The urban dictionary dot com defines gangster mentality as “a man or woman whose life is ruled by criminal beliefs and actions.”  They usually belong to local gangs and survive by selling drugs throughout the neighborhood and committing other crimes such as robbery which can then lead to assault and murder. These are the kinds of characters that most people try to avoid.

Respect is a tough thing to earn. We all look to earn it at work or perhaps at church and in the community at large. Respect is something we all long for and we all know that there is no real short cut to getting it. Often times an office requires respect but the person in that office might still have to earn it. We respect Presidents and Prime Ministers at first because of the office they hold; later if and when they accomplish something we then come to respect the person.

Many black youth decide they can earn respect in the world by becoming gangsters. They may see that as the only way to remove themselves from their current life situation. Prison is often the only place that they end up and they need to get respect there too so their lifestyle continues within the prison walls.

A few years ago the Rev. Al Sharpton spoke about the problem of gangsterism within the black community. He blamed the media, i.e. the music and movie industries, for making it seem cool and kids always want to be cool so they follow the lead of their heroes, according to Sharpton.

“We have got to get out of this gangster mentality, acting as if gangsterism and blackness are synonymous. I think we’ve allowed a whole generation of young people to feel that if they’re focused, they’re not black enough. If they speak well and act well, they’re acting white, and there’s nothing more racist than that.” said Sharpton.

But the question remains: can someone truly get respect by having a gangster mentality?  No, chances are good that what they refer to as respect in their circles is nothing more than fear. They are afraid of each other because they know their peers are capable of violence and they don’t want to be on the receiving end.

True respect can be earned by teens and others with that mentality in other settings. Many of them simply need to learn the kind of skills that can lead to true success within the rest of the world. Perhaps they need mentors and if they are successful they can mentor others and drive away that gangster mentality. Respect is something they need to learn how to garner and they can do it.