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Article: The idea that more young black people are hanging out in threatening gangs is a subtle form of racism
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- December 3, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2000 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The death of a child has turned the spotlight of media attention
on to a community in south-east London. One can't help but have a
sense of deja vu. Every time someone is attacked for apparently no
reason, commentators and community leaders all leap to blame
something called "gang culture". I have listened to people on
television and the radio complaining about an alleged rise in
American-style gangs among the young, as if this explains why young
Damilola Taylor may have been bullied at school.
Such a senseless death is an awful thing, but let's not blame
gangs for everything that might be wrong in Peckham or any other part
of Britain with poor housing and struggling schools. Throughout my ...