St. Louis: How Street Gangs and Urban Violence Evolved Across Generations

St. Louis, Missouri, has experienced some of the highest homicide rates among major American cities. But understanding its history of violence requires looking beyond crime statistics. In this episode, we explore how industrial decline, neighborhood identity, social inequality, and changing gang structures shaped parts of the city's history. Drawing on criminology and psychology, we examine why street gangs emerge, how violence can persist across generations, and what communities can do to interrupt these cycles.