Despite being captured in countless surveillance footages, shootings remain a recurring issue in several urban neighborhoods. Alarmingly, both the perpetrator and the victim are frequently underaged. The question then arises: what’s fueling this prevalent violence? A faction of young males, associated through neighborhood organizations aimed at assisting adolescents entangled in gang-related activities and gun violence, were consulted to achieve a deeper understanding.
The anonymity of these young men was preserved during discussions, respecting their potential fears about the consequences that might follow such an exposure. The ultimate intention of this interaction was to hinder the ongoing episodes of violence. Analyzing data from the New York Police Department, a startling increase in the involvement of young individuals in violent crimes is evident from 2019 onwards.
Youth involvement in gun violence as both culprits and victims has soared over two-fold. The previous year saw 124 firearm arrests of individuals under the age of 18. Meanwhile, gunshot injuries claimed 153 victims from the same age group. By providing a platform for the youngsters to express their perspective on the causes behind this violence and crime, it was envisioned to pave the way for potential solutions.
The adolescents expressed that their violent demeanor was a learned behavior, coming primarily from senior gang members and other community actors. The assumption of role models advocating violence led them to believe that using guns, even if it meant taking someone’s life, was a necessary evil, much to the concern of every listener. Concurrently, they cited the influence of drill rap music and social media platforms as significant contributors to the perpetuation of this violence.
Online platforms are often used as battlegrounds where disagreements and mockeries lead to real-life shootings. The association of drill rap and its related music videos with the surge of violence has been a topic of public discourse for an extended period. Nevertheless, the direct causality between this music genre, social media, and the incidence of gang violence is not universally accepted and remains a controversial claim across various academic studies.
These young men, however, contradicted this perspective. Proclaiming that they live amidst violence daily, they unequivocally agreed that drill music, which freights graphic depictions of violence, profoundly affects their emotions, convictions, and consequent actions. Numerous campaigners advocate that the root of the issue lies in poverty and lack of resources in communities, which are significant factors fostering violence.
The band of young men suggested a seemingly simplistic, yet possibly effective, solution to reduce the violence. They proposed shielding preadolescent children from viewing violent content. Emphasizing prevention over damage control, they suggested the dire need to focus on younger children, who have yet to enter their teenage years, eradicating exposure to such violent influences.
According to this group, the reduction in violence levels significantly ties to the suppression of violent content from the eyes of these impressionable minds. Furthermore, they underlined the problem of firearm accessibility in New York City. The ease with which guns are obtained, they argued, contributes substantially to the continued uptick in violence.
In the quest to find sustainable solutions to this dire problem that is so profoundly affecting the community’s youngest members, it seems crucial to take these perspectives into account. The youth, after all, are the ones living this reality, and their insight might provide the key to understanding the real roots of this widespread violence.
The viewpoints shared by these youth indicate how deep and complex the issue is. Their opinions provide a clear insight into some potential contributing factors to the ongoing violence, from the teaching of violent behavior by older gang members to the impact of drill music and social media.
Knowing how it feels to live with the constant fear of getting involved in violence gives them a unique viewpoint on how these factors intertwine to escalate the situation. These are invaluable insights, which need to be taken seriously when coming up with strategies against youth violence.
These discussions underline the importance of community-based actions where tackling the problem from its roots becomes a prime focus. Any strategy must take into account the socioeconomic disparities that exist within communities, and the role media – both mainstream and social – plays in the lives of these impressionable young people.
Their voices make it evident that it isn’t just a question of preventing access to guns or mitigating poverty. It’s also about changing the narrative that surrounds these young lives, a narrative steeped in violence, animosity, and resentment. To disrupt this pattern, the young men suggest a shift to a narrative that is rooted in understanding, growth, and, most importantly, hope.
This involves considering how various elements – from the violent potential role models within communities to the glorification of violence in media – contribute to and justify the status quo. Community interventions aiming at reducing exposure of underaged individuals to such catalysts might be an initial step towards a broader, more encompassing solution.
In essence, transforming community ethos and fostering a culture of respect over confrontation might require strategic efforts at multiple levels. These include interventions by community, municipal, and state-level stakeholders. Together, they can usher in a wave of hope that challenges the status quo, disrupts the well-engrained narratives of violence, and restores peace within these communities.