African American Gangs In Los Angeles example essay topic

African American gangs in Los Angeles originated mostly from the migration of African Americans from the South after World War II. In the 1920's most of the gangs in Los Angeles were family oriented and it was not until the late 1940's that the first gangs began. The gangs surfaced out the area known as the East Side, which is the area east of Main Street to Alameda. A lot of the gangs surfaced because of the racism perpetrated by the whites. There was clear segregation and racism against blacks, they were not allowed in certain areas of Los Angeles and could not buy property there. White gangs got together to stop African Americans from trying to integrate themselves into the Los Angeles society.

In turn, African Americans formed their own gangs to retaliate against the white violence against blacks. Eventually, the white gangs' attempt to segregate blacks began to fail, and they began to move out of the inner city into the fast growing suburbs. African Americans moved into the city and accounted for 71% of the population. What began as a conflict between whites and blacks now became an intra racial problem between African Americans themselves. Fights between the West Side of Los Angeles and the East Side were mostly socioeconomic based. The gangs from the Westside fought to prove their toughness and credibility, while Eastside gangs fought because they were viewed as economically inferior to the Westside.

Black community leaders began to see a problem with the African American youth and began to educate and promote social welfare amongst the community. Apprentice "Bunchy" Carter, a member of the Slausons, recruited youth to fight against police brutality instead of each other. The conflicts between African American inner city gangs began to eradicate and they were evolving into a socially aware groups working together against racism and police brutality. Between 1965 and 1970 African American gangs united and became a political force against racism.

Several major organizations were created to promote unity amongst the black community and keep track of social injustice against them, primarily police brutality. The Black Panther Party (BPP) opened a chapter in Los Angeles, just after they began in Oakland in 1966. A former member of the Slausons, Ron Wilkins, created the Community Action Patrol (CAP) to keep track of how police treated African Americans. Ron "Maulana" Karen ga created the US Organizitation, which became one of the biggest groups and had a large following from the Westside clubs. The black political organizations in Los Angeles became stronger and stronger as the civil rights movement enthralled the nation. The strength and political power of the African Americans was seen as a threat to local and national security.

The national government became concerned and formed counterintelligence groups to combat the growing African American political influence. The government used counterintelligence tactics to eradicate and destroy African American organizations, with the Black Panther Party as its main target. These tactics, called COINTELPRO, were previously used against the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), and the Communist Party (CPUS A) during the 1950's and 1940's. Clearly, it was an all out war between the government and African American leaders. The government was successful in stopping the movement in Los Angeles. African American youths in Los Angeles saw their role models shut down and their ideals shattered by the government.

The lack of leadership and unity in the community led to the resurgence of gang violence. In 1969, Raymond Washington created a gang called the Baby Avenues, modeling itself to one of the early gangs of the sixties called the Avenues. They were also called the Avenue Cribs because of their youthfulness, and later just the Cribs. A student at Free mont High School, 15-year-old Raymond was a strong believer in the Black Panther philosophy and it manifested in ideology and the style of dress.

The Baby Avenues wore black leather jackets just like the Black Panthers did, and their initial intent was act as leaders and protectors to bring back power to the African American community. They became famous for their style of dress, wearing black leather jackets, an earring on their left ear, and at times with a cane in hand. The lack of maturity and organization proved to be a fatal mistake in trying to establish social and community leadership. Instead, the Cribs began a criminal life that made them infamous.

The popular media began to take notice of the Crib renaissance. In a robbery in 1971, Crib members assaulted a group of elderly Japanese women who described them as young cripples. Due to that description, newspapers then referred to the Cribs as Crips. The Cribs adopted the Crippin' mentality that became popular in the media and in the young African American community. Crippin' was a way of life. Along with being members of a gang, Crips had a certain style of dress, and were involved in muggings, robbery, theft and even murder.

It is believed that the first Crip murder was over a leather jacket. A group of Crip members beat a sixteen-year-old non-gang member to death and robbed other teenagers of their jackets and wallets. Nine Crip members were arrested within the following week. The Crips gained attention among local youths who saw the Crips as a group they looked up to because of their manliness, especially after the political eradication of the community leaders. It is believed that the violence committed by the Crips was to gain infamy and interest. Soon, African American youths wanted to join the Crips and Crip mania began.

Within 3 years, the Crips had members in Inglewood, Compton, and the Westside, eight gangs in total. Gang violence exploded and a real problem was emerging in the streets of Los Angeles. The Crip gangs were taking over Los Angeles and other non-crap gangs decided to form a coalition. The Crips were able to dominate and intimidate other gangs in the Los Angeles area because of their massive numbers through heavy recruitment. In a confrontation between a Crip and a member of the LA Brims, an LA Brims member was shot and killed. After another Crip member had a similar confrontation with one of the Peru Street Boys, an alliance was formed between several non-Crip gangs.

The Crip - Blood rivalry grew in the mid 1970's and it was and is one of the main catalysts in the increase of gangs, crime, and violence in Los Angeles. The Crips not only grew in numbers but also expanded to different parts of Los Angeles and even the country. Crips now have other affiliated groups in west coast states such as New York, Florida, and Georgia. The Crips also expanded their criminal activity with drugs, especially with "Crack" cocaine. Currently there are 88 incorporated cities that are controlled by the Crips.