Similarities Between The Cross And The Switchblade By David Wilkerson

Violence, gangs, and cults have always been a problem in society. There are various reasons why people join gangs. However, sometimes in order to turn a life around after being stuck in a gang, inspiration needs to come from somewhere else to inspire a person for a better life. Gangs give children and adults alike a sense of family or home. They feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, thus, giving them a reason to live. In the novel The Cross and the Switchblade, author David Wilkerson demonstrates through the characters and plot how people in the gang cope with their various situations; however, they can turn their lives around for the better by the end.
Gang violence has been a problem in society throughout history and all over …show more content…
The grim reality of gangs is that men, women, and children all partake in crimes in gangs. Wilkerson demonstrates how these kids are intrigued by these actions and want to repeat them and face real life consequences. He “learned how to stick with a knife, which is when you cut someone but don’t kill him” (Wilkerson 87). However, because of his actions with sticking up to seventeen people, the character ended up in jail twelve times over it. David reflects that even though the character is jailed for his involvement with the gang that young children do not have anything to look forward to in their lives, and that is why they turn to gangs and a life of violence and murder. Wilkerson shows how “a floating population of teenagers who are hostile and afraid, flock together looking for security and a sense of belonging” (Wilkerson 122). These kids stay together to feel like they have a meaning in life and a purpose to live. The gangs they are involved in give them a sense of purpose, whether it is a true purpose or not. David’s overall mission is to inspire these gang members and kids and want them to have a better life for