Interesting thread. I write to an inmate at Pelican Bay SHU that is segregated due to his gang affiliations. I attempted to discuss the gang issues with him, but it caused a bunch of problems, ie; he didn't get letters I sent, and letters that got through were held for long periods of time. I finally told him I had no interest in gangs, just how it affected him. Then I told him we didn't need to discuss the gang issues. Our mail returned to normal.

Want to know about gangs? Watch "Gangland" series on the History channel. It has gone to DVD and is available at BestBuy. I have three seasons.

I wonder how many of those posting on this subject have actually been confined within a Maximum Security Prison. And then, let us narrow it down to how many have actually been involved with a "gang" while incarcerated within a Maximum Security Prison. Gangs are the Tribal Nature of people....all nations of people come from a "TRIBE." gangs are the pack of wolves deep within the forest....the pride of lions....the covey of quail....the flock of geese.
In essence....gangs are a return to the natural state and order of environments; social evolution in real time.

wikipedia definition
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen. In the United Kingdom the word is still often used in this sense, but it later underwent pejoration. The word gang often carries a negative connotation; however, within a gang which defines itself in opposition to mainstream norms, members may adopt the phrase as a statement of identity or defiance. Reports of gang-related homicides are concentrated mostly in the largest cities in the United States, where there are long-standing and persistent gang problems and a greater number of documented gang members—most of whom are identified by law enforcement.

The United States Department of Justice estimates there are approximately 30,000 gangs, with 800,000 members, impacting 2,500 communities across the United States. [1]

Gang is from the past participle of Old English gan "to go". It is cognate with Old Norse gangr "a group of men", and it is in this sense that the word is used today, rather than the older meaningGang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I know at least one of the posters in this thread has done time and I trust his opinion/point of view 100%.

Robert

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You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
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Life is short, live every day like its your last

So do I, yet some actually will argue with him lol
Not meaning paralegal pike on that.

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P'nut-

I think he might enjoy a little argument every now and then. Keeps him on his toes. LOL

Robert

__________________
You always have to remember - no matter what you're told - that God loves all the flowers, even the wild ones that grow on the side of the highway."
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Life is short, live every day like its your last

This is coming from someone who was in prison,someone who has a brother in prison,and someone who is married to a man that was in prison.Oh!last but not least has a mother in law who did 30 years in Texas state prisons.

NO prison is the same as another.Some have less gang activity than others.Out west there are more gangs than anywhere in the prison system.
A few:
NLR(Nazi Low Riders)prominant in California where it started.
AB(Aryan Brotherhood)
(the above two work very close together)
Mexican Maffia
Bloods
Crypts
MS13
DC Blacks
Folk
Prominant Biker Gangs:Banditos,Hells Angels,Warlocks,ext(most of these fall under the AB in prison).

In SOME prisons,not all yes, you do have to have someone to watch your back.Most guys only hold their alliance for protection until they get out.Some stay affiliated after their realease.My husband cut ties after his realease.If you don't have people to watch your back or if you "diss" them in public or turn them down they will let the other gangs have their way with you.I dont give at rat's butt who says different.In the South it is not so much gang affiliation just "click" affiliation.

Females are a bit different.It's more of who you know and how you know them and how tough you are.It's not race related really at all.

In ANY prison it's how tough you are and how you cary yourself.If you go in nice and daisys and fields of poppies,yeah you are going to have to tote a few a** whippings.

My first day in I had this big 'ole girl named Glenda try to kick my butt for my socks.Needless to say I grew up with my dad and 8 brothers.I can handle my own.Never got messed with again.Stayed to myself after that.I had 1 person I talked to.That was it.

Mens institutions are MUCH different.

__________________
*~Rest In Peace~*
Leslie McNeil Collins 16OCT1930-06FEB01(grandpa)
James Thomas Maples 26DEC58-07MAY07(dad)
Joseph Jordan(Joey) 17APR81-25NOV00(brother)
Scott Hunter Clark 04JUL87-05JUL04(brother)
Aaron James Hensley 04JUL05-05MAY07(son)
The Lord watch between me and thee in our absence from one another.

[showyourpride Quote] "Would someone help me understand the gang movement/racism within the inmate populations in the US prison system. I have never understood "hate" anywhere in our society."

I think that you have to remember that prisons do not contain the highest levels of intelligent society. Quite often, those who have been "low" lifers, all of their lives, make themselves feel better about themselves by putting someone else down. This is true "in" prison and "out". And, in order to put someone down, you basically have to "hate" them.

This same concept is used to train soldiers for war. How do you kill another person if you don't hate them? Thus, part of your training is to learn how to hate. That is why the enemy is often called: "gooks", "slopes", "krauts", etc.

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Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly.

Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy.

Wow!That is a very good reply xray.I am going to write that down and send that to my brother if that's ok?We have been talking about the whole gang perspective since he was incarcerated 3 months ago...

__________________
*~Rest In Peace~*
Leslie McNeil Collins 16OCT1930-06FEB01(grandpa)
James Thomas Maples 26DEC58-07MAY07(dad)
Joseph Jordan(Joey) 17APR81-25NOV00(brother)
Scott Hunter Clark 04JUL87-05JUL04(brother)
Aaron James Hensley 04JUL05-05MAY07(son)
The Lord watch between me and thee in our absence from one another.

Feel free, guardian. In my opinion, that is what this forum is all about . . sharing ideas and opinions. And, who better to share with than our pen pals, brothers, etc? I think that it must be comforting, for them, to know that there are people, like us, who are aware of their circumstances; that we try to understand and help their situation in some small way.

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Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly.

Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy.

so...."prisons do not contain the highest levels of intelligent society." Let me ask you this: have you ever held down a 60+ hour per week job and still maintained a 3.92 Grade Point Average going to school full time. Have you ever been asked to join "PSI-CHI" the Honor Society for Psychology Majors in the United States of America? Were you able to graduate Jump School at the age of 17 years? Were you ever in any gifted programs while in school? I have been these....I have also spent time in Pelican Bay Security Housing Unit - -California's Super-Max. Oh yeah....Xray48..(moderator edited)...which is why I suppose you have never done anything to challenge the morally corrupt society which has taught you falsehoods about Honor...Respect...standing up for your beliefs (instead of playing the coward behind a label of Political Correctness). And guardian_angle_don't try to "understand and help [your brother's]situation in some small way" Rather, remain a brother and offer to be there when your brother is released....
p.s. I hope the moderator understands my intent with this post is to inform that Inmates are intelligent, capable individuals. I take offense to any posts which describe Inmates as ignorant, incapable individuals.
James Melvin Pike, Jr.