GANG YOUTH AND HUSTLING - THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL

• NCJ Number: 16180
• Journal: ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1974) Pages: 115-131
• Author(s): B KRISBERG
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS CONDUCTED AMONG 22 YOUTHFUL GANG LEADERS IN PHILADELPHIA.

Abstract

THE DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM INTERVIEWS AT TRAINING PROGRAM FOR GANG LEADERS TO PREPARE THEM FOR CAREERS IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE GOAL OF THE URBAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM WAS TO CHANNEL THE ENERGIES OF GANG YOUTH INTO POSITIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS. THE AUTHOR PRESENTS STATEMENTS BY MANY OF THE YOUTH INTERVIEWED THAT INDICATES THAT THE THEME OF SURVIVAL IS IMPORTANT TO MANY OF THE MEN IN THE PROGRAM, AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF HUSTLING WERE FOUND TO BE THE PRIMARY MEANS OF SURVIVAL. BY THE AGE OF 18, MOST OF THE GANG LEADERS NO LONGER CONSIDERED THEMSELVES ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR GANGS. THE LEADERS FELT MORE MATURE NOW AND LOOKED FORWARD TO MORE WORTHWHILE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MARRIAGE AND RAISING FAMILIES. OF ALL THE ASPECTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THE MOST POSITIVE RESPONSE WAS IN THE AREA OF BLACK HISTORY.