Thug-o-phobia: The Real Reason we Can't Stop Gangs

Thug-o-phobia: The Real Reason We Can't Stop Gangs

Paul Scott



"In Durham they say we gang bang.
All around the world it's the same thang."
Unless we're shootin' you don't know my name
That's the only way we gain fame."

Thug-o-phobia-TRUTH Minista




Go to any major city in America and ask residents what are the major problems facing their communities and you can bet somewhere in their top 5 will be gangs; that dreaded group of young'uns who go 'round robbin' and pillagin' innocent town folks. Durham, NC is no different, as since the late 90's, the city has been portrayed in the media as the gang capital of the South. This has resulted in an epidemic of "thug-o-phobia" that has town folks seeing gangsters behind every street light post.

In some ways, Thug-o-phobia has become the new radical chic of the 60's, as there is something dangerous, yet exciting about gangsta-ism i(n a James Dean kind of way) for many suburbanites . So, any O.G. (Original Gangster) Joe who rolls into town with a tall tale about how he "was a member of the notorious, Riverdale "Archie Gang" but experienced an epiphany on his way to Pop's Drive Inn to do a drive-by on rival gang "The Jugheads" is welcomed with open arms to "save Durham's youth."

While the local guy with a workable solution based on a strong socio-economic analysis of the problem may be ignored, any out of town slickster with a henna tattoo of Bugs Bunny on his shoulder is given the key to the city.

Since the gang problem has been an issue in Durham and many southern cities for over the last decade, we must explore the many reasons why a college town bustin' at the seams with smart folks, can't seem to get a handle on the problem?

First, there has been little effort to understand the history of gangs in this country. Although most people assume that gangs started in South Central Los Angeles with the Bloods and the Crips, the truth is that gangs in American started when European immigrants organized themselves into protection societies. Later, some of these organizations became organized crime families. This is ,somewhat, similar to the origins of the modern urban street gangs, however, the Bloods and Crips did not come into national prominence until the mid to late 80's.

While poverty and lack of employment may have played a major part in the criminalization of gangs, many will agree that it was the drug trade that gave rise to violent gang activity. Some have alleged that 40 years ago heroin was purposely introduced into black neighborhoods, as well as the hippie counter culture in order to stifle activism; opening the door for the problems we are experiencing, today. Also, authors like Gary Webb, in his controversial book "Dark Alliance," traced the government's alleged role in the crack epidemic in Los Angeles during the mid 80's.

It must, also, be noted that the act of "fighting gangs" is, in and of itself, a cash cow. Many people are depending on the continuous cycle of gang violence to pay their mortgages and to send their children to college. One can only guess the money that goes towards paying "gang experts," sponsoring gang awareness seminars and maintaining the prison industrial complex.

While the role of pop culture in promoting gangsta-ism is often discussed at anti-violence workshops, most presentations only deal with surface issues that begin and end with placing the entire blame for gangs on Hip Hop music. Although such rappers as Snoop Dog (Crip) and the Game (Blood) should be held accountable for the role that they have played in the destruction of our communities, most folks are totally oblivious to the names of the rich business men who sign their paychecks. Although many people would recognize rapper, Lil Wayne (Blood affiliated), they wouldn't recognize Jimmy Iovine (Interscope, which distributed Death Row Records) or Sumner Redstone (Viacom, parent company of BET,MTV, VH1) if they bumped into them on the street.

Hollywood's role in glamorizing the gangsta lifestyle also must not be ignored. While movies like "Colors," " Boyz in the Hood" and "Menace II Society" may have sparked America's fascination with gangs, HBO's 1994 documentary , "Gang Wars: Bangin' in Little Rock" served as a major recruiting tool for gangs outside of Chicago and California.

The key to solving the gang problems is as multifaceted as the reasons for their existence. Contrary to popular belief, one size does not fit all.

Although, gang membership is not limited by color nor class, the rationale for an African American or Latino child joining a gang as opposed to a white child may be ,vastly, different. There may, also, be different reasons for a kid from the 'hood gang bangin' than a kid from the 'burbs. Unfortunately, Durham has been slow to embrace the cultural educational solutions that have been effective in larger cities for fear that they may be seen as divisive. We must listen to those voices who can address the problem from a cultural perspective.

Also, the calls for more activities for Durham's young people are often drowned out by the traditional "tough on crime" rhetoric.
City officials must make funding youth activities more than just a slogan to get votes during election time.

Lastly, the city officials, educators and religious leaders must sponsor more town hall meetings to come up with workable solutions instead of the usual "An Idiot's Guide to Gangs" type format.

If we do not come up with new and innovative solutions to the problem, 10 years from now we'll still be jammin' to the same ol' song:

"In Durham they say we gang bang...."


Min. Paul Scott is founder of the Messianic Afrikan Nation  For more information contact (919) 972-8305

Natural Born Killaz

Natural Born Killaz:
Hip Hop and the Gangsta Gene

Min. Paul Scott



"I am a nightmare walking, psychopath talking
King of my jungle just a gangster stalking"
Colors- Ice T



Back in '94 Dr. Dre and Ice Cube did a video for "Natural Born Killaz" that gave the viewer a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath. While Hip Hop fans were bobbing their heads to the beat, little did they know that the homicidal rantings were mirroring scientific research.

Earlier this month, news reports surfaced that scientists are suggesting that gangsta-ism is not solely based on socio-eceonomic conditions but genetic abnormalities.

According to a study conducted at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, "Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the "warrior gene," are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons."

http://www.fsu.edu/news/2009/06/05/warrior.gene/

I can just imagine the scientists chillin' in the lab with the Geto Boys' "Mind of a Lunatic" pumpin' over the intercom while they wrote their research papers.

The data for the report was gathered from the The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that gathered the information from "a nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-95 school year," according to the organization's website.

http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/addhealth


And all this time we thought the fascination with gangsta-ism started when Snoop Dog first did the Crip Walk at the Source Awards.

Although, the linking of genetics with gang bangin' may be new, the efforts of white folks to try to use science to justify things such as racial superiority go back more than a century.

There are many who have used Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution as proof of the Caucasian's superiority over other races.

In his book "The Ice Man Inheritance," Michael Bradley argues that while Darwin's work may have been published too close to the end of slavery to have made an impact he writes ,"I have always considered it a sobering thought that had Darwin's "Origins of Species" been published a decade earlier, the US might still be afflicted with slavery today."

There have also been studies trying to link genetics with criminal behavior dating back decades. As far back as 1968 there was an article in Time Magazine, "Chromosomes and Crime," that discussed the issue of criminal behavior and genetic abnormalities.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841254,00.html

Harriet Washington, author of the book "Medical Apartheid" explores an earlier study to link XYY syndrome with criminal behavior. While she discounts the theory of the criminal gene, she writes that even if there is such a thing as a XYY chromosome indicator for criminal behavior it is "a white one; not a black one found more commonly in white men then blacks."

But we must be very clear, the current discussion of the warrior gene is not about what makes white men sell other races into slavery nor what makes some of them put on white sheets and terrorize black people, this study is about a gangsta culture that has been mostly attributed to black and Latino youth.

So we are not talking about scientific facts but a public perception and its link to popular culture and life in the hood.

It has already been discussed, at length, how violence and misogyny in Hip Hop may contribute to methods of social control such as the disproportionate incarceration of black and Latino males but when you throw genetics into the mix, you venture into the ugly world of eugenics.

As Washington writes in Medical Apartheid, "eugenicists promulgated the weeding out of undesirable elements by discouraging or preventing the birth of children with bad genetic profiles."

In a time when cities across the country are, desperately, trying to find ways to stop "gang violence," this could easily lead to calls for genocide for the common good of the community. Desperate people do desperate things.

But this may already be happening.

Could the easy access to firearms, the crack epidemic and the brainwashing of black youth by commercialized Hip Hop all be part of plot to remove undesirables from the planet?

History has recorded plots just as evil.

If there is such a thing as a "warrior gene", could not that gene have been present in those who joined "gangs" to fight against slavery and injustice from Nat Turner and Toussaint L'overture to Malcolm X and Huey P Newton? So, the study could be killing two birds with one stone.

We must realize that Foundations do not donate millions of dollars without rhyme or reason. They do it to supply information that will be used to develop public policy. These policy makers are not trying to analyze the minds of white men who tie black men to the back of pickup trucks and drag them down the back roads of Texas, they are trying to come to a scientific conclusion as to why "O Dog" blasted the Korean grocers in Menace II Society and how to prevent it from ever happening again.

If innocent "inner city" babies perish in the effort to stop gangs; so be it

Even as you read this there are those who are meeting to discover ways to get rid of gangsta fetuses before they become OG's.



Min. Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at  info@nowarningshotsfired.com

Candy For Crackheads?

Candy for Crackheads

Paul Scott



It's no secret in North Carolina that folks in Durham have a severe case of "thug-o-phobia."

They see gang members behind every tree and under every bush. Even a friendly wave to your homie could be considered a gang sign.

So, it should be no surprise that before you enter into Northgate Mall you are greeted with an anti-gang sign posted on the door.

No gang signs. No bandannas. No doo rags...

Yeah we get it already!

Not to mention they have a curfew, whereby, kids under 16 have to leave the mall by 6PM on the weekends unless accompanied by an adult.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/105715/

So, I'm in one of the spots where the kids hang out, the FYE cd store, looking for some discount old school Hip Hop when the nightly alarm comes blastin' through the mall intercom system warning every person under 16 to head for the nearest exit or they are going to send in the SWAT team, or somethin'.

Now, I look nowhere near 16 but since I have on my official "No Warning Shots Fired" gear, I grab my Biz Markie CD and head to the checkout so there will be no mistakes.

As I'm standing there, I see a box that says "Crackheads Candy," with the catchy subtitle "We're all addicted to something."

Needless to say, I'm intrigued.

Upon further inspection, I notice that it is a box of chocolate covered coffee beans. I suppose if you eat enough of them, you start acting like a crackhead. According to the company's website a box of Crackheads has as much caffeine as six cups of coffee, 7.5 cans of Red Bull and 11 cans of Mountain Dew.

http://www.crackheadscandy.com/candy-info/

I feel like jumping up on the counter and yellin' :

"Am I the only person in this store that sees something terribly wrong with this?"

"You mean I can't wear a red or blue baseball cap but I can get some crack head candy to go with my Lil Wayne cd?"

But instead I head to the nearest exit before some taser happy security cop mistakes me for a 9th grader.

Apparently, the candy just recently became available in the Bull City but was given the thumbs down on CNBC's, "The Big Idea" a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-1GshalNr4

The product is put out by some dude named John Osmanski, a former biomedical engineering student.

Apparently, the boy genius thinks that the definition of a a crack head is "a comedic term meaning someone was acting goofy, crazy, and/or odd."

Wrong Einstein. That might be what it means in the 'burbs of Milwaukee but in Durham a crackhead is someone who is addicted to a substance that has destroyed communities nationwide since the 80's.

I can't be the only one who has seen this stuff. Where is the outrage?

Do you really want your children going to school wired off of crack head candy?

If Young Jeezy would have put this junk out he'd be still spinnin' around Bill O'Reilly's "No Spin Zone" as we speak!

Do we give Osmanki a ghetto pass because he's a clean cut lookin' college kid and not a thugged out brotha from tha hood?

Osamaki's website says that he already has some crack candy dispensers coming to a convenience store near you. I guess he can cut out the street level dealers that way.

I can't wait to see his commercial. I guess he's gonna have Willie Wonka dealin' crack to the Umpa Lumpa kids.

Crack is nothing to joke about nor is it something to build a candy empire around. Too many people have had their lives destroyed because of "the rock."

To borrow from the immortal words of pop diva, Whitney Houston..

"Crack is wack!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJpZguSy2U

Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista" writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/ He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com

NWSF Interview: King J of the Latin Kings

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood


Paul Scott




If you live in Greensboro, NC, chances are you've probably heard of Jorge Cornell. To hear the cops tell it, he's a Latino version of O-Dog from Menace to Society. But to many in the black and Latino community he is a modern day Huey P. Newton.

In an interview, earlier today, NWSF.com wanted to know why Cornell is loved by some and hated by others.

"They downplay the positive," says Cornell who says that he has been active in the Greensboro community doing everything from feeding the homeless to trying to establish black and brown unity.

A New York native, Jorge "King J" Cornell, "Inca" (leader) of the Greensboro Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) says that he was politically active up North and carried that same spirit below the Mason Dixon where he says that racism is 10 times worst than it is in the Big Apple.

According to Cornell, it is not his gang affiliation that has gotten him in trouble with the law but his political activities.

He says that the Latin Kings have been harassed for a while but it escalated after he made his "Call for Peace" last June.

Since then he says that he has been charged with 13 felonies, all of which have been dismissed.

Coincidentally, Cornell says that he has been shot twice since last August.

However, he says that his brushes with death only gave him more motivation to fight for the people.

When asked about the media hype of the tension between the black and Latino communities Cornell said bluntly, "Totally false."

"If Black and Brown come together, there is so much that we can accomplish, we are the same people," says Cornell.

"They brought you here in shackles and they ship us off in shackles, says Cornell, referring to immigration laws, an issue that is dear to his heart.

He mentioned his concern over Section 287 G of the Immigration and Nationality Act which, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, allows "the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions."

http://www.ice.gov/partners/287g/Section287_g.htm

Although, some would say that there are two sides to every story, there is one story that has never really been told. That is the political suppression of oppressed people. Until that story is told, all the facts aren't in and we can never arrive at a clear consensus of whether gangs like the Latin Kings are helping or hurting their communities.

With all the drama that activists have to go through, why doesn't King J just take an early retirement?

"I'm wiling to die for this," says Cornell. "If I can make a change for my people, that's what it is..."


Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/

NWSF Bullet: Hip Hop Patriot Act Starts December 1st

The North Carolina Street Gang Suppression Act aka the "Hip Hop Patriot Act" that NC politicians have been trying to push through since 2003, under the guise of the NC Street Gang Terrorism Act was signed into law on 8/15/08 by Governor Mark Easley and is set to go into effect Monday December 1st.

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H274v7.html

Although some folks swallowed the act, hook, line and sinker, black and latino parents with teenage children should be concerned about the part under § 14‑50.16. "Pattern of criminal street gang activity" Part B which says:


(b) As used in this Article, 'criminal street gang' or 'street gang' means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, that:
(1) Has as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more felony offenses, or delinquent acts that would be felonies if committed by an adult;
(2) Has three or more members individually or collectively engaged in, or who have engaged in, criminal street gang activity; and
(3) May have a common name, common identifying sign or symbol.

So any kid that looks like he gets his fashion sense from BET can be considered a gang member.

That's all some police officers, like the ones who were busted for allegedly putting racist anti Obama comments on MySpace need; an excuse to bust some heads on general principle.

http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2008/11/nwsf-bullet-durham-po-po-accused-of.html

So Monday morning when black and Latino youth are being arrested in large numbers just because they fit the description of a gangsta, don't say that you weren't warned....

http://nowarningshotsfired.blogspot.com/2007/07/when-mayberry-goes-gangsta.html

Quote of the Day...

Ok, this is from the 8/24 N@O "What is a Gang" story. David Jones, director of the Governor's Crime Commission is explaining why they don't release the way they decide what constitutes being in a gang to the public. I still can't figure out the rationale...

Maybe you can...



Last year, the commission developed GangNet statewide. Now law enforcement across the state can share criminal information about gang members. Law enforcement officers can enter into the database information about individuals who must meet two of eleven validation criteria or who have admitted gang membership.
Jones, the crime commission director, declined to share the 11 criteria or the GangNet training curriculum.
"We don't publicize the criteria because we don't want to let the gang members know what we are looking for or they will try to conceal it," he said.

General Assembly's Report of NC Gangs

There used to be a saying that if you want to hide information from black folks, just put it in a book. In the 21st century you can also say, "put it on the internet."

With most of the current anti-gang legislation going to be targeted at young black males, I wonder how many folks have researched the information on the internet?

I guess it won't hit home for some people until their 16 year old child is misidentified as a gang banger.

Last march, the NC Dept. of Crime Control and Public safety released some information to the NC General Assembly called "A Comprehensive Assessment of Gangs in NC."

http://www.ncgccd.org/pubs/gangs2008.pdf

Some real heavy stuff is in that report.

Trivia question time...

Did you know that the report says that 49% of the gangs are black and another 20% are mixed.
So do the math about who they are going to be targeting.

There is also a Durham Gang Assessment that was done last year that reports that 82% of Durham gang members in 2006 were Black.

http://www.durhampolice.com/news/pdf/071220_1.pdf

Did you know that there was a system known as gang net that tracks gang members in NC called NC Gangnet and a child's name stays on the list for five years? So, if Tyrone is labeled as a Crip when he is 14, I guess he can forget about college?

Is your child in that data base? Are you sure?

You owe it to yourself and your children to study this report...

They Always Get Their Man...Well, sometimes...

According to the News and Observer, a second suspect in the murder of UNC student body president Eve Carson was caught. Seems that they spared no expense and left no stone unturned to find those who committed this unspeakable crime. The news last night featured scenes of police canvassing Durham neighborhoods looking for the suspects and after less than a week. Both are in jail.

Just curious.

Did they ever find out who killed that 15 year old who was gunned down trying to protect his two year old cousin in Cornwallace Projects last year ?

Just a thought....

Ain't My Brotha's Keeper

Ain't My Brotha's Keeper

When I first heard about the murder of UNC student body president Eve Carson, like most folks I felt a deep sense of sorrow for the family. But then like most black folks, this was immediately followed by "please don't let the suspects be black." And for me, an extra "please don't let them be from Durham."

My worst fears were realized today...

According to news reports the two suspects are black dudes from Durham. Time to duck and get ready for the fallout.

Now, I'm not tryin' to be insensitive because if it was my daughter, sister, friend who was murdered I would want everybody and their mama even remotely responsible for the crime to pay the ultimate price...But that is a prerogative reserved for the family and friends...

My concern is with the other folks...

There is a feeling in many places in this country that black folks are soft on crime and are always makin' excuses for criminals. Especially in Durham.

This is not true. If you look at the history of black folks who commit crimes on white folks, they probably shot or robbed five other black people before they got to the white side of town...

A criminal is a criminal and a victim is a victim whether she is a high school drop out from tha 'hood or a college student.

But black folks are looked at as being monolithic in thought and action. You can believe that many African Americans will be walking around the next few days feeling guilty about Carson's murder even though they had nothing to do with it.

(Just because the suspects look like your sister Ruth Ann's sons does not make you an accomplice.)

Also, there are many folks who will use this event as a platform to spew deep seated prejudices that have nothing to do with the issue at hand.

I dread going to Mickey Dees tomorrow and having my Big Mac dining experience ruined by the couple at the next table beaming at me as they "loudly" whisper about Durham being full of no good thugs and animals just loud enough for me to hear..

Not to mention the onslaught of camera crews that are undoubtedly on their way to Durham as we speak..I'm sure the good folks at Fox will have a field day with this one.

What is most disturbing is that black youth advocates like myself will have to endure the taunts of the Sean Hannity's of the world for the next 20 years when any black person is treated, unjustly..

"Well, where were you when your Afr-i-can A-mer-i-can brooothers murdered that college student in 2008 !"

(Um, in bed sleep?)

Contrary to popular belief, all black folks are not criminals nor do we turn a blind eye to crime. We are clear in separating those black people who practice proper African behavior from those who are just plain thugs.

A local poet, Queen Sharon has a phrase that she uses when making this separation. It ain't "us" that are robbin' folks it's "those that are them."

Unfortunately, not everyone takes the time to make that distinction...

Min. Paul Scott's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/. He can be reached at (919) 451-8283 info@nowarningshotsfired.com