Emulating gang dress, attitude and life-style can have detrimental effects on your child. There are no gang members living in my neighborhood. Gangs are highly mobile and can move in and out of any neighborhood. Graffiti vandalism is done by gangs who are marking their turf. Graffiti is not usually a sign of gangs taking over your neighborhood.
Gangs only hang around in their own neighborhood.
Gangsters wear baggy clothing and athletic team baseball hats. I know a gang member when I see one, and I don't see any hanging around my neighborhood. Contemporary gangs are dressing more mainstream to be less obvious to police, teachers and parents. Behavior is a better indicator of gang involvement than physical appearance. Allowing your child to dress the part is telling your child that you accept his belief that gangs are cool.