Errol Flynns
Encyclopedia
The Errol Flynns were a criminal organization, or street gang, founded on the east side of Detroit, Michigan
during the 1970s. Reportedly the gang appropriated their name from the Hollywood film star Errol Flynn
because they fashioned themselves as flamboyant gangsters in dress and ‘jitting’, or using hand signs to identify themselves publicly. This semiotic use of hand gestures to display gang membership, common to contemporary American street gangs as well as hip hop culture, evolved from dances such as the “Errol Flynn”, which were in themselves territorial gang symbols. In the 1970s, house parties in Detroit could be identified by gang affiliation through the type of dance party-goers performed, whether or not they were actually in the gang.
The Errol Flynns evolved, like other Detroit street gangs such as their Westside Detroit counterparts in the late 1970s the Nasty Flynns (later the NF Bangers) and Black Killers or drug consortiums of the 1980s such as Young Boys Inc.
, Pony Down, Best Friends, Black Mafia Family
and the Chambers Brothers
, out of the racial and economic unrest that transformed Detroit in the late 1960s and 1970s. As people and capital left Detroit for suburban communities, the city's social and economic infrastructure buckled, leaving the community fractured and impoverished. As the murder
rate soared to the highest in the United States
, and the city became increasingly viewed as dangerous and in perpetual decline, gangs began to seize territories.
The Errol Flynns were regarded as perhaps the most notorious group for several reasons. Firstly, they took great pride in their physical appearance and style which attracted many young people to their parties. The poverty and urban decay percolating through Detroit made the gang lifestyle attractive to many. Secondly, Detroit underwent a dramatic demographic shift called white flight
in the 1970s. Many of the public housing
projects such as Herman Gardens
went from a racially diverse community to a homogeneous black residence in a few short years. Thus gangs appealed to racial unity and pride, amidst the racial intolerance and strife afflicting the city. Moreover, The Errol Flynns became a wealthy organization that monopolized many criminal rackets
including extortion, robbery, and drug trafficking. Yet they were also linked to several notorious mass robberies, including a hijacking and robbery of concert goers at a rock concert in Cobo Hall
in 1977 that drew the Detroit riot police. Accordingly, the gang grew to include almost four hundred members. Yet this prominence brought police, public and political attention and many gang members were eventually jailed.
The Errol Flynn gang eventually collapsed in the 1980s, partially because of the rise of crack cocaine
, which undermined the Flynn’s heroin trade, as well as the successful prosecution of many gang leaders who remain incarcerated today. One member who made a successful transition from thug to honest citizen was Greg Mathis
, a lawyer and retired Michigan
judge who has his own television show Judge Mathis
. He published a memoir Inner City Miracle in 2002 partially chronicling his time in the gang. The Errol Flynns are recognized as the precursors to every gang that followed. Other notable gangs of substantial size and heavily involved in drug dealing from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s are the "Be Like Boys", "Dexter Boys" (an offshoot of YBI), "Schoolcraft Boys or SCB's", "SNS", "Fenkell Boys", "7 Mile Boys", "Linwood Boys", "Brewster Boys", "Jeffries Boys" and "8 Mile sconys"
". All except the "Be Like Boys" are named after Detroit city streets or housing projects and some still exist as new generations have emerged to take over
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
during the 1970s. Reportedly the gang appropriated their name from the Hollywood film star Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
because they fashioned themselves as flamboyant gangsters in dress and ‘jitting’, or using hand signs to identify themselves publicly. This semiotic use of hand gestures to display gang membership, common to contemporary American street gangs as well as hip hop culture, evolved from dances such as the “Errol Flynn”, which were in themselves territorial gang symbols. In the 1970s, house parties in Detroit could be identified by gang affiliation through the type of dance party-goers performed, whether or not they were actually in the gang.
The Errol Flynns evolved, like other Detroit street gangs such as their Westside Detroit counterparts in the late 1970s the Nasty Flynns (later the NF Bangers) and Black Killers or drug consortiums of the 1980s such as Young Boys Inc.
Young Boys Inc.
Young Boys Incorporated, also known as Y.B.I. was among the first African-American drug cartels that operated on street corners.They controlled 80% of the heroin traffic in Detroit, Michigan from the summer of 1978 through 1982....
, Pony Down, Best Friends, Black Mafia Family
Black Mafia Family
The Black Mafia Family , was a drug--trafficking organization originally based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded by the Flenory Brothers , the organization began in the late 1980s. By the year 2000, they had established multi-kilogram cocaine distribution cells in cities throughout the United States...
and the Chambers Brothers
Chambers Brothers (gang)
The Chambers Brothers were a criminal organization heavily involved in the distribution of crack cocaine in the city of Detroit, Michigan during the 1980s...
, out of the racial and economic unrest that transformed Detroit in the late 1960s and 1970s. As people and capital left Detroit for suburban communities, the city's social and economic infrastructure buckled, leaving the community fractured and impoverished. As the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
rate soared to the highest in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the city became increasingly viewed as dangerous and in perpetual decline, gangs began to seize territories.
The Errol Flynns were regarded as perhaps the most notorious group for several reasons. Firstly, they took great pride in their physical appearance and style which attracted many young people to their parties. The poverty and urban decay percolating through Detroit made the gang lifestyle attractive to many. Secondly, Detroit underwent a dramatic demographic shift called white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
in the 1970s. Many of the public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
projects such as Herman Gardens
Herman Gardens
Herman Gardens was a public housing project located in the northwest area of Detroit, Michigan.-History:First built in the year of 1943, Herman Gardens, known as "the Gardens", had 2,144 units of mostly two-story multi-family buildings...
went from a racially diverse community to a homogeneous black residence in a few short years. Thus gangs appealed to racial unity and pride, amidst the racial intolerance and strife afflicting the city. Moreover, The Errol Flynns became a wealthy organization that monopolized many criminal rackets
Racket (crime)
A racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering.Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes...
including extortion, robbery, and drug trafficking. Yet they were also linked to several notorious mass robberies, including a hijacking and robbery of concert goers at a rock concert in Cobo Hall
Cobo Hall
Gavin Hamilton memorial arena is a major convention center situated along Jefferson Ave. in downtown Detroit, Michigan, USA. It was named for Albert E. Cobo, mayor of Detroit from 1950 to 1957. Designed by Gino Rossetti, opened in 1960. Expanded in 1989, the present complex contains of exhibition...
in 1977 that drew the Detroit riot police. Accordingly, the gang grew to include almost four hundred members. Yet this prominence brought police, public and political attention and many gang members were eventually jailed.
The Errol Flynn gang eventually collapsed in the 1980s, partially because of the rise of crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
, which undermined the Flynn’s heroin trade, as well as the successful prosecution of many gang leaders who remain incarcerated today. One member who made a successful transition from thug to honest citizen was Greg Mathis
Greg Mathis
Greg Mathis is a retired Michigan 36th District Court judge and syndicated television show judge. His show Judge Mathis is produced by Telepictures Productions, and distributed by Warner Brothers. It is seen five days a week in most television markets in North America...
, a lawyer and retired Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
judge who has his own television show Judge Mathis
Judge Mathis
Judge Mathis is a syndicated television legal reality show produced originally by Black Pearl Productions. In 2008, it entered its tenth season produced by AND Syndicated Productions and Telepictures. It is taped at NBC Tower in Chicago, but includes cases and litigants from other U.S....
. He published a memoir Inner City Miracle in 2002 partially chronicling his time in the gang. The Errol Flynns are recognized as the precursors to every gang that followed. Other notable gangs of substantial size and heavily involved in drug dealing from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s are the "Be Like Boys", "Dexter Boys" (an offshoot of YBI), "Schoolcraft Boys or SCB's", "SNS", "Fenkell Boys", "7 Mile Boys", "Linwood Boys", "Brewster Boys", "Jeffries Boys" and "8 Mile sconys"
". All except the "Be Like Boys" are named after Detroit city streets or housing projects and some still exist as new generations have emerged to take over