The phenomenon of gang activity in the Caribbean has impacted greatly on the society. This level of activity has been shown in the rise of crime and violence throughout the region. The gangs impact communities either through fear of them or by victimization from their crimes. The concept “One ring to rule them all,” from the trilogy “Lord of Rings” shows that the one who controls the ring has ultimate power. This way of operating is reflective of the gangs operating with some of the Caribbean. In light of these issues, the relationship between gang activity and social injustice in the Caribbean with special focus on Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Poverty, illiteracy, high unemployment rates, unequal distribution of wealth, and anti social structures are ideas that constitute some of the root causes to the phenomenon of gang and gang related activities
Structural factors would consist of minorities, young and mostly male, whose lifestyles are characterized by poverty, high crime, under-education and underemployment. The psychological factors, which are largely products of structural, include status needs, identity and belongingness, social
disabilities and psychological characteristics. Status needs refer to the gang member’s need for social status, which is supplied in part by gang affiliation. Within the gang you are somebody, people respect you, you’ve got a name. Identity and belongingness are apart to members through a sense of identity especially for those who lack a sense of self. This most likely is a result of single parents or abusive parents or basically a lack of proper role models
The problem is that our culture glorifies this kind of lifestyle; even the main character of the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, sings, "Drink up me hearties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me! A toast to piracy and its many shiny rewards. As a career, what could be more rewarding? Drink up me hearties, yo ho! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for...