Gang Description: Bloods

Gang Name 

From a definitional perspective, a gang refers to an interstitial group emanating from spontaneous perception before the influence of conflict in its integration. Street gangs exist because of diverse reasons, but they tend to threaten the safety of the communities and members. In addressing the needs and expectations of this assignment, the focus is on describing one of the famous gangs in the United States, Bloods. In its formation, the Bloods gang intended to generate a street-gang capable of offering protection to the members from the consistent attacks by the Crips.   

History 

According to the information in Street Gangs.com, most of the neighborhoods, which sought to ally, Bloods, have been around as long as the Crips. For example, the Denver Lanes, the Brims, Athens Boys, the Pirus, and Black P Stones have been active neighborhoods and members of the group since the 1960s across to 1970s (Street Gangs, 2019). During the formative years, it is essential to note that the neighborhoods were established independent entities without rivalries, as well as characteristics of the contemporary street gangs. Nonetheless, following the rapid spread of influence of the Crips across Los Angeles, the identified neighborhoods sought to ally, Bloods, in challenging the Crips (Raymond Washington’s movement) while retaining their respective original identities. The group did generate a rivalry with the Crips following the onset of the fights in 1972 under the influence of the neighborhoods such as the Pirus, the Brims, and the Black P Stone among other neighborhoods (Phillips, 2012). By late 1970s, all these neighborhoods would adopt the image of the Bloods. 

Location 

The Bloods tend to originate in Los Angeles like their rivals, the Crips. The group exists in diverse cities and places across Los Angeles County concerning Los Angeles, Carson, Compton, Florence, Inglewood, West Covina, Pomona, Pasadena, and Hawthorne, among other locations. 

Size 

In terms of size, the street gangs’ website highlights that Bloods tend to occupy about 1/3 of the black gang population in the context of Los Angeles (2019). From this perspective, there are about 70 Bloods sets across Los Angeles Country. In comparison to their rivals, the Crips, Bloods are outnumbered significantly. In spite of this, there are diverse internal rivalries in the case of their rivals, making them able to compete effectively because of the nullification of the numerical dominance of the Crips emanating from the enormous internal altercations. 

Members 

As an outcome of the need for protection against the Crips in Los Angeles, Bloods did development as one of the most violent, as well as unlawful gangs in Los Angeles as an African-American outfit. The gang did establish itself under the influence of Vincent Owens and Sylvester Scott as the founding members (Phillips, 2012). The swift expansion of the gang did emanate from the consistent conflicts with the Crips. The Bloods, like their counterparts, are territorial as they focus on integrating ardent practices to facilitate the protection of their neighborhoods against potential invasions by other rival gangs (Cruz & Chang, 2019). The group has a consistent approach for the identification of one another because of the large number of members within the relatively small location in the areas of Los Angeles. The approach is critical in limiting potential conflicts among members.   

Spreading to other Cities 

The Bloods gang started around the Pirus before infiltrating into other cities and places across Los Angeles County. In the expansion of its influence in the region, the Bloods has had its influence and spread across places such as Carson, Compton, Florence, Inglewood, West Covina, Pomona, Pasadena, and Hawthorne among other locations. These aspects highlight the growing influence of this social group as a reflection of identity and respect in the identified neighborhoods. 

References

Cruz S.C. & Chang C. (2019), “Must Reads: Nipsey Hussle’s death unified Crips and Bloods in grief- Now, peace talks carry on his call.” Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-gang-cease-fire-nipsey-hussle-crips-bloods-compton-riots-20190623-htmlstory.html

Phillips, C. (2012). ‘It ain’t nothing like America with the Bloods and the Crips’: Gang narratives inside two English prisons. Punishment & Society , 14 (1), 51-68.

Street Gangs. (2019). “Bloods sets in Los Angeles County: Pirus, Brims, Families, Stones-Street Gangs, Compton, Inglewood, and Pasadena,” Blood Gangs in Los Angeles. Retrieved from https://www.streetgangs.com/bloods