Ethnicity and social class do play a role in criminal activity. For instance, the majority of gangs in the United States are primarily made up of poorer Hispanics (44%) and African Americans (35%) with Caucasians contributing only 14 percent of gang members. There are historical reasons for this noticeable population of ethnics in gangs. Most researchers believe that Hispanic street gangs can be traced back to the early 1900’s. Those gangs originally developed as a result of incidents that occurred more than fifty years before that. Hispanic gang origins date back to 1835 with the revolt

In addition, there are levels of involvement with “wannanbees”. These are teens that talk a lot, dress the part and hang out with the others but do not participate in gang activities. This doesn’t mean that they don’t commit juvenile delinquent acts, or that they can’t get into a lot of trouble with the gang. All these teens are basically followers, pretenders. Little do they know that pretending to be a gang member could very likely get them shot, or even killed. In their adolescent minds they do not see the consequences. Often, parents of young gang members offer little or no nurturing and the teens are left to their own survival.

Studies show that poverty stricken kids are very likely to join gangs for financial support, as they lack skills necessary to become gainfully employed in mainstream society. So they turn to a gang for an income. Those who do join for income often do so because jobs are not accessible to them anywhere else. Not all poverty stricken children join gangs for money. For some, gang membership is a matter of survival in their rough neighbourhoods. Others are looking for a strong support system, which neither their family nor community provides. There is also a myth about gangs that states only poor people join. This is entirely false. Many middle class teens and kids are beginning to join gangs for the look. “Growing out of the ‘grunge’ look and with the adulation of the hip-hop culture with its "attitude," baggies and shaved heads, or gang attire, has become popular nation-wide among teens including upper and middle-class white adolescents as well.” Another myth about gangs is that there are only male members. This is also false. Although gangs are male dominated there are woman in gangs. But the males tend to no

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