Before I am able to analyze gangs from the viewpoint of these theories I feel it is necessary to provide you with the history and background of these gangs. The first gangs to claim the streets of Los Angeles as their turf were Mexican gangs in about the year 1910. Due to revolution and political instability in Mexico there was a great influx of Mexican people to California from 1910-1925. Soon after their arrival in Los Angeles the Mexican people began to congregate, according to their native areas of Mexico and separate “barrios” were born. The rise of these separate “barrios” or neighborhoods came with it the rivalries which had existed in Mexico. The Mexican gangs became concerned with marking their territory and establishing themselves within their own geographical boundaries. Tradition became a word symbolic of these Mexican gangs, as it was a belief that a son would follow in his father’s footsteps and claim the same gang. Some of the very first Mexican gangs were Bunker Hill, Maravilla, North Broadway and Boyle Heights. Tradition and the importance of defending their territory became two trademarks of the Mexican gangs that still exist today.

In the time it has taken a person to read this paper a violent gang related felony assault has occurred. A gang member no matter of race, color or creed is a detriment and threat to the hard working good people of society. The streets have Los Angeles have become a war zone, in which, children are unable to play without fear of being caught in deadly crossfire. Every day in Los Angeles innocent people are victimized by gang members, whether it be physically attacked or psychologically intimidated, it doesn’t matter. The gang members are winning, not because they’re stronger but because we are weaker. Gangs are not a social problem which is out of reach for help, it’s one in desperate need of help. The deadly triangle of the gang family, the streets and drugs needs to be replaced with traditional family values, the need for education and the hopes found in Religion. I leave this paper with a quote by “Lil Mac” from Rolling Sixties Crips, “ This is my hood for life. This is just the way it is out here in South Central. Banging for life, brotha. Its always been this way and ain’t shit gonna change. Welcome to my hood.” It that just the way it’s always been? I beg to differ.

The Control Theory of deviance argues that individuals posses moral beliefs and values that keep from acting in a deviant manner. There are no rules or laws that bind individuals to refrain from deviant behavior, but instead places responsibility on the individual to morally and ethically live within the belief system of the overall society. Under the control theory delinquent acts are placed upon the individual and recognized as a weakened bond between the individual themselves and society. There are four bonds to society: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. The feeling of being connected with other people prevents them from engaging in deviant behavior. When you have so much time invested into trying to make a legitimate life, you really don’t want to mess up by doing something that would consider you deviant. So the likelihood of you committing a deviant act is low. Involvement is a big part of control theory because when you are involved in activities you don’t find time to get in trouble. Some of the weaknesses of control theory are that it doesn’t explain the people in society that lack belief but still do not deviate.

African American street gangs began in the early 1920’s but were not recognized until the 1960’s. The original black gang was the Boozie gang, which was basically a large family of people who all engaged in criminal activity. Up until the 1940’s most black gangs were just families involved in crime together, but in the 1940’s the geographic location of people became the main contr

Some topics in this essay:
Los Angeles, African American, Control Theory, East Trece, Soon Crips, Hill Pearson’s, Magda Stouthamer, Community Psychology, Hispanic Black, Gang Membership”, los angeles, hispanic gangs, black gangs, control theory, african american, mexican gangs, street gangs, african american gangs, american gangs, hispanic african american, hispanic african, gangs membership, streets los angeles, “lil mac” rolling, eight gang interviewed,