A gang is a group made up of three or more people who are represented by a sign, symbol, or name. The members of the gang participate in many criminal activities. This creates fear and intimidating towards the gang from the people who lives in the city they're located. In New England and United States, the gang activity has risen since 1987. Gangs consists of many different races and ethnic backgrounds. Latin Kings are one of the many gangs, that is made up of many Hispanics member. (Brotherton & Barrios, 2004)
History
Latin Kings is one of the most violent gangs in America. The Latin Kings were originally founded in the 1920s and 1930s in New York. It was another name back in the 1920s or 1930s. In the 1950s, Latin Kings was formed by Papa King also known as Papa Santos and other Hispanics in Chicago, Illinois. (History of Latin Kings, 2018) Latin Kings was created by Hispanics, so that they can come together and protect their culture. They also created it to protect their neighborhood. They influence the younger Hispanic member to get an education. They are located nationwide. Massachusetts, Mexico, Florida, California, etc.
The Latin Kings have many rivals from different locations. Almighty Latin Kings & Queens Charter Nation, Folk Nation, Latin Locos, etc. In the late 80's and early 90's members of the Connecticut chapter broke away from the mother organization and developed a Charter which incorporated new philosophies as well as the rules and philosophies of the mother chapter. (“Latin Kings & Queens,” 2011) This is how the Almighty Latin Kings & Queens Charter Nation became rivals of the Latin Kings.
Characteristics of Membership
In order to join the Latin Kings Gang, you must associate with someone that’s already in the gang and has been in the gang for some years. Both women and men are allowed in the Latin King gang. The women that are members of the gang and the men gang members wives or girlfriends are to be called Queens. Women that are members of the gang are to fill the female stereotypical roles. They are to stay at home and take care of everything in the house. While the men are out doing gang activities the women are provided with home life protection.
In some game some members want to not be a part of the gang anymore. In the Latin Kins gang, leaving the gang is not an option. Being a member of the Latin Kings gang is a lifetime thing After you join the gang, the members are considered your family for life.
Activities. Latin Kings are known to be the most violent Hispanic gang in United States. The primary source of their income come from selling drugs, like cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. They also sell and use weapons. The Latin Kings leaders assigns the younger members of the gang to go out and do graffiti. The leader would continue to assign the younger member to do different gang activities. Evert time they completed the activity they move up to a higher position in the gang.
Latin Kings are very strict on following their rules. If you are to not break any of the rule you will be punished. They have different types of punishments, it is all up to the leader on what type of punishment you will receive. There is the non-physical punishment which is prohibition. It can last up to 2 weeks or 2 months. Also, they can tell you to pay fines for your punishments. For the physical punishments, there are rules for those also. There is the “three- minute physicals,” where you would get punished by three members for three minutes. The “five-point violations,” is when five members of the leadership punish the victim. The Terminate on Sight, also known as T.O.S, is the death penalty, they kill the members instantly. To get the T.O.S the members had to commit treason, challenge a leader, or if they found out if the member was a homosexual. (History of the Latin Kings, 2018)
The Latin Kings are represented by different types of symbols and color. The colors that represents the Latin Kings are Gold and Black. Gold meaning life and Black meaning death. The Latin Kings has many types of symbols. The Five- point crown, five- point star, a crown on top of a lion’s head, and the code of armor. The Five-point crown represents obedience, love, respect, honor, and sacrifice. The members of the gang are seen wearing beaded necklaces around their necks. The sequence of the colored beads is for different types of members. Five black beads placed on top of five gold beads on the necklace, are worn by the members of the gang. Five black beads placed on top of two gold beads on the necklace, are worn by the executive members. All black beads on a necklace are worn by the assassins. (Latin Kings, 2014)
The Latin Kings are one the largest and oldest Hispanic gang in America. They don’t do everything that every other gang does. They take their rules very seriously and they make sure that their members are always taken care of. They are a big family, they are said to be so loyal to each other that nobody can get information from them. They are a family and no one can get rid of the bond they have.