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Ed Ramírez, Linden, CA
The Prevalence of Chicano Street Gangs and Street Gang Violence: La Prevalencia de las Pandillas Chicanas y la Violencia Pandillo-Callejera:
VI: Chicano Youth As Human Targets As part of a series that explores the lived experiences of two ex-gang members Dr. Jesse De La Cruz and Dr. Victor Rios, this article will focus on Victor Rios’ experiences growing up in Oakland, CA. and the concept of Chicano youth as human targets.
callejeras cuando se aventuran fuera de sus barrios o territorios. Esto se ve agravado por la participación en la economía ilícita o ilegal, en particular la comercialización de drogas, incluyendo intereses amorosos que trascienden límites territoriales. Inevitablemente, recurren a satisfacer sus necesidades económicas a través de diversas formas de actividad ilegal. Pronto desarrollan una visión de su futuro que incluye ser enviados a prisión o incluso a la muerte. La experiencia de Víctor y su mejor amigo al crecer en la década de 1990 en Oakland ilustra el fenómeno de estas dianas humanas. Víctor contó la trágica historia de su mejor amigo “Smiley”, a quien describió como “ingenuo” e “inocente”, pero que fue víctima de todos modos. Siempre sonreía y se metía en problemas con los maestros que pensaban que se estaba riendo de ellos. Le dispararon y sonrió a sus agresores. Se vistió al estilo de sus amigos —y maestros y policías asumieron que era un pandillero cuando no lo era. Víctor continúa a la vuelta recordó que Smiley
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n 1988 anthropologist James Diego Vigil asserted that perhaps “four to ten percent” of barrio youth “affiliated” with gangs. So what caused this phenomenon? There is evidence that the transition from marginalized outsider to living outside of the law is driven by the treatment barrio youth receive as human targets. Sociologist Victor Rios described human targets as follows: “As human targets young people inevitably encounter pernicious fire - the meting out on individuals any number of detrimental outcomes, such as institutional stigmatization, school suspensions or expulsions, police harassment and humiliation, or disproportionate arrest and incarceration.” Not only do they become targets of state institutional authorities (e.g., schools, police, courts, etc.), they become targets of other street gangs when they venture out of their barrios or turfs. This is exacerbated by involvement with the illicit or illegal economy, particularly
marketing of drugs, and the pursuit of love interests that transcend turf boundaries. Inevitably they resort to satisfying their economic needs through various forms of illegal activity. They soon develop a vision of their future that embraces being sent to prison or even death. Victor’s and his best friend’s experience growing-up in 1990’s Oakland illustrates the human target phenomenon. Victor recounted the tragic story of his best friend “Smiley” who he described as “naïve” and “innocent” but who was victimized nonetheless. He always smiled, and it got him into trouble with teachers who thought he was laughing at them. He was shot at and smiled at his assailants. He dressed in the style of his friends and teachers as well as police officers assumed he was a gang member when he was not. Victor remembered that Smiley was hounded by the police. “He was followed around, searched, handcuffed, and harassed.” When one of Smiley’s friends was shot his teacher called the campus police claiming that she felt unsafe continued on next page with him in the AUGUST 2020 Joaquín 19
