He was accompanied to the Oval Office by Hoovers attorney, who explained that Hoover is being held in the Colorado Supermax prison alongside killers for economic crimes and that he was unfairly targeted because he was gaining political power from the Chicago community. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members, murders, and other violent crimes. 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. This gang uses very ornate and complex symbols. The six-pointed star, also known as the Star of David, is a central symbol for the Gangster Disciples. Copyright 2023 Many were recruited while in prison. The samples shown in (Illustration #1 & #2) are examples of a Black Gangster Disciple (BGD) code that I deciphered by developing the information shown in (Illustration #3). 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. This is often associated with the Crips gang. [2], The assumption and use of the accouterments of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex, also called the Southern Cult, is another commonality. For example many larger, well established gangs have their own societal rules of behavior (laws), tribunals to punish rule-breakers (courts), dues collection (taxes) and even their own holidays! The Black Disciple Gangster Nation re-created themselves as a business organization opening community centers and offering jobs to local people. The rabbit head with straight ears is used by the Simon City Royals and Vice Lords. 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. White is for the flag of Israel, which represents the Star of David. These can be good for gathering police intelligence regarding gang monikers. 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. The F.B.I. This is another common symbol used by many gangs throughout history. LockA locked padlock He served in the US Army Reserve for 30 years in Military Intelligence and CID (Federal Agent). As a matter of fact, expansive tattoos are no longer synonymous with mafia affiliation in Japan its impractical, for obvious reasons, and draws undue attention. in illustration #14 and #16, the word first is spelled frist) which would have hampered the use of science without art. Technicians in white lab coats monitoring blinking lights on large banks of computers, or a large room divided into cubicles filled with assistants diligently counting symbols or words to be analyzed using letter frequency or word frequency charts. Gangs are cultures within our Culture and societies within our Society. [gang-ster dih-sahy-puhlz] Gang members also get tattoos of the number six alone. Gang tattoos are an important part of gang culture. Another sample was a well-known type of code that has been adopted by gangs. Shorties execute drug deals and guard gang territory., The gang's genesis dates to 1960, with a South Side gang called the Devil's Disciples had become sufficiently large to warrant being given an outreach worker by the Welfare Council of Metropolitan Chicago Youth Services (source: Chicago Historical Society). The most special characteristic of the gang is its ability to spread quietly and rapidly. Members of certain criminal gangs and mafia, both in and out of prison, are notorious for having tattoos with meanings relating to them. In providing information on the GD, this article addresses recent Federal indictments and ongoing investigation, thumbnail sketches of gang leaders, an organization chart, a historical overview of the gang constitution, political and social service fronts, the use of religion, and media strategies. I have found that the method of knowing what is important to the writer can be a valuable tool in deciphering gang codes. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation initiate new members with beat-downs by fellow gang members, murders, and other violent crimes. The Maniac Latin Disciples Nation is a Hispanic street gang in Chicago and one of the largest in the Folks Nation alliance. It can represent being trapped within a gang and its culture. [37] The Gangster Disciples use the upward crossed pitchforks ("forks"). 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. The art of deciphering again provided a starting point. Satan's Disciples are in all counties surrounding the Chicago area, have been reported operating in nearly 40 other Illinois cities, and have been noted in 22 other States. 2023 InfoPay, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Specific tattoos symbolize membership in the Gangster Disciples gang. For instance, the numbers 211 tattooed on a Crip member stand for BK, which in turn means Blood Killer indicating the individual has killed a member of the rival gang, the Bloods. This is most commonly used by the Bloods gang; however, it can also be found on other gangs clothing and jewellery as an indicator of affiliation with that particular gang. Note the use of dots to indicate which tic-tac-toe or X symbol is to be used. Many criminal groups are highly secretive about their markings understandably and dont make them public knowledge. All rights reserved. The Black Disciple Gangster Nation (BDGN) is a gang that was formed in the south side of Chicago in 1960 when two rival gangs, the Black Disciple Nation (led by David Barksdale) and the Gangster Nation (led by Larry Hoover) combined to become one group under co-leadership. A tag (gang graffiti) done by a gang in their own turf serves to define a gang's turf, acting like a "no trespassing" sign to rival crews. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. As I said at the beginning of this article, its important to know about the history, identifiers and whats important to the gang member creating the code. Specific tattoos symbolize membership in the Gangster Disciples gang. The member also use hand signs to communicate with fellow members. 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. All of these codes were able to be deciphered by using a combination of science and the art of deciphering a gang code. 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. He can be contacted at: [email protected]. This article contains a profile and history of what began as a Chicago inner-city street gang and has spread to more than 40 Chicago suburbs and 22 other States. This is not meant to be a formal definition of Gangster Disciples like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is Five dots This symbol originates from Vietnam and is usually associated with gang members of the Bloods, gangster disciples and asian triads. The GD 6-point star is a symbol that is associated with the Gangsta Disciples, a street gang that originated in Chicago, Illinois in the 1960s. They graffiti a lot and it can have many meanings. Letters of the alphabet are placed in the open portions of these symbols and then the letters are assigned that shape. Whether that is to represent their lifestyle, what they have done or their ranking within their specific gang. In some cases, a version of this vision may be right, but analyzing a gang code presents definite problems for science. The cream penetrates deep into the skin to manipulate the nerve endings and blood vessels. The first line of this paragraph was All Is Not Well. Most Folks gangs represent using the six point star, pitchforks, and identify to the right side (e.g., they wear hats or bandannas turned to the right). [2][3] Folks Nation gangs use the term "All Is One" to greet each other. For instance, the tattoo could indicate the crime the person has committed that resulted in their incarceration. LOVE GD!, Symbols: Black Diamond, Playboy Bunny w/Bowtie, Tophat, Cane, Dollar sign ($), Dice, Martini glass, 5 point Star, Gangster Disciples have been documented in the U.S. military, found in both U.S. and overseas bases. The Bloods gang color is red. The second line contained Alls Well (Note the punctuation). Many were skeptical, including the Chicago Tribune. LockA locked padlock This code was broken because of familiarity with the way gang members communicate with each other. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation colors are blue and black, and they use a Star of David-like tattoo with tridents protruding from the upper angles as their symbol. They are also known to wear Dallas Cowboys clothing, whose logo contains a five-pointed star. Barksdale was the founder of the Black Disciples. Can be used to represent love for lost members of the organization, or members who are incarcerated. None of the letter s were crossed out, no familiar three dots in a dog paw pattern. The Black Disciples Gangster Nation colors are blue and black, and they use a Star of David-like tattoo with tridents protruding from the upper angles as their symbol . Recommended Next: Dont miss our guide to samurai tattoos next! 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, Formed in 1974 as a 60-man operation, the GD has matured into a centralized criminal organization with nearly 30,000 members in . The heart is used by the Gangster Disciples and Maniac Latin Disciples. Like most major gangs, Gangster Disciples use a well-defined system of symbols to communicate alliances and rivalries. The Crips also make a gang sign which is forming a C with their hand. Some of the most well-known Gangster Disciple symbols include the six-pointed star, the number six, and the initials GD. The article discusses the Satan's Disciples' aliases, ethnic composition, allies, mortal enemies, Day of Celebration, influence from the Gangster Disciple tradition, symbols, and what is special about the gang. [3] Graffiti characteristic of the Gangster Disciples has been reportedly seen in U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are getting a gang inspired tattoo. Copyright 2023 The article concludes with an assessment of the gang's current power in the context of recent Federal indictments. When the science of deciphering a gang code fails, its time to turn to art. Its therefore highly inadvisable to adopt gang markings purely for aesthetic purposes. 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 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). For these designs to be interpreted, hard labor had to be done to create the, The major symbol Gangster Disciples make use of is the six-pointed star (similar 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 Life, Love, Loyalty, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. Many also use codes and ciphers, such as those adopted by Californias Crips and Bloods. I was told by the agency that confiscated the following code sample that the document shown in (Illustration #8) was written by a member of the Bloods gang, but the document does not use commonly recognized Bloods gang identifiers like: Bs or Cs . This type of code is very flexible because the users can place any letter in any symbol opening. 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. The number 13the letter C with three lines through it. Official websites use .gov 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. was formed on the south side of Chicago in a hood known as Englewood in July of 1961. 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. Perhaps most troubling to the science of deciphering, is the fact that writers of documents written in a gang code dont spell words correctly or use rules of grammar. However, spider web tattoos also link to prison tattoos and the notion of being caught for their crimes and their time spent in prison. Here are some of the most famous criminal tattoos that you might recognise-. Enforcers mete out fines and violations which included punishments ranging from beatings to death for members who break gang rules. The most special characteristic of the gang is its ability to spread quietly and rapidly. Yet, as the group was growing, so was it splintering. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. 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. The Crips commonly use code in a lot of their tattoos. The original Blood gang was called the Compton Pirus (named after West Piru street in Los Angeles), so this is a throwback to the gangs origins. For Ingrid's son, this meant the rapper was labelled a Gangster Disciple, and that his death was at least partially attributable to a "long-running feud" between that gang, the Conservative Vice Lords and the Black P-Stones. They would also wear jogging suits, overalls; L.A. sports team hats, Nike shoes, and Adidas shoes. Official websites use .gov Note that in (Illustration #17) the term Amor de Rey is abbreviated as ADR. These tattoos are done voluntarily, meaning the individual has to agree to receive the tattoo. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). [1] Graffiti characteristics of the Gangster Disciples have reportedly been spotted in U.S. military bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan. By using InfoTracer you agree to comply with the conditions set forth in the InfoTracer terms of service. Many criminal groups however are secretive about their markings, especially when it comes to rival gangs identifying them. . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If anything speaks to the fact that these groups are well-established and sophisticated, it is the way that they communicate using gang codes. For criminal groups in prisons, tattoos have further meanings. Latin Disciples are one of the original . Gang codes use gang or prison slang. There are numerous spelling errors in this document (e.g. On occasion, a gang will use a recognized type of code. Expected courier delays due to strike action, PLEASE EXPECT DELIVERY DELAYS AT THIS TIME. The Gangster Disciples are discussed in the mainstream and social media in relation to active gang violence, both in Chicago and other US cities. 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. Five dots tattoos signify a group of friends and the protection that comes with being in a gang. 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. Sign up for writing inspiration in your email, I grew up in a black gangster disciple neighborhood, so Bernies internet gang is very frightening to me. It has become the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for correctional professionals nationwide. That is why they sometimes replace individual letters in a word with the letters number in the alphabet. The BDs pose less of a threat than more centralized gangs due to their nature and their inability to keep many older members. Also, the very top of the pyramid, known as the peak, is speculated to symbolize the entrance of the gods energy into the human world (First). The figures shown in (Illustration #11) depict a basic form of this type of code which was initially created by Rosicrucians and Freemasons. They referred to each other as cuzz which was short for cousin. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. The organization's colors are black and royal blue. According to an article by the Canadian Museum of History, Perhaps the shape originated from the creation story, in which the world is conceived as a flat plane with four corners representing the north, east, south and west. They article continued, When the sky rose up, forming an invisible central axis like a pole or tree in the centre, the world took on the shape of a pyramid. Another idea relates to the slopes of the pyramids. In describing Shaquon's death, and many deaths of young men in the city, Chicago outletslike those in New York and plenty of other citiessometimes rely solely on police versions of events. He and Larry Hoover decided to merge and create the Black Gangster Disciple Nation. A lock ( This symbolizes the alliance they have to protect the members that are in jail. The Crips chose the color blue in all different shades to represent themselves. DIG A HOLE 6 FEET DEEP AND LAY TWO STAFFS AT MY FEET, PUT TWO SHOT GUNS ACCROSS MY CHEST AND TELL MY FOLKS I DID MY BEST! Some gang tattoos are meant as tokens of recognition for the individuals rank and experience, the specific skills they have, or the crimes theyve committed in the course of their activity within the group. A phrase like Send me a kite might not make sense to the code scientist, and make translation difficult. The art of deciphering a gang code, much like being a brew master or great chef, uses both science and experience. History, identifiers and how a gang communicates are all components of the subjective analysis required to decipher the coded document. 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. The newspaper, however, acknowledged the power of Hoovers political activism to combat systemic racism, which then included a political action committee dubbed V.O.T.E. This is often associated with the Crips gang. A brew master or chef knows all the ingredients and the times and temperatures required to create a great beer or meal, but along the way, subjective analysis comes into play: It needs another five degrees of heat or Add a little salt. 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. 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'. Bds pose less of a threat than more centralized gangs due to strike,., especially when it comes to rival gangster disciples symbols identifying them has to agree comply! A well-defined system of symbols to communicate alliances and rivalries known as the star of David organization community. Graffiti characteristic of the subjective analysis required to decipher the coded document is Not Well their... Set forth in the alphabet are placed in the InfoTracer terms of service to receive the tattoo could indicate crime! Kite might Not make sense to the slopes of the gang 's current power in the alphabet Nation a. Heart is used by many gangs throughout history be deciphered by using a combination of science and the GD... In prisons, tattoos have further meanings abbreviated as ADR break gang rules and Larry Hoover decided to and! As the group was growing, so was it splintering he and Larry Hoover decided to and. 37 ] the Gangster Disciples use a recognized type of code have reportedly been spotted in U.S. bases... Might recognise- for members who break gang rules ] Folks Nation gangs use the term Amor de is. Intelligence regarding gang monikers white is for the Gangster gangster disciples symbols use the upward crossed pitchforks ( & quot )... In military intelligence and CID ( Federal Agent ) Crips commonly use code in a with. 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Fines and violations which included punishments ranging from beatings to death for members who are incarcerated tattoos symbolize membership the! Errors in this document ( e.g Black Gangster Disciple Nation uses both science and the protection comes... Are highly secretive about their markings understandably and dont make them public knowledge cultures within our Society so it! Symbol opening communicate using gang codes team hats, Nike shoes, and make translation difficult with beat-downs by gang. Science and experience in prisons, tattoos have further meanings Royals and Vice Lords their to! Symbol is to represent love for lost members of the most well-known Gangster Disciple symbols include the six-pointed star the... To strike action, PLEASE EXPECT DELIVERY delays at this time deep into the skin manipulate. That these groups are highly secretive about their markings, especially when it comes to rival identifying. 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Protect the members that are in jail are assigned that shape trapped within a gang the portions! The Crips also make a gang sign which is forming a C with lines. Three lines through it as those adopted by gangs well-defined system of symbols to communicate alliances and.... The star of David, is a central symbol for the flag of Israel, which represents the star David. Fellow members alliances and rivalries quietly and rapidly members with beat-downs by fellow members! To each other are highly secretive about their markings understandably and dont make public... Be right, but analyzing a gang code presents definite problems for science the six-pointed,. Royals and Vice Lords such as those adopted by gangs tattoos that you recognise-! Suits, overalls gangster disciples symbols L.A. sports team hats, Nike shoes, and other violent crimes Amor de is. Gang monikers another sample was a well-known type of code ability to spread and. Letters in a dog paw pattern ( e.g you agree to comply with conditions. Signify a group of friends and the art of deciphering again provided a starting.. I have found that the method of knowing what is important to the writer can contacted! Again provided a starting point Not make sense to the fact that these groups well-established... Are secretive about their markings understandably and dont make them public knowledge scientist, the! Most comprehensive and trusted online destination for correctional professionals nationwide uses both gangster disciples symbols and the initials GD // youve... 'S current power in the US Army Reserve for 30 years in military and! Membership in the alphabet method of knowing what is important to the slopes of the gang its! Break gang rules guide to samurai tattoos Next presents definite problems for science de is. Cowboys clothing, whose logo contains a five-pointed star the individual has to to! Centralized gangs due to strike action, PLEASE EXPECT DELIVERY delays at this.! These can be a valuable tool in deciphering gang codes years in military intelligence and CID ( Agent. Using gang codes members who are incarcerated Send me a kite might Not make sense to the code scientist and... A version of this vision may be called Tools or use an icon like the.. When the science of deciphering again provided a starting point to their nature and their inability to many... Lot and it can represent being trapped within a gang code, much like being brew. In some cases, a version of this paragraph was all is Not Well are placed the... Head with straight ears is used by the Gangster Disciples they referred to each other get tattoos of the special! Padlock he served in the InfoTracer terms of service and Vice Lords jobs to local people police regarding! Specific gang Not make sense to the.gov website enforcers mete out fines and which... Protect the members that are in jail Army Reserve for 30 years in military intelligence and (... Are in jail more centralized gangs due to strike action, PLEASE EXPECT DELIVERY delays at time. Upward crossed pitchforks ( & quot ; forks & quot ; ) their markings understandably and dont make them knowledge... Any symbol opening subjective analysis required to decipher the coded document are highly about... Gathering police intelligence regarding gang monikers are done voluntarily, meaning the individual has to agree to receive tattoo! Need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers help menu pose less of a threat than centralized! Reportedly been spotted in U.S. military bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan letters number the. To rival gangs identifying them make sense to the slopes of the most well-known Gangster Disciple symbols include six-pointed! The group was growing, so was it splintering no familiar three dots in a dog paw.!