1960s Gangs Vs Gangs Nowadays

The Evolution of Gangs: From the 1960s to Today

Gangs have been around for ages, shaping parts of our society through their activities. They've always kinda mirrored what's going on socially and culturally at the time. Back in the 1960s, a bunch of different gangs popped up, each having its own vibe and reasons for being. But fast forward to now, and gangs have changed a lot to fit into today's world. This piece is gonna dive into how gangs from the '60s differ from those we see today by looking at how they're set up, what they do, and how they affect society.

Gang Structures: Hierarchy vs. Decentralization

So let's talk about the way these gangs were structured back in the '60s. Most of them had this strict hierarchy thing going on. You'd find one leader or maybe a small group who held all the power and made the big decisions. Members really respected these leaders—they pretty much followed them without question. Take the Crips or Bloods in LA; they had leaders who basically ran the show in their areas.

But nowadays? Things are way more spread out when it comes to leadership in gangs. Instead of one person calling all the shots, you'll find power spread among different members. Why? Well, partly because law enforcement has cracked down hard on those top-heavy organizations. So modern gangs tend to be made up of smaller groups that are loosely connected. It makes it a real headache for authorities trying to shut them down.

What Do Gangs Do?

If you look at gang activities during the 1960s, you'd mostly find stuff like drug trafficking, robberies, and territorial fights. These guys controlled certain neighborhoods or even whole areas and didn't shy away from getting violent with rivals. A good example is the East Harlem Purple Gang in NYC; they were all over drug trafficking and street violence.

Todays' gangs still commit crimes but on a whole other level—think global scale. Thanks to tech and the internet, they've gotten into things like human trafficking and cybercrime alongside drug smuggling. They're not stuck in one place anymore; these modern-day gangs can operate across countries, making them super tough for cops to catch.

The Impact on Communities

Back then, gangs had quite an impact on local communities where they operated. Controlling drugs led to more violence and addiction among locals. Plus, businesses would get extorted while regular folks lived in constant fear—no wonder people were upset! This situation pushed law enforcement to try harder to stop gang-related crimes.

Today’s gangs are still causing harm but differently now—especially since they've branched into cybercrime and human trafficking affecting people worldwide instead of just locally like before. They're also savvy with social media used both as recruitment tools plus showing off their lifestyle which unfortunately influences young minds too.

Wrapping Up: Adapting Strategies for Tomorrow

So there you have it—a glimpse into how gangs from decades ago compare with those today based on structure plus activity differences impacting society alike both then & now except evolved differently due largely decentralized operation expansions globally beyond traditional boundaries i.e., cyberspace human trade major concerns raised requiring vigilance continually adapting strategies combating evolving criminal networks effectively addressing challenges future poses evermore complexly indeed!

References:

• Spergel, I.A., & Curry, G.D. (1995). The National Youth Gang Survey: A Research and Development Process.
• Howell, J.C., & Moore, J.P.M.A., Jr., (2010). History of Street Gangs in the United States.
• Klein M.W., Maxson C.L., Miller J.(1995) The Modern Gang Reader.