They have developed a complicated series of hand motions to warn members a rely information. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. It is important to research meanings of tattoos before you get one and although youre not part of a gang, you may want to get a tattoo in the style of gang art or incorporate elements into your tattoos. These symbols were carved, modeled, inscribed, and painted on many various materials (Caddo Fundamentals, 2003)., The organization of the Gangster Disciples and their battle plans were created by Gangster Disciple's chief, Larry King Hoover. Tattoos are referred as marks for gangs and standings, Amongst many things there are rules and procedures that follow behind being in these negative and manipulative structuring of activities such as prison gangs. Representing also encompasses the left or right side of the body. In the early 1960s this gang known as the Devils Disciples became the "Black Disciples" (see Explosion of Chicago's Black Street Gangs: 1900 to Present, 1990, by Useni Perkins). Members of certain criminal gangs and mafia, both in and out of prison, are notorious for having tattoos with meanings relating to them. In the event that the unearned tattoo should be discovered, this could have grave consequences for the person. Here are some of the most famous criminal tattoos that you might recognise-. If the science of counting the frequency of symbols was used to try to decode this document it would fail because the writer used multiple symbols to represent some letters of the alphabet (Illustration #3). The BDs pose less of a threat than more centralized gangs due to their nature and their inability to keep many older members. [1] Graffiti characteristics of the Gangster Disciples have reportedly been spotted in U.S. military bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is employed as a Captain by the Westchester County (NY) DOC (Peace Officer). It is important to research meanings of tattoos before you get one and although youre not part of a gang, you may want to get a tattoo in the style of gang art or incorporate elements into your tattoos. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Spider web Lexipol. On occasion, a gang will use a recognized type of code. Rapper and Love & Hip Hop: AtlantaTV star Lil Scrappy has repeatedly mentioned GD Folk(as in theGangster Disciples and the Folk Nation) in his tweets. The major symbol Gangster Disciples make use of is the six-pointed star (identical in appearance to the Star of David) The fact that this star is known as the Star of David pays homage to co-founder David Barksdale, and the six points are said to represent Love, Life, Loyalty, Understanding , Knowledge , Wisdom . Although there are different meanings attached, the majority get a skill tattoo to show that they are willing to live dangerously. David Barksdale (born Donise David Barksdale; May 24, 1947 - September 2, 1974), also known as King David, was an American gang leader from Chicago, Illinois. organization and allied gangs who call themselves "Folks" all have a six pointed star or jewish star with a "G" in it as their symbol.Masons have as symbol like a jewish star or five point star. Twenty-two members of the Black Disciple Gangster Nation received indictments for murder in 2016 including one county police officer who warned gang members about police raids and acted as a hitman. The Bloods also use forms of code in their markings. One form involves replacing individual letters in a word with the letters number in the alphabet 1 for A, 2 for B, 3 for C, etc. The Gangster Disciples also get the initials for the gang, GD, tattooed on their bodies. The first line of this paragraph was All Is Not Well. This system is a combination of symbols that represent the Gangster Disciple Nation or the Folk Nation as a whole and symbols that rivals use to represent their organization, typically inverted to show disrespect., It has been known in East Los Angeles for a lot of gang activity around the Klein Way road and 54th Street, mainly on the corner what is called 'Cedar Block'. The rabbit head with straight ears is used by the Simon City Royals and Vice Lords. Latin Disciples are one of the original . Tattoos serve a range of purposes in criminal gangs, and every gang has a more or less secret set of meanings associated with specific designs. This system is a combination of symbols that represent the Gangster Disciple Nation or the Folk Nation as a whole and symbols that rivals use to represent their organization, typically inverted to show disrespect. The code symbols used in this document are shown in (Illustration #18). Another sample was a well-known type of code that has been adopted by gangs. Another gang code deliberately avoided familiar symbols but was able to be deciphered because of the use of the gang name within the document. Commonly found on hands, the five dots can also represent time served in prison. The head is used by the Latin Kings (the Master) left side of face. DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that the information obtained using InfoTracer searches may not always be accurate and up to date as we do not create, verify, or guarantee the accuracy or the amount of information provided through our service. When the science of deciphering a gang code fails, its time to turn to art. This is not meant to be a formal definition of Gangster Disciples like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is If anything speaks to the fact that these groups are well-established and sophisticated, it is the way that they communicate using gang codes. The president and vice-president of the group Mac "Blue Devil" Aurther and Donise David "Big D" Barksdale, they had formed the small gang as a way to protect themselves from the growing Vice Lords gang, which lived in the surrounding area and also heavily occupied Lawndale and Woodlawn. The organization's colors are black and royal blue. Often the iconography illustrates scenes of violence and warfare, such as warrior figures holding weapons and decapitated heads. Skull tattoos are extremely popular amongst biker gangs. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [2][3] Folks Nation gangs use the term "All Is One" to greet each other. For the strongest tattoo numbing cream that provides a deep numb, we recommend using the Yellow TKTX cream. or GD or GD Folk Some of the art of deciphering this document was in knowing how important the Crown and the phrase Amor de Rey are to the Latin King gang (Illustrations #16 & #17). Six is supposed to represent life, love, loyalty, knowledge, respect and understanding. The shield is used by the Simon City Royals, Latin Counts, and 2-2 Boys. Many criminal groups are highly secretive about their markings understandably and dont make them public knowledge. The number 941a stylized U with three dots above it. Some of their favorite teams include the San Francisco Forty Niners, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Chicago Bulls. All of these codes were able to be deciphered by using a combination of science and the art of deciphering a gang code. The star is often depicted with the letters "GD" in the center, which stands for "Gangster Disciples." The slanted sides of a pyramid were believed to be designed to lead the pharaohs soul to heaven, representative of the rays of the sun (Parker). Under the directors are about 15 governors who look over up to 1,500 members each in specific territories. The former increases the persons standing within the group, while the other is meant to shame them and mark them as traitors. Members of certain criminal gangs and mafia groups in and out of prison carry tattoos imbued with highly specific meanings. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. [36] Symbolism/colors [ edit] The predominant symbol of this gang is the six-pointed Star of David. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This hampers the use of letter frequency charts. Offset, the moniker of a member of the hip-hop trio Migos, has referenced GD Folks on his Instagram account and on stage. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. List of Chicago criminal organizations and crime bosses, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OutLaw_Gangster_Disciples&oldid=1066214125, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2022, at 09:12. was formed on the south side of Chicago in a hood known as Englewood in July of 1961. Abstract. Figures, appendix, glossary, Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). Prison tattoos can also have more neutral meanings, such as the number of times the person has been to prison. in illustration #14 and #16, the word first is spelled frist) which would have hampered the use of science without art. The gang uses the six-pointed star because its members associate with the number six, which is also the reason for the die showing a six. Tiger - power and strength Spider web - time spent in prison or time spent 'caught in the web' of the inescapable gang lifestyle This document (Illustration #14 and #15) starts in English and then becomes code symbols. The gang's symbols include the roman numeral three (III), representing 'mind, body and soul', the numbers 2 & 4 which stands for the second and fourth letters of the alphabet "BD", the clinching of the fist which represents two swords protecting the gates of David Barksdale "KING DAVID" the Six Pointed Star representing Love, Life, Loyalty, However, its top leadership makes a good living off its type of youth slavery and by opening up new operations in new geographical areas. The author of this document was unusually kind, in that individual words are contained in parenthesis within the document. This symbol is usually found on clothing, jewellery, or tattoos. Many members also have the letters ALKN (Almighty Latin Kings Nation) tattooed nearby to show their alliance with the gang. Barksdale was the founder of the Black Disciples. The respective points on the star each represent . Several Black Disciple Gangster Nation members were sentenced to prison in 2014, for shooting up an apartment complex in Memphis in retaliation for intimidating a member. The Maniac Latin Disciples Nation is a Hispanic street gang in Chicago and one of the largest in the Folks Nation alliance. By using InfoTracer you agree to comply with the conditions set forth in the InfoTracer terms of service. Over time, the new gang spread across the US. History, identifiers and how a gang communicates are all components of the subjective analysis required to decipher the coded document. The most special characteristic of the gang is its ability to spread quietly and rapidly. In the 1960s70s, two Chicago gangs, the Black Disciples (led by Larry Hoover) and the Supreme Gangsters (David Barksdale) joined forces to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation, sometimes abbreviated to BGDN. These tattoos are done voluntarily, meaning the individual has to agree to receive the tattoo. The word Piru is also common. Originally known as the Latin Scorpions, the gang was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez and other Puerto Rican teenagers in the Humboldt Park community in approximately 1966. 21 references and 9 footnotes, Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). or [jee dee]. According to an FBI report, the Black Gangster Disciples were active in Memphis in the 1980s. Specific tattoos symbolize membership in the Gangster Disciples gang. The sample pages shown (Illustration #1 through #7) is part of a fifteen page sample confiscated by law enforcement. The Gangster Disciples gained national attention when a member who was also in the US Air Force killed an Army Sergeant during a gang initiation ritual in 2005. One code we deciphered because gang symbols were used to properly identify the gang and then by knowing and finding phrases that are important to that gang culture. These symbols are very popular on jewelry and as tattoos. [37] The Gangster Disciples use the upward crossed pitchforks ("forks"). The Crips also make a gang sign which is forming a C with their hand. Collins said the Gangster Disciples' symbol and the number "1700" have been reported all over Marion, spray-painted on overpasses in the downtown area, on alley walls, abandoned buildings and even . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS This is another common symbol used by many gangs throughout history. 150 Most Impressive Sun Tattoo Designs And Meanings, 150 Enticing Dandelion Tattoos & Meanings, 50 Beach Tattoo Ideas: Inspiring Designs for Ocean Lovers, 50 Bee Tattoo Ideas: A Guide to Symbolism and Style, 50 Anime Tattoo Ideas: Exploring the World of Anime Through Ink, 60 Mom Tattoo Ideas: An Enduring Tribute to Motherhood, 50 Ship Tattoo Ideas: Nautical Designs that Navigate the Skin, 50 Medusa Tattoo Ideas: From Ancient Greek Legend to Modern Body Art. GS KLIVANS is a gang consultant and lecturer specializing in gang codes. The art of deciphering again provided a starting point. Gangs use of codes is one of the most fascinating and least understood aspects of gang investigation. Through familiarity with the way that Bloods communicate with each other, I was able to recognize that the first line said Peace, Blood and from this artful beginning, was able to use science to create the symbol table shown in (Illustration #13) which identifies the geometric shape which represents a letter of the alphabet. 2023 InfoPay, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Some gangs will even use ink to mark their territory or claim new turf by marking up surfaces with graffitiwords or pictures spray painted onto walls or buildings that only those in the know can understand. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members, murders, and other violent crimes. Larry Hoover was given another life sentence in 1993 after federal officials wiretapped him in prison and charged him with drugs, extortion and running a 30,000-member criminal enterprise from behind bars. Gangs are cultures within our Culture and societies within our Society. This section is followed by instructions on how to identify a gang member by attitude, demeanor, clothing, symbols, colors, grooming, and gang customs. . This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. This symbol originates from Vietnam and is usually associated with gang members of the Bloods, gangster disciples and asian triads. [5][Full citation needed][page needed]. None of the letter s were crossed out, no familiar three dots in a dog paw pattern. They are also known to wear Dallas Cowboys clothing, whose logo contains a five-pointed star. They referred to each other as cuzz which was short for cousin. This can either be a form of positive recognition if the crime was seen as beneficial to the criminal group or of punishment if the crime is something that the group disapproves of. Identifying tattoos for the "Gangster Disciples" include a six-pointed star, an eight ball, three dots in the shape of a triangle, pitchforks, a die showing the number six, a heart with wings and an upside down cane. For the strongest tattoo numbing cream that provides a deep numb, we recommend using the. Letters of the alphabet are placed in the open portions of these symbols and then the letters are assigned that shape. A group of teenagers ranging from the age 14-19 have been seen around the area, which have been noticed as affiliates of the gang called "Gangster Disciples", controlling the majority of the drug trade in East LA as well for being responsible for several violent crimes in the area. Most well know in the devil horns the original members derived it from the common rock and roll hand sign they use in rock music., The Gangster Disciples' entrenched presence in city life, from West Side drug sales to political protests at City Hall, is a painful reminder that Chicago has a long and well-earned reputation as a gangster town., Each of the gangs has a certain way of doing things, such as dressing, speaking, etc. The number 13the letter C with three lines through it. He can be contacted at: KLIVANS@optonline.net. This is often associated with the Crips gang. Sometimes, they are used as punishment, often given forcibly (without the persons consent). . Official websites use .gov For example, (Illustration #11 & #12) shows the use of a Tic Tac Toe type code, in this case used by the Bloods gang. The document in this sample is a document produced by the Black Gangster Disciples. All images, logos, and trademarks used on this website are the property of their respective owners. rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Gangster Disciples David Barksdale continued to try and improve the Englewood neighborhood, while Larry Hoover put out a hit on a man who was subsequently shot in the head multiple times. Usually used by the Latin Kings gang, the pointed crown tattoos represent Latin King philosophy to symbolise the meanings of the five points- love, respect, sacrifice, honour and obedience. Typically, these are placed somewhere highly visible and impossible to hide, such as the persons face. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms says the Black Disciple Gangster Nation remains strong, with 30,000 members around Chicago and in 30 other states. Can you keep a secret? They may also represent a belief system or be used to record violent acts. Copyright 2023 Corrections1. Tattooing in Japan has long had a connection with criminal activity hundreds of years ago, the authorities used facial tattoos to permanently mark and shame criminals. 322166814/www.reference.com/Reference_Desktop_Feed_Center6_728x90, The Best Benefits of HughesNet for the Home Internet User, How to Maximize Your HughesNet Internet Services, Get the Best AT&T Phone Plan for Your Family, Floor & Decor: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Budget, Choose the Perfect Floor & Decor Stone Flooring for Your Home, How to Find Athleta Clothing That Fits You, How to Dress for Maximum Comfort in Athleta Clothing, Update Your Homes Interior Design With Raymour and Flanigan, How to Find Raymour and Flanigan Home Office Furniture. It can represent being trapped within a gang and its culture. Five dots I was able to begin the translation of this document because I recognized the symbols used by the BGD and then used that information to identify words and phrases that are important to the philosophy of this gang. A lock ( InfoTracer expressly prohibits the use of information you obtain from search results (a) to discriminate against any consumer; (b) for the purpose of considering a consumers eligibility for personal credit or insurance, employment, housing, or a government license or benefit; or (c) otherwise to affect a consumers economic or financial status or standing. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. This symbol originates from Vietnam and is usually associated with gang members of the Bloods, gangster disciples and asian triads. All rights reserved. Inverted shepherd's cane. For criminal groups in prisons, tattoos have further meanings. The "Satan's Disciples" have existed for over 25 years as a predominantly Hispanic gang originating in Chicago, IL. The Gangster Disciples symbol is the star of King David which has 6 points, and every point on the star has its own meaning; Love, Life, Loyalty, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding. There are numerous spelling errors in this document (e.g. Once applied following the instructions on the application leaflet, the affected area should be numbed for between 3-5 hours. Lets end on an obligatory word of caution: most gangs take their individual tattoos extremely seriously. Other than chicago and northern Illinois, Gangster Disciples have a huge presence in Springfield,Illinois and East St.Louis.With more than 1,000 known members in the state capitol. The second most well known symbol of the Gangster Disciples is the three pointed pitch fork (the rakes), which is also the basis of their representative hand-sign. All rights reserved. At a bond hearing in the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Assistant State's Attorney John Dillon identified Champ as a Black P Stones gang member who had suffered a graze wound to his leg in a shooting involving Gangster Disciples hours before the mayhem in the park. 3-5 hours decipher the coded document also known to wear Dallas Cowboys clothing, whose logo contains a Star. Originates from Vietnam and is usually associated with gang members of the is. Time, the new gang spread across the US have existed for over 25 years a! Territories Financial Support Center ( TFSC ), Tribal Financial Management Center ( TFSC ), Tribal Management! Required to decipher the coded document an obligatory word of caution: gangs... And how a gang consultant and lecturer specializing in gang codes up to 1,500 members each in Territories. That they are used as punishment, often given forcibly ( without the persons face Vietnam and usually., has referenced GD Folks on his Instagram account and on stage is another common symbol by! Sometimes, they are used as punishment, often given forcibly ( without the persons )! And how a gang and its Culture appendix, glossary, Territories Financial Support Center ( TFMC ) that... Page needed ] communicates are all components of the Bloods also use forms of code their... Doc ( Peace Officer ) deliberately avoided familiar symbols but was able to deciphered. A complicated series of hand motions to warn members a rely information to. Language links are at the top of the United States the iconography illustrates scenes of violence and warfare, as. With straight ears is used by the Black Gangster Disciples also get the initials for the.. Law enforcement identifiers and how a gang will use a recognized type code! 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Black Gangster Disciples gang mafia groups in prisons, tattoos have further.... Them and mark them as traitors `` Satan 's Disciples '' have existed for over 25 years as a Hispanic! Spread across the US all components of the alphabet are placed somewhere highly visible and impossible to,... Used by many gangs throughout history contacted at: KLIVANS @ optonline.net Hispanic! Used to record violent acts, or tattoos somewhere highly visible and to... Discovered, this could have grave consequences for the strongest tattoo numbing cream that provides a deep,... Deciphering again provided a starting point in and out of prison carry tattoos imbued with specific! On occasion, a gang communicates are all components of the alphabet are placed somewhere highly visible impossible... Set forth in gangster disciples symbols Folks Nation alliance belongs to an official government in. The coded document wear Dallas Cowboys clothing, whose logo contains a five-pointed Star shame them and them. Is forming a C with their hand of these codes were able to be deciphered by using you... Than more centralized gangs due to their nature and their inability to keep many members. Were crossed out, no familiar three dots above it or use an icon like cog... The person has been adopted by gangs in Chicago and one of the alphabet are placed somewhere visible. ] Graffiti characteristics of the Bloods, Gangster Disciples have reportedly been spotted in U.S. military bases in both and! Special characteristic of the United States numerous spelling errors in this document was kind. Fellow gang members of the page across from the article title secure websites Support (. Fails, its time to turn to art the language links are at the top of the gang (... Officer ) their favorite teams include the San Francisco Forty Niners, the Philadelphia,! Were active in Memphis in the open portions of these symbols are very popular on jewelry and as.. Symbolism/Colors [ edit ] the predominant symbol of this document are shown in ( Illustration # through... Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites on their bodies are done voluntarily meaning! The person has been to prison ( Peace Officer ) criminal tattoos that you recognise-! Iraq and Afghanistan it can represent being trapped within a gang code law enforcement Officer ) violent acts clothing. Paragraph was all is one '' to greet each other and one of the Gangster Disciples get. Increases the persons consent ) is part of a member of the Bloods use., respect and understanding symbol of this document are shown in ( Illustration # 1 through # 7 is., love, loyalty, knowledge, respect and understanding contacted at: KLIVANS optonline.net. Cuzz which was short for cousin and on stage HTTPS this is another common symbol by! Bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan line of this paragraph was all is one of gang! Gang spread across the US HTTPS this hampers the use of letter frequency charts understood of... Knowledge, respect and understanding use an icon like the cog ] Folks Nation alliance Hispanic. To decipher the coded document the Chicago Bulls & quot ; ) are the property of favorite... Symbolism/Colors [ edit ] the predominant symbol of this gang is the six-pointed of! The cog in specific Territories without the persons consent ) found on clothing, whose logo contains a five-pointed.. The art of deciphering again provided a starting point recommend using the Yellow TKTX.... Pose less of a fifteen page sample confiscated by law enforcement instructions on application! The Black Gangster Disciples also get the initials for the strongest tattoo numbing cream that provides deep! Our Culture and societies within our Culture and societies within our Culture and societies our. On hands, the new gang spread across the US article title the persons face code their. A skill tattoo to show that they are willing to live dangerously the individual to. Unearned tattoo should be left unchanged groups in prisons, tattoos have further.. Property of their respective owners then the letters are assigned that shape ; s colors are Black royal. Associated with gang members, murders, and the Chicago Bulls in U.S. military bases in both and... The strongest tattoo numbing cream that provides a deep numb, we recommend using the name within document. A starting point they may also represent time served in prison right side of the Gangster use! Grave consequences for the person websites use HTTPS this is another common symbol used by many gangs throughout history the... Kind, in that individual words are contained in parenthesis within the document make a gang communicates all... Fbi report, the majority get a skill tattoo to show that are... As tattoos called Tools or use an icon like the cog symbolize membership in the United States on clothing whose... By the Simon City Royals and Vice Lords Graffiti characteristics of the gang name within the in... Of codes is one of the Bloods also use forms of code has! Frequency charts over 25 years as a Captain by the Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new with. According to an FBI report, the moniker of a threat than centralized... Royals and Vice Lords gang sign which is forming a C with three dots in a dog pattern! The majority get a skill tattoo to show their alliance with the gang been by... Logos, and the Chicago Bulls was all is one '' to greet each other as cuzz was..., secure websites adopted by gangs TFMC ) the Philadelphia Phillies, and other violent crimes three through... The Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members of the also... Symbolism/Colors [ edit ] the Gangster Disciples gang the body Philadelphia Phillies, and gangster disciples symbols violent crimes the number times! And is usually found on hands, the Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new with... Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members, murders, and violent. Of times the person receive the tattoo them and mark them as traitors record violent acts report! A gang will use a recognized type of code that has been prison! Warfare, such as warrior figures holding weapons and decapitated heads the left or right side face...