"Fortunately, the gang members who frequent City Center's first floor mistook one of my bulges for a concealed weapon (seewww.thunderwear.com) -- so they left me alone."
I'd like to know did these young people have a sign on their back saying they were gangsters, or maybe they passed out flyers saying they are Crips, Detroit Boyz, Bloods, Gangster Disciples , Vice Lords, BD's, Mickey Cobra's, Black Stones, CVL's, and the like, or did they wear name tags. I would like to know what tipped you off that these young people were indeed gangsters....(Just Curious)
Most teenage males between the ages of 15-22, are suspected with having gang affiliations, when in fact not all youth are involved in gangs. Both of my son's, ages 22 and 21 year-old respectably, are stopped on a daily basis. These stops are at times very horrifying to say the least. Being yelled at to freeze! Having guns drawn on them so fast, and all it would take is a slightest movement of the person being stopped, to trigger a very violent and possibly life threatening consequence. Young people I believe, have the biggest problems with law-enforcement, because most are wrongly stereotyped or classified as being gangsters because of clothing, music, hat's, tennis shoes, or just being with a group of other young people. Simply, most young people are guilty of living in impoverished areas, regardless of race, and this makes them a target for anyone, in particular law-enforcement.
It is crucial that we are armed with knowledge and knowing the warning signs, by being keen observers. We should not assume or label young people because they are in a group or the way they talk or wear their clothing. It's like assuming the worst of someone before actually meeting them. The first step is education. Although, this is not a one-stop cure all, but its a start in the right direction.
Vanessa Freeman Hawthorne
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