Can't Stop, Won't Stop, Chapter 17

All in the Same Gang: The War on Youth and the Quest for Unity
by: Julie Bing, Becky Lathrop, and Julie Thompson

In the early 1990’s, West Coast gangs celebrated a time of successful peace treaties. Gang violence was down while creative energy was high. However, economic issues still plagued the cities and government-led efforts to raise funds to stimulate the regrowth of the city, such as the “Rebuild L.A.” organization, failed miserably. The people of the cities wanted to work and grow, but the opportunities were not available. In the meantime, the police grew suspicious of the motives behind the gangs’ peace treaties and feared their collective power over the streets. As a result, the LAPD often harassed the gangs’ peace gatherings and cracked down on gang-related activity. Their methods proved to be extremely biased against not only blacks and Hispanics, but against youth in general. Outrageously restrictive loitering, curfew, and cruising laws resulted in huge numbers of arrests and unjustified accusations of gang affiliation. The whirlwind of activity caused the general public to fear the youth, especially those of color.
Mainstream politicians such as President Clinton and Tipper Gore found themselves in spats with contemporary rappers and artists. Tipper Gore pushed to combat explicit lyrics, while Ice-T’s band Body Count released a song called “Cop Killer”. The song sparked a heated battle with media outlets and record labels, primarily over the issue of greed vs. responsibility.
Efforts to continue the push toward unity and peace within the Black community inspired Farrakhan to organize the Million Man March in Washington on October 16, 1995. While the event boasted no concrete political agenda or substance, the event brought clarity and unity to the Black community. The March proved to be a powerful symbol of their collective struggle and hope of redemption.