free, but he tried to turn the jail experience into something ‘needed’ for the mother of the teen that was locked up. “Oh…well he stood up to the cops. You just have to let him go on his way, ‘cause he needs room to grow…”. And so on, and so forth. It didn’t strike me until later that ‘Mr. Questionable’ was walking around free to give the explanation while the other teen was in a jailed location. Why mother permitted her son to hang around with ‘Mr. Questionable’ is beyond me, but her son learned a valuable lesson that night. Whether or not that would be a life lesson learned is anyone’s guess. Their truly is NO honor among thieves. 

I have read several dozen arrest reports over the years describing how one or two teens who had no business involved in a discussion between the police and a friend--or a family member--and figured that they had to ‘jump bad’ with the police. The ‘funny’ of the police report was that the person whom they were questioning was eventually let go; but the person who decided that they wanted to be a street corner lawyer was locked up.

A GREAT COUNTERPOINT:

In wrapping up our time together this month, permit me to remind parents and teens--again--that the ‘No Snitch’ Code is a LIE that needs to be EXPOSED regardless of how many DVD’s are made, marketed, and released! It CAN NOT be stated any better, or simpler. 

Manipulation by intimidation only leads to DESTRUCTION! Everyone loses when crime is allowed to continue unchecked, and criminals are allowed to prosper at the expense of our race, or the general public. 

I have a solution for those who ‘support’ the ‘No Snitch’ Code. It is based in biblical record, and simple truth. In fact, a few might consider this a cruel tactic but it might wake up many of the thugs and accomplices in the gang scene. But, let me set this up.

A few years ago, there was a song that was released entitled: “Don’t Call Me Brother!” The summation of the song: Those in our community who ACTIVELY abuse, neglect, hurt, or maim a member of their own race have NO right to attempt to relate themselves to that race, or claim that racial identification. Now, I can ‘see’ a few folk reading this column who remember the song, and are nodding in their minds as to that solution. The biblical solution to those who like to build their resume on the backs of their race is to ‘shun’ such people who delight in doing wrong--even IF they are active in the local church. In spite of their being told about the right way multiple times, these TRAITORS refuse to listen. Thus, they need to be ‘turned over’ to the streets they love so well until they ‘wise up’ and want to come back and be upright people. 

The ‘No Snitch’ crowd still live in some of our homes, eat our food, and are having their ways and bills paid by our generosity in some cases. Perhaps, IF their actions had consequences, they would become upright citizens like the rest of the community. 

Its time the ‘No Snitch’ crowd discover the pain of being ostracized. 

Just tell them: “Don’t Call Me Brother”…and MEAN it! Then...call the police! 

And…if any of you ‘No Snitchers’ want to ‘whine‘ about my words? You have my email address. See the rest of you next month!

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist, consultant, trainer and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. This column appears on fine websites around the world. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak at your school, church or facility; OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

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THE GANG LINE: BREAKING DOWN THE ‘NO SCHOOL’ WALL

Tip From The Old School: Check your child’s locker AT SCHOOL! It will reveal some interesting items that never ‘seem’ to make it home--including gang clothing!

        The gang issue has NEVER been about whether or not the general public knows about gangs. The public has ALWAYS known about them--right back to the Prohibition days. The public wants to know two things: A) What is government in its various guises and forms DOING with tax revenue given by its citizens to fight crime, and; B) When will government get out of the away and allow parents to deal with their OWN kids who may be encouraged, enticed, or extorted to join local gangs.

        Let’s be honest. Gang-related matters have gone beyond the hood and moved into the suburbs, rural areas and criss-crossed the seven seas. London, Berlin, Paris, Sidney and Saudi Arabia EACH report problems with bangers INFLUENCED by rap music and training on “How To Be A Gang Member from the Internet.” 

        Many gangs EVEN have their own websites! Amen lights!  

        How close may gang issues be? Well, a few blocks from my home, a meeting building had been tagged with gang graffiti. The owners of the building had enough sense to cover the graffiti over with paint. It has not been tagged again. 

        This is also how close the battle rages. Members of the public in my city did not like the fact that some teens were flirting with gang activity, and took action. When the public is encouraged to get involved in the fight against modern street gangs (MSGs), the gangs LOSE. When the public is encouraged to be powerless, satisfied in their victimhood and let government take care of everything the gangs WIN. An ALERT parent or parents are the ENEMIES of street gangs. Any parent or parents who are more concerned about their ‘creature comforts’ are ALLIES of street gangs. 

        That’s the issue in a nutshell. 

        There are people in government, law enforcement, community services, the courts, social work, and academia who would rather let the public be uninformed about gangs so that they can continue to draw healthy grant paychecks to continue ‘research’. In reality, parents can break the grip of Modern Street Gangs (MSGs). However, it won’t come without struggle AND an admission that gangs are a problem, once again.  

        You won’t hear this from the cops, politicians or ‘gang experts’. 

        You WILL hear it in this column, in the months to come. 

THE NEED FOR THIS COLUMN: 

        The purpose for my monthly column is to separate fact from fiction about gang issues and the resulting hype. As a former award-winning broadcast and print reporter and columnist, a veteran substitute teacher and felony-level probation officer for a juvenile court, I’ve seen first hand what gangs can--and can not--do; how they have mutated over the years into MSGs, AND how political and law enforcement infighting has blocked efforts to inform the public as to the solutions to slow the spread of street gangs. 

        We’ve watched the floor show. Now, let’s work on the solutions. 

        As Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, I address the MSG issue from the additional vantage point of the spiritual dangers--something few gang specialists have tackled. I also serve as the Pastor of The Forward Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. 

FROM THE FILES: 

        The FIRST thing one should remember; a gang-- ANY gang--is composed of individuals. The person who wants to disrupt a Modern Street Gang is going to have to do so by empowering the parents of the individuals IN the gang to get them out with as much determination as the leaders OF the gangs want new recruits. Government grants and studies do NOT impress gang members. Gangs have used prayer marches and prayer vigils as recruitment tools. Bangers are not scared of judges, politicians, reporters, cops, or socials workers. However, hit them with their OWN words and shine the spotlight of TRUTH on them through their parent or guardian, and it slows them to a crawl! 

        Here’s a personal illustration from my files when I was a Probation Officer.  

        One afternoon, one of my clients, his mother, and his older brother came to the court building. This particular session involved determining where my client would be going to school. His mother and his brother had ‘decided’ that my client would be able to live with his brother for the remainder of his probation. Older brother had to be asked some questions in order to determine if his home would meet the legal requirements (food, bills paid, how many responsible adults, etc).  

        During the interview, I noticed that older brother (who had recently turned 21) had some animosity towards his mother to the point that I had to remind him that his mother was to be respected. He did not like being corrected...especially in front of his mother.  Older brother provided me with a firm introduction to the No School crowd, beginning with his mantra of: “It is up to you to respect me!” I informed him that, 1.) I was just as Black as everybody else in the room, and; 2.) after about an hour of genteel Q and A, his verbal skills were no match for mine. “Brother,” I told him, “The day I can’t out-think a youngblood like you, is the day I need to find another job.” Older brother’s eyes were glowing with the heat of hatred, and the fact that he had been bested by someone he underestimated.  

WELCOME TO THE ‘NO SCHOOL’ ZONE: 

        As we wrap up our first column, let me break down the matter of the ‘No School’ crowd, and provide some good news to those who work with troubled youth and their families. The ‘No School’ crowd is the latest incarnation of ‘Me, Myself, and I’ or ‘I did it MY way.’ In other words, some young people of today seem to think that if I yell loud enough and get ‘in your face’ enough, it will triumph over wisdom and experience. 

        BALDERDASH! 

        Many of these angry, prideful, and materialistic teens seem to forget that there is a Payday coming for them in the realm of adulthood. Just a few years up the road; just a few more birthdays and they will no longer be ‘cute’. As one pastor I heard speak on the subject, just to paraphrase him: “Some of today’s teens are so ignorant, they couldn’t find a job during SLAVERY!!!”  No Schoolers come to admit their need for help and wanting out of the gang life very quickly after several things happen:    

        1. A family member is injured or killed due to gang violence.

        2. The individual is made to realize that they have missed TOO much school.

        3. There is NO place on a job application for ‘Thugg Skills’.

        4. They hear that prison door slam and they have time to think about their crimes.

        5. They hear through the grapevine that their ‘banger buddies’ sold them out! 

        No Schoolers quickly whine about the faults of adults in authority WITHOUT admitting that they, too have their OWN share of faults. The trick is for the wise parent, church member, pastor, or community leader to become BOTH transparent AND reflective WITHOUT sacrificing AUTHORITY! The unified message that needs to be carried? IF you choose crime, the long term costs ALWAYS exceeds the short term rush! 

        See you next month! 

MIKE RAMEY is a Street Gang Specialist, consultant, trainer and Lead Instructor of THE GANG LINE, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. If you have questions, comments, or would like to have him speak at your school, church or facility; OR train your group, ministry or agency on how to spot/stop gang activity, email RameysGangLine@yahoo.com ©2008 Mike Ramey/Barnstorm Communications International.

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Gangs: An Epidemic Plaguing The Nation

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