Jousters
Encyclopedia
The Jousters were a Chicago
street gang that originally started on the South side of Chicago and then later branched out to the north side of Chicago as well. Their name is of course a reference to the medieval sport of jousting
. They later became part of an alliance known as the People Nation
.
The Jousters most likely started in the early 1960s, around the area of Ashland and Taylor streets, calling themselves the Taylor Street Jousters. The Taylor Street Jousters were an offshoot to a gang that previously controlled the area, that gang was known as The Taylor Street Dukes.
The ethic makeup of the Taylor Street Dukes, and then later, the Taylor Street Jousters was primarily Italian
. That changed by the early 1970s when the gang, located on Taylor and Oakley, now was predominatley Mexican American
.
By the mid 1960s, the Jouster's main symbols of representation, were a medieval knight
's helmet
, and a simple cross, that was used in their graffiti, murals, gang business cards and on gang sweaters. Their official colors were a light blue, and a Navy blue sported together, and red, white, and blue to represent their American
heritage
.
In the early 1970s, the Taylor Street Jousters battled with other gangs over turf. They also began to form branches on Fullerton and St. Louis and North Ave and Damen. The main battle for them of course, was the Puerto Rican and Mexican immigration moving into their territory. Starting in the mid 70s they became tightly allied with the Gaylords, and a main figure in the UFO alliance through the mid to late 1970s. In defiance of the Puerto Rican and Mexican gangs, the Jousters also adopted the American flag as an additional symbol, and like the Gaylords; took a White Pride
stance. They were also part of the "Stoned Greasers" association, which basically meant that they prided themselves on being a gang that originated from the greaser gangs of the 1950s and 1960s.
By the early 1980s, the Jousters had firmly established additional sets on the street corners of Honor and Bloomingdale, Sawyer and Altgeld, Hanson Park and other spots. All these sets or branches used a "T-J" in their graffiti, and murals as a reference to the fact that were honored to have originated from the Taylor Street Jousters. One of their slogans that could be heard around this time period was, "Blue on blue, will always be proud and true."
At this time, the Hanson Park Jousters were allied with a neighboring White gang known as Cragin Park Playboys, through an alliance called, PVJs. PVJ stood for Playboys, Ventures, and Jousters. Even though the Ventures were extinct, the Playboys and Jousters were still paying honorable homage to them by keeping them on the original title. The Jousters also had a strong unity with the Gaylords, Their unification was called , GFJ. This stood for Gaylords , Jousters and Freaks. The Freaks were another predominately White street gang.
Unfortunately for the Jousters, the sets at Honor and Bloomingdale, and Sawyer and Altgeld were gone by 1985 do to immigration. Also adding to the damage of forfeiting these two important Jouster sets, the leader of the Honor and Bloomingdale set, Lil' Man committed suicide
. By this time the Jousters were fully gone from the Taylor Street area.
There was also turmoil for them at their set in Hanson Park. The Jousters were strongly in control of this area, until two mysterious murders in their park brought police attention to their organization. Apparently, two members of a rival gang, that were former allies
; the Simon City Royals were found dead in Hanson Park. The two deceased Royals were G-Man and Rotten, both Royals from a nearby Simon City Royal set.
By 1986, the Jousters looked to be going extinct, and very few members were seen actively on the streets. This was all up until a few years later, when they were seemingly brought back to life, by the rejuvenation skills of members Bear and Omen, Hanson Park at this time was their last set left.
The rejuvenation however came to a stop, as the ethnic, and cultural make up of the neighborhood was changing. The Jousters would last up to around 1995, but after that their presence faded out from Hanson Park because of more hispanic
immigration.
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...
street gang that originally started on the South side of Chicago and then later branched out to the north side of Chicago as well. Their name is of course a reference to the medieval sport of jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
. They later became part of an alliance known as 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...
.
The Jousters most likely started in the early 1960s, around the area of Ashland and Taylor streets, calling themselves the Taylor Street Jousters. The Taylor Street Jousters were an offshoot to a gang that previously controlled the area, that gang was known as The Taylor Street Dukes.
The ethic makeup of the Taylor Street Dukes, and then later, the Taylor Street Jousters was primarily Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
. That changed by the early 1970s when the gang, located on Taylor and Oakley, now was predominatley Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
.
By the mid 1960s, the Jouster's main symbols of representation, were a medieval knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
's helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, and a simple cross, that was used in their graffiti, murals, gang business cards and on gang sweaters. Their official colors were a light blue, and a Navy blue sported together, and red, white, and blue to represent their American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
.
In the early 1970s, the Taylor Street Jousters battled with other gangs over turf. They also began to form branches on Fullerton and St. Louis and North Ave and Damen. The main battle for them of course, was the Puerto Rican and Mexican immigration moving into their territory. Starting in the mid 70s they became tightly allied with the Gaylords, and a main figure in the UFO alliance through the mid to late 1970s. In defiance of the Puerto Rican and Mexican gangs, the Jousters also adopted the American flag as an additional symbol, and like the Gaylords; took a White Pride
White pride
White pride is a slogan indicating pride in being white. The slogan has been adopted by neo-Nazi and white supremacist organizations.White pride advocates claim that there is a cultural double standard in which only certain ethnic groups are permitted to openly express pride in their heritage, and...
stance. They were also part of the "Stoned Greasers" association, which basically meant that they prided themselves on being a gang that originated from the greaser gangs of the 1950s and 1960s.
By the early 1980s, the Jousters had firmly established additional sets on the street corners of Honor and Bloomingdale, Sawyer and Altgeld, Hanson Park and other spots. All these sets or branches used a "T-J" in their graffiti, and murals as a reference to the fact that were honored to have originated from the Taylor Street Jousters. One of their slogans that could be heard around this time period was, "Blue on blue, will always be proud and true."
At this time, the Hanson Park Jousters were allied with a neighboring White gang known as Cragin Park Playboys, through an alliance called, PVJs. PVJ stood for Playboys, Ventures, and Jousters. Even though the Ventures were extinct, the Playboys and Jousters were still paying honorable homage to them by keeping them on the original title. The Jousters also had a strong unity with the Gaylords, Their unification was called , GFJ. This stood for Gaylords , Jousters and Freaks. The Freaks were another predominately White street gang.
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. By this time the Jousters were fully gone from the Taylor Street area.
There was also turmoil for them at their set in Hanson Park. The Jousters were strongly in control of this area, until two mysterious murders in their park brought police attention to their organization. Apparently, two members of a rival gang, that were former allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
; the Simon City Royals were found dead in Hanson Park. The two deceased Royals were G-Man and Rotten, both Royals from a nearby Simon City Royal set.
By 1986, the Jousters looked to be going extinct, and very few members were seen actively on the streets. This was all up until a few years later, when they were seemingly brought back to life, by the rejuvenation skills of members Bear and Omen, Hanson Park at this time was their last set left.
The rejuvenation however came to a stop, as the ethnic, and cultural make up of the neighborhood was changing. The Jousters would last up to around 1995, but after that their presence faded out from Hanson Park because of more hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
immigration.