Christian Smith

In an effort to deter gang-related crime, in 1997 Los Angeles courts approved injunctions against members of one of its most violent gangs, the 18th Street gang. As described in the following viewpoint, many of the gang members’ most basic civil rights, such as the right to congregate on the street, were revoked as officials attempted to better control their actions. Christian Smith, a self-described radical therapist in North Hollywood, argues that not only are the injunctions unconstitutional, but they also ignore the fundamental factors that attract children to the gang lifestyle: poverty and competition. He maintains that American capitalism prioritizes profit over human life, and that gangs are a logical extension of this value system.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What, according to the author, is the “identified...