Black Men In America

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.

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: 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

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.