gang this and that
From: mary rose lenore eng
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 7:51 PM
Subject: Note: use of term ‘gang-related’ in UK's Guardian
To: Peter.Simpson@portlandoregon.gov
http://www.theguardian.com/
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 7:51 PM
Subject: Note: use of term ‘gang-related’ in UK's Guardian
To: Peter.Simpson@portlandoregon.gov
Dear Simpson,
I just found this article from the UK press about LA crime that to me shows a certain hesitancy to wrap one's lips around the term "gang-related."
without quotes.
I am gathering that the UK media find this term ambiguous, possibly racialized.
is there any working definition PDX uses to delimit what PDX means by "gang" as i find the term both ambiguous, and epithetical, and unevenly used to mean "black."
i hope you get a chance to catch the syntactical nuance of this article---and if you have time to relay a deeper insight into Portland's "gang" linguistic device---that would be interesting.
My proposal to City Hall is that we get away from the use of this term and work with more accurate descriptive terms which connote less racialized and epithetical tones.
I know many people affected by crime in PDX still use this word---and possibly not all find it offensive.
Hopefully an increased sense of sensitivity to distressed communities can maximize safety for all!
is there a possibility that if used in the future ---PDX City Hall and PPB will use "gang-related" in air quotes in deference and recognition of the controversy around the power imbalance implicit in who gets to decide which kinds of people qualify as "gang-related?"
Glad to offer these thoughts and suggestions!
hope you are having a pleasant day and are safe and well.
Eng
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