Powills: Why Gangbangers Could Be Great Businessmen

It amazes me how many people in my circle have said, “I have never been to Chicago. I would like to. I am just afraid because of all the murders.” Well, the murders are fact. In 2012, there was no cause for celebration, as the murder count registered at an even 500. One could say that’s quite an improvement over the 515 in New York City in 2011, however, Chicago had 431 that year. That means last year our city cut 69 MORE lives short. If you are a stats buff, you can follow along. In today’s digital world, you can read the news whether you are in Idaho, Florida or Chicago. The Chicago Tribune’s alternative paper, RedEye, even has a homicide tracker. Gangbangers have rewritten the city, the news of the city and the fear of the city. The Second City’s ability to increase its death total is no help for recruiting new businesses, tech up-starts or visitors. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago is now the murder capital of America. Grand Theft Auto is officially no competition. Why are these numbers increasing? If you were to read the great story written by Wired’s Ben Austen, “Public Enemies: Social Media Is Fueling Gang Wars in Chicago”, you may create some of the same assumptions as I did. Social media has created a transparent world where teenagers can coordinate death plans, send death threats, locate and kill. Austen wrote: The prevalence of gun crimes in Chicago is due in large part to a fragmentation of the gangs on its streets: There are now an estimated 70,000 members in the city, spread out among a mind-boggling 850 cliques, with many of these groupings formed around a couple of street corners or a specific school or park. Young people in these areas are like young people everywhere, using technology to coordinate with their friends and chronicle their every move. But in neighborhoods where shootings are common, the use of online tools has turned hazardous, as gang violence is now openly advertised and instigated online. He then writes about a Facebook driller, a gangbanger who stirs up trouble on Facebook by insulting some unknown rival. Online insults are much easier to deliver than in-person. The Internet also makes it much easier to find the people to insult. The online universe has created a screen for us to all hide behind, wait, and then deliver a punch in 140 characters or less. This proactive attack would not exist had it not been for Social Media. Good thing for today’s killer, they grew up in a digital world. Many of the gangbangers are smarter than you or I could ever imagine. They have created sites like TheHoodUp.com, StreetGangs.com and use YouTube to distribute their gun slinging videos and death threats. Gangbangers are technologically advanced and digitally educated on search. Social Media, search, video and video games have taught them how to be incredible killers. According to an article by Noah Isackson in ChicagoMag.com, “Chicago’s Criminals Are Getting Away with Murder”, of 507 killings reported in 2012, only 132 were solved. Why? Social Media savvy killing. Thus, gangbangers could be the smartest businessmen and Social Media gurus in the world – if they could simply put the guns down and get a job (and pass a background test). If they applied the same tactics to business, they could build something booming. They understand loyalty, brand building, planning, debriefing and execution. They are visually talented. They can edit videos. They can write scripts. They can build a voice, a following and crowdsourcing. It’s too bad that energy and technology sophistication is put to waste. If I were to bet, one of these Social Media savvy killers will ultimately put the guns down and grow up. The story will be told at some point in my lifetime. And the story will have a happy ending. Unfortunately, though, for the 500 souls left for dust last year, their story didn’t end as well. It’s too bad that some of our great city’s top businessmen and Social Media pros choose the wrong use for technology. I would love to see that change.