Analysis of street gang culture and popularity between the Bloods and the CripsConclusion IntroductionThe purpose of this The objective of the article is to study the characteristics that constitute the culture of street gangs. The reason we chose this topic for this article is the fact that gang violence is becoming a critical problem for the United States and many other nations around the world. In the United States alone, approximately one million teenagers are part of a street gang. However, this problem is not a recent one and the population of the United States has been a victim of gang violence since the early 1800s. Currently, although street gangs do not maintain any official registers, there are approximately 33,000 street gangs present in North America (Grabianowski, 2007). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A central question in this study is the cultural components of these street gangs. Since gangsters tend to see these gangs as family units, the study of their cultural components will resemble other sociolinguistic studies involving family, language, customs... The properties of these street gangs are not yet fully understood due to the secrecy present among the members of these gangs. There is even an unwritten code (the G-Code) that prevents these members from revealing information about their gang's activity. Knox (2000), Klein (1995-2006), and Keever (n.d.) have already mentioned the patterns and nature present in these bands. Furthermore, Pacheco (2008) has developed a guide that highlights all the characteristics present in street gangs such as those studied in this article, the Crips and the Bloods. For this purpose, two of the main African-American street gangs that control the American territory were selected. . The characteristics of these gangs such as gang loyalty, symbols, rituals, hierarchy in the gang, graffiti, tattoos and non-verbal communication used by gangsters will be analysed. Finally, a brief introduction to the so-called peace treaties between the two selected gangs will be presented. MethodTwo of the most infamous street gangs in the United States, the Crips and the Bloods, were chosen to study this topic. Information about these gangs was found in documents presented in the previous section and on websites belonging to the US government. Particularly relevant to this paper are studies conducted by Henry R. Pacheco, who is a member of the Gang Investigators Association in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and is certified as a law enforcement gang specialist by both the New York and Virginia Gang Investigators Associations (Pacheco, 2010). Theoretical background The concept of culture The first term that needs to be explained is the notion of culture, what constitutes a culture and how it works. Several researchers have attempted to define what culture is, however, since culture is an abstract term, definitions vary among scholars. Schudson (1989) has already explained which elements constitute a culture. According to this scholar, culture is not something that works or doesn't work. It is not something imposed or done to a man; it is constitutive of the individual. It is the precondition and state of humanity (Schudson, 1989) Another possible definition of what culture is was provided by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, who in 1871 defined cultureculture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”. Finally, more recent studies have defined culture as “the rules for playing the game of life” (Samovar et al., 2014: 11). Gangs According to the National Institute of Justice, "there is no universally agreed upon definition of "gang" in United States" (National Institute of Justice, 2011). This institution provides two different definitions, the federal definition and the state definition: Federal definition: A gang is an association of three or more individuals who identify themselves by adopting a group identity. These individuals tend to be more collectivist than individualistic. This group identity is used as a means to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. This is done by adopting a common name, slogans, signs, symbols, tattoos, a specific color of clothing and even graffiti. The main purpose of these groups is to engage in criminal activities. Gangs tend to have bonding rituals, offer protection, exercise control over a given territory, and have an identifiable structureState definition: A criminal street gang is any organization of three or more people whose primary activity is the commission of crimes. They have a common name, sign, or symbol and engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity (National Institute of Justice, 2011). Map of the Blood, Crip, Hoover, and Piru gangs of South LA (Google maps). Cultural Elements of Street GangsThe main elements studied in this article are tattoos, graffiti and slang. Pacheco (2008) has already made a distinction between two of these elements, paying attention to the meaning of each in street gang culture. Tattoos: “Gang members may wear tattoos that are specific to their gang, group, clique, etc., or they may convey their status or represent a region, as in the case of the “Sureños” and the “Norteños” (Pacheco, 2008:24). Pacheco also stated that some tattoos appear to be generic in nature, not allowing identification of membership, however, members of gangs such as those belonging to "MS-13" and "La 18" tend to get their gang number tattooed "barrio" everywhere. their bodies. Additionally, he recognized tear tattoos as representations of the pain of losing other gang members, committing murder, or spending time in prison. For most gangs, tattoos represent their commitment to the group. Graffiti: In gang culture, spray painting can range from "tagging" words or names to more intricate or masterful images or messages. Spray painting can demonstrate which gangs are fighting, contending, or "getting stronger." They can also introduce group calling or control their territory. Pacheco distinguished between different types of graffiti made by street gangs: Tagger – These are tags made by gang members (nicknames) and elaborate pieces. The purpose of this type of graffiti is to intimidate rival gang members, mark territory they control, or send a specific message. “They are territorial rather than regional” (Pacheco, 2008: 25). Hate graffiti: This type of graffiti is used by gangs who write racial, cultural or religious insults. Some gangs may paint over a tag or symbol belonging to a rival gang. This is done by cross-referencing those labels with the specific color of a band. Slang: This type of spoken language has been used by gangs since their inception as a means of communication between their peers and rivals. This specific terminology varies depending on which gang you belong to. This slangit can be confusing at times. Additionally, gang members tend to use sign language to show which gang they belong to. Some slang terms are “cuz” (used as a friendly name among Crips), “MOB” (Money Over Bitches), “G” (gangster), “slobs” (derogatory term used to identify Bloods), “ADDIDAS” (Everything day I despise all slobs)…Crips and BloodsCripsThere are several theories that explain the founding of this primarily African-American gang based in Los Angeles, California. An unofficial version states that the gang was founded by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams who united their previously created gangs to fight against other nearby gangs. Washington was found dead in 1979 after being shot. Williams was executed by the State of California in 2005 despite being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison. Another version states that the Crips were not always the violent gang they are today. Apparently, the Crips were founded as a way to fight the oppression and police brutality faced by African Americans. According to this version, supported by the Black Panthers, a revolutionary socialist organization founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton in October 1966, the band's name stood for Community Resources for Independent People (Brown, n.d.). organization, there are several ways to join the Crips. Depending on the neighborhood, initiation procedures vary from being beaten by gang members, to committing a crime, to fighting rival gang members, or even killing someone. Once considered a member, you are treated like family, respected and protected by the rest of the members. A feature commonly found in Crip graffiti is the six-pointed star. Another way to recognize a Crip graffiti is to check if any letter "b" is obliterated on the graffiti. This is done to insult their rivals, the Bloods. The Crips usually avoid writing the letter “b” because it represents their rival gang. It is also common to find messages like “happy c-day” on social media, avoiding the use of the letter “b”. Regardless of the legal action that shoplifting may result in, according to Bertheaud (2011), most graffiti made by street gangs is written with spray paint stolen from unsupervised hardware stores. Finally, another common symbol for Crips is the number 187. This number is the code for first degree murder in the California penal code (Bertheaud, 2011). Figure one is a clear example of the typical Crip label found in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The letters "b" are crossed out, there is a six-pointed star, a six-pointed crown, and the letters "BK", which stands for Blood Killer, appear on the side. Tattoos Representative symbols found in tattoos worn by members of the Crip include the previously mentioned three-pointed six, a three/six-pointed crown, "BK" standing for Blood Killer, Crip LOB, meaning "lords of the brotherhood".. Another symbol commonly found in Crip tattoos is the letter C drawn in sign language. Adidas Slang: Stands for "All day I destroy a slob." Slob is a pejorative term used to insult Bloods (Hamilton, 2013). Blue from Shoe Up: When a Crip member wears blue from their shoes to the top. "CC" or double "C": The double C is used by members of the Crip whenever they need to replace the letters “CK” (which stands for Crip Killer) in any word. Cuddy: Slang term for the word friend, once again replacing the letter “B” with a letter “C”. Crip Walk or C-walk: The C-Walk is a dance invented by the Crips that involves moving their feet to write the letters CRIP. Drinking milk: A term used only by members of theCrip to target or kill a rival. This term was stolen from the Bloods in the 1990s when Blood members who were in prison created a way to disrespect other members of the prison. CIP: CIP stands for Crip In Peace, used as a substitute for RIP (Rest in Peace). It is used when a Crip member dies (Urban Thesaurus, n.d.). Rap Singers Who Are Crips Many famous artists in the hip hop scene joined a gang when they were teenagers and got into trouble with the law. Some of them are active members and many others have a distinct affiliation with the gang.Celebrity GangSnoop Dogg Rollin' 20's Crips,Goldie Loc Rollin' 20's CripsNate Dogg Rollin' 20's CripsThe Dove Shack Rollin' 20's CripsWarren G Rollin' 20's CripsKurupt Rollin' 60's CripsCJ Mac Rollin' 60's CripsDaz Dillinger 21st Street CripsLil' C Style 19th Street CripsSome of them, like Snoop Dogg, even dedicated songs to their gang. Although Snoop Dogg claims to have never joined a gang, he is affiliated with the Rollin' 20's Crips. Snoop Dogg's song Crip or Die describes what it's like to be a Crip from Long Beach. He sings about being loyal to the gang, describes them as family and even states that the gang is more important than his own life. This loyalty is a representative characteristic of gang culture, where once entered, the only way out is death. Crip or die… that's the first thing you learn on the Eastside” (Snoop Dogg, 2015). The Bloods The Bloods are a street gang based in Los Angeles, California. This gang bases its activities on drugs, theft, murder and any other criminal activity. Their representative color is red and they are longtime rivals of the Crips. The gang was founded in the early 1970s due to the spread the Crips were having throughout Los Angeles at the time. The Bloods were formed as a group aiming to fight the Crips. Members of different gangs, such as those around Piru Street, banded together and banded together to protect themselves from the Crips. However, the fact that these gangs were together in the fight against the Crips did not prevent infighting between the different gangs that formed the Bloods. Aside from the color red, Bloods have unique identifiers, such as specific hand markings, tattoos (a dog paw, and the Triple O, a physical mark often made from the heated barrel of a gun). The Bloods began to expand in the early 1970s, throughout Los Angeles, however they were still smaller than the Crips. For this reason the Bloods became particularly aggressive and violent. They took advantage of the rise of crack cocaine in the 1980s and began to focus on drug trafficking. This newly discovered way of making money allowed the gang to spread beyond California, even reaching the East Coast, eventually outnumbering their New York City rivals (EncyclopÆdia Britannica, n.d.). Symbols and Identification Bloods are known to embrace the color red as their own, however, some sets of Bloods have chosen to use black, pink, orange, and even green, depending on their origin. In recent years, gang members have decided to stop using their signature colors as a way to avoid police. The colors are worn as an indication of pride in their gang alliance and as a terrorizing element to non-gang members and opponents. Gang members will represent their family by "flagging" or wearing bandanas. These handkerchiefs or "flags" can be worn around the head, face, wrist, lower legs, or in the back pocket. Having a bandana is extremely important for a gang member as it is given upon initiation into the gang. Gang members typically have at least tattoosa tattoo/brand representing their gang. As previously stated, members of the Bloods carry with them a "dog's paw" made using the heated barrel of a gun. They are usually burned on the member's right arm. This mark may be referred to by gang members as "triple O" and can also be found on Bloods graffiti. Additionally, Blood tattoos include the gang name, a five-pointed star/crown (Dowe, 2011), tears, blood drops, pit bull, etc. These tattoos tend to be given when a member is initiated and each tattoo represents the member's rank. Finally, these tattoos are usually shown to their rivals as a way of intimidation. Blood Graffiti Symbols typically found on Blood Graffiti are the five-pointed star, the letters CK (Crip Killer), the five-pointed crown, and the "Triple O", always painted in red. Hand Signs Group hand signs have different meanings. They are usually used whenever a gang member wants to greet another member, intimidate non-gang members, and silently warn his rivals. “These hand signals are ways to show loyalty to the group and let others know who they are dealing with” (Keever, 1999). Bloods have distinctive hand markings that tend to be different from those of their rivals. The Bloods are known for using non-verbal communication as a means of conveying messages to other members. The way they walk, the way they stand and their gestures convey a wide range of hidden messages. Figure 6. Compilation of body gestures made by members of the Blood. (Petersburg Police Department, 2008)SlangOriginally, the coded language used by the Bloods was designed as a way to prevent correctional officers from understanding inmates' communication, later translated to the streets as a way of communicating between members. A common way of greeting each other among members of the Bloods is to say "SuWoop!" (sound similar to that of a police siren). This greeting is returned by saying "Blaat!" (the sound of an automatic pistol).Slang term MeaningBklyn I trust himMad dog All dayManhatten Don't trust himManhattan I trust himThe 21 RulesThe Bloods have a set of rules they must abide by in order to be accepted by the gang. If not respected, gang members risk being beaten and even killed by other gang members. Although these rules are supposed to be secret, old gang members aiming to leave the gang have provided police departments with information about the gang's hierarchy and rules. . Due to the nature of the topic, the author of the following list remains anonymous. Peace treaties between the Bloods and the Crips Many groups have attempted to end gang violence ever since street gangs appeared. Peace treaties between the Crips and the Bloods have surfaced multiple times throughout the history of both gangs. The most famous peace treaty between these two rival gangs is the one known as the “Watts Gang Truce”. This truce was declared one day before the infamous Los Angeles riots in which the city of Los Angeles erupted in flames after the four LAPD officers who beat Rodney King were found innocent. The Bloods and Crips decided to end the conflict that had turned into a bloody war that had killed hundreds of people. On April 28, 1992, hundreds of gang members gathered to declare a ceasefire. This peace treaty was due to the hectic situation that was present in Los Angeles. Life as a gangster had already become too dangerous and gang members couldn't go to the supermarket without having to confront or fight their own.

Topic > Analysis of street gang culture and popularity between the Bloods and the CripsConclusion IntroductionThe purpose of this The objective of the article is to study the characteristics that constitute the culture of street gangs. The reason we chose this topic for this article is the fact that gang violence is becoming a critical problem for the United States and many other nations around the world. In the United States alone, approximately one million teenagers are part of a street gang. However, this problem is not a recent one and the population of the United States has been a victim of gang violence since the early 1800s. Currently, although street gangs do not maintain any official registers, there are approximately 33,000 street gangs present in North America (Grabianowski, 2007). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A central question in this study is the cultural components of these street gangs. Since gangsters tend to see these gangs as family units, the study of their cultural components will resemble other sociolinguistic studies involving family, language, customs... The properties of these street gangs are not yet fully understood due to the secrecy present among the members of these gangs. There is even an unwritten code (the G-Code) that prevents these members from revealing information about their gang's activity. Knox (2000), Klein (1995-2006), and Keever (n.d.) have already mentioned the patterns and nature present in these bands. Furthermore, Pacheco (2008) has developed a guide that highlights all the characteristics present in street gangs such as those studied in this article, the Crips and the Bloods. For this purpose, two of the main African-American street gangs that control the American territory were selected. . The characteristics of these gangs such as gang loyalty, symbols, rituals, hierarchy in the gang, graffiti, tattoos and non-verbal communication used by gangsters will be analysed. Finally, a brief introduction to the so-called peace treaties between the two selected gangs will be presented. MethodTwo of the most infamous street gangs in the United States, the Crips and the Bloods, were chosen to study this topic. Information about these gangs was found in documents presented in the previous section and on websites belonging to the US government. Particularly relevant to this paper are studies conducted by Henry R. Pacheco, who is a member of the Gang Investigators Association in Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and is certified as a law enforcement gang specialist by both the New York and Virginia Gang Investigators Associations (Pacheco, 2010). Theoretical background The concept of culture The first term that needs to be explained is the notion of culture, what constitutes a culture and how it works. Several researchers have attempted to define what culture is, however, since culture is an abstract term, definitions vary among scholars. Schudson (1989) has already explained which elements constitute a culture. According to this scholar, culture is not something that works or doesn't work. It is not something imposed or done to a man; it is constitutive of the individual. It is the precondition and state of humanity (Schudson, 1989) Another possible definition of what culture is was provided by Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, who in 1871 defined cultureculture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”. Finally, more recent studies have defined culture as “the rules for playing the game of life” (Samovar et al., 2014: 11). Gangs According to the National Institute of Justice, "there is no universally agreed upon definition of "gang" in United States" (National Institute of Justice, 2011). This institution provides two different definitions, the federal definition and the state definition: Federal definition: A gang is an association of three or more individuals who identify themselves by adopting a group identity. These individuals tend to be more collectivist than individualistic. This group identity is used as a means to create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. This is done by adopting a common name, slogans, signs, symbols, tattoos, a specific color of clothing and even graffiti. The main purpose of these groups is to engage in criminal activities. Gangs tend to have bonding rituals, offer protection, exercise control over a given territory, and have an identifiable structureState definition: A criminal street gang is any organization of three or more people whose primary activity is the commission of crimes. They have a common name, sign, or symbol and engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity (National Institute of Justice, 2011). Map of the Blood, Crip, Hoover, and Piru gangs of South LA (Google maps). Cultural Elements of Street GangsThe main elements studied in this article are tattoos, graffiti and slang. Pacheco (2008) has already made a distinction between two of these elements, paying attention to the meaning of each in street gang culture. Tattoos: “Gang members may wear tattoos that are specific to their gang, group, clique, etc., or they may convey their status or represent a region, as in the case of the “Sureños” and the “Norteños” (Pacheco, 2008:24). Pacheco also stated that some tattoos appear to be generic in nature, not allowing identification of membership, however, members of gangs such as those belonging to "MS-13" and "La 18" tend to get their gang number tattooed "barrio" everywhere. their bodies. Additionally, he recognized tear tattoos as representations of the pain of losing other gang members, committing murder, or spending time in prison. For most gangs, tattoos represent their commitment to the group. Graffiti: In gang culture, spray painting can range from "tagging" words or names to more intricate or masterful images or messages. Spray painting can demonstrate which gangs are fighting, contending, or "getting stronger." They can also introduce group calling or control their territory. Pacheco distinguished between different types of graffiti made by street gangs: Tagger – These are tags made by gang members (nicknames) and elaborate pieces. The purpose of this type of graffiti is to intimidate rival gang members, mark territory they control, or send a specific message. “They are territorial rather than regional” (Pacheco, 2008: 25). Hate graffiti: This type of graffiti is used by gangs who write racial, cultural or religious insults. Some gangs may paint over a tag or symbol belonging to a rival gang. This is done by cross-referencing those labels with the specific color of a band. Slang: This type of spoken language has been used by gangs since their inception as a means of communication between their peers and rivals. This specific terminology varies depending on which gang you belong to. This slangit can be confusing at times. Additionally, gang members tend to use sign language to show which gang they belong to. Some slang terms are “cuz” (used as a friendly name among Crips), “MOB” (Money Over Bitches), “G” (gangster), “slobs” (derogatory term used to identify Bloods), “ADDIDAS” (Everything day I despise all slobs)…Crips and BloodsCripsThere are several theories that explain the founding of this primarily African-American gang based in Los Angeles, California. An unofficial version states that the gang was founded by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams who united their previously created gangs to fight against other nearby gangs. Washington was found dead in 1979 after being shot. Williams was executed by the State of California in 2005 despite being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize while in prison. Another version states that the Crips were not always the violent gang they are today. Apparently, the Crips were founded as a way to fight the oppression and police brutality faced by African Americans. According to this version, supported by the Black Panthers, a revolutionary socialist organization founded by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton in October 1966, the band's name stood for Community Resources for Independent People (Brown, n.d.). organization, there are several ways to join the Crips. Depending on the neighborhood, initiation procedures vary from being beaten by gang members, to committing a crime, to fighting rival gang members, or even killing someone. Once considered a member, you are treated like family, respected and protected by the rest of the members. A feature commonly found in Crip graffiti is the six-pointed star. Another way to recognize a Crip graffiti is to check if any letter "b" is obliterated on the graffiti. This is done to insult their rivals, the Bloods. The Crips usually avoid writing the letter “b” because it represents their rival gang. It is also common to find messages like “happy c-day” on social media, avoiding the use of the letter “b”. Regardless of the legal action that shoplifting may result in, according to Bertheaud (2011), most graffiti made by street gangs is written with spray paint stolen from unsupervised hardware stores. Finally, another common symbol for Crips is the number 187. This number is the code for first degree murder in the California penal code (Bertheaud, 2011). Figure one is a clear example of the typical Crip label found in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The letters "b" are crossed out, there is a six-pointed star, a six-pointed crown, and the letters "BK", which stands for Blood Killer, appear on the side. Tattoos Representative symbols found in tattoos worn by members of the Crip include the previously mentioned three-pointed six, a three/six-pointed crown, "BK" standing for Blood Killer, Crip LOB, meaning "lords of the brotherhood".. Another symbol commonly found in Crip tattoos is the letter C drawn in sign language. Adidas Slang: Stands for "All day I destroy a slob." Slob is a pejorative term used to insult Bloods (Hamilton, 2013). Blue from Shoe Up: When a Crip member wears blue from their shoes to the top. "CC" or double "C": The double C is used by members of the Crip whenever they need to replace the letters “CK” (which stands for Crip Killer) in any word. Cuddy: Slang term for the word friend, once again replacing the letter “B” with a letter “C”. Crip Walk or C-walk: The C-Walk is a dance invented by the Crips that involves moving their feet to write the letters CRIP. Drinking milk: A term used only by members of theCrip to target or kill a rival. This term was stolen from the Bloods in the 1990s when Blood members who were in prison created a way to disrespect other members of the prison. CIP: CIP stands for Crip In Peace, used as a substitute for RIP (Rest in Peace). It is used when a Crip member dies (Urban Thesaurus, n.d.). Rap Singers Who Are Crips Many famous artists in the hip hop scene joined a gang when they were teenagers and got into trouble with the law. Some of them are active members and many others have a distinct affiliation with the gang.Celebrity GangSnoop Dogg Rollin' 20's Crips,Goldie Loc Rollin' 20's CripsNate Dogg Rollin' 20's CripsThe Dove Shack Rollin' 20's CripsWarren G Rollin' 20's CripsKurupt Rollin' 60's CripsCJ Mac Rollin' 60's CripsDaz Dillinger 21st Street CripsLil' C Style 19th Street CripsSome of them, like Snoop Dogg, even dedicated songs to their gang. Although Snoop Dogg claims to have never joined a gang, he is affiliated with the Rollin' 20's Crips. Snoop Dogg's song Crip or Die describes what it's like to be a Crip from Long Beach. He sings about being loyal to the gang, describes them as family and even states that the gang is more important than his own life. This loyalty is a representative characteristic of gang culture, where once entered, the only way out is death. Crip or die… that's the first thing you learn on the Eastside” (Snoop Dogg, 2015). The Bloods The Bloods are a street gang based in Los Angeles, California. This gang bases its activities on drugs, theft, murder and any other criminal activity. Their representative color is red and they are longtime rivals of the Crips. The gang was founded in the early 1970s due to the spread the Crips were having throughout Los Angeles at the time. The Bloods were formed as a group aiming to fight the Crips. Members of different gangs, such as those around Piru Street, banded together and banded together to protect themselves from the Crips. However, the fact that these gangs were together in the fight against the Crips did not prevent infighting between the different gangs that formed the Bloods. Aside from the color red, Bloods have unique identifiers, such as specific hand markings, tattoos (a dog paw, and the Triple O, a physical mark often made from the heated barrel of a gun). The Bloods began to expand in the early 1970s, throughout Los Angeles, however they were still smaller than the Crips. For this reason the Bloods became particularly aggressive and violent. They took advantage of the rise of crack cocaine in the 1980s and began to focus on drug trafficking. This newly discovered way of making money allowed the gang to spread beyond California, even reaching the East Coast, eventually outnumbering their New York City rivals (EncyclopÆdia Britannica, n.d.). Symbols and Identification Bloods are known to embrace the color red as their own, however, some sets of Bloods have chosen to use black, pink, orange, and even green, depending on their origin. In recent years, gang members have decided to stop using their signature colors as a way to avoid police. The colors are worn as an indication of pride in their gang alliance and as a terrorizing element to non-gang members and opponents. Gang members will represent their family by "flagging" or wearing bandanas. These handkerchiefs or "flags" can be worn around the head, face, wrist, lower legs, or in the back pocket. Having a bandana is extremely important for a gang member as it is given upon initiation into the gang. Gang members typically have at least tattoosa tattoo/brand representing their gang. As previously stated, members of the Bloods carry with them a "dog's paw" made using the heated barrel of a gun. They are usually burned on the member's right arm. This mark may be referred to by gang members as "triple O" and can also be found on Bloods graffiti. Additionally, Blood tattoos include the gang name, a five-pointed star/crown (Dowe, 2011), tears, blood drops, pit bull, etc. These tattoos tend to be given when a member is initiated and each tattoo represents the member's rank. Finally, these tattoos are usually shown to their rivals as a way of intimidation. Blood Graffiti Symbols typically found on Blood Graffiti are the five-pointed star, the letters CK (Crip Killer), the five-pointed crown, and the "Triple O", always painted in red. Hand Signs Group hand signs have different meanings. They are usually used whenever a gang member wants to greet another member, intimidate non-gang members, and silently warn his rivals. “These hand signals are ways to show loyalty to the group and let others know who they are dealing with” (Keever, 1999). Bloods have distinctive hand markings that tend to be different from those of their rivals. The Bloods are known for using non-verbal communication as a means of conveying messages to other members. The way they walk, the way they stand and their gestures convey a wide range of hidden messages. Figure 6. Compilation of body gestures made by members of the Blood. (Petersburg Police Department, 2008)SlangOriginally, the coded language used by the Bloods was designed as a way to prevent correctional officers from understanding inmates' communication, later translated to the streets as a way of communicating between members. A common way of greeting each other among members of the Bloods is to say "SuWoop!" (sound similar to that of a police siren). This greeting is returned by saying "Blaat!" (the sound of an automatic pistol).Slang term MeaningBklyn I trust himMad dog All dayManhatten Don't trust himManhattan I trust himThe 21 RulesThe Bloods have a set of rules they must abide by in order to be accepted by the gang. If not respected, gang members risk being beaten and even killed by other gang members. Although these rules are supposed to be secret, old gang members aiming to leave the gang have provided police departments with information about the gang's hierarchy and rules. . Due to the nature of the topic, the author of the following list remains anonymous. Peace treaties between the Bloods and the Crips Many groups have attempted to end gang violence ever since street gangs appeared. Peace treaties between the Crips and the Bloods have surfaced multiple times throughout the history of both gangs. The most famous peace treaty between these two rival gangs is the one known as the “Watts Gang Truce”. This truce was declared one day before the infamous Los Angeles riots in which the city of Los Angeles erupted in flames after the four LAPD officers who beat Rodney King were found innocent. The Bloods and Crips decided to end the conflict that had turned into a bloody war that had killed hundreds of people. On April 28, 1992, hundreds of gang members gathered to declare a ceasefire. This peace treaty was due to the hectic situation that was present in Los Angeles. Life as a gangster had already become too dangerous and gang members couldn't go to the supermarket without having to confront or fight their own.