Prison Culture is Street Culture

In my opinion Gang and prison culture has become the most pronounced culture in recent times? We, (our Youth as they are the future) are obsessed with social media that contains references to violent acts, antisocial behaviour, abuse, crime, gang fashion and behaviour.

Once you’ve stumbled across these themes online, OUR algorithms feed us information that not only supports the criminal life style; it promotes data that indoctrinates the youth negatively, encouraging behaviour that is more natural in a prison cell than in everyday society.

Today, certain generations use terms like “The Ends” to describe where they live, as if it were the end of the line, whereas prison should be seen as where ones freedom ends. Where you live should be where your life begins or began. Psychologically speaking, those at risk of crime, might have already given up.

I mention these comparisons because until our children look beyond the street and the cultures associated with it, we cannot expect them to excel or thrive. To truly thrive, one needs to live without the fear of dying in a violent act or those you love being physically harmed. The society we live in should protect us against the seedy or criminal world. Thriving means feeling that there are no limits and that you can succeed in any realm, however, our children are more interested in learning how to survive in a prison setting instead of how to thrive outside of it. As a society, we have indulged their wants without reprimand, often through no fault of our own, because it’s easier to avoid the judgemental eye of society and so called laws threaten to take our children from us if we use excessive force to punish unacceptable behaviour.

Can you imagine not having to worry about your children being mugged or initiated into a gang? If you’re one of the lucky ones where this isn’t your reality, then you’re either Asian, White or extremely privileged. Let’s be clear, our White and Asian brothers and sisters of the world are victims of muggings too, but it would seem that a crime committed against a black brother or sister either goes unreported or creates no immediate urgency as if black skin carries with it a stigma that crime is something we are used to or comfortable with. As a consequence, if you happen to be biracial or Black, not enough is being done to stop the waste of your potential.

Accepting gang culture and prison culture as our new norm will not benefit those at risk of crime; it will only reinforce the behavior until we no longer recognize the sweet child we reared. E.g, when your kid comes home with his pants hanging down and wearing a black face mask, it might just be too late.

So what can you do?

Write to your local MP and ask them what they are doing to divert your children from a life of crime. Ask what they are doing to ensure that your child/children not only receive the best education from their schools but also have safe spaces to thrive without the fear of being caught up in gang or prison culture. Make sure enough is being done to integrate your children into the local community in positive spaces. Also, how invested is your school in ensuring positive connections with neighbouring schools? What extra curricular activities does your school put on and how do they ensure the safety of all those attending these events so that attendance is high. Is there a visible police or security presence in your community and if not what are they doing to reduce crime and it’s associated cultures?

Don’t accept the line that “there are no funds”. We find money for weapons of mass destruction, proxy wars and immigration at a push.

A child’s value is immeasurable to a parent and until we make our children believe their worth, they’ll fall foul of the street and a culture that preys on them. Children need to know they are valued.