The Issues and Assets of African Youth on Staten Island's North Shore:

Issue: Tensions between the <strong>African</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>African</strong>American communitiesRelations in the North Shore between the <strong>African</strong> <strong>and</strong><strong>African</strong> American communities are tense. In general, tensionresults from the two communities feeling that they are incompetition for resources, the perpetuation <strong>of</strong> stereotypesabout each other‟s culture, <strong>and</strong> genuine cultural differences.In response, community organizations <strong>and</strong> schools hesitateto focus on programs, services or other activities targeting<strong>African</strong> youth because they believe it will alienate the <strong>African</strong>American community <strong>and</strong> further exacerbate existingtensions.Even <strong>African</strong> youth who do not join gangs <strong>of</strong>ten sticktogether in cliques to avoid getting beat up, jumped, orharassed. A Parole Officer attending the first <strong>Issues</strong> &<strong>Assets</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>African</strong> <strong>Youth</strong> Conference: Improving theCommunity for all reported, "What many people don't knowis that gangs <strong>of</strong>ten start out innocently (as non-violentpartnerships) among friends." 32Figure 13: <strong>Youth</strong> Project design contest poster<strong>The</strong>se tensions can escalate to serious consequences,including verbal <strong>and</strong> physical harassment in school (seesection on Overcoming Educational Challenges on page 24)<strong>and</strong> gang violence. Even non-gang members may beaffected. For example, one young man said that he waswrongly identified as a gang member <strong>and</strong> jumped (physicallyattacked <strong>and</strong> robbed). 29<strong>The</strong> most common reason stated by assessment participantsfor <strong>African</strong> youth joining gangs was protection: One teenmale described his reason for joining a gang was to deterother youth from bothering him, <strong>and</strong> to gain respect bycultivating fear. 30 An 8-year old boy said that he was in gangbecause he wanted to know that he could call someone to“have his back” in the event he was threatened 31 . Otherreasons youth reported they did or might join gangs includedto feel popular <strong>and</strong> be more attractive to girls, or to feel likethey belong. Whatever the reason, youth said joining is notan easy decision. <strong>Youth</strong> discuss the pros <strong>and</strong> cons withfriends, but do not feel they could talk about it with theirparents.29 <strong>Youth</strong> interview, Taking A St<strong>and</strong> event, August 2, 2008.30 <strong>Youth</strong> interview, Taking A St<strong>and</strong> event, August 2, 2008.31 Group discussion, Taking A St<strong>and</strong> event, August 2, 2008.32 Tevah Platt, “On Staten Isl<strong>and</strong>, a community unites with goal <strong>of</strong> makinglife better,” Staten Isl<strong>and</strong> Advance, October 9, 2008.20