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The Hate U Give By Anna Thomas

1100 Words5 Pages

“Social, economic, and cultural forces push many adolescents in the direction of gangs” (Howell par. 2). The adage of the adage. There is a recognizable connection between youth that are affiliated with gangs and the percentage of youth who face difficulties regarding their surrounding environment. This is a topic that is present in Angie Thomas' novel, The Hate U Give. Throughout the duration of the novel, Thomas integrates the effects of the presence of gangs within the community have on the youth. Thomas describes how these gangs affect the youth in the community. Young people are drawn to gang life to cope with their surrounding environment. Young people are enticed by gang life to cope with the lack of opportunities to gain financial security …show more content…

Somebody was always coming at [him] ’cause of [his] pops, but if [he] was a King Lord [he] had folks to watch [his] back.' Thomas 175. Within the gang, Maverick found a sense of safety among the other gang members, and he felt a bond that was earned and loyal. Maverick specifically dealt with the consequences of his father's reputation. Gangs also provide young people with a sense of family and support, which they may not be getting from their own families or communities. Youth that don’t have support feel that “with King Lords, we had a whole bunch of folks who had our backs, no matter what. They bought us clothes and shit our momma couldn’t afford and always made sure we ate.It was just cool to have somebody take care of us for a change” (Thomas 168). Some youth living in an unstable home and community environment seek loyalty and belonging within a gang environment. Due to experiences caused by the surrounding environment, many young people feel isolated, and a sense of belonging is offered within a gang. A common coping mechanism amongst youth surrounded by a poor environment is gang involvement. Initially, communities that have large gang involvement are often provided with less opportunities to obtain a

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