Since the explosion of crack cocaine sales in the 1980s, street gangs have increased in membership and location. What was once seen as an inner-city menace has now spread to rural neighborhoods and schools. Among the many theories regarding the causes of youth involvement in criminal street gangs is the argument that the media glorify the attitude and image of gang members. Many contend that the commercial marketing of trends and styles typically associated with gangsters influences juveniles to imitate their criminal behavior. According to Suren Pillay, an expert in political studies, “The attitude of African-American youth resonates because it speaks a discourse of alienation, but is given cultural power by the media.” By selling the “bad boy” image of gangsters, many argue that society may be exacerbating the problem of criminal street gangs.

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