Acorn

Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy of Maria Gonzalez Sergio Paredes ('08) speaks with keynote speaker Edwin L. Santana, from the New Jersey Gang Investigators Association after Ariel's conference on gang culture last Saturday.

From "West Side Story" to "Scarface," gang culture has largely enjoyed a glamorized ride through American history. On Saturday, April 19, Ariel helped to shed light on the realities of gang life through their conference, titled "Minority Gang Wars: A Perspective on Prevention."

Speaking to a small but attentive group of 15 students, Edwin L. Santana of the New Jersey Gang Investigator's Association shared his insight gained from 11 years at the Morris County Sheriff's Office Bureau of Corrections. "Kids who join gangs have a void in their lives," Santana said. "It could be created by the absence of family, religion or education. Gangs step in to fill that void."

Santana also led a session called "Understanding Graffiti," about a type of public art that is often called "the newspaper of the streets." Sergio Argueta, a former member of a gang who earned his master's degree in social work, led a session about empowering youth to stop violence in their communities.

Santana explained that children in urban areas are familiar with gang names and ideologies as early as pre-K to first grade. In suburban areas, it begins later in fifth to sixth grade. In New Jersey alone, a 2004 survey estimated that there are 17,000 gang members and 700 gangs, a great number of whom are under the age of 18.

The media helps to expand gang culture. "The start of the glorification of Latino gangs began as early as 1961 with 'West Side Story,'" Santana said. "It's a watered-down version of real gangs. In real life, they weren't snapping their fingers and dancing." The 1983 movie "Scarface," about Cuban gangster Tony Montana, also gained iconic status for its portrayal of gang culture.

Discussing prevention of gang violence, Santana shared the story of Dora Trevino, who lost her son Augusto Trevino to gang violence. "Dora thought taking her son out of public school and sending him to a private school would protect him, but he still lived in the same neighborhood," Santana said.

Augusto refused to join the local gang and was shot fatally by a member. The killer, who was a minor, received five years in prison. Trevino founded the movement "Stop the Violence" to make tougher laws against juveniles who commit such crimes. The room became solemn as Santana played a rarely shown video montage of Augusto Trevino's childhood photos and "Stop the Violence" rallies.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools