My life in gangs was from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. I saw crack cocaine hit the streets of South-Central and also witnessed the technology of our firepower develop to a level that saw 205 gang related murders in 1982 increase to 803 in 1992.
Gang life in Los Angeles consists of many activitities, and survival is dependent on how well you are able to commit acts of intimidation, assault, extortion and murder. My gang involvement became heavy in 1985 when I was 14/15. I started off doing low level crime, and eventually the crimes escalated to
major felonies.
I went from facing attempted murder charges in 1989 to graduating form the University of Southern California in 1995 after enrolling in college in 1992.
Brief Bio:
September 1983 first arrested for grand theft and receiving stolen property.
April 1985 arrested for vandalism and theft.
November 1988 arrested for carrying a concealed weapon.
February 1989 arrested of evading, wreckless driving and resisting arrest.
March 1989 arrested for attempted murder.
August 1989 arrested for hit & run on a police vehicle.
April 1990, arrested for possession and sale of a controlled substance.
I will end this arrest profile here. The purpose of this is to show that if some are given the opportunity to learn, work, and in many cases, given a "second chance" many will succeed and be very productive in life. Several gang members that I know can succeed at any university or college in the country. Many are knowledgeable of the law, with extremely brilliant business minds. Some are quite impressive entrepenuers.
There are several institutional barriers in place, that problematizes the ability for resources to reach young males and females in the inner city. Because of this, some had to pay the price with their lives before we had an opportunity to see them blossom, and others had to give their lives to the state and the feds (this meaning prison). I have seen over 100 males from Los Angeles disappear right before me in the last 12 years from several neighborhoods. Too many, that were from my neighborhood in Los Angeles have departed early in their lives. In 1988, I remember attending five funerals in one day. It was a tragic weekend, but you had to remain strong, and hope that you were not next.
To the young gangsters and
"wanna bes" out there, you must understand that this style of life is not worth pursuing. It is full of drama, violence and sometimes murder, and many can not handle the stress and anxiety that accompanies this life style. I also understand that many youngsters do not understand the implications and the consequencesof this type of life when they are 10 and 11 years old and that's why adults must take the responsibility of teaching young people not only about the consequenses of their actions, but that life is precious and we must respect each other. I am only one person.