Before you get to the article…
On February 23, 2018, my book on the Mau Maus and Sand Street Angels, who were two Brooklyn youth gangs from the 1950s, has been completed. It took 15 years of research and writing to complete Brooklyn Rumble: Mau Maus, Sand Street Angels, and the End of an Era. This book is roughly 6″x9″ and has 370 pages and includes a look at the characters in the Mau Maus and the details of a gang killing that happened in February 1959 in front of the iconic Brooklyn Paramount Theater (now Long Island University). If you want to buy a copy, click here and this link will take you to an online ordering page.
——-
Found a great period ad by Kings County (Brooklyn) Court titled “A Useful Citizen Employed.” Whenever gang members (or non-gang members) got in trouble with the law, they were encouraged to find a job which would keep them busy, develop a work ethic etc. Below is an ad from Kings County Court espousing the benefits of jobs not just for youth, but for all age ranges.
Employment Ad Kings County Court