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Something Wicked This Way Comes

A Historical Account of Black Gangsterism Offers Wisdom and Warning for African American Leadership

University of North Carolina-Greensboro

Black Americans who exist outside of the American Dream have historically had a direct relationship with street revolutionaries and ghetto superstars more than the appointed Black leadership. Hence, it continues to be an unfair criticism for any "integrated" Black leader to suggest that another Black leader is not authentic enough to have universal appeal, particularly when there is a noticeable social distance between the majority of Black leaders (past and present) who emerge from the middle class and the Black underclass. The gang has traditionally been a significant socialization agent in gangland areas; thus, Black leadership should access the wisdom of the gang when looking for answers to the tough life course conditions of the urban underclass resident. This article provides a brief history about Black gangs in an attempt to provide some insight relative to just how significant the Black gang has been to the Black experience in America.

Key Words: Black leadership • gangs • racial representation • Black experience

This version was published on November 1, 2009

Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 40, No. 2, 347-361 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0021934708315486


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