Folk Nation
Encyclopedia
The Folk Nation is an alliance of street gangs, based in the Chicago
area, which has since spread throughout the United States
, specifically in the Midwest
and the South
. They are rivals to the People Nation
.
Within the Folk Nation alliance there are many gangs which all have their own unique colors, hand signs and organization. Many of these gangs have signed a charter to join the Folks alliance. It was formed on November 11 1978 in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Soon afterwards the People Nation was formed to counter the Folks alliance. Larry Hoover
, the chairman of the Gangster Disciple Nation, created the idea for the alliance and persuaded many leaders of large Black, White, and Latino gangs from Chicago to join.
After a prosperous beginning in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the alliance started to break apart in the early 1990s due to wars over money and drugs between fellow Folk gangs. After the split each leader was considered a king in his own right. Each gang had loyalty to the national rules, but following only their set king.
, hand signs and words. Representing also encompasses the left or right side of the body. Most Folk gangs represent using the six point star
, pitchforks, and identify to the right side (e.g., they wear hats or bandannas turned to the right). Folk Nation gangs use the term "all is one" to greet each other. The six pointed Star of David
, a Jewish religious symbol in honor of King David, is used by the gang in its graffiti.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, which has since spread throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, specifically in the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. They are rivals to the People Nation
People Nation
People Nation is an alliance of street gangs generally associated with the Chicago area. They are rivals to the Folk Nation.The People Nation were formed much in the same way as the Folk Nation. In 1978, the El Rukns People Nation is an alliance of street gangs generally associated with the Chicago...
.
Within the Folk Nation alliance there are many gangs which all have their own unique colors, hand signs and organization. Many of these gangs have signed a charter to join the Folks alliance. It was formed on November 11 1978 in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Soon afterwards the People Nation was formed to counter the Folks alliance. Larry Hoover
Larry Hoover
Larry Hoover was the leader of the Chicago street gang called Gangster Disciples.-Early life:...
, the chairman of the Gangster Disciple Nation, created the idea for the alliance and persuaded many leaders of large Black, White, and Latino gangs from Chicago to join.
After a prosperous beginning in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the alliance started to break apart in the early 1990s due to wars over money and drugs between fellow Folk gangs. After the split each leader was considered a king in his own right. Each gang had loyalty to the national rules, but following only their set king.
Symbols
Gangs demonstrate their particular alignment by "representing" through symbols, colors, graffitiGraffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
, hand signs and words. Representing also encompasses the left or right side of the body. Most Folk gangs represent using the six point star
Star (symbol)
A star is an ideograph whose outer edge forms a symmetrical polygon whose vertices alternate between joining outward- and inward-pointing pairs of edges. The figure may be the border or interior of the polygon, or one or more closed polygonal paths that include all of the border and also have some...
, pitchforks, and identify to the right side (e.g., they wear hats or bandannas turned to the right). Folk Nation gangs use the term "all is one" to greet each other. The six pointed Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
, a Jewish religious symbol in honor of King David, is used by the gang in its graffiti.
Major Folks Nation alliances
These are the major Folks allies:- Black Gangster Disciples
- Black DisciplesBlack DisciplesThe Black Disciples is a large African American street gang based in Chicago, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities. The street gang is estimated to have in excess of 24,000 members...
- Gangster DisciplesGangster DisciplesThe Black Gangster Disciple Nation is a gang which was formed on the South-side of Chicago in the late 1960s, by David Barksdale, leader of the Black Disciples, and Larry Hoover, leader of the Supreme Gangsters. The two groups united to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation .The gang has made...
- OutLaw Gangster DisciplesOutLaw Gangster DisciplesThe OutLaw Gangster Disciple Nation was formed on the North-Side of Chicago in the late 1990s, by Charles "BIG SHOT" Dorsey, But now all is branched out over the South-Side-Gangster Disciple Drop "B":...
- Insane Gangster Disciples
- Satan Disciples (gang)
- Imperial Gangsters
- La RazaLa Raza NationThe LRZ gang were founded in 1972. Their colors are green, white, and red symbols include Mexican flag, cross, and a six point star. Although, La Raza is affiliated with Folk Nation and are allies with the Crips, La Raza went to war with many Folk Nation gangs such as Ambrose, Gangster Disciples,...
- Spanish CobrasSpanish CobrasThe Spanish Cobras started in Humboldt Park in Chicago during the early 1960s. The Insane Spanish Cobras were under the Folk Nation until they started fighting with the Maniac Latin Disciples.-Symbols and Traditions:...
- Latin EaglesLatin EaglesThe ALEN originated in the area of Halsted and Addison in Chicago in the 1960. Originally meant to be a Latino political organization, by the 1970s it had transformed into a criminal street gang.-Identification:...
- Latin Disciples
- Maniac Latin DisciplesManiac Latin DisciplesThe Maniac Latin Disciples are the second largest Latino street gang in Chicago and the largest Latino gang in the Folks alliance . Originally known as the Latin Scorpions, the gang was founded by Albert "Hitler" Hernandez and Roberto Ramos Rios, in the Humboldt Park community in approximately...
- Simon City RoyalsSimon City RoyalsThe Simon City Royals, formally the Almighty Simon City Royal Nation, are a Chicago street gang which began in the late 1950s as Simon City, a greaser gang...
- Spanish Gangster DisciplesSpanish Gangster DisciplesThe Spanish Gangster Disciples were formed on the South Side of Chicago in the early 1980s. Membership is predominantly Hispanic males, but does consist of some White and Black males....
- Two Sixers
- International Posse