Students of Promise Program, Bay View-San Francisco-Invited to Morehouse to hear President speak.

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ThugExposed.Org invited to Chaperone and Video Document monumental event. Bob Ivory-Director Students of Promise Facebook Page
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Insightful College Essay on Thug Mentality Exposed

“…Challenge the destructive beliefs that are shaping and molding the mentalities and cultures in our world.”(Rayford L. Johnson Thug Mentality Exposed) There’s something that’s been on my mind because of frequent resurfacing of it in different aspects of my life. It is gangs, bad music, sinful lifestyles, corrupt people, and this new mentality Rayford L. Johnson calls “thug mentality.” He says thug mentality is a mental weapon used to intimidate others, and to obtain the nerve to carry out some of the most heinous and vicious crimes imaginable upon their [gangster’s] street rivals and the innocent victims within their community with little or no conscience at all. So what makes a gangster? What makes a person want to join a gang? What effect does this choice or circumstance have on them and their families? What is in the minds of these young people (male and female)? What is to be done about this epidemic? “Well, I started wanting to gang bang because when I was younger, I say about 11 or 12, I seen the respect and money, well, all the good parts of the lifestyle my cousin lived. And being that me and my cousin shared a room together, I looked up to him. I wanted to be like him. He was my role model…” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.21) This ward saw his cousin as a “role model.” A lot of people that join gangs are simply following footsteps. This guy looked up to his cousin for guidance. His cousin, purposely or not, wafted money, respect, and power in front of his impressionable 11-12 year old little cousin’s face. He was deceived by one of Satan’s finest: a puppet. Just like the serpent deceived Eve, and Eve deceived Adam; the serpent deceived the cousin, and the cousin deceived this young man. The “good parts” that he spoke about were only a deception that would later cause so many more problems in the life of this young man, his family, and the lives of many others. “I joined the barrio because it runs in the family. That’s all I know. The gang lifestyle was no problem for me. I breathe it and lived it. The only thing I don’t like about gangs is homeboys passing away, so soon, yes, by me joining the gang I put my family in danger, but they already done that before my time. I just added a little piece to the cake, my pro was excitement and the power. The cons, are early death, and return to jail or prison.” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.15) For some people, the gang life is all they know. They grew up around it and simply know no other way of life. They go with the flow of the life they were given. Purposely or not, his family led him to the gang life. They might not have known any better either. These are victims of circumstances. They have to deal with everything any other gangster has to deal with, does what any other gangster does, is deceived by Satan in the same ways as any other. Only difference is, they didn’t choose this life, but had to live it and get comfortable with the term: “that’s just how it is.” “I could see that being in the gang made my mom and dad start to care and I saw it as a way to get the attention I wanted. But the bad part of being in the gang was I had to watch my back and sacrifice a lot of things. I would do bad things to win their acceptance. I lost my freedom for them and my life is always in danger, even now, I’m in danger and I quit. It follows you for the rest of your life. …” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.) Some people simply choose the life. They aren’t feeling the love at home and are enticed by the “homie love.” They are told that they’ll be taken care of and provided for. All they have to do is run a few errands for another homie every now and then and it’ll be okay. Then that turns into “You’ll do what I say or you and/or your family will be killed.” They become a puppet. A puppet of the gang, a puppet of Satan, and it all started because they felt no love, got no attention from home. The homie love is like a high. It lasts for a little while, but it fades and once it’s gone, you have to shoot up again, and for the vast majority, that high has to be replaced with, or added onto with drugs, promiscuity, anything to escape the loneliness found in devilish ways. “So knowing that I’m going out there with absolutely no job skills whatsoever has me thinking, “F*ck, I got to sell drugs or rob people to make some money to get by in life.” Believe me, I don’t want to resort to this and I will exhaust all avenues before I do resort to it, but this is my reality here. This is what I know how to do by nature.” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.16-17) Even after people make gang life their past, there are still effects. If they decide to turn from that life while in prison, what do they do when they get out? This guy had maybe up to a middle school education when he went to prison, was unable to obtain a high school education while there, and didn’t have any work experience going in, or coming out. Only difference is now he’s a little older, uneducated, a legal adult now, broke, and alone. When these guys go home, won’t they still have to go home and depend on an old homie for a place to stay? Won’t the same homies show up at their door looking to get back to the old ways? If they do choose to kick it with those homies (which, they will), and they get in trouble again (which they will), it’s going to start back over again. The cycle won’t end. In California, they made and passed the Gang Enhancement Law. This law provides for greater punishments for when a crime is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang. This simply means that any crime you commit, the punishment will be multiplied if you are found to be associated with any criminal street gang. You could simply have an old gang tattoo, even having had already left the gang years before, and be charged for much more than your original crime. The gang life is real and Satan is hard at work. “I don’t want to show my kids the wrong thing. I am their role model and if I ain’t got values, they won’t either. You need to have values and goals and your kids learn from their parents. I know the only thing a gang is going to get me is dead or in prison, and believe me, — I don’t want that. I have goals and plans.” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.19) Another effect of choosing the gang life is the example you’re setting for your future posterity. What will they think seeing you in a gang? What will they think seeing you in an orange jump suit? What will they think seeing you with drugs? What will they think seeing you with money, respect and power? (No matter how this money, respect and power was obtained.) They might be enticed to follow your lead. They’ll see you doing it and think it’s okay. It might become all they know. They won’t know any other way of life and thus, continuing the cycle of the thug mentality. You must set an example for your kids. Nieces, nephews, God children, cousins, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, not to mention all the people they will have an influence on. Break the cycle. Turn from the ways before the impressionable minds of those that look up to you, observe these ways, this lifestyle. “…I also learned quick that once you tell your own homies you don’t want to gang bang anymore they think you’re weak, or they might respect it…” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.19) What if… you can’t get out the gang? Ever heard of blood in, blood out? You’re jumped in, and if you want out, you must survive being beaten to the verge of death. What if you don’t make it? Oh well. That’s where it ends. Your little nieces, nephews and kids will still know you as you were: a thug, a gangster, a user, an abuser, a womanizer, whatever you indulged in during that life, that is their ever-lasting vision of you. A lot of homies don’t take it nicely when they find out you that you’re wimping out, disrespecting the gang. Some of them that wish they could do like you’re doing and just say that they want out, will respect you and know where you’re coming from, but like I said, Satan is a busy man. There’ll always be some sort of obstacle in the way of getting out. That is the decision you make when you join a gang. That is what you’re agreeing to, the contract you’re signing with the devil. There’s always a price to pay. “This gang banging life ain’t what people think it is. I still believe the reason why it started was for a good reason, but that reason is long gone and people need to get on with their life. Because these people who call you their homie really ain’t your homie.” (Excerpt from an anonymous ward’s letter featured in Thug Mentality Exposed pg.21) It is high time somebody told everybody the truth. Most gangs began so people in prison could unite and everybody would have everybody’s back, and everybody’s back would be had. I’d say it was for comfort. It may have started with good intentions, but look what it has morphed into. Good things go bad all the time. That has never been a secret. You know it, I know it. It’s a universally known fact of life. It’s time for people to end it now. We can’t allow this to grow anymore. Too many innocent people are being lied to and deceived. Too many innocent people are becoming the victims of those lied to and deceived. It’s time to unite in the undying love of Jesus Christ, accept him into our lives and repent out sins. That maybe the lord will forgive and let live and we can all live together in peace. By Rosie, Georgia May 19th, 2013
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Occult Symbols in Hollywood Exposed-By Forerunner777

0 Occult Symbols in Hollywood Exposed By Forerunner777

Occult & Illuminate Symbols in Hollywood Exposed by former NYC Music Producer and Screen Writer, Chris Hudson.  Discover how these symbols have the spiritual power to enter into an individuals subconscious and change their beliefs, emotions and actions, without their permission.  This all for the purpose to prepare individuals to accept Lucifer’s New World Order.

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Bullying Exposed: “To Snitch or not to Snitch”

“To Snitch or Not to Snitch” Bullying Exposed…A Common Sense Perspective, taught by a former Youth Correctional Counselor and Author of the Book “Thug Mentality Exposed.” Bullying Prevention Workshop in Stockton, California by ThugExposed.org.
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An Asian Gangster’s Encounter with the PORTAL OF HELL

0 An Asian Gangsters Encounter with the PORTAL OF HELL Gene a.k.a. “Genius” is a former Asian Gangster from the Bay Area, who encountered a life changing near death experience (N.D.E), which took his life in an entire new direction. “Genius” had a real life encounter with the Portal of Hell. Gene now is a successful graphic artist, and works with the environmental and gang & drug prevention program Green Tech. http://www.greentech.edu
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NEW STUDY: SMOKING WEED(Cannabis)… Permanently Lowers IQ’

APRA86 2185518b NEW STUDY: SMOKING WEED(Cannabis)... Permanently Lowers IQ

Teenagers who regularly smoke cannabis are putting themselves at risk of permanently damaging their intelligence, according to a landmark study.

 

Read More….Click Here

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Redemption of a SATANIST/VAMPIRE PART II

0 Redemption of a SATANIST/VAMPIRE PART II

Help the Cause!!!

Get DVD only $10 (click on link):http://www.thugexposed.com/blog/redemption-of-a-satanistvampire-part-2/

Former Vampire/Satanist Explains about JayZ, Twilight Series and many of the Symbols used by Artists in the Entertainment Industry. VERY SHOCKING!!!

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Profiting in the Green Economy-5 Modules Which Can Earn You High Income

0 Profiting in the Green Economy 5 Modules Which Can Earn You High Income

 Educator & Poet Frank Withrow interviews Green Economy Expert Simeon Gant (Green Tech).  Simeon will discuss 5 innovative modules that can earn an individual a very lucrative income in today’s green economy.

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“South-Central’s Prodigal Son”-Tale of a Former Blood Gang Member

0 South Centrals Prodigal Son Tale of a Former Blood Gang Member

Jeff Osbourne is a former Blood gang member from South-Central Los Angeles.  His father was a pastor, however some how he found himself led into the  “streets”,…find out what brought him back.

Jeff is now a Youth Pastor & Gang Intervention Specialist


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California Gang Enhancement Law: What every Counselor, Teacher, Parent, and Mentor Needs to Know.

California Gang Enhancement Law: What every counselor, teacher, parent, and mentor needs to know.

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By Rayford L. Johnson


“It ruins people’s lives, it stays with you forever.” These were the words of Stan DaVeiga, a former Norteno gang member from Sacramento, California.   DaVeiga who is now the Associate Director of Rollin with Christ, a gang prevention ministry, speaks not just from his hardships and experience as a validated gang member, but also is a voice for his peers, who like himself, have found it an uphill challenge trying to get back on the right track in society.  DaVeiga expressed frustration that the gang validation list is synonymous with the infamous “blacklist”, especially when it comes to finding employment (Stan DaVeiga, personal communication, January 9, 2011).


This paper will strengthen social institutions that support children, youth and families by describing California’s Gang Enhancement Law to increase awareness in local communities of the classification system of “validations” and the essential role that mentors, counselors, and youth serving organizations can play in breaking the cycle of gangs, drugs, violence, poverty and death.


California Gang Enhancement Law


According to the National Drug Threat Survey (NDTS), approximately 6,900 gangs with more than 237,000 members were criminally active in the Pacific Region in 2008. Also according to NDTS data, the percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Pacific Region that reported gang activity in their jurisdictions increased from 66 percent in 2004 to 74 percent in 2008. As much as 80 percent of crime in some jurisdictions was gang-related. This proliferation in gang activity led to the enactment of the Gang Enhancement Law which provides for greater punishments when a crime is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang.


For example, a gang member arrested for graffiti, which is normally a misdemeanor offense, would be charged with a felony due to the youth’s affiliation with a gang. The gang validation process is utilized by law enforcement to qualify suspected gang members for the California Gang Enhancement Law.


Why does every AOD counselor, teacher, parent, and mentor need to know this?  In today’s youth culture, a reputation as a thug or a gang member is very trendy cool, sexy, and to be respected.  For example: “Gangsta” rapper, Cordozar Calvin Broadus a.k.a. “Snoop Dogg”, a validated California gang member himself, has been the spokesperson for reputable car companies such as Cadillac and Chrysler.  Cadillac has named a car after Broadus, called the “Snoop Deville”. Forbes magazine writes, “Partnerships like these helped land the rapper the seventh spot on Forbes’ 2010 Hip-Hop Cash Kings list. Over the past year, he’s raked in an estimated $15 million from music sales, a tour, acting gigs and Snoop-branded products that leverage his name, his look and deep baritone (Chung estimates that endorsement deals and branded products account for one-third of his income). Snoop’s so ubiquitous it’s hard to remember that he was once held up on Capitol Hill as a poster boy for the idea that rap music bred a culture of violence.” Broadus is just one of many self-proclaimed gang members, who are lavishly promoted across America and the world’s entertainment air waves, propagating the detrimental message that being a thug is “cool”.  Peter MacGillivray, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association of Diamond Bar, California, stated that celebrities are enhancing the popularity and profits of the already multibillion-dollar auto accessory market: “They are media celebrities, and they make it cool,” …They influence popular culture. They influence art. They influence fashion and music. They sing about their cars . . . and they motivate a whole lot of people.”


Thug Culture: Easy Set-Up for Gang Validation


 Tattooing has become very fashionable in the thug culture.  Many hip hop and rock videos display male and female musical icons covered in tattoos.  As McCeallery stated, these “gangsta” artists “motivate a whole lot of people”.  Unfortunately many of the new artists in the industry are self proclaimed thugs and gang members, proudly displaying their  gang and thug life related tattoos as many of them “pimp walk” or “C-walk”(Gang-related Crip Dance) and sag their pants.  This growing “thug” phenomenon, brought on by the entertainment industry, has mesmerized many youth, compelling them to emulate the “gangsta artists”; tattoo themselves from head to toe; wear thug culture attire; unknowingly amplifying their visibility on the law enforcement gang validation radar.


 Another contributing factor for gang validation is that some youth seek out friendship and association with gang members for protection, because they feel unsafe in their neighborhood or school. Some students are even “bullied” into gang association.  Some girls find it trendy and cool to date gang members or thugs, not knowing that doing so can validate them as a gang member. Similarly, some girls are “bullied” into dating thugs and gang members.


Wearing sports paraphernalia, especially in groups, such as the red 49ers or Chicago Bulls sportswear, can be perceived by law enforcement as Blood or Norteno gang member attire. Sacramento King’s sport apparel with the symbol “SK” can be misconstrued as the Norteno gang-related slogan “Sureno Killer”(Surenos or “Sur”  a Norteno gang-rival). Wearing L.A. Dodgers or Dallas Cowboys sport wear can be perceived by law enforcement as Crip or Sureno gang member attire.  California State University, Fresno apparel, which displays the Bulldog mascot on it, can be perceived by law enforcement as representing the Bulldog gang.


An important distinction regarding youth’s choice of attire is that wearing the aforementioned examples of apparel earns a point in the gang validation process in combination with other behavior such as criminal activity or being spotted within a gang-related environment such as a party or gathering in which gang members are present. The following story illustrates how a gang-related tattoo came back to haunt a man, even after leaving the gang. Raul Hernandez, a journalist for the Ventura County Star, writes:Twenty-seven-year-old Gerardo Lopez of Oxnard has some regrets. For instance, when he  bought beer for someone two years ago, and the guy stiffed him, Lopez shouldn’t have punched  the offender. When police arrested Lopez for that and ordered him to lift his shirt, an even older mistake came back to haunt him: the Colonia Chiques gang tattoo on his stomach, which he got when he was 16.


“I didn’t know better,” Lopez said. The auto mechanic told police that he left the gang life behind many years ago. That didn’t seem to matter. Instead of charging him with battery, a misdemeanor, prosecutors added a felony gang enhancement. He was facing as many as four years in prison; his bail was set at $107,000, Lopez said.


“Most people get validated because they don’t have knowledge on how not to get validated”, stated DaVeiga (Stan DaVeiga, personal communication, January 14, 2011).
Three Step System for Gang Prevention & Intervention:


    •    Awareness: The first step to help a youth avoid the gang validation process is implementing awareness education with youth, parents, mentors, counselors and other natural local leaders.  Individuals must realize that a problem exists before they are motivated to solve it.


 It has been this author’s experience as a youth correctional counselor for the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation for fourteen years that the best antidote to gang prevention and intervention is obtaining an awareness and deep global understanding of the matter. When the history of thug culture is presented to active gang members in a correctional setting, the majority are captivated and even emotionally moved by the information.


Often the inmates request more information about thug culture and are more likely to open up about their own background, past and current experiences in the gang lifestyle.  Sharing the information initiates a dialogue. The basic understanding of the word and origin of thug is often enough to diminish the “bling, bling” luster of the thug culture.
Gang members often justify their actions by making themselves a victim of the economic, prejudice, political or racial injustices of society and the government.  Many “O.G. Homies” step in where biological fathers have stepped out.


Knowledge: Once awareness is manifested, the next step is knowledge. Core negative beliefs are the root issue of the gang/thug culture; criminal beliefs create criminal actions.  The effort to help youth make healthier and safer choices includes strategies such as Beliefs+Emotions+Actions=Results (B.E.A.R.):
Beliefs +Emotions +Actions=Results.

Confrontation: Although the word “confrontation” can bring to mind aggressive tone, language, discomfort and other conflict resolution nightmares, when confrontation is facilitated using open-ended questions from a caring adult, youth are given the opportunity to evaluate their own thinking about their risk behaviors and lifestyles.

Consequently, confrontation is the last step of the process.  Parents, mentors, counselors, and other individuals should know that a youth’s choice to become (and remain) involved in a gang is ultimately about respect.  The following is an example of how youth can be supported in thinking about the choices that they are making:


    •    The adult (or peer mentor) can ask the youth: “Is being in a gang about respect?”
    •     “Does anything you do as a gang member violate your conscience?” Examples can be provided to assist the youth: Violence, their drug and alcohol use, crimes, murder, sexual promiscuity, poor grades, worrying and disrespecting parents, etc. Almost all youth will say “yes”.
    •     “Would you say your conscience and your self-respect are one in the same?” If I can make or persuade you to go against your conscience by do something you don’t want to do, did I in essence make you violate your self-respect?” The majority of youth will say “yes”.
    •     “You said that being in a gang is about respect, right?” When the youth responds affirmatively, a caring adult can confront a youth in a gentle tone with a follow-up statement such as, “I’m confused. How can being in a gang be about respect, when you said that being in a gang violates your own self-respect?”  A blank expression usually comes across the youth’s face at this point.
    •     The objective is not to ridicule the youth, but to encourage her/him to self-evaluate their choices.


Law Enforcement Process


The gang validation process has undoubtedly been an essential tool in understanding gang logistics and dynamics and has been very helpful in solving crimes to keep the community safe. Unfortunately, many non-gang member youth have caused irreparable damage to their future for making non-criminal, yet unwise decisions, which is a part of the adolescent developmental process.


A youth correctional counselor for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation observed that, once youth realize the magnitude and reality of being gang validated, depression can set in due to feelings of regret, hopelessness and self-hatred, that without intervention and support, can disintegrate into a deep anger, followed by rebellion and anarchy, eventually cycling them back around into a deeper attraction and desire for the gang culture as an emotional outlet.  Berry states, “They use the adrenaline high and drugs to mask the depression” (Marcel Berry, personal communication, January 28, 2011).

In order for society to truly make a significant impact on the gang epidemic, prevention must be administered to the root, which is the family.  Though this paper argues that the glorification of the “thug” by the entertainment industry, can play a heavy influence in conditioning  youth for criminal activity, in most cases, it is the family’s home structure and values, which is the determining influential factor, on whether a youth will or will not enter into the gang or thug culture.  Three distinct forms of family breakdown, which led to lifestyles of crime were spot lighted by the Social Justice Policy Group’s report “Fractured Families.”
•    Dissolution (where parents part after having children together),
•    Dysfunction (where parents are not able to provide their children with a sufficiently
nurturing environment)
•    ‘Dadlessness’


Children who experience all three of these family breakdowns, are twice as likely to enter in a criminal lifestyle, have poor school performance,  suffer depression and develop a substance abuse addiction.  It is vital that if at all possible, prevention programs implement in their curriculum, addressing the core of these family issues, along with encouraging family participation.  An example of a program like this is the “Big Brother and Sister Program, where a positive on-going relational interaction between the volunteer, child and family is developed.  These type of programs cultivate an atmosphere of caring, accountability and most importantly good values, these three components are essential in having an effective gang prevention program.

Resources(Websites)www.californiagangprevention.comwww.pactpowerkids.com http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/cripsandbloods/more.htmlwww.thugexposed.orghttp://www.youthradio.org/news/saying-no-to-gang-life(Books)The Bond: Three Young Men Learn To Forgive and Re-Connect with Their Fathers by Davis Sampson, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt The Pact: Three Young Men Make A Promise and Fulfill A Dream by Davis Sampson, George Jenkins and Rameck HuntThug Mentality Exposed by Rayford JohnsonWe Beat the Street by Davis Sampson, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sharon Draper

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