CORNERS & CURBS
“This is a wicked world we are living in, and you should be like the crack in the tar (consciousness) in order to read the lines in between.” – Earl Mentor
Look closer at our neighborhood corners, especially where you find a green electric box. When I remember childhood, the electric box was a popular gathering spot for me and my friends. We gathered there, shared stories, made sounds and beats by hitting our hands on the box, and laughed as people passed by. We were so innocent and carefree. These corners were where we made strong connections as kids. It’s at these corners where kids establish their traditions and sense of belonging, forming tight-knit groups with their peers. They develop a unique communication method and adopt specific codes to define their group.
The relationship with the neighborhood territory draws young people into a circle driven by peer pressure, resulting in a view that this territory needs to be protected from rivals. Gangs in our communities often perpetrate violence against each other, instilling fear in the lives of people in the community. I’m referring to these corners as the focal point for controlling a territory where gangs oversee criminal activities. The limited space in which these gangs operate increases their visibility and numbers, posing a danger to the entire community. In many high-risk communities, children are exposed to the reality of gangs daily, which contributes to their negative conditioning. I believe that these groups of adolescents who hang out on corners seek a sense of belonging outside their homes and are often coerced into criminal activities due to their internal struggle for acceptance.
