Brian L. Royster
Saint
Peter’s University
Scholarly literature pertaining to gangs
is primarily written from the perspective of a researcher outside the purview
of the gang. However, it is not often that a researcher possesses institutional
gang knowledge, coupled with academic credentials and can strategically place a
face and voice to the subject matter. This type of research is invaluable because
it provides the reader with a peek into gang life. Although there are scores of
books regarding gangs, Robert Duran’s, Gang
Life in Two Cities, An Insider’s Journey is positioned to separate itself
from the pack.
The book is made up of seven chapters and
is partially a narrative inquiry about Duran’s life, which is a powerful way of
telling a story and makes it more compelling. The author has conducted this comparative
analysis research in two unlikely states, Utah and Colorado, which have not
been nationally highlighted as experiencing serious gang problems. In Utah,
which is a conservative Mormon state, Duran cites difficulties Latinos faced trying
to acclimate. In Colorado, he explains the community’s reaction to an
increasing Latino population.
The author’s status as a former gang member allowed him access to the
inner workings of its lifestyle and is the book’s central theme. In Chapters 1
through 4, Duran discusses how he divorced himself from the gang through the
help of a support system, but observed other Latinos continually face problems
with race relations, intolerance, and immigration into predominately white
communities. His book is timely because of the ongoing debate regarding United
States immigration policy, and it explores why opportunities for minorities are
different from those more fortunate. In a sense, it is an American story
continually played out across state lines.
The author’s depictions about his gang involvement are expressed
throughout the book and are important to its authenticity. Nevertheless, what makes
the book more interesting are the 145 interviews, conducted with former gang members,
which are replete with anecdotes of negative police interactions. Their voices
are poignant and afford the reader a greater insight as to why they joined a
gang. Duran argues that their harassment by the police is tantamount to racial
oppression and has a causal effect on their behavior.
In examining the author’s interviews, the reader may come away with the
impression that gang members are just making excuses. To that end, Duran cites responses by gang
members who claim that their lack of faith in the judicial system and non-support
from mainstream society could be argued is strong justification for why gangs
exist. Yet Duran counters that a self-fulfilling prophecy expressed by gang
members is a more prominent explanation.
In Chapter 5, Negotiating Membership, he analyzes
numerous influences, e.g., marginalized neighborhoods, family survival, gender
socialization, friendships and school experience, which are contributory to
gang inclusion. This is important because as Duran writes, “the barrios of both
Denver and Ogden brought together marginalized individuals who felt blocked
from attaining legitimate opportunities” (pg.120). So, can they be blamed for not
wanting to fit in and be accepted? Duran argues that the suffering of Latinos due
to mainstream society causes them to contain their internal pain, only to
inflict it on others.
Chapter 6, The Only Locotes
Standing discusses the reasons that hold gangs together. Duran claims his
interest in this phenomenon was inspired by the work of French sociologist, Emile
Durkheim and sought to answer the question of “Why did individuals stay
committed despite negative outcomes?” It is in this chapter where Duran’s
insider perspective sheds light on how the media personified the gang member
and gave them a feeling of importance. Nonetheless, he noted that many gang
members eventually recognize the internal contradictions and subsequently leave
the gang.
The author posits in Chapter 7, Barrio
Empowerment that his research provides alternatives to reducing gang
membership and violence. As such, there can be no more an important question
confounding law enforcement and academia than why an individual seeks involvement.
To his credit, the book is abounding with recommendations and strategies for
gang prevention, which are well reasoned and very persuasive. Notwithstanding,
his overall objective is to change the gang paradigm and address deficiencies
in gang literature. Duran found the literature to be overwhelmingly written by
outsiders and contradicts arguments made by critical race theorists (CRTs). Duran
contends that CRTs offer a different “voice-of-color” to research and
recognizes the importance of insiders.
Duran’s book is worthy of consideration as an addendum to an
introductory gang textbook, and not a primary source, solely because it doesn’t
provide a more detailed historical perspective of other gangs, which could be necessary
to the reader for contextual purposes. As an insider, however, his research could
definitely spark a discussion amongst students in a classroom setting. This
book is just as important to academia because it advances the debate, made by
many scholars, regarding the credentials of theorists compared with practitioners.
Fortunately, Duran’s in-depth examination of his gang experiences and
pedagogical research represents both. In addition, law enforcement personnel
could also find value in his book regarding how gang members perceive them. Inasmuch
as his book may be construed as being biased, because he is Latino and a former
gang member, Duran’s slant cannot be discounted thus making his book important
for several disciplines.
