Upload
kelly-lind
View
644
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Tattoos and Tagging
The Folks and
The People
Tattoos and graffiti play a major role within gangs.
Each gang and sub-gang has their own symbols they proudly wear and mark.
, A lo n g w it h c o lo r s t h e y a ls o id e n t if y b y t h e t a t t o o s t h e y
.w e a r
Each gang falls under either the Folks or the People.
The Gangster Disciples are associated with the Folks.
FOLKSAll gangs within the
Folks Nation have different symbols for
their own gang or set. The most common Folks symbol is the six-pointed star, but many symbols are
universal for all affiliated gangs.
There are also many other symbols within the Folks.
Here are just a few:Six-pointed crown – Individual points represent love, life, loyalty, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
The Heart- Love for the whole Folk Nation
Heart with Sword through it – Death before dying
Flame or Torch – Eternal life & determination to overcome all obstacles; Path and direction of gang
All Branches of the Folk Nation – Represents hardships endured, oppression of gang members and other third world people.
Wings – The spreading of the nation or the strength to rise above
The main emblem for the Gangster Disciples is
All gangs within the People also All gangs within the People also have their own symbols but the have their own symbols but the
universal sign to identify with the universal sign to identify with the People is the Five Pointed Star. People is the Five Pointed Star. The Latin Kings are associated The Latin Kings are associated
with the People.with the People.
Some other symbols associated with the PEOPLE are:
The symbol for the Almighty Latin Kings and Queens is
**Any symbol that is cracked, broken, or upside down is a sign of disrespect for the gang or Nation
the symbol represents. **
IDENTIFIERS —The Latin Kings
The Latin Kings are known to exhibit in drawings, paintings, and graffiti their
reflection and interpretation of the Latin Kings.
The Latin Kings colors are used in much of the material along with symbols such as A.L.K.N. (Almighty Latin King Nation), A.D.R. (Amor Del Rey Love the King), crowns, lion heads, “LK”, bulldogs, Coat of Arms, guns, cars and
money.
The Latin Kings will eulogize with graffiti the locations where a
gang member has fallen or died. In the graffiti it will usually be the
name of the fallen comrade, date, and initials of the artist.
If another gang is responsible for the death of the Latin King member, an
upside down symbol of that gang may appear in the graffiti with the words
“Lollypop” as a putdown to that gang. Payback and anniversary dates of
slain fellow gang members add to the violence of this group.
Ranking by a show of beads
• The Latin Kings also use a sequence of beads to identify ranks of members.
• Five black followed by five gold for members.
• Five black followed by two gold for executive members.
• All black for the enforcers or Assassins
From tattoos, graffiti, and tagging to artwork and beads,
gangs use many forms of nonverbal communication to
communicate with one another.
Information was gathered from the:
Wisconsin Gang Identification and Management Training guide
WI DOC (Dept. of Corrections)
Waupun Correctional Institute