Revolutionary Series: A look into Gang Life

The earliest street gangs emerged in cities like New York, formed by English, Irish, and German immigrants facing poverty and discrimination. Then, in more recent times, Chicago and New York saw the rise of ethnic gangs tied to African American, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, Jewish, and Chinese communities. Gangs often acted as informal protection networks, especially in slums and tenement districts. The Prohibition era fueled the rise of organized crime syndicates like Al Capone’s famous gang in Chicago. Eventually, gangs became deeply entwined with political machines, bootlegging, and racketeering.

African American and Puerto Rican gangs emerged in cities like Harlem, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles, often in response to displacement and systemic neglect. The rise of Black liberation movements (e.g., Black Panthers) influenced gang ideology — blending resistance with community protection.

Crips

Raymond Washington and Stanley “Tookie” Williams, both teenagers seeking protection and unity amid rising gang violence in Los Angelos, California started the Crips gang. Washington was inspired by the Black Panthers, aiming to create a political group focused on community empowerment. As more youth joined, the Crips expanded rapidly across Los Angeles, outnumbering non-Crip gangs. Their influence spread beyond California to over 40 states, by the early 2000s. Their growing power sparked fierce rivalries, especially with the Bloods, who formed in direct response to Crip dominance. Despite their rivalry with the Bloods, internal Crip conflicts caused more deaths than inter-gang warfare.

Bloods

Sylvester Scott and Benson Owens, students at Centennial High School in Compton started the Bloods gang. The Bloods formed as a confederation of smaller gangs (like the Pirus, Brims, Denver Lanes, and Athens Park Boys) in direct opposition to the growing dominance of the Crips. Though outnumbered by Crips 3-to-1, the Bloods gained a reputation for aggressive recruitment and expansion.

The Historic Connection

A fraternity (from Latin frater 'brother' and -ity; whence, "brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various aims. Fraternity in the Western concept developed in the Christian context, notably with the religious orders in the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. In modern times, connotations of fraternities vary according to context including companionships and brotherhoods dedicated to the religious, intellectual, academic, physical, or social pursuits of its members.

Fraternities have a history in American colleges and universities and form a major subsection of the whole range of fraternities in this nation. Historically, the establishment and evolution of fraternities and sororities for African Americans partially mirrored the development of other social fraternities and sororities.

While fraternity and sorority life often appear accessible only to young Black students in college, the absence of such communal structures in many neighborhoods inspired brilliant youth to fill that void in their own way. The brilliance speaks for itself with the many ways these gangs organized and operated.

Gangs like the Bloods and the Crips used sacred practices such as gematria & they also color coordinated their clothing to express their gangs core values. The Bloods chose the color red for Unity & Resistance: Red became a visual code for loyalty, defiance, and collective strength. The Crips identified with the color Blue and the Number 6, symbolizing their six principles and is often stylized in their graffiti or tattoos. Additionally, adopted by certain Crips sets, the six-pointed star represents six core principles:

Love
Life
Loyalty
Wisdom
Knowledge
Understanding


The core values, uniformity, and the overall use of sacred geometry in these African American gangs' symbology and practices are a clear sign that these were actually social clubs, or fraternities that were being formed. Created by these young brilliant minds, in search of the Eternal Truth, not just protection and resources.