Inner City Violence: Why Does it Occur?

[Tabasco Sauce]

I always thought that poverty was the main catalyst. Am I wrong?

 

[Chandrasekhar]

I believe that there are many reasons, but that virtually all of those reasons can be traced back to poverty as a main cause.

 

[Verge]

I always thought that poverty was the main catalyst. Am I wrong?

Poverty is almost certainly a reason. A study back in the early 90s entitled "Kids, Guns, and Inner-City Killing Fields" (something to that effect) also noted that inner-cities had large supplies of cheap, readily available weapons, which of course contributes to the problem. The same study also found that the leading reason inner-city youth gave for carrying weapons was self-protection, presumably from rival gangs and such.

Not sure if I entirely believe that latter point, but I'm throwing it out there for discussion. I'll see if I can dig up that study.

 

[GenMarshall]

Poverty is the key. Oftenly would lead gang warfare on the streets of the slums of the cities (And gangs provide a negative way for young adults and teens to gain acceptance).

 

[Trajan12]

Poverty is almost certainly a reason. A study back in the early 90s entitled "Kids, Guns, and Inner-City Killing Fields" (something to that effect) also noted that inner-cities had large supplies of cheap, readily available weapons, which of course contributes to the problem. The same study also found that the leading reason inner-city youth gave for carrying weapons was self-protection, presumably from rival gangs and such.

Not sure if I entirely believe that latter point, but I'm throwing it out there for discussion. I'll see if I can dig up that study.

I don't know either. But I sure know that for a time, I and a lot of my friends carried weapons(never guns, concealable knives). Reason being we assumed everyone else would have them and were afraid of what might happen if we were caught in something unarmed. I stopped, though, the risk was just too big. If I got expelled, arrested, or stabbed someone I'd be effed.

So for what it's worth, most people I know who carry weapons do carry them for defensive reasons only.

 

[Tabasco Sauce]

Well, glad people agree. In another forum, I got flamed, one guy saying it was all the white man's fault.

 

[Verge]

Well, glad people agree. In another forum, I got flamed, one guy saying it was all the white man's fault.

I didn't know Roland Martin had his own forum.

 

[Tabasco Sauce]

I didn't know Roland Martin had his own forum.

http://forums.tvoneonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Have at em cowboy.

 

[GenMarshall]

For future reference, it's unwise to advertise other forums in posts (Exceptions are placing links in sigs or posting it in the Other Civ Forums. So long as it is CivRelated).

Moving on, Many people would blame the white people. But poverty does not strike the minorities. Even white people get hit with poverty themselves. Poverty knows no bounds when it comes to race.

 

[Trajan12]

http://forums.tvoneonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Have at em cowboy.

Oh Lord o_0 they would be ripped to shreds here...

 

[Neomega]

Poverty + cheap black market goods


so to answer your question:
the drug war.

 

[Verge]

http://forums.tvoneonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

Have at em cowboy.

Good lord.

I was tempted to fire off an indignant email to Martin after one of his columns basically advocated that blacks should vote for Obama because he's black, but I wound up having too much to do that week.

 

[GenMarshall]

Poverty + cheap black market goods


so to answer your question:
the drug war.

Drugs are part of the problem, as more than likely are used to escape the realities of living in poverty. Thus a vicious cycle would go on with addiction at play.

 

[Berzerker]

Inner cities are often bad during prohibition dependent in part on supply and demand. We can trace the explosion of gang warfare in the mid 80s to the increased penalties for adults caught dealing drugs under Reagan's drug war. Recruitment of minors into the drug trade and the expansion of gangs across the country were just two results of "getting tough on crime".

 

[Tabasco Sauce]

For future reference, it's unwise to advertise other forums in posts (Exceptions are placing links in sigs or posting it in the Other Civ Forums. So long as it is CivRelated).

Moving on, Many people would blame the white people. But poverty does not strike the minorities. Even white people get hit with poverty themselves. Poverty knows no bounds when it comes to race.

Hmm, I was mentioning it in the context of a joke(albeit a crappy one), but good point.


Anyway, yes, I have seen poor White people, however, I do not know the make up of gangs in relation to White people. Does anyone have stats on White people in gangs in relation to poverty?

 

[SeleucusNicator]

If poverty was the sole cause, why are rural poor areas not violent?

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Moving on, Many people would blame the white people. But poverty does not strike the minorities. Even white people get hit with poverty themselves. Poverty knows no bounds when it comes to race.

There are large parts of the Southern United States made up of very poor rural African-Americans -- the so-called "black belt". Yet, as far as I know, this area is not unusually violent.

 

[Tabasco Sauce]

Poverty + cheap black market goods


so to answer your question:
the drug war.

Hmm... well, you certainly provide an economic outlet to gangs when you make something... anything illegal. I mean, think about it, what do gangs do? Engage in illegal activities, because that is where the money is. Why work at McDonald's when you can have the opportunity to be a drug lord. Ending the war on drugs would help though.

 

[North King]

If poverty was the sole cause, why are rural poor areas not violent?

It's a lot harder to be violent when everyone knows exactly who you are. In the city, you're just a face, like so many others... you can blend away. In the country, every new arrival is immediately recognized as such. I know it's a cliche, but it's really true. People know exactly what you do as soon as you do it. It's also far harder to form a gang when there's no one to form a gang with.

 

[Tabasco Sauce]

There are large parts of the Southern United States made up of very poor rural African-Americans -- the so-called "black belt". Yet, as far as I know, this area is not unusually violent.

Because they are not crowded together, breathing down each others necks in the southern rural areas.