NCJ Number
218085
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 2007 Pages: 31-49
Date Published
2007
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This case study of an African-American male college student offers insight into how educational attainment can be adversely affected by gang membership.
Abstract
This case analysis of an African-American male college student and member of the San Antonio, Texas Blood gang affirms Walter B. Miller’s, a professor of the course Contemporary Gangs in America, argument that gangs are the result of subcultural values that emphasize trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, fate, and autonomy. Subscribing to these values forces obedience to deviant, criminal, and violent youth subcultures and validates allegiance to gangs. It reveals that investing in such values forces gravitation towards gangsterism more so than conventionalism. Terence, aka “Sweet T” was an African-American male with a social biography that forced him to abandon his educational pursuits. This 2001 student interview affirms Miller’s perspective on youth male subcultures and provides insight on gangs from initial involvement to continued association through college resulting in dropping out of school 1 year before earning a degree. References