Racial Innocence and Cultural Appropriation in a Latino Gang Forum

• In Event: Critical Studies in Race and Ethnicity: Exploring Racial/Ethnic Dynamics of Group Identity, Experience, and Behavior

Abstract

Though the “digital streets” likely decrease social distance between racially homogenous gangs and increase opportunities for interracial conflict, we know very little about if or how gang members reproduce racialized hierarchies in online gang forums. This research uses critical theories on racialized identity and hierarchy, and criminological perspectives on differential social organization, to examine how Latino gang members distance themselves from Black and white supremacist gang members while simultaneously embracing components of an imagined Black gangster culture to validate their claims to gang membership. Our mixed-methods approach capitalizes on data on 140,000+ online interactions among 22,000+ individuals in a racially diverse Facebook gang forum that includes members of Latino, white supremacist, Black, and interracial gangs. Qualitative analyses indicate Latino gang members use anti-Black racism and selective appropriation of African American culture to assert claims to gang membership and masculinity, and to maintain supremacy in the digital streets. Concurrently, Latino gang members maintain “racial innocence” by contesting white supremacists’ claims to gang membership, denying accusations of racism, and pointing to racial diversity the Latino communities. Preliminary quantitative results indicate Latino gang members’ attempts at maintaining supremacy are successful, as they boast the longest group tenure of any racial or ethnic group.

Authors

• Kate K. O'Neill, University of Iowa

• John Leverso, University of Cincinnati