Back in January, I wrote three consecutive entries on gangs in prison...
It's a big issue, and a big concern. Which I've been looking at from two perspectives, that of a being a prisoner myself, and also being a Christian. After all, having now been incarcerated for 46 years, I should know a thing or two about living with guys who are affiliated with gangs. For me, this is common.
The fact is, I'm surrounded by men who come from all walks of life. It was the same when I was growing up in New York City. I would meet people from different nationalities and races, and it was not a big deal. But nowadays, gangs have become the norm in New York State's prison system. While in many facilities, it has also been a growing cause for concern, as well.
So in my observations, prisoners who are in gangs most often group together by prior neighborhood connections. They're from the same city owned housing projects or the same neighborhoods and cities or towns. Some knew each other in the streets, or they met in prison for the first time, but came from the same area.
Being from "the Bronx," I have met guys who grew up in the same neighborhood as I did. We even went to the same public schools. Which, for me as a much older man, opens up a line of communication, and a point of connection. In this environment, men love to talk about their "hood." This being their respective neighborhoods. And like them, I too love to tell stories of my growing up in the Bronx.
Yet even though a majority of my fellow convicts were not even born when I was on the outside, whenever I'd mention growing up in the Soundview section of the borough, and also being familiar with other neighborhoods such as Hunts Point, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Co-op City, Morrisania, Melrose, and Wakefield, their eyes would light up. They'd be "all ears" and eager to listen.
But in my view, these "gangbangers" are mostly insecure guys who want to stay connected. They also believe there's a degree of safety in numbers. Their most common grounds are race, age, and the need to control their environment, along with a desire to "run with the pack."
Over the years I have witnessed lots of infighting, betrayals, and double-crossing amongst them. I believe they're living an illusion. Their sense of unity, as an intimidating army of thugs who've vowed to always stick together through thick and thin, doesn’t always go as planned. When you include those who get transferred to other prisons, who are released on parole, who may die unexpectedly from a drug overdose, or get killed by a rival gang member, it shows just how fragile these bonds really are.
"Here today, and gone tomorrow," as the popular adage goes, is true. Be it with a person's life or the gang he claims membership to, it's only a matter of time before a particular crew of gangbangers dissolves. The solidarity they swore by and boasted about, has disappeared.
Although I have always gotten along well with them, and they respect me, prison gangs are a dead end. To quote one legendary evangelist who has devoted much of his life to sharing the Gospel message with today's gang crews, "Doctor Jesus wants to heal your broken hearts, dreams, and lives. His love can change your lives now! He forgives and forgets, forever, our past sins, our present sins, and even our future sins... This is the bottom line of Christianity: Never give up, not on yourselves or on life."*
In closing, I know from firsthand observation that prison gangs are not what many who join them think they are. Much of it is self-serving. Men want to fit in socially, and in this environment, they want a reputation as someone not to be messed with. So in their minds, gang membership is a way to achieve this. But in the end, it's all empty vanity.
In my view, these men need a genuine spiritual experience. And this is what Christ is all about. He is the one and only King of kings and Lord of lords. Instead of being a member of a gang of criminals, for those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus, God is willing to make them eternal members of His family, where they will one day rule with Christ.
D.B.
*Code Blue: Urgent Care for the American Youth Emergency
By Nicky Cruz, Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, Michigan, c.1995
The fact is, I'm surrounded by men who come from all walks of life. It was the same when I was growing up in New York City. I would meet people from different nationalities and races, and it was not a big deal. But nowadays, gangs have become the norm in New York State's prison system. While in many facilities, it has also been a growing cause for concern, as well.
So in my observations, prisoners who are in gangs most often group together by prior neighborhood connections. They're from the same city owned housing projects or the same neighborhoods and cities or towns. Some knew each other in the streets, or they met in prison for the first time, but came from the same area.
Being from "the Bronx," I have met guys who grew up in the same neighborhood as I did. We even went to the same public schools. Which, for me as a much older man, opens up a line of communication, and a point of connection. In this environment, men love to talk about their "hood." This being their respective neighborhoods. And like them, I too love to tell stories of my growing up in the Bronx.
Yet even though a majority of my fellow convicts were not even born when I was on the outside, whenever I'd mention growing up in the Soundview section of the borough, and also being familiar with other neighborhoods such as Hunts Point, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Co-op City, Morrisania, Melrose, and Wakefield, their eyes would light up. They'd be "all ears" and eager to listen.
But in my view, these "gangbangers" are mostly insecure guys who want to stay connected. They also believe there's a degree of safety in numbers. Their most common grounds are race, age, and the need to control their environment, along with a desire to "run with the pack."
Over the years I have witnessed lots of infighting, betrayals, and double-crossing amongst them. I believe they're living an illusion. Their sense of unity, as an intimidating army of thugs who've vowed to always stick together through thick and thin, doesn’t always go as planned. When you include those who get transferred to other prisons, who are released on parole, who may die unexpectedly from a drug overdose, or get killed by a rival gang member, it shows just how fragile these bonds really are.
"Here today, and gone tomorrow," as the popular adage goes, is true. Be it with a person's life or the gang he claims membership to, it's only a matter of time before a particular crew of gangbangers dissolves. The solidarity they swore by and boasted about, has disappeared.
Although I have always gotten along well with them, and they respect me, prison gangs are a dead end. To quote one legendary evangelist who has devoted much of his life to sharing the Gospel message with today's gang crews, "Doctor Jesus wants to heal your broken hearts, dreams, and lives. His love can change your lives now! He forgives and forgets, forever, our past sins, our present sins, and even our future sins... This is the bottom line of Christianity: Never give up, not on yourselves or on life."*
In closing, I know from firsthand observation that prison gangs are not what many who join them think they are. Much of it is self-serving. Men want to fit in socially, and in this environment, they want a reputation as someone not to be messed with. So in their minds, gang membership is a way to achieve this. But in the end, it's all empty vanity.
In my view, these men need a genuine spiritual experience. And this is what Christ is all about. He is the one and only King of kings and Lord of lords. Instead of being a member of a gang of criminals, for those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus, God is willing to make them eternal members of His family, where they will one day rule with Christ.
D.B.
*Code Blue: Urgent Care for the American Youth Emergency
By Nicky Cruz, Servant Publications, Ann Arbor, Michigan, c.1995
