Two problems with what average af-am parent said: 1) gangs aren't a black issue so don't blame the "white machine" for it 2) from personal experience, parents really don't care and/or do not know how to care properly programs are emerging from within communities, by people from those communities, to teach parents how to be effective parents and not pushovers. if parents stood up to their children like they do teachers, police, and other people of influence, many of these problems would be much less widespread than they are now.