Bloods

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This article is about the Los Angeles gang. For blood tests (often abbreviated to "bloods" amongst health professionals), see blood test.
For other uses, see blood (disambiguation).
Bloods
Founded Summer of 1972
In Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Founded by Pirus, BPS, Lueders Park Hustlers, Brims, Denver Lanes, Bishops joined forces
Years active 1972-present
Territory Los Angeles; most big cities in the U.S.
Ethnicity Mostly African-American
Membership 30,000-35,000
Criminal activities Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, murder
Allies People Nation,
Latin Kings
Rivals Crips, Folk Nation and Sureños

The Bloods is one of Los Angeles, California's street gangs. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and their gang symbol. The Bloods are made up of various sub-groups known as "sets" between which significant differences exist such as colors, clothing, and operations. Since their formation the Blood gangs have branched out throughout the United States, and have even influenced youth groups using the same name in Europe.[1][2]

Contents

History

Starting in late 1971, the Avalon Garden Crips, Inglewood Crips and various other Crip sets joined forces. They began to expand to non-Crip gang territories such as those controlled by The L.A. Brims, a powerful street gang that had been formed in 1969. Due to the encroachments of the Crips, several gangs eventually became part of the Blood family, including the Bishops and Athens Park boys. The Denver Lanes also had conflicts with the Crips, but were outnumbered and eventually became unknown in California for some time. The Piru Street Boys, who presented a powerful force in Compton, actually collaborated with the Crips prior to 1972, as the Crips had affected the Piru neighborhoods.

Notes

  • According to a Los Angeles Weekly profile, the Bloods generally refuse to use the letter C in words and names, often replacing C with B for Bloods or appending a K, to form CK, meaning crip killer[3]
  • Bloods also wear their "colors" on their right side, often with bright red shoe laces, a red belt, or a red bandana in the back right pocket.[4]
  • An urban legend claims that the Bloods, as well as other gangs such as the Hells Angels practice an initiation ritual that involves driving at night with their headlights off and murdering the first motorist who flashes their own headlights at them.[5]. In reality initiation usually involves committing a certain crime or crimes (sometimes five in homage to the "5 point star" of People Nation), or more often being "jumped in" for five seconds - getting beat up by other members in the gang. Sometimes being "blessed" in is another ritual, where a member hits the inductee full force in the forehead. Initiation rituals vary across regions, or even sets or the member being inducted.

See also

References

  1. ^ Maxson, Cheryl L. (October 1998). "Gang Members on the Move". Juvenile Justice Bulletin, U.S. Dept. of Justice. 
  2. ^ Prem. http://player.omroep.nl/?aflid=4083483 PremTime [TV-Series]. Amsterdam: NPS.
  3. ^ "War and Peace in Watts", July 14, 2005. 
  4. ^ "Street gangs". 
  5. ^ Urban Legends Reference Pages: Flash Headlights Gang Initiation
  • Yusuf Jah, Sister Shah'keyah, UPRISING : Crips and Bloods Tell the Story of America's Youth In The Crossfire, ISBN 0-684-80460-3

External links