Free Essay on "A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture" By John M. Hagedorn

The book mirrors the journey of lives, cultures, misfortunes, and hopes of several rebellious youths around the world. It is a crucial piece because it helps one to understand the world that people live and the things that happen around them with or without their conscience. Hagedorn explores the spread of urban gang ideas because of the devastating effects brought about by globalization. The author firmly illuminates a trend of gang formation in three cities in the world, and they include; Cape Town, Chicago, and Rio de Janeiro. Hagedorn explains that the gangs have discovered a way through which they can handle their paucity issues and perhaps break the hopelessness brought by the vicious cycle of poverty.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The author further explains that the gangs live an unruly life and pursue the street philosophy, which is "by any means necessary". The philosophy justifies the persistence and understanding of the gang ideology around the world. The author utilizes a different approach which is getting to understand the global presence of gangs. Hagedorn depicts that gang life develops as a result of poverty, ethnic cruelty, racial discrimination and ever-rising inequality across the world. Additionally, the book explains that globalization has made governments recoil from giving sufficient services, employment opportunities and security to their people. It is a situation that has not only created terrible conditions but also made people lose faith in their governments regarding the provision of a sustainable future and too good progress.

As a result of losing trust in the government, the faith was instead replaced with a drop of morals. It demoralization led to drifting away from moral standards and cultural practices that guided behaviour. According to Hagedorn, the demoralized youth plunge into a state of hopelessness and end of thriving economically as they only see the world from the perspective of racism and constant oppression. The author also elucidates that because of the state of demoralization, people begin to look for their defence mechanism and ways for survival. The youth, in turn, put themselves in social identity groups as well as affiliating with certain religions in a bid to protect them and their people from the threats of globalization and injustices. It is through the unfair situations that the author explores the different ways through which the youth are attracted to gangs and other identities.

Hagedorn elucidates that in some places, the gangs have come to substitute the administration in satisfying the needs of their community, for instance, economic, security and service provision, among others. The author, however, explains that there is a difference between supervised and unsupervised groups. He states that the unsupervised groups turn out to be dangerous militias, used for political interest, join organized felony and stir up retrogressive revolutions. In the book, the author explains that researchers among other people have failed to notice the importance of music in understanding gang issues and he goes ahead to explain that music is primary in comprehending and resolving gang problems. The book explains that in contemporary society, culture brings out and reflects structural states among the people. An excellent example that he gives is that culture and hip hop are associated with rebellion. Hip-hop has been used to build identity, especially where people are not appreciated and recognized. Music has been having been adopted form the world context and blended with local cultures to bring a local taste and version of it.

The most striking features about the book are the global issue of gangs and rising rates of crime in society today. It depicts that street gangs are a perfect example of the extension of greed and thwarted humanity. It shows a state where people no longer value morality but instead have become self-centred and pursue personal interests at the expense of other people. Another element that is clearly articulated by the author is that people create gangs because they have been pushed to the extreme by circumstances emanating from lack of state attention to their needs. I realized that the governments had embraced too much globalization trends to the extent that they forget to focus on the needs of its people. Also, another outstanding issue is that people follow a pattern that gives them satisfaction and makes them have a sense of identity and belonging. For instance, those facing the challenge of racial and ethnic bigotry are likely to join gangs so that they can feel protected and their rights advocated for.

Similarly, I realized that the author employs a unique approach in suggesting the solutions to the elimination of gang behaviours across the globe. He suggests that people have ignored music's role in understanding the plight of the people and I concur with him because there are certain types of music where people communicate their sentiments which have been ignored by the governments they voted for. In the current society music is has been used as a voice to call for revolutions. Hip-hop, for example, has been used to explain the plight of racial discrimination and the mistreatment and victimization of the black people. I, therefore, realize that through music, gang activities can be understood and solutions suggested.

One thing, however, that I don't consider appropriate is the aspect of blaming it all on globalization. The trend of globalization has played a critical role in helping the youth to be accepted in other nations where they can get a fortune and live better lives. It has also brought new ideas as the world shares the ways through which people can utilize the available resources to improve their livelihoods.

In looking at Renegade dreams by Laurence Ralph, a life of crime and violence is explored through experiences that are part of the everyday lives of people. The book explains the similar issue mentioned by Hagedorn, and it concretely confirms that gangs are situational. If the underlying conditions are addressed, then violence and crime will be mitigated. Just like Hagedorn, the piece that profoundly speaks about the life of crime and shunned humanity. He nuances the lives of people who have been injured in different ways, some psychologically and others physically. While some want to dream and live better lives, others are still sinking deeply into the life of violent crimes. Death has become the norm, and several people have lost their lives, and those who survive the violence might be maimed for life. The author goes into the depths of the lives of people that have been irrevocably damaged and tries to understand how they cope as he tries to look for solutions that will make their lives better so that they can dream again. The difference between the two, however, is that while Ralph majorly focuses on local issues that need to be addressed by local authorities Hagedorn majors on globalization as the great contributor of the gang issue.

In conclusion, it is essential to note that Hagedorn has played a critical role in giving hope to the people facing different forms of atrocities across the globe. The message in his piece is not only used to explore the context of crime but also offering contemporary solutions to current problems facing the youths. His approach is unique as it provides a fresh way of addressing the issues that have long been experienced but the use of same old methods employed to treat it with no success. Hagedorn has succeeded in delivering the message, and the audience will greatly appreciate his work.

Works Cited

Hagedorn, John. A world of gangs: armed young men and gangsta culture. Vol. 14. U of Minnesota Press, 2008.

Huff, C. Ronald. "A World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture." (2009): 233-235.

Ralph, Laurence. Renegade Dreams: Living through injury in Gangland Chicago. University of Chicago Press, 2014.