--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we grow up in these communities where…" description: "\"If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs, well, what do you think we're going to belong to? That's what happened to me and what's still h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/richard-cabral-15527_belong_if-we-grow-up-in-these-communities-where_1152222.jpg" --- # If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs… ![“If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs, well, what do you think we're going to belong to? That's what happened to me and what's still happening to hundreds of thousands of other individuals.” quote by Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/richard-cabral-15527_belong_if-we-grow-up-in-these-communities-where_1152222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/richard-cabral-15527_belong_if-we-grow-up-in-these-communities-where_1152222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/richard-cabral-15527_belong_if-we-grow-up-in-these-communities-where_1152222.jpg) > “If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs, well, what do you think we're going to belong to? That's what happened to me and what's still happening to hundreds of thousands of other individuals.” [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up in gang‑filled neighborhoods often channels identity and belonging into criminal groups, perpetuating cycles of violence. **In simple terms:** Gangs become a false sense of belonging for many youths. Key Takeaway Seek healthy community alternatives. Themes identity belonging violence community cycle Mood reflective somber Type social psychological When to use this quote - youth mentorship programs - school outreach - family counseling - community centers Key Concepts social identity theory environmental determinism resilience Questions to Reflect On - What community resources could replace gang belonging? - How does personal choice interact with environment? A Different Perspective Not all individuals in such areas join gangs; personal agency and support can change outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Gangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangs/) ## Related quotes > [In the '60s and '70s, people didn't pay a lot of attention to gangs. I think gangs still existed, but gangs had fallen out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meda-chesney-lind/in-the-60s-and-70s-people-didn-t-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-gangs-i/) [Meda Chesney-Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meda-chesney-lind/) > [“Gang members have joined the military since the mid-1800s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-f-smith/gang-members-have-joined-the-military-since-the-mid-1800s/) [Carter F. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-f-smith/) > [You just gotta be who you are, and I think it's time to get rid of this whole National Basketball Association. Call it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-just-gotta-be-who-you-are-and-i-think-it-s-time-to-get-rid-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What a lot of people dont realize about gangs, in my opinion, is that a gang is not there to attack you. Eighty percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/what-a-lot-of-people-dont-realize-about-gangs-in-my-opinion-is-that-a/) [Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/) > [My father died early. My mother died early. I started hanging with the gangs. I'm on the streets; I'm committing crimes. And the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/my-father-died-early-my-mother-died-early-i-started-hanging-with-the/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Where I come from, a lot of people didn't have money, but they didn't have gangs or drugs either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/where-i-come-from-a-lot-of-people-didn-t-have-money-but-they-didn-t/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The gang may be a safer place than home, but it's not without its problems. In some instances, especially in the Latino community, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meda-chesney-lind/the-gang-may-be-a-safer-place-than-home-but-it-s-not-without-its/) [Meda Chesney-Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meda-chesney-lind/) > [“Gangs were unusual things. They were like fraternities, only meaner. They often had their own clubhouses and uniforms and they could be as tight-knit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gangs-were-unusual-things-they-were-like-fraternities-only-meaner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He's a Stone Dead gang member. He'll be hanging with the other Deads, and the Deads own the fifth block of Stark. Their color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-s-a-stone-dead-gang-member-he-ll-be-hanging-with-the-other-deads/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [People talk about gangs as if they're something new. But it really isn't that way. The Democratic Party is a gang. The Republican Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-studi/people-talk-about-gangs-as-if-they-re-something-new-but-it-really-isn/) [Wes Studi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-studi/) > [At first glance, the rhythm may be confused with gaiety, but when you look more closely at the mechanism of social life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-garc-a-lorca/at-first-glance-the-rhythm-may-be-confused-with-gaiety-but-when-you/) [Federico Garcia Lorca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-garc-a-lorca/) > [And what is needed to prevent them from joining gangs was ample recreation for boys as well as girls, jobs and internships for training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-scott/and-what-is-needed-to-prevent-them-from-joining-gangs-was-ample/) [Bobby Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-scott/) > [Honour is a homicide and a bloodspiller, that gangs about making frays in the street; but Credit is a decent honest man, that sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/honour-is-a-homicide-and-a-bloodspiller-that-gangs-about-making-frays/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The most dangerous kind of girl involvement with gangs is one where the girls are just sort of hanging around the gang boys or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meda-chesney-lind/the-most-dangerous-kind-of-girl-involvement-with-gangs-is-one-where/) [Meda Chesney-Lind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meda-chesney-lind/) > [“barrios; each barrio has two or three gangs, and all the gangs are theoretically”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/barrios-each-barrio-has-two-or-three-gangs-and-all-the-gangs-are/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by Richard Cabral > [In society, you are taught to belong. You have to belong to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-society-you-are-taught-to-belong-you-have-to-belong-to-something/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My family had been involved in gangs since the 1970s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-family-had-been-involved-in-gangs-since-the-1970s/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There's comes a point when people who have lived a life of crime get tired and want to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-s-comes-a-point-when-people-who-have-lived-a-life-of-crime-get/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The agricultural fields throughout the Southwest, those jobs needed to be filled, and who were the ones to do it? It was the Mexicans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-agricultural-fields-throughout-the-southwest-those-jobs-needed-to/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I think 98% of gang members in Los Angeles would agree that being a gang is just like being part of a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-think-98-of-gang-members-in-los-angeles-would-agree-that-being-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [My father figures were all gang members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/my-father-figures-were-all-gang-members/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [When you're in a gang, you go through life like any other individual. You have certain obligations, but you are not forced to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/when-you-re-in-a-gang-you-go-through-life-like-any-other-individual/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The true meaning of an artist/actor is opening my heart to the audience and, at the same time, opening their heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-true-meaning-of-an-artist-actor-is-opening-my-heart-to-the/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Homeboy Industries is a healing center for broken children. I was a broken child, and they showed me how to put all those pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/homeboy-industries-is-a-healing-center-for-broken-children-i-was-a/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [The power of belief, of God is beyond what mere mortals can Imagine. There is no restrictions in my Life. If I do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/the-power-of-belief-of-god-is-beyond-what-mere-mortals-can-imagine/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [There are many things in common with my life and my character in 'American Crime.' My upbringing has definitely helped me out in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/there-are-many-things-in-common-with-my-life-and-my-character-in/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [Your only true obligation in a gang is to be committed and be there when your brothers need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/your-only-true-obligation-in-a-gang-is-to-be-committed-and-be-there/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I feel that in all kids that I've came across, that at the age of 12-13 is a big transition . They begin forming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-feel-that-in-all-kids-that-i-ve-came-across-that-at-the-age-of-12/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [I spent my life behind bars, and what people don't know is getting out of prison is really nerve-racking - you're not used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/i-spent-my-life-behind-bars-and-what-people-don-t-know-is-getting-out/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) > [In this society, you have to belong to something, I feel, and all we have in the neighborhood is a gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cabral/in-this-society-you-have-to-belong-to-something-i-feel-and-all-we/) [Richard Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) [Explore all 43 Richard Cabral quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cabral/) ## More Belong quotes > [How come I end up where I started How come I end up where I belong... You used to be alright What happened?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/how-come-i-end-up-where-i-started-how-come-i-end-up-where-i-belong/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I hate this feeling. Like Im here. But, Im not. Like someone cares. But, they dont. Like I belong somewhere else, anywhere but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-this-feeling-like-im-here-but-im-not-like-someone-cares-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As you know, in America there's no rights for the artist, so whatever films I've made kind of belong to the studio, so if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-jewison/as-you-know-in-america-there-s-no-rights-for-the-artist-so-whatever/) [Norman Jewison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-jewison/) > [“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-the-time-comes-everybody-s-got-to-end-up-where-they-belong-only/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [God has a purpose for us. If he didn't we wouldn't be alive in the first place. We have a calling. We are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-janssen/god-has-a-purpose-for-us-if-he-didn-t-we-wouldn-t-be-alive-in-the/) [Kenny Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-janssen/) > [I thought of how many places there are in the world that belong in this way to someone, who has it in his blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/i-thought-of-how-many-places-there-are-in-the-world-that-belong-in/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [I belong to a Bohri Muslim family, and for us, food is our biggest celebration. We are used to elaborate five- to six-course meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/i-belong-to-a-bohri-muslim-family-and-for-us-food-is-our-biggest/) [Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/) > [“You need to belong to yourself, and let others belong to themselves too. You need to be free and detached from things and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/you-need-to-belong-to-yourself-and-let-others-belong-to-themselves/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [I want all of my films to belong to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-want-all-of-my-films-to-belong-to-me/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) > [Earth does not belong to us; we belong to earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/earth-does-not-belong-to-us-we-belong-to-earth/) [Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/) > [I think I know where you belong. I think I know its not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-i-know-where-you-belong-i-think-i-know-its-not-with-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a compelling reason why I belong in the Hall of Fame, but I understand the argument against me. My career didn't go like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/there-s-a-compelling-reason-why-i-belong-in-the-hall-of-fame-but-i/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) Browse all 1,571 Belong quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we grow up in these communities where we have gangs, well, what do you think we're going to belong to? 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