A gang signal is a visual or verbal way gang members identify their affiliation.
This can take many forms including slogans, tattoos, hand signs and colored
clothing. Many of these, especially slogans and hand signs, have become part
of popular culture. The wearer usually favors, or is in, that particular gang.
With symbols, graffiti is a large symbol displayed on walls or trains.
Tattoos Tattoos have long been associated with
gang membership, and connote the toughness desired by gang members as
well as the permanence of gang affiliation. The designs used are
frequently symbolic and represent particular deeds, such as murder. Burn
marks may also be a way of recognition to a gang or a gang member.
The gang symbols used in tattoos and graffiti are fairly involved and refer
to the mythology and meaning that each gang may invent. For example, the Star
of David represents the Folk Nation once led by a man known as King David. In
addition, each point of the star represents a "value" of the "nation".
Sureño, commonly associated with La Eme, use the numbers 13 and 3 to refer to
themselves, referencing the fact that "M" is the 13th letter of the English
alphabet. Graffiti
Graffiti has also long been seen as a gang-related activity, and its use is
closely connected to the fact that many gangs have particular areas that they
always try to control. As above, the graffiti is often highly symbolic and
may contain more information about the gang's activities, values, and their
current opponents. Most often, gangs spray graffiti to mark
territory or send a threat to a rival gang. When at war with another gang,
they may visit locations the rival gang has already made their mark upon,
crossing out the names of enemies they have killed, or simply covering up the
rival. This is also known as a "cross out".
Hand signs The original usage of hand sign can be
traced back to the Pilgrims. They would use them as code not only to represent
themselves, but to identify themselves to other members. "Throwing up" a gang
sign with the hands is one of the most known and obvious forms of "claiming".
It is used in many situations where other identifiers may not be possible or
appropriate, and it can also show that a gang member is in the area to "do
business" as opposed to just passing through. Usually these signs are made by
formation of the fingers on one or both hands to make some sort of symbol or
letter. It can also serve to relay more specific information, such as what set
they represent within a larger gang or in which activities they are currently
taking part. Individual letters can be used to tell stories when flashed in
rapid succession, each representing a word beginning with that letter. These
signs, because they are displayed only when wanted, are usually the most
consistent across various areas. Many of these hand signals are quite close to
other common hand signs, and this can cause confusion among gang members,
non-gang members, and anti-gang authorities.
Another identifier that can be displayed only when desired is a gang handshake,
which usually includes some component of the gang hand signs and/or other hand
and finger symbols. Clothing
Clothing is a strong signal that all gangs show. The clothing gangs wear
allows rival gangs to identify who is friend and who is foe. For example, the
uniforms for many Hispanic gangs are standard and easily recognizable. Gangs
such as the Latin Kings would wear long white T-shirts, baggy pants, and either
a bandana or a hat, sometimes both. Black gang members are generally more
individualistic with their clothing. The gang would wear a specific clothing and
certain accessories that would match their crew's colors. Examples include
the Bloods, whose gang colour is red, and the Crips, who wear blue. The Bloods
gang color is red so to identify themselves, they would wear red.
Bandanas Bandanas can be worn in various types of
colors and ways. This is done by gang members to signify which gang they are
affiliated with. The most popular bandana colors are red, blue, black,
white, grey, and yellow. It is typically worn on the head or in the left or right
back pockets of gang members. See also
Criminal tattoo Gang colors
Turf war References