Gang History
Criminal gangs have certainly been around as long as crime itself -- it doesn't take a criminal
mastermind to realize there is strength in numbers. The urbanization that accompanied the
Industrial Revolution gave rise to the modern street gang.
New York City was the epicenter of gang activity in America in the 19th century. Poor sections
of the city, such as the Five Points, provided a fertile ground for gangs with strong ethnic
identities, usually Irish. Gangs based on Polish, Italian or other ethnicities were also common.
The Forty Thieves, Shirt Tails and Plug Uglies fought over territory, robbed and mugged people
and sometimes united to fight against gangs from other areas of the city, such as the waterfront
and the Bowery district.
Gang activity gradually increased in the 20th century. Through the 1950s and 60s, most gangs
were in large cities, although nearby towns and suburbs might have hosted offshoot gangs if they
were connected via major highways. Gangs with European ethnicity had all but disappeared, and
gangs became almost exclusively black or Hispanic in their membership
In the 1970s and 80s, narcotic drugs became more prevalent on the streets. Firearms also became
easier to buy illegally. This combination made joining a street gang both more lucrative and
more violent. Overall, gang activity peaked in the mid-1990s
Some of the most notorious gangs in the United States are the Crips and the Bloods. The Crips
began in Los Angeles in the late 60s, partially in response to the activities of other gangs in their
East L.A. neighborhood. As the gang grew in power, smaller gangs joined them until Cripsaffiliated gangs dominated the city. The Bloods formed in response, as the smaller non-Crip
gangs sought their own power base. The Crip-Blood rivalry is vicious and never-ending, but
internal strife between different "sets" within each gang has probably resulted in more murders
that the feud itself. Today, both gangs have "franchise" gangs operating out of cities across the
country.
Gang Life
There are three major types of street gangs, each defined by factors such as prerequisites for
inclusion, location or gang activities:
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Ethnic Gangs
These gangs define themselves by the nationality or race of the gang members. One
category of ethnic gang is defined less by the ethnicities of the members than by the
ethnicities they hate. Neo-Nazi gangs, skinhead gangs and white supremacist gangs unite
because of their hatred for non-Protestant Christians, Jews, blacks and Hispanics.
Turf Gangs
Turf gangs define themselves by the territory that they control. The gang members
themselves usually live within this territory. There may be a common ethnicity within the
gang simply because some neighborhoods have a certain amount of ethnic homogeneity.
These gangs often name themselves after the area they control, such as the 10th Street
Gang or the East Side Cobras. If members of other gangs stray into their territory, the
punishment is usually a beating or death. This can spark deadly turf wars between rival
gangs.
*Prison Gangs
When gang members go to prison, they don't necessarily relinquish their gang
membership. Street gangs continue to exist (and fight other gangs) inside prison walls.
But some gangs start inside prisons, and only later do they extend their reach to the
outside world. These gangs obviously require members to have been in prison at one
time, and are particularly tough and brutal. One gang expert wrote, "Putting young gang
members in prison is like sending them to criminal college"
Most gang members are exposed to gangs at a young age. The money and respect that older gang
members earn impresses them. They may begin hanging around gang members, finding out who
is important and learning what the gang does. This can happen as early as age 10 or 11. Gangs
intentionally recruit children and use them to carry weapons and drugs or commit other crimes
because they tend to attract less attention from police. If caught they serve shorter sentences in
juvenile detention centers than an adult gang member would serve in prison.
When a new member joins a gang, he must usually go through an initiation. Initiations don't
usually involve elaborate ceremonies or formalities, but the initiate will have to endure certain
rites. This can be anything from stealing a car to engaging in a firefight with a rival gang. Some
gangs don't consider anyone a full member until they have shot or killed someone. Getting a
tattoo with gang symbols may be another part of the initiation.
Daily gang life is generally not very exciting. Gang members sleep late, sit around the
neighborhood, drink and do drugs and possibly go to a meeting place in the evening, such as a
pool hall or roller rink. They may work a street corner selling drugs or commit petty crimes like
vandalism or theft. The notion of respect drives gang life almost completely, and for many gang
members, gaining respect means committing violent crimes. While it is relatively rare compared
to their other activities, gangs do assault, shoot and assassinate people for money, turf, pride or
revenge.
Gangs are careful to identify themselves to each other and to others in their community.
Members may dress similarly or wear the gang's colors. The Vice Lords wear black and gold,
while the Crips vs. Blood feud is often called "Blue vs. Red." Gangs mark their turf with graffiti
in their colors, displaying gang symbols. Gangs considering marking another gang's territory
with their symbol, or defacing their symbol, an act of war, and this can easily lead to violent
retribution.