Provocative and eye-opening, The Stickup Kids urges us to explore the ravages of the drug trade through weaving history, biography, social structure, and drug market forces. It offers a revelatory explanation for drug market violence by masterfully uncovering the hidden social forces that produce violent and self-destructive individuals. Part memoir, part penetrating analysis, this book is engaging, personal, deeply informed, and entirely
He mentions that some young men sell drugs because they have no choice and nothing to lose in society. He acknowledge that choice is immoral. However, the resources available to the young men are limited. He states that “the creative social and cultural capital that the boys developed in response to being prevented from acquiring capital to succeed in mainstream institutions” (Rios:98). Moreover, he argues that the punishments meted out by the criminal justice system usually fail to support rehabilitation and social reintegration.
In his article, “Toward a Policy on Drugs,” Elliot Currie discusses “the magnitude and severity of our drug crisis” (para. 21), and how “no other country has anything resembling the American drug problem” (para. 21). The best way to describe America’s drug problem is that it is a hole continuously digs itself deeper. America’s drug issues were likely comparable to other country’s at one point in time, but today it can be blamed on the “street cultures” (para. 21) that continue to use and spread the use of illegal drugs. These street cultures transcend the common stereotype of drug users, such as low income communities in cities or welfare recipients, and can be found in every economic class and location. They are groups of people who have
Failure to achieve positive goals. Not having someone support you or care about is what someone the men had went through growing. Joining the gang meant having a family around and one that protect them. Disjunction of expectations and achievements. They didn’t have the skills or the attitude to do anything to achieve their goals because no one had been supported them.
Many poor individuals in inner-city neighborhoods are often forced into the business. To truly understand what it means to be a drug offender forced into the business because of economic reasons, I turned to the documentary, “The House I Live In.” Cruz from the documentary, began selling drugs to support his parents, and when he started to become successful at it, he became addicted to the drugs. Cruz was a student before his parents ran into financial struggles. An innocent young adult that loved to play soccer, is now serving a 30 year sentence because he needed to help his parents pay their
The section is opened by a quote from Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist, stating that white citizens of America don’t truly understand what it is like to be an African American in that time period and how they are “ignorant.” The author’s message is that she understands that these criminals are doing something wrong in the first place, but she realizes that these people are already struggling to begin with. These individuals are selling drugs to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. By doing this they are digging themselves in a hole that that can not get out of. Once convicted for dealing drugs it is nearly impossible to return a good life after you are released.
A primary reason which provoked Dude to get involved in drug trading was the ludicrous amount of money he could make from such a young age. At age fourteen Dude was selling dope, making $1500 a week, this led to irresponsible and hedonistic spending. This hedonistic spending gave meaning to Dude’s life, pleasures such as food, females, and the mall, were all major focuses of his life. Dude recalls spending $400 a week on overpriced rent and $50 on food even when he wasn’t hungry (Bergmann 2008:109); this impulsive spending may suggest a shaping of an unstable and turbulent economic life and poor financial responsibility for Dude in future
The Irish did not receive a sufficient education and had little to no money to their name which caused men to work on the railroads and women to work as servants. The men often risked their lives on the job site as they were competing with freed slaves for employment. Because they lacked skills other than those valuable in a factory most men took their families to port cities such as New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston where there was a large number of manufacturing jobs. Within these cities, specifically New York City there was a clear distinction in social class which caused a problem with gangs to arise. These individuals with similar backgrounds are what made up the different gangs for the sole purpose of protection and survival because they were often second class citizenship who were trying to make a life for themselves that was better than what they once had.
The Rhetorical Analysis of “The Myth of the Latin Woman” There are many examples of incidents happened because of cultural differences. Some of them are short, single events, while other follow a person or social group for decades. Professor Judith Cortiz Cofer describes the second example in her essay The Myth of the Latin Woman that was originally published in Glamour in 1992. The author focused on the stereotypical view of Latin women from the perspective of the personal experience as a Puerto Rican girl and woman in the USA. Cofer based her essay on examples from her own life and observations of the problem in a broader sense.
When the farmers they worked for lost their lands, they were left in a much more
In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus. Marc Antony’s power has always been a part of him. However, after Caesar’s death, his power only intensified as his passion for vengeance grew.
Poverty doesn 't necessarily have to be because of drugs, there are other causes like low income jobs. " …people find themselves in tough financial circumstances because of their own actions, because of the actions of other people in their family, or because of factors beyond their control" (Seacliff). This quote explains that a lot of the time being in poverty isn 't something that you can control. The other Wes Moore has had experiences with substance abuse and drug dealing, both of these are reasons why he was sent to jail. "Drugs can be really easy to get out into the streets and young adults in in poverty surrounded by substance abusers and dealers" (Seacliff).
Young people give various reasons for joining gangs. Among the most common reasons are: to belong to a group, protection, earn money, excitement, to be with friends, and it's even a family tradition"(Escondido Police Department). Amongst the various reasons that lead youth
Julius Caesar Zakary Powers Julius Caesar, leader of Rome, had a overwhelming ego and it is shown many times throughout the play of, “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar”. One of the times Julius Caesar showed his overwhelming ego was towards the beginning of the play when the soothsayer warns Caesar about the “ides of march”. The second time Julius shows his ego is when he says that he is not afraid of anybody - and people may talk behind his back, but never to his face as they would be too scared. The third time Julius shows his ego when he ignores his wife’s caution and worries about going to the Senate. Julius Caesar overall is seen to be arrogant and he has a very large ego.
The fear that the conspirator had against tyranny was so commanding that it pushed them to murder their emperor. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Julius Caesar was an emperor of Rome, a renowned military leader, and a beloved friend to all of his subjects. Cassius created a conspiracy that feared tyranny and what Caesar would become if he gained more power. Cassius corrupted Brutus, who was a long-time friend of Caesar 's, to betray him and join the conspiracy. Caesar is brought to the senate where he eventually is stabbed by the conspirators, his friends, his allies, and the people he trusted. The conspirators didn’t think of the reproductions of their actions and they have now started a war. They lose the battle against Mark Antony, some conspirators commit suicide, and some are executed. Shakespeare wanted us to develop sympathy for Julius Caesar through the betrayal of his friends, his overthrow of power, and the ultimate death of his once friends.