Why Do Teens Join Gangs?

Teens join gangs for protection. Teens join gangs at the age of 13 to 21. Gang members use these methods to get teens to join. These are the methods of peer pressure, offer protection, threaten safety of friends or family members, offer money for what appears to be simple activities. Some join gangs just because they have problems at home with their familys or just because they grow up around them. That’s why I join a gang; I grew up around them. I was 13 when I got jumped in to my gang. Now that I think about it it’s not worth it, all it leads you to is jail, the hospital, or dead. I can’t even walk out side my house with out watching my back. I can’t even go to a store with my mom with out watching my back because you never know who can come behind you and stab you or shoot you. I was only 7 years old when I saw my cousin get shot in the head. Am not ready to go through all that. Am not ready to see my mom cry because one of her sons got killed and I know that she is not ready to put me in a grave. That’s why when I get out I am ready to change. I am ready to start all over. That why don’t lose your self with gangs.

Bam Bam

I BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM FOR SIX MONTHS, IN THIS BUILDING FOR ABOUT TEN MONTHS. THE STAFF TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT I WAS A WASTE OF SPACE, A WASTE OF SIX MONTHS. SAYING I’M EIGHTEEN, I'M THIS, THIS AND THAT. SAYING YOU GONNA GO LEAVE AND SMOKE THAT BLUNT, GO BACK TO THEM GANG BOI’S OF YOURS OR WHAT EVER YOU DO. EVERY TIME THEY SAY THIS AND THAT I FEEL LIKE RETAILIATING ON THEM. I FEEL LIKE LETTING “Bam Bam” COME BACK OUT AND DO ME. THEY DIDN’T GIVE ME THE NAME “Bam Bam” FOR NOTHING.

Gangs

When in a gang, you're looking for a family that you don't have.

They say to kill, u kill.
They say to stab, u stab.
They say to rape, u rape.
They say to hurt the children, you hurt children.
They say to fight, u fight.
They say to shoot a gun, u shoot.
They say to smoke weed, u smoke.
They say hurt families, u hurt families.
They say drop out, you drop out.
They say what they say
but you do what they say
or you'll be killed for
your life and/or jumped badly.

But just one question
how do I get out
how do I get away from the gang/drug life?

The Day

The day I became a dealer
the day I became gang related
the day I shot a gun
the day I saw a murder
the day I got locked up
the day I got snitched on
the day I saw the rapes
the day I saw u killed in my eyes
the day I shot u
the day I stabbed u
the day all this came along
the day this came to me
the day we hurt their families
the day I killed u
the day I buried a grave
the day I left u is still
hanging above my head
the day we jumped them kids
the day I gave you stitches
in your head
So when's the day it all stops?

Regrets

One of my biggest regrets I made in life was when I joined a gang. Because of that I never liked school and have always been on the streets and they put me on probation. Representing a certain color or number is pointless, regardless of what the situation is. Different color, flag, same color skin. People putting others in body bags. I see dat as a dumb thing. My train of thought changed at a certain point. I became more mature and am leaving what I did and what happened in the past.

Why Kids Join Gangs

I think the reason kids choose to join gangs is because they feel left out and not loved. So when a gang shows a kid that they'll always be there for them and shows some love, gives them some money, that makes them think bein a homie is the way to go. For example, that's the reason I got jumped into my gang because I never had a father or that love and money. And when you get into that gang life, it is addicting because you get used to all the things gang life has to offer. In my opinion, I think that there is nothing adults can do to prevent kids getting into gangs, because it's the kids choice, not theirs. Gang recruiting is the number one priority so the gang will do anything to get a kid in a gang and if adults try to stop recruiting, they might get hurt or killed.