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A study of juvenile gangs in the Hollenbeck area of East Los Angeles

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A study of juvenile gangs in the Hollenbeck area of East Los Angeles

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Content STlJDlf C t P cuuvcas; IIV T ? H E l ü O J L I L I S ü n E G S C K : A J R J S J l
t )
OP EAST LOS ANGELES
by
J e s s Elwood R an ker, J r .
// f
A T h e s is P r e s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f th e
R e q u irem en ts f o r th e Degree
MASTER OF ARTS
(S o c io lo g y )
Augusii 1957
UMI Number: EP65759
All rights reserved
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DlsBMtatibn ftiblisMng
UMI EP65759
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789 East Eisenhower Parkway
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Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346
UNIVERSITY O F SO U THERN CALIFORNIA
G R A D U A T E S C H O O L
U N IV E R S IT Y PA R K
L O S A N G E L E S 7
S o . ' s e R H i
This thesis, written by
Jess E. Ranker, Jr.
under the guidance of h..%ü..Faculty Committee,
and approved by all its members, has been pre
sented to and accepted by the Faculty of the
Graduate School, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts
..........
ÂCtïiÿg Dean
D ate...........................................................................
Faculty Committee
- Chairm an /
TABLE OP CONTENTS
CHAPTER page
I . THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED . . 1
I n t r o d u c t i o n ........................................................ ..... . . 1
The p r o b l e m ............................................................. . . . 1
S ta te m e n t of th e problem ......................................... 1
Im p o rta n ce o f th e s t u d y ......................................... 1
L i m i t a t i o n s o f th e u n d e r ta k in g ............................... 2
G e o g ra p h ic a l l i m i t a t i o n s . . . .......................... 2
Group l i m i t a t i o n s - ......................................................... 4
Time l i m i t a t i o n s ............................................................. 5
L i m i t a t i o n s a s to p rim a ry s o u r c e s . . . . 5
H is to r y and p r e s e n t s t a t u s o f th e problem . 5
I n t r o d u c t i o n to th e h i s t o r y o f th e problem 5
The M exican-A m erican i n E a s t Los A ngeles . 6
The Negro i n E a s t Los A n g e l e s .......................... 8
P u b lic a g e n c ie s .............................................................. 10
D e f i n i t i o n s o f term s u s e d ......................................... l4
I I . REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.AND METHOD OF
PROCEDURE.................................................................................. 17
Review of l i t e r a t u r e ........................................................ 17
L i t e r a t u r e i n th e f i e l d o f j u v e n i l e g a n g s. 17
Method o f p r o c e d u r e ........................................................ 21
I n t r o d u c t i o n to m ethodology ............................... 21
P e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e s ................................................... 21
L i b r a r y .................................................................................. 22
CHAPTER PAGE
The te c h n iq u e o f th e g e n e r a l i n t e r v i e w . . 22
The te c h n iq u e o f th e fo rm a l i n t e r v i e w . . 25
T re a tm e n t o f f i n d i n g s .............................................. 26
O r g a n iz a tio n o f th e re m a in d e r o f th e t h e s i s . 28
I I I . A DESCRIPTION OP A REPRESENTATIVE GANG OP
HOLLENBECK ............................................................. 30
The g a n g ....................................................................................... 30
N a m e ................................................................... ^...................... 30
Age o f th e g a n g .............................................................. 33
E l i g i b i l i t y ........................................................................ 34
J o i n i n g .................................................................................. 35
E v id e n c e .o f b e lo n g in g .............................................. 36
C o h e s i v e n e s s .............................. 4 l
Becoming th e l e a d e r ................................................... 42
P u rp o ses o f th e g a n g ........................................ 43
E c o l o g i c a l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n .................................... 46
Hang o u t .................................................................................. 48
The c o re and th e f r i n g e ......................................... 50
T e rm in a tio n o f membership .................................... 51
G i r l s • a u x i l i a r y .............................................................. 55
Age l e v e l s w i t h i n th e g a n g .................................... 57
Community known b e h a v io r ......................................... 59
H o s t i l e and f r i e n d l y g ro u p s ............................... 60
R e c r e a t io n and y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s . . . 6 l
In f o r m a l te a m -ty p e p l a y ......................................... 62
CHAPTER PAGE
P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n o r g a n iz e d s p o r t s . . . . 63
A t t e n t i o n o f th e p o l i c e ..................... 64
P r o b a t i o n , F o r e s t r y Camp, Youth A u t h o r i t y ,
and P a r o l e ........................................................................ 67
S p o n s o rs h ip and agency a f f i l i a t i o n . . . . 69
R e l a t i o n o f sp o n so r and g a n g ............................... 70
Changes i n th e gang b e c a u se o f s p o n s o r s h ip 73
Summary o f th e c h a p t e r .................................................... 75
IV. A DESCRIPTION OP A REPRESENTATIVE CLUB OP
HOLLENBECK.................................................................................. 76
The c l u b ....................................................................................... 76
N a m e ............................................................................................ 76
Age o f th e c lu b ......................................................... 77
E l i g i b i l i t y and j o i n i n g ......................................... 78
E v id e n ce o f b e l o n g i n g ................................... 80
C o h e siv e n e ss ........................................................................ 80
Becoming th e l e a d e r 82 |
P u rp o s e s o f th e c l u b .................................................... 83
E c o l o g i c a l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n 83 I
Hang o u t .................................................................................. 84
T e r m in a tio n o f m e m b e r s h i p 85 |
I
G i r l s » a u x i l i a r y 86 |
Age l e v e l s ............................................................................. 87 ;
I
Community known b e h a v io r 87 ;
!
i
H o s t i l e and f r i e n d l y g ro u p s ............................... 88 '
CHAPTER PAGE
R e c r e a t io n and y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s . . . 89
I n f o r m a l te a m -ty p e p l a y ......................................... 90
P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n o r g a n iz e d s p o r t s . . . . 90
A t t e n t i o n o f th e p o l i c e ......................................... 91
P r o b a t i o n , F o r e s t r y Camp, Youth A u t h o r i t y ,
and P a r o l e ........................................................................ 92
S p o n s o rs h ip and agency a f f i l i a t i o n . . . . 92
R e l a t i o n o f s p o n s o r and c l u b ............................... 93
Changes i n th e c lu b b e c a u se o f s p o n s o r s h ip 95
Summary o f th e c h a p t e r .................................................... 96
V. I&IM W ARY AND CONCLUSIONS.................................................... 98
S u m m a r y .......................................................... 98
C o n c lu s io n s r e g a r d i n g th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o f a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e gang i n H o lle n b e c k . . 100
C o n c lu s io n s r e g a r d i n g th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o f a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e clu b i n H o lle n b e c k . . 102
A resum e o f th e o u t s t a n d i n g p o i n t s o f d i f
f e r e n c e betw een gangs and c lu b s i n
H o l l e n b e c k ................................................................................... 105
Recom mendations ................................................................... 107
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 109
APPENDIX A. R e c r e a t io n and Youth S e r v i c e s R e so u rc e s
f o r th e H o lle n b e c k A rea o f E a s t
Los A n g e l e s ....................................................................I I 3
CHAPTER PAGE
APPENDIX B. A D ich otom ized Summation o f th e
B e h a v io r o f th e Youth Groups
R e p r e s e n te d i n th e S t u d y ........................... 115
APPENDIX C. A T r a n s c r i p t i o n o f th e R ecord o f I n t e r
view w ith th e Sponsor of a Gang i n
H o l l e n b e c k ......................................................... I l 6
APPENDIX D. A T r a n s c r i p t i o n o f th e R ecord o f I n t e r
view w ith th e Sponsor o f a Club i n
H o l l e n b e c k ......................................................... 123
APPENDIX E. A C h a rt D e p ic tin g th e T y r a n n ic a l
O r g a n iz a tio n o f th e G a n g ......................... 127
CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
INTRODUCTION
T here i s an o u t s t a n d i n g need f o r r e l i a b l e in fo r m a
t i o n a b o u t th e y o u th g ro u p s known a s g a n g s, f o r many
p e o p le c o n tin u e to t h i n k o f gangs i n th e o ld term s o f /j
"Pachuco, " “..goot ^ u i t s , " M uck t a i l s , " and s i g n s d e c l a r i n g j
I :
"Off l i m i t s to m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l . " These s t e r e o t y p e s ,
I form ed i n th e p a s s i o n s of war and d i r e c t e d i n p a r t by th e j
I
I need f o r a c o n v e n ie n t s c a p e g o a t, s t i l l s e r v e th e M e p h isto - ^
I p h e le a n p u rp o s e s o f p r e j u d i c e and d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . i
I I . THE PROBLEM j
I
S ta te m e n t o f th e p r o b le m . The p ro b lem , a s d e f i n e d i
f o r th e p u rp o se o f t h i s s tu d y , has been t o d e s c r i b e th e j
a t t i t u d e s and a c t i v i t i e s o f gang boys a s th e y were observed!
i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a o f E a s t Los A ng eles d u rin g th e F a l l '
and e a r l y W in te r o f 1955.
Im p o rta n ce o f th e s t u d y . H o s t i l e gang a c t i v i t i e s
have f o r lo n g e x a c te d a heavy p e r s o n a l , s o c i a l , and e c o
nomic t o l l i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a o f E a s t Los A n g e le s.
P u b l i c and p r i v a t e o f f i c i a l s need u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m a ti o n
f o r t h e i r community l e v e l e f f o r t s to a m e l i o r a t e th e t o l l .
Youth w ork ers n eed u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m a ti o n t o im plem ent
2
t h e i r gang l e v e l e f f o r t s t o change th e t w i s t e d p a t t e r n s j
o f a t t i t u d e , th o u g h t, and a c t i o n t h a t e v e n t u a t e In th e
t o l l . A l l who work w ith gangs o r th e community l e v e l e f
f e c t s o f gangs need t o know a l l th e y can a b o u t th e c o r
p o r a t e l i f e o f th e s e e r r a n t youth. T h is s tu d y was d e s ig n e d
t o u n c o v e r r e l i a b l e d a ta a b o u t th e m a n ifo ld p a t t e r n s o f
su c h gang l i f e .
I I . LIMITATIONS OP THE UNDERTAKING
G e o g ra p h ic a l l i m i t a t i o n s . The s tu d y a r e a can be
defined i n s e v e r a l ways. F i r s t , th e s tu d y was l i m i t e d t o
, th e a r e a c o v e re d by H o lle n b e c k D i v i s i o n o f Los A ngeles
, P o l i c e D ep artm en t. The b o u n d a rie s o f t h i s p o l i c e d i v i -
! Sion a r e a s f o l l o w s : (1) Alhambra Avenue, Daly S t r e e t ,
' M is s io n Road, and V a lle y B o u le v a rd on th e N o rth ; (2)
j I n d i a n a S t r e e t , e . g . . E a s t C ity B oundary, on th e E a s t ;
I (3) S o u th C ity B o u n d ary , a p p ro x im a te ly a t W ashington
B o u le v a rd on th e S o u th ; and (4) th e c e n t e r l i n e o f Los
A n g eles R iv e r on th e W est.^
I S econd, th e s tu d y was l i m i t e d t o th e a r e a c o v e re d
j
, by s e v e r a l census t r a c t s , e . g . :
; H o lle n b e c k , B oyle H e ig h ts , W est, a r e a 60
I 121, A l i s o V i l l a g e
122, P ic o G a r d e n s - - P l a t 8
125, P r o s p e c t P a rk
128, B oyle H e ig h ts
1 3 1 , H o lle n b e c k P a rk
^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number one.
3
Boyle H e ig h ts , S o u th E a s t , a r e a 6 l
1 2 9, R o o s e v e lt High
1 3 0, E v e r g re e n
1 3 2, J a c k s o n High
1 3 3, F re sn o
1 3 4 , S te v e n s o n High
1 3 5, Myvernwood
H o lle n b e c k , B oyle H e i g h ts , N o rth E a s t , a r e a 62
1 2 3, County H o s p i t a l
124, Ramona Gardens
1 2 6, S h e rid a n
I 27Â, E v e rg re e n
127B, E v e rg re e n ^
The s tu d y a r e a c o n t a i n s 6 .5 3 8 sq u a re m i l e s . I n
1 9 5 4, i t had a p o p u l a t i o n o f 8 2 ,6 5 9 p e r s o n s . The crim e
r a t e ( a l l c rim e ) was 3 7 2 9 .8 p e r 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 . Three d i v i s i o n s
o f th e p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n t had crim e r a t e s i n e x c e s s o f t h a t
o f H o lle n b e c k , and e i g h t had r a t e s l e s s th a n t h a t o f H o l
l e n b e c k . Newton ( C e n tr a l I n d u s t r i a l A rea) had th e h i g h e s t
r a t e , 7 5 6 4 .1 p e r 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 . V a lle y had th e lo w e s t r a t e ,
1 5 6 0 .6 p e r 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .3
In a Los A n geles Youth P r o j e c t r e p o r t , th e t h r e e
com m unities t h a t co m prise th e s tu d y a r e a were d e s c r i b e d
a s f o llo w s :
E l i s a b e t h R. F ra n k and S t a f f , Background f o r
P la n n in g (Los A n g e le s: R e s e a rc h D e p artm en t, W elfare
P la n n in g C o u n c il, Los A ng eles R eg ion, W e lfa re P la n n in g
C o u n c il, June 1 95 5 ), P P . 6 2 - 6 3 .
^Annual R e p o r t, Los A ngeles P o l i c e D e p artm en t,
1 9 5 4, pp. 2 8 - 2 9 .
Boyle H e ig h ts , West - T h is a r e a b e lo n g s to th e
o l d e s t s e c t i o n o f th e c i t y o f Los A ng eles and i s a
p a r t o f th e o r i g i n a l la n d g r a n t . F o r sometime
t h i s was a v e ry f a s h i o n a b l e r e s i d e n t i a l s e c t i o n .
The w e a lth y f a m i l i e s who l e f t th e a r e a e i t h e r s o ld
or deeded t h e i r p r o p e r t y to c h a r i t a b l e i n s t i t u
t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y a lo n g Boyle Avenue f a c i n g H o l
le n b e c k P a rk . T h is B oyle H e i g h ts , W est, s e c t i o n
i s a l s o known a s th e H o lle n b e c k and F l a t s a r e a .
Boyle H e ig h ts , S o u th e a s t - T h is a r e a was once
on th e f r i n g e o f th e c i t y and t h e r e f o r e h a s a l a r g e
number o f c e m e t e r i e s . The a r e a h a s been c l a s s i f i e d
a s a lo w er m id d le c l a s s r e s i d e n t i a l s e c t i o n w ith
sm a ll o n e - f a m ily homes. The a r e a i s homogeneous,
w i t h th e e x c e p ti o n o f th e C ity H ousing A u t h o r i ty
E s t r a d a C o u rts P r o j e c t and th e Myvernwood Housing
Developm ent o f th e M e t r o p o li t a n L if e I n s u r a n c e
Company.
B oyle H e ig h ts , N o r t h e a s t - T h is a r e a belongs to
th e o r i g i n a l c i t y o f Los A n g eles and h a s undergo ne
a change from a f a i r l y good t o a p o o r r e s i d e n t i a l
a r e a . T h is s e c t i o n o f Boyle H e ig h ts a t one tim e
co m p rised th e l a r g e s t J e w is h s e t t l e m e n t i n Los
A n g e le s. Many o f th e y o u n g e r Je w ish f a m i l i e s have
moved to o t h e r s e c t i o n s o f Los A n g e le s, b u t th e
o l d e r g e n e r a t i o n o f Je w is h p e o p le c o n tin u e t o r e
m ain i n th e a r e a .
As th e J e w is h p o p u l a t i o n le a v e th e a r e a a g a in
th e same t r e n d o f r e p la c e m e n t a s i n th e o t h e r two
s e c t i o n s c o n tin u e h e r e , m o s tly M exican and some
J a p a n e s e p e o p le moving i n t o th e a r e a , 4
Group l i m i t a t i o n s . The d o m in a tin g p u rp o se o f t h i s
s tu d y h a s been to p ro d u ce an a c c u r a t e d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e
gangs o f H o lle n b e c k . However, i n a r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t a l l
o r g a n i z a t i o n o f y o u th i n th e a r e a c o u ld be r e p r e s e n t e d on
a continuum t h a t ra n g e s from m ost s o c i a b l e to m ost h o s t i l e .
Mel J a n a p o l and Nat F e d e r, "Area V R e p o r t , " Wel
f a r e C o u n c il o f M e t r o p o li t a n Los A n g e le s, Youth S e r v i c e s
D i v i s i o n , Los A ngeles Youth P r o j e c t , 1952, p p . 1 -3 .
5 '
th e s tu d y was b ro a d e n e d , a c c o r d i n g l y , t o i n c lu d e c lu b s a s
w e l l a s g a n g s.
Time l i m i t a t i o n s . T h is s tu d y i n c l u d e s h i s t o r i c
i n f o r m a ti o n o n ly a s such in f o r m a ti o n b e a r s on th e p r o b
lems o f gangs i n th e p r e s e n t . For th e p u rp o s e s o f th e
s tu d y th e " p r e s e n t " m ust be ta k e n t o mean th e f a l l and
e a r l y w i n t e r o f 1 9 5 5 .
' L i m i t a t i o n s a s to p rim a ry s o u r c e s . D uring th e
j f i e l d work p h a s e s o f th e s t u d y , no a tt e m p t was made to
: make d i r e c t c o n t a c t w ith gang b o y s . The r e s e a r c h e r ^ s
i r e c o g n i t i o n o f th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h o s t i l i t y o f th e gang
boy tow ard s o c i e t y made m andato ry o t h e r s o u rc e s o f i n f o r
m a tio n . I n s t e a d o f t r y i n g to c o n t a c t gang b o y s, y o u th
’ w o rk e rs were c o n t a c t e d . The y o u th w o rk e rs who c o n t r i b u t e d
I m a t e r i a l to th e s tu d y worked i n and f o r s e v e r a l o f th e
I p u b l i c and p r i v a t e r e c r e a t i o n and y o u th s e r v i c e a g e n c ie s
i
I o f M e tr o p o li t a n Los A n g e le s . A ll a v a i l a b l e y o u th w o rk ers
o f th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a were c o n t a c t e d .
I I I I . THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS OF THE PROBLEM
I
! I n t r o d u c t i o n t o th e h i s t o r y o f th e p ro b le m . The
I m a t e r i a l to f o llo w i n c l u d e s i n f o r m a t i o n , b r i e f l y , on th e
I h i s t o r y o f : (1) th e M exican-A m erican i n E a s t Los A n g e le s,
(2) th e Negro i n E a s t Los A n g e le s, and (3) th e work of
I s e v e r a l p u b l i c a g e n c ie s i n E a s t Los A n g e le s.
6
The M exican-Amerl e a n i n E a s t Los A n g e le s . A cco rd
in g to The U n ite d S t a t e s C ensus, S p e c i a l R e p o rt P-E No.
3C, f o r 1 9 5 0, t h e r e were 2 8 7 ,6 1 4 "w h ite p e r s o n s o f S p a n ish
surnam es i n Los A n g eles County. A c u r s o r y o b s e r v a t i o n
i n and a ro u n d Los A ngeles sh o u ld r e v e a l th e c u l t u r a l im
p a c t o f th e 2 8 7 ,6 1 4 and t h e i r f o r e b e a r s . Much o f th e c u l
t u r e o f th e C o n q u ist o d o r e s and th e e a r l y Mexican communi
t i e s h a s become i n t e g r a l w ith th e c u l t u r e t h a t came a c r o s s
I th e p l a i n s from th e e a s t e r n s e a b o a rd o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s ,
j But th e p r e s e n t day d e s c e n d e n t of th e C o n q u ist o d o r e s and
1 M exican im m ig ran ts h a s n o t been a llo w e d su c h a d e g re e of
I a c c e p ta n c e and i n t e g r a t i o n .
O b s e rv a tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e e a r l y Mexican communi-
I
I t i e s b r i n g to mind th o u g h ts o f th e " b a r r i o , " c u l t u r a l and
; e t h n i c c a p s u l e s , v i r t u a l l y u n to u ch e d by th e ways o f A nglo-
1 A m erica. The " b a r r i o " c o n t a i n s exam ples o f extrem e c u l -
I t u r a l l a g . In t h i s r e g a r d Dr. P ra n k , o f th e W e lfa re
(
i B u re au , s a i d :
The o r i g i n a l s e t t l e r s o f Los A ng eles County,
t h e M exican p o p u l a t i o n , have h o t been subm erged
by th e t i d a l wave o f A nglos (th e name ta k e n o v er
from New Mexico) b u t th e y have k e p t i n t a c t to a
g r e a t d e g re e t h e i r c u l t u r e s , custom s and la n g u a g e
even w h ile a d o p tin g A m erican w a y s .6
j ^P e rso n s o f S p a n is h S u rn am es, 1950 U n ite d S t a t e s
Census o f P o p u la tio n ,' U .S. D epartm en t o f Commerce, p r e
p a r e d u n d e r th e s u p e r v i s i o n o f Howard G. Brunsman, C h ie f ,
P o p u l a ti o n and H ousing D i v i s i o n .
^Prank, op. c i t . , p p . 6 2 -6 3
7
C o n tin u in g i n th e words o f D r. P ra n k :
H ousing h as alw ays been a pro b lem f o r th e I
M exican-A m erlcan. In th e e a r l y days th e y s p r e a d
a lo n g th e r i v e r beds f o r th e sake o f w a t e r . As I
th e p o p u l a t i o n o f th e co u n ty grew , th e y were I
l i t e r a l l y p ushed i n t o more c o n c e n t r a t e d g ro u p s I
and t r a n s f e r r e d to o t h e r a r e a s , g e n e r a l l y rem o te
from Anglo h o u s in g d i s t r i c t s . 7
I n s u p p o r t o f D r. F r a n k 's o b s e r v a t i o n , r e f e r e n c e i s
made t o th e a r e a i n and aro u n d Chavez R avine ( n e a r th e
N aval Armory a c r o s s P asad en a Freew ay from New C h in ato w n ).
t
! I n t h i s a r e a t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l " c o n c e n tr a te d g r o u p s . " In
th e h o llo w s betw een S a n ta Ana Freeway and W h i t t i e r B o u le -
' v a r d i n E a s t Los A ng eles t h e r e a r e , a l s o , s e v e r a l o t h e r
I " c o n c e n tr a te d g r o u p s . "
I
R e f e r r i n g a g a i n to B ackground f o r P l a n n i n g , "The
1
b a r r i o - t y p e o f M exican s e t t l e m e n t i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by i
I I
I o v e rc ro w d in g , d i l a p i d a t e d c o n d i t i o n s , no r u n n in g w a t e r , |
j l a c k o f b a t h and la c k o f home o w n e r s h ip ." The d e s c r i p - I
I t i o n c o n tin u e d , "Most o f t h e s e a r e a s a r e away from m ain |
' 1
I t r a f f i c s tr e a m s , l o c a t e d i n o b s c u r e , s m a ll v a l l e y s o r i n |
w r o n g - s i d e - o f - t h e - t r a c k s d i s t r i c t s . Here a r e foun d u n - I
. \
I p aved s t r e e t s and s m a ll , f r e q u e n t l y make s h i f t h o u se s
I w hich a r e o v e rc ro w d e d .
I R e c e n tly , t h e r e has been a t r e n d tow ard th e b r e a k
j down o f th e g e n e r a t i o n s o ld p a t t e r n o f M exican-A m erican
^ I b i d . , p . 64
^ I b i d . , p p . 6 3 -6 4 .
8
l i f e i n th e " b a r r i o s . " B e t t e r jo b s and h i g h e r incom es have
e n a b le d some o f th e more d i s s a t i s f i e d t o be a b s o rb e d i n t o
th e s u r r o u n d in g Anglo c o m m u n ities. But f o r th e e l d e r l y ,
t h e t r a d i t i o n m inded, th e m a r g in a l w o rk e r, and th e unem
p lo y e d t h e r e can be no s e r i o u s th o u g h t o f l e a v in g th e
" b a r r i o . "
j The Negro i n E a s t Los A n g e l e s . Inasm uch a s g a n g in g
I i n H o lle n b e c k i s a lm o s t e x c l u s i v e l y a phenomenon o f th e
!M exican-A m erican and Negro s u b c u l t u r e s , some a t t e n t i o n
I
I s h o u ld be p a id to th e h i s t o r y o f th e Negro i n Los A ng eles
.a n d i n th e a r e a i n q u e s t i o n . D r. P ra n k , i n B ackground f o r
P l a n n i n g , made th e f o l lo w in g comment on th e s u b j e c t o f th e
I Negro i n Los A ngeles :
I The Negro p o p u l a t i o n o f Los A ng eles County a lm o s t
t r i p l e d betw een th e Census o f 194-0 and t h a t o f 1950,
grow ing from 7 5 ,6 0 9 p e r s o n s t o 2 1 7 ,8 8 1 . C u r r e n t
e s t i m a t e s a r e a ro u n d 2 7 5 ,0 0 0 p e r s o n s , o n e - h a l f o f
th e Negro p o p u l a t i o n o f th e S t a t e , a f i g u r e w hich
i s v e r y c lo s e t o t h a t o f th e l o c a l M exican-A m erican
p o p u l a t i o n .
Heavy im m ig ra tio n o f N egroes I s c o n t i n u i n g .
T here a r e many c o n d i t i o n s w hich a t t r a c t th e Negro
t o th e a r e a . T here a r e good employment o p p o r t u n i
t i e s i n many f i e l d s and t h e r e i s g r e a t need f o r
s e r v i c e and h o u s e h o ld w o rk e rs o f any k i n d . A n o th er
a t t r a c t i o n may be i n th e l a c k o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n as
compared w i t h E a s t e r n and S o u th e rn c i t i e s . T here
a r e a l s o b e t t e r e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s w hich
p r o b a b ly a t t r a c t f a m i l i e s w ith s m a ll c h i l d r e n . 9
F o r th e p u rp o s e s o f p o p u l a t i o n c o m p a ris o n s, i t sh o u ld
% b l d . , p . 67.
9
be n o te d t h a t i n 1950, o u t o f a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n i n th e
a r e a o f 9 0 ,8 5 0 , t h e r e w ere 4 o ,4 4 6 w h ite s w ith S p a n is h s u r
names and 3 ,5 3 9 N e g ro es. Changes i n th e Negro p o p u l a t i o n
from 1950 to 1953 i n d i c a t e an i n c r e a s e o f 1^942 to a t o t a l
o f 5 ,4 8 1 . T here h a s b een a l a r g e r e l a t i v e i n c r e a s e i n
th e Negro p o p u l a t i o n ; i n f e r e n t i a l l y , i t can be assumed
t h a t t h e M exican-A m erican p o p u l a t i o n h as rem a in e d f a i r l y
j s t a t i c .
An a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e r o f Los A n geles C ity Hous-
;in g P r o j e c t s ( A lis o V i l l a g e , A li s o V i l l a g e Annex, P ico
G ard en s, and E s t r a d a C o u rts ) made th e f o l lo w in g s ta te m e n t
{o f p e r c e n t a g e s p e r t a i n i n g t o th e e t h n i c g ro u p s t h a t l i v e
I i n th e f o u r h o u sin g p r o j e c t s : (1) N egro, 65 to 68 p e r
I c e n t ; (2) M exican-A m erican, 25 p e r c e n t ; (3) A nglo, 8 p e r
I
; c e n t ; and (4 ) A s ia n , 2 p e r c e n t . She f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t
b e c a u s e o f a h i g h e r r a t e o f a p p l i c a t i o n , th e Negro popu-
l l a t i o n o f th e p r o j e c t s became o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n w ith t h a t
I
I o f th e community a t l a r g e .
The M exican-A m erican boy h as alw ay s l i v e d u n d e r th e
! h a n d ic a p o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . The Negro boy has alw ay s
I
l i v e d u n d e r a s i m i l a r h a n d ic a p . T here a r e s e v e r a l among
th e y o u th w o rk e rs o f th e a r e a who a n t i c i p a t e th e day when
I
! r a c e c o n f l i c t w i l l be th e dom inant s o c i a l pro b lem o f th e
^ °Ib i
S ta te m e n t by i n te r v i e w e e number two
I b i d . , p p . 60 and 68 and addendum.
11.
10
a r e a .
P u b lic a g e n c i e s . C o n s i d e r a t i o n o f p u b l i c a g e n c ie s
w i l l be l i m i t e d t o th e f o l l o w i n g : ( l ) Los A n g e les P o l i c e
D e p a rtm e n t, (2) Los A ng eles County P r o b a t io n D e p a rtm e n t,
( 3 ) Los A ngeles County J u v e n i l e H a ll and J u v e n i l e C o u rt,
and (4) C a l i f o r n i a Youth A u t h o r i t y .
I n Los A n g e le s, th e "cop" o f c o l l o q u i a l c o n v e r s a
t i o n i s d e ad . The o f f i c e r s o f th e J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l
do n o t draw t h e i r r e v o l v e r s i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a J u v e n i l e
"shake dow n." In th e o ld days o f th e f o r c e , ro u g h t r e a t
ment and a re a d y r e v o l v e r were s t a n d a r d . In th o s e days
t h e r e was a m u tu a l a n ta g o n is m b etw een th e o f f i c e r s and
th e g a n g -ty p e boys o f th e community. Now, t h e r e i s a new
p h ilo s o p h y o f p o l i c e work w ith J u v e n i l e s .
On two o c c a s io n s th e r e s e a r c h e r was p r i v i l e g e d to
accompany two o f f i c e r s o f th e J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l a s
th e y "worked t h e i r b e a t " i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a . On th e
seco n d o f th e o b se rv e d p a t r o l s , th e o f f i c e r s c o n d u c te d
t h r e e J u v e n i l e "shake dow n s." The r e s e a r c h e r was e n c o u r
ag ed t o p a r t i c i p a t e . D uring th e c o u rs e o f t h e s e f i e l d
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , s e v e r a l t h i n g s o f g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t were
n o t e d . The boys w ere u s u a l l y g r e e t e d i n a f r i e n d l y man
n e r by name. Some tim e was d e v o te d t o c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t
i n c l u d e d b a n t e r . The o f f i c e r s a sk e d q u e s t i o n s c o n c e rn in g
s c h o o l . Jo b , and f a m ily ( i n e v e ry c a se o b s e rv e d , th e o f f i
11
c e r s had a w orkin g knowledge o f th e boy and h i s p r o b le m s ) .
I n tim e , th e boys were t o l d w hat was wrong and what th e y
had t o do to c o r r e c t th e w rong,
A group o f young a d u l t s l o i t e r i n g a c r o s s from a
I h ig h s c h o o l a t end o f s c h o o l day; t h r e e J u n i o r h ig h aged
jboys th ro w in g k n iv e s a t a t r e e i n H o lle n b e c k P a rk ; and
J
t h r e e e le m e n ta ry ag ed boys p l a y i n g t r u a n t i n a h o llo w
w here B e rn a l S t r e e t m eets th e N o rth s i d e o f S a n ta Ana F r e e
way were th e s u b j e c t s o f th e o f f i c e r s ’ a t t e n t i o n t h a t day.
S e v e r a l tim e s i n su b s e q u e n t c o n v e r s a t i o n s w ith
t h e s e and o t h e r o f f i c e r s , th e v a lu e o f th e new p h ilo s o p h y
and a p p ro a c h to p o l i c e work w ith J u v e n i l e s h a s been
s t r e s s e d . C a r e f u l s e l e c t i o n o f o f f i c e r c a n d i d a t e s , s p e
c i a l i z e d e d u c a ti o n and t r a i n i n g i n th e p sy c h o lo g y o f c rim e ,
I and The D e lin q u e n cy C o n tr o l I n s t i t u t e a t th e U n i v e r s i t y
io f S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a have contributed to th e b e t t e r r e
l a t i o n s h i p s o f o f f i c e r and y o u th i n E a s t Los A n g e le s.
I
! Los A ngeles County P r o b a t io n D ep artm ent p r e s e n t s
a d i f f e r e n t view o f work w i t h e r r a n t y o u th . T here i s a
s t r o n g d i f f e r e n c e betw een p o l i c e p h ilo s o p h y and p r o b a t i o n
p h ilo s o p h y ; b a s i c a l l y th e p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n t e x i s t s - f o r
i th e p r o t e c t i o n o f s o c i e t y from th e c r i m i n a l a c t s o f i n d i -
j v i d u a l s ; b a s i c a l l y th e p r o b a t i o n d e p a rtm e n t e x i s t s to p r o -
I t e c t th e i n d i v i d u a l from th e in f lu e n c e s " o f an e n v iro n m e n t
; t h a t would make him i n c l i n e tow ard th e c r i m i n a l a c t .
I
: The p r o b a t i o n d e p a rtm e n t a p p ro a c h to th e pro b lem i s
12
d e s ig n e d to h e lp t h e i n d i v i d u a l boy b u i l d up r e s i s t a n c e t o
t h e e f f e c t s o f r e j e c t i o n , p r e j u d i c e , "run-dow n" n e i g h b o r
hood, c r i m i n a l com panions, b ro k e n home, and t h e o t h e r s o f
a m u l t i t u d e o f c a u s e s o f d e lin q u e n c y .
S p eak in g o f t h e p h i lo s o p h y and f u n c t i o n o f Los
A n g e les County P r o b a t i o n D e p a rtm e n t, S id Dwoskin, p r e s e n t
C h ie f o f Group G uidance D i v i s i o n , made t h e f o l lo w in g o b s e r-!
Î
v a t i o n s ; |
When s e r i o u s gang a c t i v i t i e s w a r r a n t e d , a w o rk e r '
e s t a b l i s h e d c o n t a c t w i t h t h e g ro u p , o r g a n iz e d a p r o
gram to meet some o f t h e d e s i r e s o f t h e gang members,
and to o k a d v a n ta g e o f t h e r a p p o r t he was a b l e t o e s t a b - i
l i s h by e n g a g in g i n gro up t h e r a p y th r o u g h i n d i v i d u a l |
and g ro u p c o u n s e l i n g ; by d e v e lo p in g t h e i n d i v i d u a l I
p o t e n t i a l w i t h i n t h e g ro u p , b y d i s c o v e r i n g and t r e a t - j
in g c a s e s o f s e v e r e p e r s o n a l m a la d ju s tm e n t o r m aking !
t h e n e c e s s a r y r e f e r r a l s ; by g i v i n g a s s i s t a n c e i n i
m e e tin g p roblem s o f w ork, s c h o o l, and home; by e n l i s t - >
in g t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f p e o p le i n t h e community a s w e l l >
a s o t h e r a g e n c i e s ; and by w o rk in g t o b r i n g a b o u t b e t t e r
c o o p e r a t i o n b e tw ee n d i f f e r e n t g ro u p s o r gangs a s w e l l
a s b e tw ee n members o f a n y one g r o u p . 12
, A n o th e r p a r t o f t h e work o f County P r o b a t i o n c o n - !
■ s is ts o f t h e a s s ig n m e n t o f D eputy P r o b a t i o n O f f i c e r s to ;
Iwork w i t h boys who have b e e n d e c l a r e d w ards o f t h e C o u r t .
I Such a commitment o b t a i n s f o r t h o s e whose c rim e s do n o t
j I
j i n d i c a t e commitment to C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y f a c i l i - ,
. t i e s a t P r e s t o n o r W h i t t i e r o r t o Los A n g e les C ounty
j S id n e y Dwoskin, "D ev elo p in g S o c i a l i z a t i o n o f j
'A d o le s c e n ts by t h e Group G uidance U n it o f t h e D e lin q u e n c y ;
: P r e v e n t i o n D i v i s i o n o f Los A n g e les County P r o b a t i o n D e p a rt-;
;m e n t, " ( u n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r ’s t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f ;
I S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 194-7), pp. 1 6 - 1 7 . i
1 3 1
F o r e s t r y Camps.
I n s p i t e o f a h eav y c a s e lo a d , i n e x c e s s o f one
hu ndred hoys p e r o f f i c e r i n t h e f a l l o f 1 9 5 3, t h e o f f i c e r s
t r y to become w e l l - v e r s e d i n t h e i r know ledge o f t h e p r o
b a t i o n e r s . I d e a l l y , t h e d e p u ty p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r s h o u ld
l e a r n t o know t h e b o y ’s t e a c h e r s and t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
o f f i c e r s o f t h e s c h o o l ; he sh o u ld s e e t h e boy i n s c h o o l,
a t work, and a t p l a y ; he sh o u ld se e t h e boy i n h i s home
and i n t h e community a t l a r g e ; he sh o u ld know some o f t h e |
i
I
d e t a i l s o f h i s f a m i ly and p e r s o n a l h i s t o r i e s . I f a l l goes i
I w e l l , t h e "DPO" w i l l become a f r i e n d o f and a g u id e f o r
j t h e young p r o b a t i o n e r .
I J u v e n i l e C o urt and J u v e n i l e H a l l c o n s t i t u t e a n o t h e r
I o f t h e gang b o y ’s c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e p o l i c e power o f t h e
! S t a t e . The f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t s i n d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e
I f u n c t i o n o f J u v e n i l e H a l l w ere t a k e n from t h e An n u a l Re-
■ p o r t o f Los A n g eles C ounty P r o b a t i o n Com mittee f o r t h e
I y e a r 1954.
I
I The p r im a r y f u n c t i o n o f J u v e n i l e H a ll i s t o p r o -
! v id e te m p o ra r y c a r e and s a f e k e e p i n g f o r c h i l d r e n who
i come u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t
I b e c a u s e o f d e li n q u e n c y o r n e g l e c t and who m ust be
! h e ld i n c u s to d y , p e n d in g a c t i o n o f t h e j u v e n i l e
j c o u r t , f o r t h e i r own s a f e t y and w e l f a r e , o r f o r t h e
‘I p r o t e c t i o n o f o t h e r s .^3
I I n t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e c o u r t d e c id e s t h a t t h e boy
13
A nnual R e p o rt o f Los A n g e les County P r o b a t i o n
C om m ittee, Los A n g e le s , 19547 P P . 2 -3 .
! 14
I
c an p r o f i t by t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f F o r e s t r y Camp, t h a t he i s
am enable t o d i s c i p l i n e o t h e r t h a n t h a t o b t a i n i n g i n c l o s e j
I
c o n fin e m e n t ( a s i n C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y ) , su ch recom-f
m e n d a tio n may be made by t h e c o u r t . A c c o rd in g t o t h e W ei- |
f a r e and I n s t i t u t i o n s Code : I
I
The boys com m itted t o su c h camps may be r e q u i r e d i
to l a b o r on t h e b u i l d i n g s and g rounds o f t h e camp, j
on t h e m aking o f f o r e s t ro a d s f o r f i r e p r e v e n t i o n o r j
f i r e f i g h t i n g , on f o r e s t a t i o n o r r e f o r e s t a t i o n o f j
p u b l i c l a n d s , o r on t h e m aking o f f i r e t r a i l s and j
f i r e b r e a k s , o r i n f i r e s u p p r e s s i o n , o r to p e r f o r m ' |
a n y o t h e r work o r engage i n a n y s t u d i e s o r a c t i v i - . |
t i e s p r e s c r i b e d o r p e r m i t t e d b y t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t .1^ |
1
F i n a l l y , t h e boy may be rem anded t o t h e c a r e and
j c u s to d y o f C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y . C a l i f o r n i a Y outh
I A u t h o r i t y i n c l u d e s F re d C. W elle s S chool f o r Boys and
t
I P r e s t o n School o f I n d u s t r y . A ssig n m en t t o e i t h e r o f t h e s e
I s c h o o ls i s i n d i c a t e d f o r boys who a r e n o t am enable t o
I m in im al c o n fin e m e n t and c o n t r o l s .
I Upon p a r o l e from t h e A u t h o r i t y , a boy becomes r e -
i
I s p o n s i b l e t o a p a r o l e o f f i c e r o f t h e A u t h o r i t y . The r e -
; l a t i o n s h i p o f p a r o l e e and p a r o l e o f f i c e r i s a n a lo g o u s t o |
' t h a t o f p r o b a t i o n e r and p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r . ;
I '
! IV. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED |
i
i
A n g lo . U n ite d S t a t e s c i t i z e n o f o t h e r t h a n Mexican,!
I I
j I n d i a n , A s ia n , o r Negro a n c e s t r y . !
14 / '
W e lfa re and I n s t i t u t i o n s Code ( D e e r i n g ’s C a l i f or-,
n i a Codes. San F r a n c i s c o : B a n c ro f t- W h itn e y Company, 1 9 4 4 ) ,i
p. 8o. i
15
B a r r i o . An e n c a p s u l a t e d M exican comm unity whose
c u l t u r e h a s b e en r e l a t i v e l y u n a f f e c t e d by t h e s u r r o u n d in g
Apglo c u l t u r e .
B o y 's C lu b . An a g e n c y h a v in g a p h y s i c a l p l a n t and
a s t a f f o f y o u th w o rk e rs d e v o te d t o r e c r e a t i o n and s e r
v i c e s f o r y o u th . N o m in a lly a b o y s ' c lu b i s a member o r
g a n i z a t i o n o f B o y s ' Clubs o f A m erica, and i s s u p p o r te d i n
p a r t b y t h e Community C h e s t.
C a lo . A M exican d i a l e c t "o f t h e s t r e e t " used by
t h e r o u g h e r gang boys o f E a s t Los A n g e le s .
C lu b . A g ro u p o f b o y s, u n d e r a d u l t s p o n s o r s h i p ,
j who have jo in e d t o g e t h e r f o r c o m p a n io n sh ip , c r a f t s , c a r s ,
j p a r t i e s , a n d / o r s p o r t s .
I C o re . The l e a d e r and t h e d e p e n d a b le members o f a
i gang.
J F r i n g e . The boys who I d e n t i f y w i t h b u t have been
i
; d e n ie d m em bership i n a g ang. The boys who a r e r e l a t i v e l y
Ï
I i n a c t i v e a n d / o r u n d e p e n d a b le members o f a gang.
; Gang. A g ro up o f boys o f t y r a n n i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n
I d e d i c a t e d t o t h e o p tim a l e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e i r r e b e l l i o n
a g a i n s t a d u l t a u t h o r i t y .
"G u ts ." A b i l i t y t o w i t h s t a n d p a i n a n d / o r i n t i m i d a
t i o n w i th o u t d i s c l o s i n g o r i n v o l v i n g o t h e r members o f th e
! g ang; s e l f l e s s l o y a l t y t o t h e ways o f t h e gang.
!
j H o lle n b e c k a r e a o r H o ll e n b e c k . The s t u d y a r e a
; whose p h y s i c a l l i m i t s a r e c o n te rm in o u s w i t h t h o s e o f
1 6 " 1
H o lle n b e c k D i v i s i o n , Los A n g eles P o l i c e D e p a rtm e n t. The
s tu d y a r e a c o n s i s t i n g o f S tu d y A reas 6o, 6 l and 62 o f W el
f a r e C o u n c il o f M e t r o p o l i t a n Los A n g eles p u b l i c a t i o n e n
t i t l e d B ackground F o r P l a n n i n g . The s t u d y a r e a c o n s i s t i n g
o f c e n su s a r e a s e n t i t l e d H o lle n b e c k , B oyle H e i g h ts , W est;
Boyle H e ig h ts , S o u th E a s t ; and H o lle n b e c k , B oyle H e ig h ts ,
N o rth E a s t .
J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l . P l a i n c l o t h e s d e t e c t i v e s
w o rk in g o u t o f Hom icide D i v i s i o n , Los A n g e les P o l i c e De
p a r tm e n t. They u se n o n d e s c r i p t r a d i o c a r s .
''Shake down. " Impromptu f i e l d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f
j u v e n i l e s u s p e c t s by o f f i c e r s o f Los A n g eles P o l i c e Depart-f
I m e n t.
I S p o n s o r . A d u lt y o u th w o rk e r ( n o m in a lly p o s s e s s i n g
j t h e d e g re e o f M a s te r o f S o c i a l Work) who works w i t h ju v e -
I n i l e c lu b s and g a n g s. In h i s a s s ig n m e n t to t h e y o u th
I
I g rou p he p r o v i d e s g u id a n c e , c o u n s e l, and l e a d e r s h i p a s
I
I n e c e s s a r y .
I
i Y outh W o rk e r. O fte n u se d i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y w i t h
I " s p o n s o r ." The word a p p l i e s t o a l l who work w i t h boys
! and g i r l s .
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND METHOD OF PROCEDURE
I . REVIEW OF LITERATURE
L i t e r a t u r e I n t h e f i e l d o f j u v e n i l e g a n g s . Many
books i n t h e f i e l d s o f s o c i o l o g y and p s y c h o lo g y make r e f e r
en ce t o o r c o n t a i n l i m i t e d m a t e r i a l on t h e s u b j e c t o f gangs
j Few books i n s a i d f i e l d s c o n t a i n m a t e r i a l l e n d i n g i t s e l f to]
ja n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e phenonemon o f g a n g in g . The works !
o f W hyte, T h r a s h e r , P u f f e r , Kramer and K a rr, B og ard u s, and '
j R o bin son a r e i n t h e l a t t e r c a t e g o r y , f o r t h e y a r e d é f i n i - |
j I
I t i v e s t u d i e s . !
W h y te 's S t r e e t C o rn er S o c i e t y p r e s e n t s t h e a u t h o r 's ,
f i n d i n g s and p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s d u r i n g t h e tim e he was i
!
I a v i r t u a l member o f t h e gang. Whyte had t h e tim e and t h e '
; I
I p e r s o n a l q u a l i t i e s n e c e s s a r y f o r a c c e p t a n c e by t h e members
1 - I
I o f a gang o f young a d u l t s i n t h e I t a l i a n - q u a r t e r slum s o f ;
I a n e a s t e r n c i t y o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s . His o b s e r v a t i o n s and!
! I
I w e a l t h o f m a t e r i a l , th o u g h r e m a rk a b ly c o m p le te and a u t h e n - ;
t i c f o r i t s tim e and p l a c e , h av e a g e n e r a l a p p l i c a b i l i t y toi
I a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e gangs o f H o l l e n b e c k . ^ I
j The Gang by T h r a s h e r p r e s e n t s i n f o r m a t i o n on 1,313
I gangs i n t h e C i t y o f C hicago , c i r c a 1 9 2 5 - 2 6 . H is s tu d y , i n
I W illia m F. W hyte, S t r e e t C o rn e r S o c i e t y . The |
S o c i a l S t r u c t u r e o f a n I t a l i a n Slum ( Chicago : The U n iv e r- '
s i t y o f C hicago P r e s s , 1 9 # 3 ). ;
18
common w i t h W h y te ‘s , i s a c l a s s i c i n t h e f i e l d . What he
r e l a t e s c o n c e r n in g t h e gangs o f C hicago c o n t r i b u t e s t o a n
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e gangs o f a n y c i t y , f o r c e r t a i n o f t h e
dynam ics o f g a n g in g a r e r e l a t i v e l y t i m e l e s s i n n a t u r e .
F o r i n s t a n c e , he s a i d , "Gangs r e p r e s e n t t h e sp o n ta n e o u s j
I
e f f o r t o f boys t o c r e a t e a s o c i e t y f o r th e m s e lv e s w here I
p I
none a d e q u a te t o t h e i r need s e x i s t s . ” I
F o r a view o f t h e gang a s a n orm al e x p r e s s i o n o f
t h e l i f e o f t h e boy, one sh o u ld r e a d P u f f e r ’s The Boy and
H is Gang. From h i s p o i n t o f v iew , t h e gang, a s o b se rv e d |
!
and s t u d i e d , c i r c a 1912, i s a n o rm a l, h e a l t h y , and w e l l - |
n i g h i n d i s p e n s i b l e f u n c t i o n o f u r b a n and s u b - u r b a n boy l i f e :
I n h i s way o f lo o k in g a t t h e s i t u a t i o n , a boy grows b e s t '
I w h ile i n t h e company o f f e l l o w members o f h i s gang; P u ffe r!
js p e a k s o f t h e develo p m en t o f l o y a l t y to o t h e r s , t o h ig h
! ■ :
i p r i n c i p l e s , and o f t h e dev elo p m en t o f t h e c a p a c i t y f o r s e l f -
{ j
i l e s s n e s s i n th o u g h t and a c t i o n . H is s t u d y was c o n c e rn e d I
I w i t h " r e g u l a r f e l l o w s " who would f i g h t , s t e a l , and t r u a n t
i o
I i n a s p i r i t o f a d v e n t u r e and t h e jo y o f l i v i n g . ^ His s u b - ;
j e c t s w ere n o t d r i v e n b y t h e f o r c e s t h a t som etim es im p el |
t h e boys o f H o lle n b e c k to t r y t o d e s t r o y each o t h e r and
; p I
I F r e d e r i c M. T h r a s h e r , The Gang. A S tu d y o f 1 ,3 1 3 I
Gangs i n C hicago (C h ic a g o ; The U n i v e r s i t y o f C hicago P r e s s , ’
1927 and 1 9 3 6 ), p . 37 '
I i
3 J . Adams P u f f e r , The Boy and H is Gang (B o sto n : {
1 H oughton M i f f l i n Company, The R i v e r s i d e P r e s s , Cam bridge, !
11912). :
19
t h e s o c i e t y t h a t h a s s e t them a p a r t .
Kramer and K a rr w ro te T e e n -a g e G angs, a r e p o r t o f
t h e S e n a te Crime I n v e s t i g a t i n g Com m ittee, S e c t i o n on J u v e -
I
n i l e Crim e. They p r e s e n t e d m a t e r i a l t o s u p p o r t t h e i r c o n
t e n t i o n t h a t horédom i s t h e c h i e f f a c t o r i n t h e l i v e s o f
gang boys. A l o c a l y o u th w o rk er i n r e p o r t i n g a c o n v e r s a
t i o n he had w ith a M exican-A m erican gang boy gave c o r r o b o
r a t i o n to th e a u t h o r s ’ t h e s i s . S e e in g t h e boy s q u a t t i n g
i n t h e su n a g a i n s t a g r o c e r y s t o r e w a l l t h e y o u th w o rk e r
a sk e d w hat he was d o in g . The b o y r e p l i e d , " S i t t i n ’ ." Con
t i n u i n g w i t h th e q u e s t i o n i n g , t h e a d u l t a s k e d w hat t h e boy
was s i t t i n g f o r . The boy i n a l a c k - l u s t r e m anner s a i d ,
"Oh, j e s w a i t i n ’ ." " W a itin g ," t h e y o u th w o rk e r r e p e a t e d ,
"W a itin g f o r w hat?" "Oh, i f I w a it lo n g 'nough s u m i n 'l l
h a p p en .
In 1 9 2 8, Emory B ogardus c o m p leted a s t u d y t h a t had
b e e n made u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f one o f t h e s e r v i c e c lu b s
o f t h e C i t y o f Los A n g e l e s . The work was d i r e c t e d tow ard
f i n d i n g o u t m ore a b o u t t h e l i f e o f t h e c i t y boy. The work,
a s p u b l i s h e d , was e n t i t l e d The C i t y Boy and H is P r o b le m s .
D r. B o g ard u s, th r o u g h t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f t h i s s t u d y ,
c o n t r i b u t e d g r e a t l y t o a b r o a d e r , b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
4
D ale Kramer and M adeline K a rr, T e e n -a g e Gangs
(New Y ork: H enry H o lt and Company, 19 5 3 ), PP* 220-221
c;
^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t h r e e
20
th e hoy i n th e c i t y . ^
I n 1 9 4 9, th e s t o r y o f th e Los A ngeles Y outh P r o j e c t
was p u b l i s h e d . The book. Chance t o B e lo n g , was w r i t t e n
by Duane R obinson o f th e W e lfa re C o u n c il o f M e t r o p o l i t a n
I Los A n g e le s . In g i v i n g th e h i s t o r y o f th e Youth P r o j e c t ,
th e a u t h o r p re s e n te d much m a t e r i a l o f an a n e c d o t a l s o r t on
gangs a s th e y e x i s t e d from 19^3 t o 1949. I n a d d i t i o n to
a n e c d o t a l m a t e r i a l , th e book c o n t a i n s many e x c e l l e n t
p h o to g ra p h s and d e s c r i p t i o n s o f " r u n - d o w n n e i g h b o r h o o d s
7
and gang hang o u t s .
I n 1 9 5 0, P a r o l e O f f i c e r Glane o f th e C a l i f o r n i a
Y outh A u t h o r i t y made a s tu d y o f gangs i n a p o r t i o n o f th e
County o f Los A n g e le s. These gangs o c c u p ie d a n a r e a i n
t h e C ounty c o n tig u o u s w i t h th e C ity o f Los A n g eles and
a lm o s t d i r e c t l y E a s t o f th e c e n t r a l b u s i n e s s d i s t r i c t o f
th e c i t y . H is f i n d i n g s were p u b l i s h e d i n " F o c u s ," th e
o f f i c i a l p a r o l e o f f i c e r ’s m a g a z in e . The gangs he s t u d i e d
and d e s c r i b e d , th o u g h p h y s i c a l l y n e a r , were n o t i n any
8
c a s e among th e gangs r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s s u r v e y .
I r e n e S h e a r e r , w orkin g u n d e r R alph F i s h e r and P au l
Emory S. B o g a rd u s, The C ity Boy and H is Problem s
-(L os A n g e le s : House o f R a l s t o n , I 9 2 6 ) C o p y rig h t I 9 2 6 ,
R o ta r y Club o f Los A n g e le s .
7
Duane R o b in so n , Chance t o B elong (New Y ork: Woman’s
P r e s s , 1 9 4 9 ).
^Statement by interviewee number tw e n ty -o n e.
9
21
Gruendyke o f Community S e r v i c e s D i v i s i o n o f Los A n g e les
County P r o b a t i o n D e p a rtm e n t, p ro d u c e d a monumental c o m p ila
t i o n o f a l l known h o s t i l e and n o n - h o s t i l e y o u th g ro u p s i n
th e County o f Los A n g e le s .
Her l i s t i n c l u d e d 228 o r g a n i z a t i o n s by name, age
ra n g e o f members, th e number o f members, and th e hang o u t .
The J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l o f Los A n g eles P o l i c e De
p a r tm e n t a n n u a l l y su b m its a r e p o r t t o th e C h i e f . T h is
r e p o r t i n c l u d e s th e name and a d e s c r i p t i v e s k e t c h o f each
gang c o n t a c t e d by o r known to th e o f f i c e r s o f th e d e t a i l
f o r th e c a l e n d a r y e a r c o v e re d by th e r e p o r t .
I I . METHOD OF PROCEDURE
I n t r o d u c t i o n t o m e th o d o lo g y . M a t e r i a l u s e d i n t h i s
s tu d y was o b t a i n e d from s e v e r a l s o u r c e s ; e . g . : ( l ) p e r
s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e a s a p la y g ro u n d d i r e c t o r i n th e a r e a , ;
(2} th e e x p e r i e n c e o f o t h e r s w o rk in g i n th e a r e a , a s w e l l |
I
a s th o s e more g e n e r a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n a n d / o r w o rk ing w i t h |
th e p ro b lem s o f y o u th , and (3) th e l i b r a r y .
P e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e s . P la n n in g and o r g a n i z a t i o n o f
t h i s s t u d y , a s w e l l a s th e a c t u a l f i e l d work, depended i n
Q.
S ta te m e n t by I r e n e S h e a r e r , Community S e r v i c e s
D i v i s i o n , Los A n geles County P r o b a t i o n D e p a rtm e n t, p e r
s o n a l i n t e r v i e w .
10
Statement by interviewee number one.
22
l a r g e p a r t upon a p e r s o n a l knowledge o f H o lle n b e c k . T h is
know ledge had v a lu e i n t h a t i t i n c l u d e d some e x p e r ie n c e
w ith th e a t t i t u d e s and b e h a v i o r o f y o u th i n th e a r e a . The
young p e o p le came t o be known i n and a ro u n d s e v e r a l o f th e
p la y g ro u n d s o f Los A n g eles D ep artm en t o f R e c r e a t i o n and
P a r k s . The o c c u p a t i o n a l a s s ig n m e n ts m aking su c h c o n t a c t
p o s s i b l e c o n s i s t e d o f w o rk in g a s C h ie f D i r e c t o r o f P ic o
G ardens H ousing P r o j e c t P la y g ro u n d , C h ie f D i r e c t o r o f
Ramona G ardens H ousing P r o j e c t P la y g ro u n d , and C h ie f D i r
e c t o r o f H o lle n b e c k P la y g ro u n d . These d i r e c t o r s h i p s l a s t e d
from S eptem ber 1954 t o S eptem ber 1955. The aim and c o n
t e n t o f t h i s s tu d y depended g r e a t l y upon th e s h a r p l y e tc h e d
m em ories o f th e y e a r i n H o lle n b e c k and upon a p r e s e n t r e c
o g n i t i o n o f some o f th e n e ed s o f th o s e who c o n tin u e to
work t h e r e .
L i b r a r y . L i b r a r y r e s e a r c h r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e r e a r e
r e l a t i v e l y few works on th e g a n g . Among t h e s e , th e works
o f T h r a s h e r and Whyte have made s i g n a l c o n t r i b u t i o n s to
th e f i e l d . T here a r e many books t h a t p r e s e n t l i m i t e d ma
t e r i a l on th e gang w i t h i n a l a r g e r c o n t e x t o f th e p ro b lem s
o f u rb a n l i f e , p sy c h o lo g y o f a d o le s c e n c e , s o c i o lo g y of
a d o le s c e n c e , and t e e n - a g e p roblem s i n p a r t i c u l a r .
The t e c h n iq u e o f th e g e n e r a l i n t e r v i e w . F i e l d work
had a n a t u r a l d i v i s i o n i n t o th e g e n e r a l and th e s p e c i f i c ,
e . g . , many f r e e - r a n g i n g U n s t r u c t u r e d i n t e r v i e w s p re c e d e d
23
and made p o s s i b l e th e s u b s e q u e n t u se o f a f o r m a l q u e s t i o n
n a i r e .
For th e f i r s t p h ase o f f i e l d work a l i s t p r e p a r e d
u n d e r th e d i r e c t i o n o f Henry W altz o f M e t r o p o l i t a n R e c r e
a t i o n and Youth S e r v i c e s C o u n c il was c o n s u l t e d f o r th e
names o f r e c r e a t i o n and y o u th s e r v i c e s o r g a n i z a t i o n . For
co m p lete l i s t o f r e c r e a t i o n and y o u th s e r v i c e s o rg an izatio ns;
i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a r e f e r e n c e i s made to A ppendix A,
U n s t r u c t u r e d i n t e r v i e w s were h e l d w ith th e e x e c u t i v e o f
f i c e r s o f th e o r g a n i z a t i o n s so l i s t e d . The e x e c u t i v e
o f f i c e r s , i n t u r n , in v o lv e d t h e i r l i e u t e n a n t s and o t h e r
s u b o r d i n a t e s . The o c c u p a tio n s h e ld by th o s e c o n s u l t e d i n
t h i s m anner ra n g e d from p a r t tim e c lu b s p o n s o r t o to p l e v e l
e x e c u t i v e s o f p u b lic , and p r i v a t e a g e n c i e s .
A n a l y s i s and o r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e v a s t a r r a y o f
f a c t s , o p i n i o n s , and a n e c d o te s drawn o u t o f t h e i r e x p e r i
e n c e s w i t h y o u th l e d t o th e r e s e a r c h e r ' s e a r l y r e c o g n i t i o n
o f g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s and p a t t e r n s . The c o n v e r s a t i o n a l l y
a c q u i r e d know ledge o f t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s and p a t t e r n s was
e s s e n t i a l t o th e p r e p a r a t i o n o f th e s c h e d u le t h a t was
l a t e r u se d i n th e f o rm a l i n t e r v i e w s w ith a s e l e c t e d group
o f y o u th w o rk e rs i n H o lle n b e c k .
The s c h e d u le f o llo w s :
24
A SURVEY OP ATTITUDES AND ACTIVITIES OP ORGANIZED YOUTH
GROUPS IN THE HOLLENBECK AREA OP EAST LOS ANGELES
1. What i s th e name o f t h i s g ro u p ?
2. How o ld i s th e group i n i t s p r e s e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n ?
3 . How does a boy become e l i g i b l e f o r m em bership?
4 .* What i s th e p r o c e s s o f becom ing a member?
5 .* How does a boy show t h a t he b e lo n g s ?
6 .* How c o h e s iv e i s th e gro up i n t h e f a c e o f o p p o s i t i o n
o r d a n g e r?
7 . * What i s th e p r o c e s s o f becom ing th e l e a d e r ?
8 .* What a r e th e p u r p o s e s o f th e g ro u p ?
9 .* What a r e a does th e g ro u p c la im ?
10. Where do th e members hang o u t?
11. How many a r e i n th e c o re ?
12. How many a r e i n th e f r i n g e ?
1 3 .* What i s th e p r o c e s s o f g e t t i n g o u t o f th e g ro u p ?
14. I s t h e r e a g i r l s ' a u x i l i a r y ?
15. I s t h e r e an a g e - l e v e l s u b d i v i s i o n ?
16 . What a c t i v i t i e s o f th e group make i t known i n th e
community?
1 7 .* What a r e th e names o f f r i e n d l y g ro u p s ?
1 8 .* What a r e th e names o f h o s t i l e g ro u p s?
1 9 . What r e c r e a t i o n a n d / o r y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s a r e
a v a i l a b l e i n t h e n e ig h b o rh o o d ?
2 0 .* Do t h e members g e t t o g e t h e r f o r i n f o r m a l and u n s u p e r-
25
v i s e d te a m - ty p e p l a y ?
2 1 .* Do th e members p a r t i c i p a t e i n th e fo rm a l and s u p e r
v i s e d s p o r t s p rogram s o f s c h o o l , playgrou nd^ o r a g en cy ?
2 2 .* What k in d s o f b e h a v i o r have b r o u g h t t h e group to th e i
a t t e n t i o n o f th e p o l i c e ? I
2 3 . How many members a r e on p r o b a t i o n o r p a r o l e ?
24. How many members a r e i n F o r e s t r y Camp o r th e Youth
A u t h o r i t y ?
2 5 . What ag en c y h as a s s i g n e d a sp o n s o r?
2 6 . What i s th e s p o n s o r 's r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h th e g ro u p ?
2 7 . What ch an g es i n th e gro up have b e e n b r o u g h t a b o u t
by th e s p o n s o r?
The te c h n iq u e o f th e fo rm a l i n t e r v i e w . The seco nd
p h a se o f f i e l d work was d i r e c t e d to w a rd g e t t i n g f u l l and
c o m p lete a n sw e rs to th e q u e s t i o n s s e l e c t e d f o r th e s c h e d
u l e . Those to whom th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was g iv e n w ere s e
l e c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r acad em ic p r e p a r a t i o n f o r
y o u th work and on th e d u r a t i o n and i n tim a c y o f t h e i r work
w i t h y o u th .
At th e b e g in n in g o f e a c h s c h e d u le d i n t e r v i e w , th e
r e s p o n d e n t was t o l d why th e s tu d y was b e in g made and th e
g e n e r a l n a t u r e o f th e s c h e d u le o f q u e s t i o n s . A f t e r th e
r e s p o n d e n t had t a k e n tim e to r e a d th r o u g h a l l th e q u e s
t i o n s , he was t o l d to ta k e a s much tim e a s he n e ed e d i n
a n s w e rin g . He was f u r t h e r d i r e c t e d to fram e h i s a n sw e rs
26
i n c o n t i n u a l r e f e r e n c e t o th e one group he knew b e s t . A ll
q u e s t i o n s w ere o p e n -e n d e d ; a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l and com
p l e t e n e s s o f th o u g h t were warmly e n c o u ra g e d .
P r e l i m i n a r y e v a l u a t i o n o f th e t h i r t y s e t s o f a n sw ers
I r e s u l t e d i n e i g h t e e n s e t s b e in g r e t a i n e d f o r f u r t h e r s t u d y .
The tw e lv e s e t s were d i s c a r d e d f o r th e r e a s o n s o f p a u c i t y
o f i n f o r m a t i o n , i n t e r n a l I n c o n s i s t e n c y , and d u p l i c a t i o n
o f c o v e ra g e by a more q u a l i f i e d r e s p o n d e n t . Each o f th e
s e t s r e t a i n e d p r o v id e d a d e s c r i p t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r y o u th
group i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a .
T re a tm e n t o f f i n d i n g s . The i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d
from th e v a r i o u s r e s p o n d e n t s was n o t o f a form t o le n d
i t s e l f e a s i l y to s t a t i s t i c a l p r o c e s s i n g , f o r e a c h r e s p o n d
e n t had b e en a s k e d , i n e f f e c t , t o d e s c r i b e th e g ro u p he
s p o n s o r e d . The r e s p o n d e n t - s u p p l i e d m a t e r i a l was p u t t o |
t h r e e u s e s : ( l ) The tw e n ty - s e v e n c a t e g o r i e s in c l u d e d
tw e lv e q u e s t i o n s m arked w i t h a s t e r i s k s t h a t c o u ld be u s e d '
11 '
i n i s o l a t i n g t e n v a r i a b l e s . The v a r i a b l e s w ere u s e d i n '
11
The t e n v a r i a b l e s s u b s e q u e n t ly u se d i n th e a n a l y - j
s i s o f f a c t o r s were worded sim p ly a s f o l l o w s : j
1. P r o c e s s o f j o i n i n g |
2. S ig n s o f b e lo n g in g
3 . C o h e s iv e n e s s i
4 . Becoming th e l e a d e r i
5. P u rp o se o f th e group i
6 . E c o l o g i c a l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ,
7 . T e r m in a tio n o f m em bership I
8. I n t e r g r o u p r e l a t i o n s h i p s :
(co m b in in g q u e s t i o n s s e v e n - '
t e e n and e i g h t e e n o f th e I
q u e s t i o n n a i r e ) !
d e te r m in in g r e l a t i v e h o s t i l i t y and s o c i a b i l i t y . F o r ex-
I am ple, i t i s a m a t t e r o f common know ledge among y o u th
27 1
I
w o rk e rs t h a t gang boys a r e n o t s p o r t s minded and w i l l
.'•ftM ûw .yflw w ia-.
stJi^ongly r e s i s t p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a s p o r t s program and t h a t I
c lu b boys a r e g e n e r a l l y s p o r t s m inded and w i l l f r e e l y p a r
t i c i p a t e i n a s p o r t s p ro g ram . T h e r e f o r e i t f o llo w s t h a t
a q u e s t i o n i n v o l v i n g an e s t i m a t e o f a t t i t u d e r e g a r d i n g
s p o r t s le n d s i t s e l f t o t h e t a s k o f d ic h o to m iz in g th e g ro u p s
i n t o g a n g -ty p e and c l u b - t y p e . A c h a r t was th e n drawn t o
d e te r m in e w here e a c h gro up s t o o d , i n f a c t , on th e c o n t i
nuum from gang t o c lu b . The e f f e c t o f th e u s e o f th e
c h a r t was t o a r r i v e a t n u m e r ic a l e x p r e s s i o n o f th e r e l a -
!
t i v e g a n g n e ss and c lu b n e s s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s . I f , |
f o r exam p le, th e s p o n s o r o f g ro u p "G" had g iv e n s i x a n s w e ré
I i n d i c a t i v e o f gang o r i e n t a t i o n and f o u r o f c lu b o r i e n t a - |
j t i o n , th e two n u m b ers, a s a r a t i o , 6 : 4 , i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e |
i g rou p was gang o r i e n t e d . j
I The c h o ic e o f key q u e s t i o n s and th e m ethod would
I seem t o have b e en j u s t i f i e d i n t h a t th e group known t o a l l
i n t h e community a s th e m ost g a n g - l i k e r e c e i v e d th e s tr o n g
e s t gang r a t i n g . T hree o f th e g ro u p s , two a t h l e t i c c lu b s
and one s o c i a l c lu b , w ere a s s i g n e d th e s t r o n g e s t c lu b
9. Form al s p o r t s (com bin ing
q u e s t i o n s tw e n ty and tw e n ty -o n e
o f th e q u e s t i o n n a i r e )
10. A t t e n t i o n o f th e p o l i c e
28
r a t i n g s . The t h r e e l a t t e r g ro u p s a r e known i n th e commu
n i t y f o r t h e i r a m ic a b le r e l a t i o n s h i p s , f o r t h e i r s p o r t s
m a n sh ip , and f o r t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p r o j e c t s i n te n d e d
; f o r th e w e l f a r e o f th e com m unity. The o t h e r g ro u p s f e l l
i n t o w hat a p p ro x im a te s a s t r a i g h t l i n e d i s t r i b u t i o n b e
tw een th e e x tre m e s o f gang and c lu b .
F or c h a r t d e p i c t i n g r e l a t i v e g a n g n e ss and c lu b n e s s
o f H o lle n b e c k y o u th g ro u p s r e f e r e n c e i s made to A ppendix B.
j
(2) R e f e r e n c e i s made t o A ppendix C and D f o r v e r - i
I
b a tim t r a n s c r i p t i o n s o f s p o n s o r 's r e p o r t s on th e m ost |
i
h o s t i l e and th e m ost s o c i a b l e o f th e e i g h t e e n y o u th grou ps,'
r e s p e c t i v e l y . j
!
(3) The i n f o r m a t i o n a l c o n t e n t o f th e gang c a t e - ;
I
g o ry and th e c lu b c a t e g o r y o f e a c h q u e s t i o n was r e f i n e d
j f o r th e p u rp o s e o f d e te r m in in g th e e s s e n t i a l c h a r a c t e r i s -
i t i c s o f e a c h . The two s e t s o f t w e n ty - s e v e n , more or l e s s
: d i s c r e t e , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w ere u se d i n w r i t i n g q u i n t e s -
j s e n t i a l d e s c r i p t i o n s o f th e gang and o f th e c lu b .
I
I I I . ORGANIZATION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE THESIS
C h a p te r I I I p r e s e n t s th e gang o f H o lle n b e c k . T h is
q u i n t e s s e n t i a l d e s c r i p t i o n o f gang l i f e was s y n t h e s i z e d
from m a t e r i a l r e p r e s e n t i n g th e m a n ifo ld o b s e r v a t i o n s and
e x p e r i e n c e s o f a number o f y o u th w o rk e rs i n th e H o lle n b e c k
a r e a o f E a s t Los A n g e le s , j
C h a p te r IV, i n th e m anner and from th e same s o u r c e s ;
29
a s C h a p te r I I I , p r e s e n t s th e Club o f H o lle n b e c k .
C h a p te r V p r e s e n t s a b r i e f summary o f t h e dynam ics
o f g a n g in g ; a number o f c o n c l u s i o n s r e g a r d i n g th e n a t u r a l
h i s t o r i e s o f th e gang and o f th e c lu b ; a s h o r t c o m p a riso n
o f some o f th e m ost i m p o r ta n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e gang
and th e c lu b ; and c o n c lu d e s w ith s e v e r a l recom m end ation s
c o n c e rn in g th e n a t u r e o f f u t u r e s tu d y o f u rb a n g a n g s .
CHAPTER III
A DESCRIPTION OP A REPRESENTATIVE GANG OP HOLLENBECK
T h is m a t e r i a l i s n o t I n te n d e d to a p p ly t o any y o u th
I g ro u p i n f a c t , b u t , r a t h e r , t o d e s c r i b e some o f th e c h a r -
j a c t e r i s t i c a t t i t u d e s and a c t i v i t i e s o f gangs o b s e rv e d i n
H o lle n b e c k .
I . THE GANG ;
J
Name. L i l H a za rd , S t a t e S t r e e t , E v e r g r e e n , P l a t s , ,
W hite P e n c e, E l Hoyo S o to , and V a rio Nuevo a r e names o f I
gangs whose h i s t o r i e s can be t r a c e d a d e c a d e , o r m ore, j
i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a . T hese names a l s o d e s i g n a t e f a i r l y j
d i s c r e t e a r e a s i n H o lle n b e c k . I n s e v e r a l i n s t a n c e s , th e j
gang c o n t r o l l e d a r e a c o rr e s p o n d s w i t h th e " b a r r i o " rem
n a n t o f th e e a r l y M exican c u l t u r e . A gang u s u a l l y g e t s
i t s name from th e n e ig h b o r h o o d , a s t r e e t i n th e a r e a , or
a p o i n t o f common i n t e r e s t o r e x p e r i e n c e i n th e a r e a .
The names m e n tio n e d , w h e th e r c o n s i d e r e d p r i m a r i l y
a s r e f e r r i n g t o a r e a s , s t r e e t s , p la y g r o u n d s , o r t o g a n g s ,
a r e o ld ; th e y a r e m e a n in g fu l t o t h e r e s i d e n t s o f th e
n e ig h b o rh o o d s c o n c e rn e d . Through th e y e a r s , th e names
hav e become i n c r e a s i n g l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m y th s, l e g e n d s ,
c u sto m s , and t r a d i t i o n s p e c u l i a r to th e r e s i d e n t M exican-
A m erican p e o p l e s .
I n C h a p te r I , m e n tio n was made o f t h e s tu d y com- !
31
p l e t e d by I r e n e S h e a r e r i n w hich she d e s c r i b e d 228 gangs
i n th e County o f Los A n g e l e s . To i n d i c a t e th e e x t e n t o f
t h e phenomenon i n th e r e c e n t p a s t , 1 9 5 1, th e f o r t y she
fo u n d i n H o lle n b e c k w i l l be l i s t e d b elo w :
A paches
B ig F i r s t
B ig H azard
B ig S t a t e
C h e rry
Dog H ollow
Dukes
E l Hoyo
E l Hoyo S o to
E v e r g r e e n
E v e rg r e e n C h e r r i e s
F l i p s
F i r s t and F i c k e t t S t r e e t s
F i r s t and I n d i a n a S t r e e t s
F r e s n o S t r e e t
G a lla r d o
H u n te r S t r e e t
J e s t e r s
L i l F i r s t
L i t t l e C h e r r i e s
L i t t l e Dukes
L i l E a s t S id e
L i l F i r s t J r s .
F l a t s J r s .
F l a t s Dukes
F l a t s F i r s t S t r e e t
F l a t s F o u r t h S t r e e t
F l a t s M id g ets
L i t t l e H azard
L i t t l e N o r th s id e
L i t t l e S t a t e S t r e e t
Los Apaches
P u r p le H e a r ts
R oy al J e s t e r s
S t a t e S t r e e t
V a rio Nuevo
Wabash
W hite Fence
W hite Fence C h e r r i e s
1
Statement by interviewee number four.
32
J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l o f Hom icide D i v i s i o n , Los
A n g e le s P o l i c e D e p a rtm e n t, i n i t s a n n u a l r e p o r t f o r th e
y e a r 1954, i n c l u d e d th e f o l l o w i n g gan gs a s a c t i v e i n
H o lle n b e c k :
F i r s t S t r e e t
H azard
E v e r g r e e n (D u k e s)
P u r p le H e a r ts
F i r s t F l a t s
F o u r t h F l a t s
G a l la r d o S t r e e t
V a rio Nuevo
L i t t l e E a s t S id e
S t a t e S t r e e t
W hite Fence^
The e l e v e n g a n g s , l i s t e d a b o v e, w ere c o n t a c t e d by
p l a i n - c l o t h e s o f f i c e r s o f th e d e t a i l i n t h e c o u rs e o f t h e i r
d a i l y work i n th e a r e a .
I n Decem ber, 1955, a f i e l d o f f i c e r o f Group G uidance
I
■ D iv isio n, Los A n g e le s County P r o b a t i o n D e p a rtm e n t, s a i d
j t h a t t h e r e w ere o n ly s e v e n p e rm a n en t gang s i n H o lle n b e c k .
jHis c o n t e n t i o n was t h a t a l l o t h e r s a r e " h e re to d a y and
jgone to m o rro w ." A c c o rd in g t o h i s s o u r c e s , t h e se v e n w ere :
! W hite Fence
I V a r io Nuevo
F l a t s
L i l H azard
E l Hoyo S o to
S t a t e S t r e e t
E v e rg re e n ^
2
S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number one,
'^ S tatem en t by i n t e r v i e w e e number f i v e .
33
Age o f th e g a n g . S e a rc h f o r m a t e r i a l on th e b e
g i n n in g s o f th e lo n g - te r m gang s o f th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a h a s
r e v e a l e d t h a t P l a t s i s a t l e a s t t h i r t y y e a r s o l d . Legends
and t r a d i t i o n s o f t h i s gang have t h e i r r o o t s , i n some
c a s e s , i n th e e a r l y " 2 0 's"w h en th e gang was known f o r
" b o o t l e g g i n g , " Some o f th e f a t h e r s and m o th e rs o f p r e s e n t -
day gang boys remember th o s e e a r l y d a y s .
V a rio Nuevo, m eaning l i t e r a l l y "new n e i g h b o r h o o d ,"
c an be t r a c e d to th e o ld H u n te r S t r e e t Gang. V a r io Nuevo
em erged a f t e r th e o l d e r gang had b e e n s p l i t by S a n ta Ana
F re e w a y .
H a z a rd , b o t h Big and L i l , can be c l e a r l y t r a c e d to
th e e a r l y " 4 0 ’s " ; t h e r e a r e i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t th e y e x i s t e d
lo n g b e f o r e t h a t .
E l Hoyo S o to , S t a t e S t r e e t , and E v e rg r e e n S t r e e t
Gangs were known a s e a r l y a s th e b e g in n in g o f World War I I .
A Group G uidance F i e l d O f f i c e r sums up th e s i t u a
t i o n i n r e g a r d t o age when he s a i d , "The same gang g ro u p s
have f o r y e a r s b e en m e e tin g th e same n e e d s o f b o y s; th e
A
community h a s n ' t c h a n g e d ."
The l o n g - te r m gang i s d e e p - r o o t e d i n th e t r a d i t i o n s
and custom s o f a n e ig h b o rh o o d ; i t i s r e s p o n s i v e to and
stem s from th e n e e d s and d e s i r e s o f th e p e o p le o f th e a r e a .
^Statement by interviewee number five.
&
34
The gang I s a p a r t o f m i n o r i t y y o u t h 's an sw er to th e p r o b
lem o f c u l t u r a l c o n f l i c t and e t h n i c d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .
"For men may come and men may g o ,/ B u t I go on f o r
e v e r . " T e n n y s o n 's t h o u g h ts a b o u t th e l i f e o f a b ro o k have
some a p p l i c a b i l i t y t o th e l i f e o f a g a n g . I n d i v i d u a l boys
j o i n , p a r t i c i p a t e i n , and le a v e th e gang w i t h o u t c h a n g in g
t h e c o n d i t i o n s and r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t g iv e r i s e to a n d / o r
s u s t a i n th e l i f e o f th e gang .
E l i g i b i l i t y . T here a r e a t l e a s t f o u r r e q u i r e m e n ts
t h a t m ust be met b e f o r e a boy can be s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r e d
f o r m em bership i n a g a n g . The i n d i v i d u a l boy can do l i t t l e
a b o u t t h e s e f o u r w i t h th e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n o f c o n v in c in g
|h i s p a r e n t s o f th e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f a p h y s i c a l rem oval i n t o
I
't h e gang d o m in a ted n e ig h b o rh o o d . The p r e r e q u i s i t e s a r e :
I / \
i (1) A re a : th e gang t y p i c a l l y i s a n e ig h b o rh o o d
I
• i n s t i t u t i o n whose m em bership comes from among t h o s e who
• liv e i n th e a r e a and who a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h th e l o c a l way
o f l i f e .
(2 ) E th n i c g ro u p : g a n g in g i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a
lis p r i m a r i l y a phenomenon o f th e M exican-A m erican s u b c u l -
j tu r e and s e c o n d a r i l y o f th e N egro. W ith r a r e and n o t a b l e
'e x c e p t i o n s , t e e n - a g e gangs a r e e t h n i c a l l y m o n o l i t h i c ,
j (3 ) S ex: j u v e n i l e gangs a r e a lm o s t e x c l u s i v e l y a
jf u n c t io n o f m a le n e s s ; g i r l s r a r e l y e n t e r th e gang s c e n e ,
I
a n d , t h e n , u s u a l l y o n ly a s in f o r m a l g ro u p s o f g i r l f r i e n d s
I . 35
I o f some o f th e boys o r a s a c c o m p lic e s i n t r o u b l e m aking.
! (4) Age; th e g a n g , p r o p e r , i s n o rm a lly s u b d iv id e d
i
j by a g e - l e v e l s . Los A n g e les P o l i c e D ep artm en t sp e a k s o f
I t h r e e su c h l e v e l s , e . g . : th e V e te r a n o s , th e M id g e ts , and
th e C h e r r i e s . The a g e s , r e s p e c t i v e l y , a r e e i g h t e e n and
o l d e r , s i x t e e n and s e v e n t e e n , and t h i r t e e n t o f i f t e e n .
The e x c e p t i o n t o r u n n in g w i t h a g e - p e e r s o c c u r s when
a boy can n o t "make th e g r a d e " w i t h t h o s e o f h i s own a g e .
I n t h i s c a s e , th e boy may t r y to a s s o c i a t e h i m s e l f w ith
a y o u n g e r g ro u p . The boys o f th e y o u n g e r g ro u p may a c
c e p t him b e c a u s e o f h i s g r e a t e r s o p h i s t i c a t i o n , e x p e r i e n c e ,
a n d / o r a b i l i t y . I f th e y do n o t a c c e p t him , he may t r y to
g a t h e r a number o f o t h e r o u t c a s t s , su c h a s h i m s e l f , a b o u t
him i n th e c r e a t i o n o f a new g ang.
I J o i n i n g . A b o y 's m o t i v a t i o n s t o J o i n a gang can
I stem from s e v e r a l s o u r c e s i n c l u d i n g : ( l ) n e ig h b o rh o o d
I t r a d i t i o n , (2) need f o r c o m p a n io n sh ip , (3) f e a r o f a
I
j n e i g h b o r i n g g a n g , (4) f e a r o f th e c o n se q u e n c e s i f he r e -
' 6
f u s e s t o J o i n .
^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t h r e e .
6
Carey M cW illiam s made a good summary s t a t e m e n t o f
a gang b o y 's need t o b e lo n g :
* T u rn in g away from home and s c h o o l th e M exican
boy h a s o n ly one p l a c e w here he can f i n d s e c u r i t y
and s t a t u s . T h is i s th e gang made up o f boys e x
a c t l y l i k e h i m s e l f , who l i v e i n th e same n e i g h b o r
ho o d , and who a r e g o in g th r o u g h p r e c i s e l y th e same
36
A b o y must be p e r s o n a l l y a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e members
o f a gan g; t h e m em b ers’ a c c e p t a n c e o f a b o y would seem t o
depend t o a "c o n s i d e r a b l e e x t e n t upon a " c o n s c io u s n e s s o f
k i n d . " J o i n i n g f u r t h e r i n v o lv e s a t e s t i n g o f t h e boy. He
m ust be t e s t e d f o r l o y a l t y to t h e gang and a l l t h e gang
s t a n d s f o r . He m ust be t e s t e d f o r s e l f - r e o n t r o l i n t h e
f a c e o f s t r o n g t e m p t a t i o n s t o l o s e s e l f - c o n t r o l and f o r
t h e v a r i o u s l y d e f i n e d b u t t e r r i b l y im p o r t a n t q u a l i t y o f
, h a v in g " g u t s ."
A t y p i c a l t e s t i n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s h a v in g a member
o f t h e gang " ta k e on" t h e c a n d i d a t e . T h is p a r t o f t h e
p r o c e s s i s n o t so much aim ed a t s e e i n g how w e l l t h e bo y
f i g h t s a s i t i s s e e i n g h i s r e a c t i o n s to p a i n and f a t i g u e
and t h e s i g h t and s m e ll o f b lo o d .
E v id e n c e o f b e l o n g i n g . A g an g boy does n o t go
a b o u t m aking a p u b l i c d i s p l a y o f h i s p e r s o n a l i d e n t i f i
c a t i o n and in v o lv e m e n t w i t h h i s g an g. The o n l y way f o r
a n o u t s i d e r t o be a t a l l c e r t a i n a b o u t a b o y ’s a f f i l i a t i o n
i s t o s e e him h a b i t u a l l y a t a known hang o u t o r i n t h e
company o f known gang members. A v i c e p r i n c i p a l rem arked
t h a t gang boys c o n g r e g a te on t h e s c h o o l g ro und s a c c o r d i n g
d i s t r e s s i n g p r o c e s s a t p r e c i s e l y t h e same t im e .
C a rey M cW illiam s, N o rth From Mexico (New Y ork: J .B .
L i p p i n c o t t Company, 1 9 4 9 ), p . 240.
37
7
t o gang a f f i l i a t i o n .
The gang boy k e e p s h i s p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s w ith
th e gang h id d e n ( w ith th e e x c e p t i o n s n o te d a b o v e ) . Though
he c o v e r s h i s g a n g -c o n n e c te d a c t i v i t i e s w i t h s e c r e c y and
n i g h t , he does n o t make any a t t e m p t t o keep th e gang name
from th e p u b l i c e y e . He m arks f e n c e s , w a l l s , b u i l d i n g s
w i t h i n and w i t h o u t , f r e s h l y l a i d c o n c r e t e , g a t e s , h o u s e s .
He u s e s k n i v e s , c h a l k , p a i n t , o i l , s t i c k s , c r a y o n s . For
e v id e n c e o f t h i s g a n g - ty p e a c t i v i t y se e t h e s c h o o l y a r d
p r o p e r t y w a l l a t t h e n o r t h e a s t e r l y c o r n e r o f M ott and
Second S t r e e t s and th e w a l l s u r r o u n d in g th e g a r d e n e f f s
e q u ip m en t and o f f i c e b u i l d i n g a t th e s o u t h w e s t e r l y end o f
H o lle n b e c k L a k e - - j u s t o f f B oyle Avenue. B oth t h e s e l o c a
t i o n s c o n t a i n p rim e i l l u s t r a t i o n s o f th e m ark in g a r t a s
c o n c e iv e d and d e v e lo p e d by th e gang boy.
Most gang boys have n ic k n a m e s. A gang boy ad ds h i s
nicknam e t o t h e s i g n a t u r e o f h i s g a n g . Once a c i t y r e c r e
a t i o n d i r e c t o r a s k e d a boy t o i d e n t i f y " P u p p e t ." The r e
q u e s t w ent u n a n sw e red by th e M exican-A m erican b o y . One
boy w i l l n o t i d e n t i f y a n o t h e r by gang a f f i l i a t i o n . The
nicknam e had b e e n n o t i c e d i n th e gang s i g n a t u r e n e a t l y
draw n on t h e d o o r o f p la y g r o u n d r e c r e a t i o n h a l l .
'^ S tatem en t by i n t e r v i e w e e number s i x .
38
E l j
P u p p e t I
de I
C/S R I f a s j
l a 1
i
H azard !
i
C /S , s h o r t f o r 'bon s a f o s " means " w h a te v e r you a r e j
s a y in g a b o u t me I ' v e a l r e a d y s a i d a b o u t y o u . " 'k ifa s " m e a n s j
I
" w h a te v e r you a r e s a y in g a b o u t me I ' v e a l r e a d y s a i d t h r e e |
tim e s b a ck a t y o u . " ;
One o f th e m ost c h a r a c t e r i s t i c and c o n s i s t e n t a c t i
v i t i e s o f gang boys c o n s i s t s o f t h i s b u s i n e s s o f w r i t i n g
s i g n a t u r e s . I n p r a c t i c e , th e l e t t e r s have become h i g h l y
s t y l i z e d , n e a t l y e x e c u te d , and a lm o s t a l l i n th e form shown
I a b o v e .
I The gang b o y 's m em bership demands r e g u l a r and r e -
! s p o n s i b l e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n th e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e g an g .
: By " h an g in g a r o u n d " w i t h h i s f r i e n d s w henever p o s s i b l e ,
I
he i s on hand f o r w h a te v e r comes t h e i r way o r w h a te v e r
m i s c h i e f th e y may t u r n t h e i r h an d s t o . I n h i s f r e e tim e ,
I th e gang boy r e p a i r s t o th e dim ly l i t s t r e e t c o r n e r , th e
i f r i e n d l y s t o r e , th e p o o l h a l l , th e d a rk c o r n e r o f a p l a y -
i g ro u n d ; w h e re v e r th e hang o u t may b e , he can be fou nd i n
I o
! th e company o f f e l l o w m embers.
^Kramer and K a rr came c l o s e to th e h e a r t o f th e m a t
t e r when th e y s a i d , "The m a jo r i n g r e d i e n t o f a gang b o y 's
39
A member o f a gang d e n ie s any know ledge o f th e gang
when q u e s t i o n e d by p o l i c e i n "shake d o w n ," i n p o l i c e s t a
t i o n i n t e r r o g a t i o n , o r i n p r e - d e t e n t i o n h e a r i n g o f J u v e
n i l e H a l l . H e re, a g a i n , i s th e c o n c e p t o f " a l l f o r one
and one f o r a l l . " To p r o t e c t and d e fe n d h i s gang from a l l
f o r c e s a r r a y e d a g a i n s t them i s one o f th e p aram oun t m o t i
v a t i o n s o f h i s l i f e . L o y a lty t o gang and h a t r e d o f a u t h
o r i t y make a s t r o n g c o m b in a tio n .
A gang b o y ’s d u p l i c i t y p o s e s a n o t h e r p ro b le m f o r
t h e p o l i c e . One o f th e o f f i c e r s o f th e J u v e n i l e Gang
D e t a i l s a i d , "You c a n ' t t e l l by w hat a boy sa y s d u r in g a
sh a k e down w h e th e r he b e lo n g s t o a gang o r does n o t . He
may sa y he b e lo n g s t o a r i v a l gang t o g iv e them a bad
t im e . I f he i s a non-member he may sa y he b e lo n g s i n
o r d e r t o g e t a l i t t l e g l o r y t h a t go es w i t h gang member
s h i p . He may deny h i s m em bership i n a w e ll-k n o w n g a n g .
About th e o n ly tim e you can t e l l i f a boy i s i n a gang i s
t o c a t c h him r e d - h a n d e d i n some gang a c t i v i t y i n th e com
pany o f t h o s e p o s i t i v e l y known t o be members o f th e gang
i n q u e s t i o n . " The o f f i c e r w ent on t o say t h a t he and h i s
p a r t n e r had t r i e d e v e r y t h i n g th e y c o u ld t h i n k o f t o be
a b l e to come i n t o a gang a r e a w i t h o u t a la r m in g th e b o y s .
e x i s t e n c e i s boredom , no m a t t e r how h a rd he r o m a n t i c i z e s .
D ale Kramer and M ad elin e K a r r , T ee n -ag e Gangs
(New Y ork: Henry H o lt and C o ., 1 9 5 3 ), PP. 2 2 0 -2 2 1 .
r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " ' " " " 40 "
They th o u g h t th e boys m ust u s e some k in d o f w h i s t l e a lo n g
th e r o u t e o f a p p r o a c h .^ The D i r e c t o r o f th e B o y s' C lubs
o f A l l N a tio n s F o u n d a tio n s a i d t h a t i n h i s a r e a th e
boys w h i s t l e d th e f i r s t few n o t e s o f "My mama done t o i '
me . . .
The days o f s t r a n g e and u n u s u a l d r e s s and p e r s o n a l
groom ing a r e o f th e p a s t . M exican-A m erican b o y s , gang
o r o t h e r w i s e , have a c c e p t e d , a s t h e i r own, m ost o f th e de
t a i l s o f d r e s s o f th e Anglo boy. K haki t r o u s e r s , l e a t h e r
j a c k e t s , f l a t - t o p h a i r w i t h c u r l y duck t a i l - - t h e s e a r e
n o t a t a l l u n ifo rm among th e boys o f th e M exican-A m erican
s u b c u l t u r e . I n a m e e tin g o f some M exican-A m erican boys
o f th e F l a t s a r e a s p o n s o r e d by Group G uidance o f County
P r o b a t i o n , many k in d s and ways o f w e a rin g c l o t h e s were
I n o t e d . C l o t h e s ■r a n g e d from l i g h t g r a y f l a n n e l s p o r t s
I s u i t t o t y p i c a l k h a k is w i t h l e a t h e r j a c k e t ; h a i r s t y l e
r a n g e d from crew c u t s t o lo n g and c a r e f u l l y a r r a n g e d w a v e s .
T h ere i s l i t t l e o b s e r v a b le c o n s i s t e n c y among th o s e
I who make up th e m em bership o f th e p r e s e n t - d a y g a n g s . The
gang*boy does n o t s e t h i m s e l f a p a r t , i n th e o ld w ays, from
t h e n o n -g an g boy and th e Anglo boy.
The gang boy i s a b a n d o n in g h i s u se o f S p a n is h a s
h i s s t a n d a r d t o n g u e . Though he no l o n g e r u s e s S p a n is h t o
^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number s e v e n .
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number e i g h t .
41
th e e x t e n t he d id i n tim e s p a s t , he does u s e S p a n is h to
d e f e a t th e aim s o f th e i n q u i s i t i v e s t r a n g e r and o t h e r w i s e
t o keep h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n s s e c r e t , a s n e c e s s a r y . Some,
I t h e m ost h o s t i l e o f gang b o y s , u se an a r g o t c a l l e d C a lo .
I C alo i s a S p a n is h d i a l e c t o f th e s t r e e t ; i t d e p e n d s, f o r
j m ean ing, upon g e s t u r e a s w e l l a s w ord. Knowledge o f Calo
j i s , o r h a s b e e n , a r e q u i r e m e n t f o r m em bership i n th e i n n e r
11
i c i r c l e s o f some o f th e more h o s t i l e g a n g s .
^ C o h e s i v e n e s s . C o h e s iv e n e s s i s b o rn o f th e v e r y
. n a t u r e o f th e g a n g , f o r th e gang i s a c o n s p i r a c y . Gang
! b oys a r e u n i t e d i n t h e i r common h o s t i l i t y to w a rd th e
! a g e n t s and i n s t i t u t i o n s o f s o c i e t y ; th e y h a t e a u t h o r i t y
12
I and s t a n d im p la c a b ly opp osed t o law and o r d e r .
! The c a u se o f th e e x tr e m e , i r r a t i o n a l c o h e s iv e n e s s
I
■ a s fou nd i n b o y s ' gangs i s n o t to be foun d i n th e gang
. so much a s i t i s to be fo u n d i n th e k in d o f s o c i e t y th e
! boys come from ; i t i s a f u n c t i o n o f th e s o c i a l c o n d l-
j t i o n s t h a t g iv e r i s e to th e g a n g . The boys o f a gang
I
I have b a nded t o g e t h e r i n r e c o g n i t i o n o f th e n e a r i d e n -
I t i t y o f t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s , i n r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t t h e i r
n e e d s , d e s i r e s , and i n t e r e s t s can be s a t i s f i e d b e t t e r |
I
i n c o r p o r a t e a c t i o n th a n i n s e p a r a t e a c t i o n . In t h e i r
11
S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t h r e e .
1 2
Statement by interviewee number nine.
42
n e v e r - e n d i n g f i g h t a g a i n s t s o c i e t y th e hoys l e a r n th e
t r u t h o f th e e x p r e s s i o n , " in u n i t y t h e r e i s s t r e n g t h . "
Gang boys e a r l y l e a r n t h a t one o f th e e s s e n t i a l s o f t h e i r
g ro up a c t i v i t y i s t h a t th e y m ust a c t i n c o n c e r t and a c -
13
c o r d in g to th e w i l l o f t h e i r l e a d e r .
C o h e s iv e n e s s r e f e r s to a gang b o y 's u n r e f l e c t i v e
and s e l f - d e n y i n g w i l l i n g n e s s t o f i g h t f o r th e gang o r any
p o r t i o n o f th e g a n g . I t i s n o t h i s t o q u e s t i o n th e r i g h t
n e s s o r w ro n g n e ss , t h e j u s t i c e o r th e i n j u s t i c e o f w hat
!
}
j th e gang i s d o in g . He goes a lo n g w i t h th e gang b e c a u se
t h i s i s w hat t h e gang i s d o in g ; h i s p a r t y c r a s h i n g , v a n
d a li s m , f i g h t i n g a r e a p t t o be no more th e p r o d u c t o f i n
d i v i d u a l a w a re n e s s and c o g n i t i o n th a n i s th e b e h a v i o r o f
th e i n d i v i d u a l members o f a s c h o o l o f f i s h .
Becoming th e l e a d e r . The gang h a s a t y r a n n i c a l
o r g a n i z a t i o n ; th e members a r e u n d e r th e c o n t r o l o f an
a b s o l u t e d i c t a t o r . The l e a d e r - d e s p o t r e p r e s e n t s th e gang
and makes h i m s e l f th e c e n t e r o f a l l i d e a s and a c t i v i t i e s
13
Of a l l th e g a n g - n u r t u r e d s o c i a l v i r t u e s ,
l o y a l t y and i t s a l l i e s s t a n d e a s i l y f i r s t . The
g a n g , in d e e d , e x i s t s o n ly b e c a u s e o f th e l o y a l t y
o f i t s members t o one a n o t h e r . T h is gang l o y a l t y ,
h o w ever, i s by no means a l o y a l t y t o i n d i v i d u a l s
o n ly ; i t i s a l o y a l t y a l s o t o i d e a l s ,
J . Adams P u f f e r , The Boy and H is Gang (B o sto n :
H oughton M i f f l i n Company, 1 9 1 2 ), p p . l 4 3 - l 4 4 .
l 4
B ogardus s a i d i n th e C i ty Boy and H is P rob lem s ^
'^The l e a d e r o f t h e gang i s th e c ru x o f th e i n s t i t u t i o n .
. . . He r u l e s w i t h an i r o n h an d, u n t i l knocked o u t by
some o t h e r p h y s i c a l l y a b l e boy. B ru te f o r c e and m e n ta l
a b i l i t y i n th e form o f c u n n in g c o u n t m o s t . :
Emory S. B o g a rd u s, The C ity Boy and H is P roblem s
(Los A n g e le s : House o f R a ls to n ^ 1 9 2 5 ), p . 91.
43
o f th e g a n g . I n h i s g a n g - a f f i l i a t e d a c t i v i t i e s , t h e l e a d e r
e x p r e s s e s th e v e r y n a t u r e o f th e gang and v a r i o u s l y u s e s
th e power o f h i s p o s i t i o n f o r th e r e a l i z a t i o n o f h i s own
e n d s . I
I n g e n e r a l , th e l e a d e r i s th e r o u g h e s t , th e s m a r t- |
e s t , th e m ost c u n n in g , and th e m ost courageous,* he a c c e p t s j
l 4 I
a l l c h a l l e n g e r s .
I n a p a r t i a l e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e s u c c e s s o f th e
t y r a n n y o f th e g a n g , a J u v e n i l e H a ll p s y c h i a t r i s t , a d
d r e s s i n g h i m s e l f t o th e home l i f e and e a r l y t r a i n i n g o f
t h e M exican-A m erican boy, rem ark ed t h a t th e boy, b e c a u s e
o f th e p a t r i a r c h a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f h i s home l i f e , l e a r n e d
t o be p a s s i v e ; he l e a r n e d t o p l a y a p a s s i v e r o l e i n th e
f a c e o f h i s f a t h e r » s a u t h o r i t y . I n th e g a n g , p a s s i v i t y
; i s th e n a t u r a l r e a c t i o n t o th e same k in d o f a u t h o r i t y he
I knew a t th e h an ds o f h i s f a t h e r .
P u rp o s e s o f th e g a n g . The gang boy ta k e n i n t o
c u s to d y f o r c r i m i n a l b e h a v i o r , su c h a s f i g h t i n g w i t h a
44
d e a d ly weapon, u s u a l l y c la im s s e l f - d e f e n s e . I f he c a r r i e s
a p i s t o l w h ile moving deep i n "enemy" t e r r i t o r y , i t i s
o n ly b e c a u s e he m ig h t be "Jum ped." I f he c a r r i e d a " s w itc h
b l a d e " k n i f e t o s c h o o l , i t i s o n ly b e c a u s e some one m ig h t
t r y t o " p ic k a f i g h t " w i t h him .
In a l l h i s a g g r e s s i v e an d d e f e n s i v e a c t i v i t i e s , th e
gang boy i s l i k e l y to be a b e t t e d by h i s f e l l o w members;
f o r p r i m a r i l y , t h e gang i s a f i g h t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n b a se d
on th e b e l i e f t h a t a l l o t h e r su c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s a r e , more
o r l e s s , o u t to d e s t r o y i t .
Among t h e many r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f t h e g a n g , a member
f i n d s s a t i s f a c t i o n s f o r a number o f b a s i c n e e d s and de-
s i r e s .
^The D e s i r e f o r New E x p e rie n c e --M e n c ra v e e x
c i t e m e n t , and a l l e x p e r i e n c e s a r e e x c i t i n g w hich
have i n them some re s e m b la n c e t o th e p u r s u i t ,
f l i g h t , c a p t u r e , e s c a p e , d e a t h w hich c h a r a c t e r i z e d
t h e e a r l i e r l i f e o f m ankind.
The D e s ir e f o r S e c u r i t y - - T h e d e s i r e f o r s e c u r i t y
i s opposed t o t h e d e s i r e f o r new e x p e r i e n c e . . . .
The d e s i r e f o r s e c u r i t y i s b a s e d i n f e a r and t e n d s
t o a v o id d e a t h and e x p r e s s e s i t s e l f i n t i m i d i t y ,
a v o id a n c e and f l i g h t .
The D e s i r e f o r R e sp o n se --T h e d e s i r e f o r r e s p o n s e
. . . i s p r i m a r i l y r e l a t e d t o th e i n s t i t u t i o n s o f
l o v e , and shows i t s e l f i n t h e te n d e n c y to s e e k and
g iv e s i g n s o f a p p r e c i a t i o n i n c o n n e c ti o n w i t h o t h e r
i n d i v i d u a l s .
The D e s ir e f o r R e c o g n i t i o n - - T h i s w is h i s e x
p r e s s e d i n th e g e n e r a l s t r u g g l e o f men f o r p o s i t i o n
i n t h e i r s o c i a l g ro u p , i n d e v i c e s f o r s e c u r i n g a
r e c o g n i z e d , e n v i a b l e and a d v a n ta g e o u s s o c i a l s t a t u s .
! 45 '
i
I n h i s gan g , a boy f i n d s s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r th e w ish e s
s e t down by Thomas . He f i n d s new e x p e r i e n c e i n an o t h e r
w ise o p p r e s s i v e w o rld o f boredom ; he f i n d s s e c u r i t y i n
t h e company o f h i s f r i e n d s ; he f i n d s r e c o g n i t i o n o f him
s e l f a s an i n d i v i d u a l o f w o rth t o o t h e r s o f h i s k i n d ; he
f i n d s a p p r o v a l f o r h i s p e rfo rm a n c e s a s one o f t h e g a n g .
I f he smokes on th e s c h o o l g ro u n d s d u r in g a r e c e s s
and does n o t g e t c a u g h t, he h a s "p u t one o v e r on" th e
s c h o o l s t a f f . I f he g e t s c a u g h t, he h a s p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r
many s a t i s f a c t i o n s i n knowing t h a t he h a s d i s t u r b e d th e
s c h o o l s t a f f . I f , i n th e c o u rs e o f a b u rg e o n in g c a r e e r
o f c rim e , he comes i n t o th e j u r i s d i c t i o n and c u s to d y o f
C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y , he w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t o th e s u c
c e s s o f th e c l a n d e s t i n e o r g a n i z a t i o n s among th e i n m a te s ,
i When he r e t u r n s t o h i s n e ig h b o rh o o d a s a p a r o l e e , he w i l l
I foe a h e r o , a m odel f o r e m u la tio n by y o u n g e r b o y s . I n g e n -
! e r a l , i f he s c o r e s a v i c t o r y o v e r th e f o r c e s o f law and
I o r d e r , he i s h a i l e d ; i f he l o s e s to th e same f o r c e s , th e y
I a r e condemned.
I Two comments t a k e n from a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h th e
i a f o r e m e n tio n e d p s y c h i a t r i s t w i l l be u s e d t o c o n c lu d e t h i s
j s e c t i o n . He s a i d , " I t ’s boys who have n o t e ls e w h e r e had
I t h e a c c e p t a n c e t h a t th e y c ra v e t h a t become gang m em bers--
W illia m I s a a c Thomas, S o c i a l B e h a v io r and P e r s o n
a l i t y (New Y ork: S o c i a l S c ie n c e R e s e a r c h C o u n c il, 1 9 5 1 ) ^
p p . 121, 1 2 5- 1 2 6 , 1 2 9 , 1 3 7- 1 3 8 .
46
th e y t u r n t o th e gang to make th e m s e lv e s h e a r d . " P h y s i
c a l l y i n f e r i o r , o f s m a ll s i z e , u n d e r p r i v i l e g e d and o f a
16
m i n o r i t y g ro u p , t h e s e boys have to j o i n f o r p r o t e c t i o n . "
E c o l o g i c a l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . H e a rin g t h e sound o f
g u n f i r e and r e a l i z i n g i t was h i s c a r t h a t had b e en h i t , a
boy b a ck e d up t o an a l l e y to se e i f he c o u ld f i n d th e
s o u r c e o f th e s h o t s . T h ree boys s t e p p e d o u t o f some
b u s h e s and a s k e d , *^ou from W hite F e n c e ? " The v i c t i m
a n s w e re d , "No, I ’m from h e r e . " (m eaning th e a r e a o f E l
Hoyo S o t o ) . One o f th e t h r e e from th e b u sh e s s a i d , "OK,
f o r g e t i t .
I n f o r m a t i o n above was ta k e n from th e f i l e s o f Los
A n g e le s P o l i c e D e p a rtm e n t, H o lle n b e c k D i v i s i o n . I t s e r v e s
t o i n d i c a t e to w hat e x t e n t some gang boys w i l l go i n d e
f e n d i n g t h e i r a r e a ; t h a t th e y m ig h t have k i l l e d a boy
seems n o t t o have been any c o n c e rn o f t h e i r s .
The a n e c d o t a l m a t e r i a l t o f o l lo w i n d i c a t e s th e
I power o f a gang to f o r c e c o n fo r m ity b e h a v i o r i n th e a r e a
I o f i t s s o v e r e i g n t y , A b o y , b o r n and r a i s e d i n a gang a re a ,|
I had t r i e d th r o u g h th e y e a r s to re m a in f r e e o f gang m em ber-i
I s h i p . He grew p ig e o n s , had pen p a l s i n s e v e r a l p a r t s o f
i
t h e w o r ld , and was a good s t u d e n t . Y e t, i n s p i t e o f h i s
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t e n .
17
'Statement by interviewee number eleven.
47
j e a r n e s t e f f o r t s t o s t a y o u t o f t h e gan g , he f i n a l l y had to
I j o i n . On l a s t New Y e a r ’s Day he g o t i n t o s e r i o u s t r o u b l e
I
a s an a c c o m p lic e o f a boy i n v o lv e d i n th e re v e n g e s t a b b i n g
1 o
o f a boy o f a n o t h e r g a n g . "Boys g e t t o g e t h e r l i k e a n y
one e l s e , and th e y make i t m i s e r a b l e f o r th e k i d who
d o e s n ’t w ant to j o i n ; ev en k i d s from good homes g e t p r e s -
19
s u r e d i n t o j o i n i n g .
A gang h a s i t s o r i g i n s and r o o t s i n a n e ig h b o rh o o d
w h ich may be a " b a r r i o " r e m a in in g from th e e a r l y M exican-
A m erican c u l t u r e . I t s t a n d s f o r an a r e a w ith g e n e r a l l y
r e c o g n i z e d and f a i r l y s p e c i f i c l i m i t s . The t o t a l a r e a
o f a g a n g ’s i n f l u e n c e may be q u i t e l a r g e , b u t th e p l a c e
o f s o v e r e i g n t y , r e p r e s e n t e d by m em ber’s freedo m to come
and go a t w i l l and w i t h o u t f e a r , i s u s u a l l y bounded by fo u ri
s t r e e t s ; i t c o n t a i n s a s m a ll f r a c t i o n o f a s q u a r e m i l e .
I
F o r exam ple, gang b o u n d a r i e s m ig h t e x te n d from S a n ta Ana
I
F reew ay t o S o to S t r e e t and from F i r s t S t r e e t to F o u r th j
S t r e e t . i
The gang boy i n H o lle n b e c k knows th e a r e a s c la im e d j
by th e s e v e r a l g a n g s . He knows t h a t to le a v e h i s own a r e a |
a lo n e a t n i g h t , on f o o t , i s t o e n c o u ra g e a t t a c k and b l o o d - ■
i
sh e d and t h a t he w i l l n o t be s a f e u n t i l he r e t u r n s t o th e
s a n c t u a r y o f h i s own a r e a . At n i g h t gang boys n o r m a lly
“^Statement by interviewee number five.
^^Statement by interviewee number six.
I
j l e a v e t h e i r own n e ig h b o rh o o d s o n ly i n c a r s o r w i t h s u f f i -
I c i e n t f e l l o w members t o p u t up a good f i g h t . On o c c a s i o n ,
j f o r r e a s o n s unknown o t h e r t h a n t o th e b o y s, th e y w i l l make
I a s a l l y i n t o a r i v a l a r e a . On November 2 , 1955^ two boys
from W hite Fence w ent i n t o L i t t l e V a l le y a r e a . They were
"jum ped" by f i v e members o f th e l o c a l g a n g . One o f th e
20
W hite Fence boys was s e r i o u s l y i n j u r e d .
A p p l i c a b le a t t h i s j u n c t u r e i s a comment by one o f
t h e p s y c h i a t r i s t s o f J u v e n i l e H a l l , "Even a p s y c h o l o g i
c a l l y n orm al boy w i l l engage i n f i g h t s w i t h t o t a l s t r a n g e r s
s im p ly b e c a u se i t ’s a gang a c t i v i t y .
Hang o u t . Gang members p r e s e n t no e x c e p t i o n s t o |
I
th e r u l e t h a t f r i e n d s l i k e t o spend tim e t o g e t h e r . How- i
I
I e v e r , one o f th e d i f f e r e n c e s b e tw ee n th e gang and th e c lu b j
i i s t h a t th e gang boy h a s l i t t l e tim e f o r c r e a t i v e o r p u r - |
i
: p o s e f u l a c t i v i t y . He i s i n c l i n e d t o sp en d h i s l e i s u r e i n
I I
; " b u l l s e s s i o n s " d i s c u s s i n g p a s t e x p l o i t s and m aking |
I t
I l a r g e l y v acu o u s p l a n s f o r f u t u r e a c t i v i t i e s . "For many ;
I
22
' o f t h e s e b o y s , t a l k t a k e s t h e p l a c e o f a c t i o n . "
Gang boys may be s e e n on th e s t r e e t c o r n e r , i n th e
?o
The New Y e a r ’s Day s t a b b i n g m e n tio n e d above was
th e re v e n g e i n s p i r e d a c t o f t h i s November 2nd v i c t i m .
21
S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t e n .
22
Statement by interviewee number twelve.
49
p o o l h a l l , a t th e f r o n t o f th e g r o c e r y s t o r e , u n d e r a
I b r i d g e . At any tim e o f t h e n i g h t o r d a y , a gang boy knows
I t h a t h i s b e s t chance o f f i n d i n g c o m p a n io n sh ip a n d / o r fu n
I i s to go t o th e hang o u t .
A c lu b s p o n s o r t o l d th e members o f t h e c lu b n o t to
l o i t e r i n f r o n t o f th e p la y g ro u n d r e c r e a t i o n h a l l . He
w ent on to sa y t h a t i n so d o in g t h e y were a c t i n g l i k e a
g a n g . The s p o n s o r th e n t o l d th e o f f i c e r on t h e l o c a l b e a t
t h a t he would a p p r e c i a t e i t i f th e boys w ould be t r e a t e d
a s i f th e y w ere gang boys w henever th e o f f i c e r saw them
so l o i t e r i n g . I n t h i s c a s e th e a c t o f l o i t e r i n g was so
much an i n d i c a t i o n o f g a n g in g t h a t th e s p o n s o r f e l t o b lig e d ;
I
I t o ta k e s t r o n g a c t i o n ; he w an ted th e boys " to a v o id th e !
! 21 i
j a p p e a ra n c e o f e v i l . " Two o f f i c e r s o f th e J u v e n i l e Gang I
I I
I D e t a i l made a c r y p t i c comment when th e y s a i d , "When boys !
! a r e h a n g in g a ro u n d , t h e y ’r e n o t h o t ; when t h e y ’r e h o t th e y j
j c a n ’t be f o u n d . "
What can a boy do i n th e summer m onths b e f o r e he
l e g a l l y i s o f a n age f o r f u l l - t i m e em ploym ent? I n th e
h o u s in g p r o j e c t s , i t i s common t o se e e a r l y t e e n - a g e r s
s i t t i n g i n th e s h a d e , " s h o o tin g c r a p s , " d r i n k i n g b e e r and
w in e , o r j u s t t a l k i n g . T h e i r c o n d u c t makes f o r p o l i c e
"shake d o w n s." D u rin g th e "shake downs" th e p o l i c e , q u i t e
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number t h i r t e e n .
o il
Statement by interviewee number seven.
50
f r e q u e n t l y f i n d k n i v e s , s h a r p e n e d b e e r can o p e n e r s , and
o t h e r w eapons. The n e i g h b o r s , w a tc h in g th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s ,
a r e t h e n s u r e t h a t th e boys a r e g a n g s t e r s . T h ere i s no
q u e s t i o n t h a t th e lo n g v a c a t i o n p o s e s some p ro b le m s o f
25
s e r i o u s im p o rt f o r th e com m unity.
The c o re and t h e f r i n g e . The c o n f l i c t b e tw e e n w hat
i s good f o r th e member and w hat i s good f o r t h e g ro u p
e x i s t s i n th e gang a s i n o t h e r g r o u p s . A boy c a n n o t b e ,
a t o n c e , a f r e e a g e n t and a r e s p o n s i b l e member o f th e g a n g . i
Those who a r e a b le to t a k e th e way o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o j
I
t h e g a n g , a s o r t o f s u b l i m a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l i t y w here i t I
comes i n t o c o n f l i c t w i t h th e n e e d s o f th e gan g , make up !
t h e c o re o f t h e g a n g . The c o re c o n s i s t s o f th e l e a d e r and i
I !
! h i s l i e u t e n a n t s . T hese boys have r e s o l v e d t h e c o n f l i c t ;
; t h a t i n h e r e s i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f i n d i v i d u a l and
i 26
' g r o u p s . The boys who c o m p rise th e c o re g iv e t h e m ost
j o f th e m s e lv e s to th e gang and g e t th e m ost f o r th e m s e lv e s
! from th e g an g.
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number f o u r t e e n .
26
I f we s e e k t h e u n i v e r s a l p ro b lem w h ich seems t o
be a t th e h e a r t o f th e w o rld s i t u a t i o n to d a y i t would
a p p e a r t o be t h a t o f f i n d i n g a b a la n c e b e tw ee n i n d i
v i d u a t i o n and s o c i a l i z a t i o n . T h is i n v o l v e s th e
r i g h t s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a s c o n t r a s t e d t o h i s o b l i
g a t i o n s to s o c i e t y , o r t h e freed om o f th e i n d i v i d u a l
a s o pposed t o th e c o e r c i o n o f th e s t a t e .
Howard W. Odum, U n d e r s ta n d in g S o c i e t y (New Y ork:
M acM illan C o ., 1 9 4 7 ). p . 419.
51
G r a p h i c a l l y , th e i n t e r n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e gang
may be r e p r e s e n t e d by th e u s e o f four c o n c e n t r i c c i r c l e s , e . g .
(1) The i n n e r - m o s t c i r c l e c o n t a i n s t h e l e a d e r and
j h i s henchmen. H e r e in o b t a i n s th e authority, th e power, and
: th e c o n t r o l o f th e gang.
(2) The n e x t l a r g e r c i r c l e c o n t a i n s th e body o f th e
a c t i v e and d e p e n d a b le members o f th e g a n g .
( 3 ) The n e x t larger c i r c l e c o n t a i n s t h o s e who a r e
relatively i n a c t i v e a n d / o r u n d e p e n d a b le members o f th e
g a n g . T here i s a movement o f members a c r o s s th e boundary
b e tw e e n c i r c l e number two and c i r c l e number t h r e e .
i
(4) The o u t e r - m o s t , d a sh e d c i r c l e c o n t a i n s th o s e j
I
who i d e n t i f y w i t h a n d / o r w ant to b e lo n g to th e g a n g . T hese ,
a r e n o t a c c e p t a b l e a s members i n good s t a n d i n g i n s p i t e j
o f t h e i r p e r s o n a l d e s i r e . T h is c i r c l e a l s o c o n t a i n s th o s e |
; who have j o i n e d i n f e a r o f t h e c o n se q u e n c e s o f n o t joining ■
and t h o s e whose p e r s o n a l i n a d e q u a c i e s f o r c e them t o re m a in ;
I 27 '
on th e f r i n g e . |
F o r th e c h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g th e i n t e r n a l o r g a n iz a tio n ;
o f th e g a n g , r e f e r e n c e i s made t o A ppendix E. I
T e r m in a tio n o f m em bership . I n th e more h o s t i l e !
gangs, t h e r e i s an a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e d ictu m t h a t once i n ,
m em bership i s f o r l i f e . Y e t, i n s p i t e o f t h i s f r a t e r n i t y -
l i k e a t t i t u d e , t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l ways i n f a c t f o r th e i n -
27
Statement by in te rv ie w ee number five.
52
d i v i d u a l and th e gang t o t e r m i n a t e th e r e l a t i o n s h i p , e . g . :
(1 ) s im p le o v e r - a g e , (2) m a r r ia g e w i t h p a re n t h o o d , (3)
m oving beyond t h e r a n g e o f e a s y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ^ (4) m i l i -
I
t a r y s e r v i c e , and ( f o r a few) (5) th e d e s i r e , c o u p le d w i t h
th e c o u r a g e , t o q u i t .
j
T h a t th e e m o tio n a l t i e s o f th e y o u t h f u l gang c a r r y ;
i n t o a d u lt h o o d h a s b e en a t t e s t e d t o by a man who a s a boy :
!
b e lo n g e d t o a now d e f u n c t g an g . He spoke o f th e o c c a s i o n a l
" g e t - t o g e t h e r " o f t h e men who y e a r s ago w ere a c t i v e i n t h e
i
j g a n g . Over a "c o u p le o f b e e r s " th e y t a l k a b o u t th e o ld
I ,
I d a y s , o f th e fu n th e y h a d , and th e t r o u b l e s th e y w ere
j i n ; th e y t a l k a b o u t th e o ld g i r l f r i e n d s . He sa y s t h a t |
!
t h e s p i r i t o f t h e gang g e t s i n t o t h e b lo o d ; i t i s a f e e l - ;
in g t h a t d e f i e s d e s c r i p t i o n i n s p i t e o f i t s c o m p e llin g
28
pow er.
The s t o r y t h a t f o l lo w s was t o l d by a f i e l d o f f i c e r
o f Group G uidance D i v i s i o n o f Los A n g e le s C ounty P r o b a t i o n
D e p a rtm e n t. Sometime ago th e l e a d e r o f a p o w e r f u l, w e l l -
o r g a n i z e d gang i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a was co m m itted to
j t h e C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y . D u rin g h i s a b s e n c e , th e
I members o f h i s gang d e c id e d n o t to have a n o t h e r l e a d e r ;
I th e y d e c id e d to w a i t f o r h i s r e t u r n . The boy had o t h e r
i d e a s ; w h ile i n th e Y outh A u t h o r i t y he made up h i s mind
t o "go s t r a i g h t . " He w a n ted t o make a new s t a r t i n l i f e .
28
Statement by interviewee number three.
53
I When he r e t u r n e d , a p a r o l e e , t o t h e n e ig h b o r h o o d , he i g -
j n o re d th e gang; he a v o id e d t h e h a n g o u t s and o t h e r p l a c e s
I
where members w ere l i k e l y t o be s e e n . He w ould have n o t h
in g to do w i t h t h e g a n g . When t h e members o f th e gang b e
came aw are o f w hat was h a p p e n in g , th e y c a l l e d a m e e tin g
t o d e c id e w hat t o do a b o u t t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e , now, e x
l e a d e r . They made up t h e i r m inds to w a r n him o f t h e c o n
s e q u e n c e s o f c o n t i n u i n g to a c t a s he had been a c t i n g , f o r
h i s c o n d u c t was i n t o l e r a b l e t o th e w e l f a r e o f t h e gang
and to t h e s e l f - r e s p e c t o f t h e m embers. A r r i v i n g a t h i s
h o u s e , th e y f o r c e d a n e n t r a n c e . I n th e p r e s e n c e o f h i s
i n c r e d u l o u s m o th e r th e y b e a t t h e boy; th e y l e f t him w i t h
t h e w a rn in g t h a t th e gang w ould n o t t o l e r a t e any more o f
h i s " f o o l i s h n e s s ."
The m o th e r, amazed and sh a k e n by w hat sh e e x p e r
i e n c e d , w a n t e d t o c a l l th e p o l i c e . Her son t o l d h e r n o t
t o c a l l th e p o l i c e , t h a t t h e boys w ere d o in g w h a t th e y
had t o do a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a w o f t h e g a n g .
R e c o v e rin g from t h e b e a t i n g , th e boy c o n ti n u e d on
" th e s t r a i g h t and n a r r o w ." M eanw hile, th e gang was n o t
a b l e t o i g n o r e th e i n s u l t a n d , i n t h e i r e y e s , th e u n
f o r g i v a b l e s i n . The new l e a d e r s o f th e gang c a l l e d a
g e n e r a l m e e tin g i n w hich th e y p la n n e d t h e d e t a i l s o f an
" i n i t i a t i o n o u t . " On t h e a p p o i n t e d n i g h t , a l l th e a v a i l
a b l e members o f th e g a n g g a t h e r e d f o r th e cerem ony. In
m a s s ,t h e y a r r i v e d a t th e b o y ’s h o u s e . S e e in g h i s c a r a t
54
t h e c u rb , t h e y s l a s h e d t h e t i r e s , sm ashed t h e i n s t r u m e n t s ,
b ro k e t h e e n g in e a c c e s s o r i e s and r i p p e d u p h o l s t e r y . L e a v
in g t h e r u i n e d c a r , t h e y b ro k e i n t o t h e h o u s e . They w ent
on a ram page o f d e s t r u c t i o n . They b e a t t h e b o y w i t h e v e r y
member o f t h e gang h a v in g a hand i n t h e g r i s l y p r o c e s s .
I n a s t r a n g e , se em in g c o n t r a d i c t i o n , s e v e r a l o f t h e members
a p o lo g i z e d to t h e boy, e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e y had t o do i t .
The b o y 's m o th e r was a n i n n o c e n t b y s t a n d e r .
From t h a t n i g h t on, a s f a r a s t h e members o f t h e
gang w ere c o n c e rn e d , t h e b o y d id n o t e x i s t ; t h e y n e i t h e r
r e c o g n iz e d him on t h e s t r e e t s n o r spoke o f him i n m e e ti n g s .
F o r a w h i l e , t h e boy h e l d up u n d e r t h e s t r a i n o f
h i s i s o l a t i o n . F i n a l l y , n o t b e i n g a b l e to s t a n d t h e l o n e
l i n e s s a n y l o n g e r , he i d e n t i f i e d w i t h a n e i g h b o r i n g gang
I i n t h e c o u n ty . He became a d d i c t e d t o t h e u s e o f n a r c o t i c s .
He i s now "d o in g tim e " i n t h e s t a t e p e n i t e n t i a r y . ^ ^
"Oh, t h e y j u s t d o n ' t g e t o u t" was a n o t h e r Group
G uidance F i e l d O f f i c e r ' s r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n r e g a r d i n g
how a b o y s e v e r e d h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h a h o s t i l e g a n g .3 ^ j
A p p a r e n t l y , b e c a u s e t h e bo y i n t h e c a s e c i t e d above
I had b e e n t h e l e a d e r , t h e p r o c e s s o f t e r m i n a t i n g h i s mem-
! b e r s h i p was more e x t e n s i v e and more s e v e r e t h a n u s u a l .
I A c c o rd in g to t h e sa.me f i e l d o f f i c e r who t o l d t h e s t o r y o f
^ ^ S ta te m e n t b y i n t e r v i e w e e number s i x t e e n .
^ ^ S ta te m e n t b y i n t e r v i e w e e num ber f i f t e e n .
55
i
I th e boy who t r i e d t o "go s t r a i g h t , " t h e r e i s a p r o c e d u r e
j f o r g e t t i n g o u t o f th e gang i n q u e s t i o n . A boy who makes
i
up h i s m ind to q u i t m ust s t a t e h i s i n t e n t i o n t o e a c h mem
b e r , s e p a r a t e l y . The members th e n h o ld a m e e tin g i n w h ich
t o d e c id e w hat s h o u ld be done a b o u t th e b o y ’s i n t e n t i o n
and r e q u e s t . The s e v e r i t y o f t h e " i n i t i a t i o n o u t " w i l l
depend t o a l a r g e e x t e n t on t h e r e a s o n s he g i v e s f o r w a n t
in g t o q u i t . I f he wants t o j o i n a n o t h e r g a n g , t h e b e a t -
I
I i n g s w i l l be e s p e c i a l l y b r u t a l . A f t e r t h e boy h a s b e en
I b e a t e n , he i s o u t .
Over a p e r i o d o f s e v e r a l y e a r s , one o f th e f i e l d
o f f i c e r s h a s b e e n i n s t r u m e n t a l i n g e t t i n g s e v e r a l b oys
t o go th r o u g h t h e m essy and p a i n f u l b u s i n e s s o f q u i t t i n g
t h e g a n g . As. he s a i d , i t i s th e r e l a t i v e l y new members
i who make th e d e c i s i o n to q u i t and who a r e a b l e , t h e n , to
j q u i t . Long te rm members do n o t q u i t .
j G i r l s ' a u x i l i a r y . I n g e n e r a l , th e b o y ’s gan gs o f
! H o lle n b e c k do n o t have g i r l s ' a u x i l i a r i e s . I n t h e s e n s e j
I
' o f b e in g a g roup o f g i r l s o f a d e f i n i t e o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
i
I s u b o r d i n a t e t o a b o y s ’ g ro u p , and e x i s t i n g a t t h e p l e a s u r e
o f th e b o y s ’ g ro u p , th e g i r l s ’ a u x i l i a r y i s r a r e . A
g i r l s ’ g ro u p , a u x i l i a r y t o one o f th e gangs o f H o lle n b e c k
i s c l o s e l y t i e d t o t h e g a n g . The g i r l s have a c c e p t e d , a s
^^Statement by interviewee number sixteen.
! 56
j t h e i r own, many o f th e g a n g ’s r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r m em bership.
s '
‘A f i e l d o f f i c e r o f Group G uidance w i t n e s s e d a p a r t o f th e
i n i t i a t i o n o f a g i r l who w a n ted to become a member. She
was b e in g t e s t e d by members o f t h e a u x i l i a r y ; t h e y , to o ,
I a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n s e l f - c o n t r o l . Two g i r l s , members o f
th e g ro u p , w ere s e l e c t e d t o p u t th e c a n d i d a t e th r o u g h a
t e s t f o r c o u ra g e , s ta m in a , and s e l f - c o n t r o l . F or h a l f an
h o u r th e y m auled and pum m elled t h e g i r l ; b r u i s e d and b l e e d
in g , sh e to o k t h e p u n is h m e n t. The two to o k tim e o u t f o r
a r e s t , th e n r e t u r n e d t o t h e t e s t i n g . The g i r l won h e r
r i g h t t o m em b ersh ip, f o r she n e i t h e r c r i e d a lo u d n o r a s k e d
02 i
f o r r e s p i t e . ■
I
One o f th e g r e a t p ro b le m s o f th e a d u l t s p o n s o r comes|
t o th e f o r e i n th e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f " i n i t i a t i o n s o u t " and |
I
c a n d i d a t e s p r o v in g t h e i r s e l f c o n t r o l . What i s t h e p r o p e r |
I !
' r o l e o f th e a d u l t s p o n s o r o f h o s t i l e g ang s i n su ch s i t u - I
' a t i o n s ? What s h o u ld he do a s an a g e n t o f s o c i e t y ? What
I s h o u ld he do a s one who h a s w orked a lo n g tim e to w in th e
I c o n f i d e n c e o f th e gang members? I t s h o u ld be k e p t i n
I m ind t h a t t h e s p o n s o r who d oes n o t have th e r e s p e c t and
I
I t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f th e boys h a s l i t t l e o r no chance f o r
I
s o c i a l l y c o n s t r u c t i v e work w i t h them .
I n t h e g i r l s ’ a u x i l i a r y m e n tio n e d a b o v e, t h e g i r l s
p l a y e d w i t h th e b o y s , a c t e d a s t h e i r a c c o m p lic e s i n f i g h t s .
52
Statement by interviewee number sixteen.
i
j and s l e p t w i t h th e b o y s . S l e e p i n g w i t h t h e boys i s n o t
I a m a t t e r o f u n f e t t e r e d p r o m i s c u i t y , f o r m ost o f th e g i r l s
I a r e g o in g s t e a d y . T h ere i s a r u l e i n th e gang t h a t g i r l s
I
I n o t going s t e a d y m ust p r o v i d e f o r t h e s e x u a l s a t i s f a c t i o n
I o f boy s when th e y r e t u r n from F o r e s t r y Camp o r Y outh
Authority.
T h ere i s some a n ta g o n is m between th e i n d i v i d u a l
members o f r i v a l gangs f o r th e company o f d e s i r a b l e g i r l s .
G i r l s can p r o v i d e c o m p a n io n s h ip , f u n , and n e ed e d a s s i s t a n c e
i n t h e i n e v i t a b l e gang b a t t l e s . They a r e w e l l a d a p te d f o r
t h e i r r o l e a s weapons c a r r i e r s .
Age l e v e l s w i t h i n theggang. S u b d i v i s i o n by age
seems t o be a p a r t i c u l a r f u n c t i o n o f th e gang. A c c o rd in g
t o Los A n g e le s P o l i c e D e p a rtm e n t, a s p r e v i o u s l y mentioned,
j gangs u s u a l l y have th e f o l l o w i n g s u b d i v i s i o n s : ( l ) V e t e r -
! a n o s , e i g h t e e n y e a r s and o l d e r ; (2) M id g e ts , sixteen and
I s e v e n t e e n y e a r s , and (3 ) C h e r r i e s , t h i r t e e n t o f i f t e e n
I y e a r s . A lth o u g h th e number o f s u b d i v i s i o n s u s u a l l y i s
* t h r e e , a s indicated by th e p o l i c e , t h e r e may be more a s
i n th e c a s e o f t h e gang t h a t h a s th e t r a d i t i o n a l Veteranos,
M id g e ts , C h e r r i e s and a l s o t h e M o n ste rs and th e T i n i e s .
I n any e v e n t , a l l th e com ponents o f th e o r g a n i c w hole owe
a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e w hole and t o t h e a r e a o f th e w h o l e .
T here a r e , a p p a r e n t l y , two d i f f e r e n t ways o f hanc-.
dlfngthe p ro b le m o f aging and maturation i n a gan g . I n one
I 5 8
I o f th e s y s te m s , a l l boys o f an a p p ro x im a te age c o m p rise
' a s u b d i v i s i o n . So lo n g a s a boy r e m a in s a c t i v e i n th e
I g a n g , he re m a in s i n t h a t g r o u p . H is r e l a t i o n s h i p t o th e
gang i s somewhat l i k e t h a t o f th e young member o f th e
c h u rc h who j o i n s a g rou p o f young a d u l t s . I n tim e , th e y
become th e m id d le - a g e d g ro u p , a n d , f i n a l l y , th e y a r e th e
s e n i o r c i t i z e n s g ro u p o f th e c h u rc h . So i t i s i n th e gang
t h a t u s e s t h i s m ethod; t h e r e have b e e n some g a in s and
some l o s s e s th r o u g h th e y e a r s , b u t t h e g ro u p i s e s s e n t i a l l y
th e same a s i n th e b e g i n n i n g .
The o t h e r way o f h a n d l i n g th e p ro b le m o f a g in g and
th e i n e x o r a b l e f a c t o f c h a n g in g i n t e r e s t s and a b i l i t i e s
I c o n s i s t s i n h a v in g th e " g r a d u a t e s " o f t h e s u b o r d i n a t e a g e -
j l e v e l s move up i n t o th e n e x t h i g h e r gang l e v e l . The
: C h e r r i e s become th e M id g e ts and th e M id g e ts become th e
I V e te r a n o s . By way o f a n a lo g y , i t m ig h t be s u g g e s te d t h a t
I t h i s i s th e m ethod o f th e p u b l i c s c h o o l sy ste m i n w hich
j t h e g r a d u a t e o f e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l g o es on t o j u n i o r h ig h
I s c h o o l and f i n a l l y t o h i g h s c h o o l . The s e v e r a l s c h o o ls
ire m a in , b u t th e boy g o es on.
I
I R e f e r r i n g to one o f th e gan gs o f H o lle n b e c k , an
i n t e r v i e w e e o b s e r v e d t h a t a l l b u t one o f th e f o u r a g e -
l e v e l s arre o u t o f a c t i o n . The V e ts a r e m a r r i e d o r i n j a i l ;
t h e C h e r r i e s and M o n ste rs a r e i n F o r e s t r y Camp o r Y outh
A u t h o r i t y ; o n ly th e T i n i e s a r e a c t i v e i n th e com m unity.
I n summary o f th e s u b j e c t o f gang s u b - g r o u p s , a
[ 59
I c o u n s e l o r i n J u v e n i l e H a l l s a i d t h a t a b o y 's p la c e m e n t i n
I t h e h i e r a r c h y o f gangs depen d s in t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s on
a g e , m a t u r it y , and s i z e .
Community known b e h a v i o r . Many y o u t h f u l members o f I
gang s have a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d w e l l - d e f i n e d p a t t e r n s o f i
I
a n t i - s o c i a l c o n d u c t. I n f a c t , th e gang i s g e n e r a l l y known :
i n th e community f o r l o i t e r i n g , c u rfe w , v a g ra n c y , r o b b e r y ,
b u r g l a r y , f i g h t i n g , d r u n k e n n e s s , u s e o f d a n g e ro u s d ru g s
and th e s e l l i n g o f th e same, a s s a u l t , p ro m is c u o u s s e x u a l
c o n n e c t i o n s , v a n d a lis m . As a p a r t o f th e p a t t e r n o f gang
I a c t i v i t y th e boys h a b i t u a l l y " c r a s h " p a r t i e s , wakes and
I w e d d in g s .
I The g a n g - ty p e boy does n o t w r i t e sm u tty s a y i n g s o r |
i draw "se x y " p i c t u r e s on th e w a l l s o f r e s t r o o m s i n th e I
; H o lle n b e c k a r e a . He w r i t e s h i s nicknam e and gang s i g n a - j
! I
I t u r e w here o t h e r s w ould draw p i c t u r e s o r w r i t e l i m e r i c k s . '
I
I When a M ex ican -Amerl e a n boy g e t s i n v o lv e d i n a
i
! f i g h t i n w h ich he l o s e s o r o t h e r w i s e h a s r e a s o n to b e l i e v e
i
I r e v e n g e i s i n o r d e r , he do es n o t e a s i l y f o r g e t . F or s e v
e r a l m o n th s, he may n u r s e h i s n e ed f o r r e v e n g e . Long
a f t e r th e o r i g i n a l t r o u b l e , he may a c t . Q u ite t y p i c a l l y ,
h i s s e e k i n g o f re v e n g e w i l l f o l l o w th e u se o f a l c o h o l o r
m a r i j u a n a ; he a c q u i r e s a f a l s e s e n s e o f c o u ra g e and i n v i n -
^^Statement by interviewee number three.
r 6 0
i
I T h ere i s a mass o f e v id e n c e p o i n t i n g t o th e f a c t
t h a t th e gang boy i s e i t h e r u n a b le o r u n w i l l i n g t o a n t i
c i p a t e th e s o c i a l a n d / o r p e r s o n a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f h i s own
b e h a v i o r . As a member o f a g a n g , he i s v e r y s u g g e s tib le ,*
a s he moves w i t h h i s g a n g , he n e i t h e r c o n s i d e r s r i g h t n o r
w rong. H is c o n d u c t i s a m o ra l l i k e t h a t o f a c o r n e r e d
a n i m a l .
H o s t i l e and f r i e n d l y g r o u p s . S e l f - d e f e n s e i s th e
c h i e f r e a s o n g iv e n by gang boys f o r th e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e i r
g a n g . E ach g a n g , by th e v e r y n a t u r e o f i t s s t a t e d r a i s o n
d ' ê t r e , i s o b l i g a t e d t o c o n s i d e r e v e r y o t h e r gang a s more
o r l e s s i n i m i c a l t o t h e s u c c e s s o f i t s f u n c t i o n s i n th e
! com m unity. W ith in th e fram ew ork o f r e c i p r o c a l h o s t i l i t y ,
I t h e p r e v i o u s l y m e n tio n e d n o t a t i o n s "C/S" and " R i f a s "
; a lo n g s i d e t h e gang s i g n a t u r e s make s e n s e . "W hatever you
‘ a r e s a y in g a b o u t me I ' v e a l r e a d y s a i d b a c k a t y o u . " And,
i 56
j , . I ' v e a l r e a d y s a i d b a c k a t you t h r e e t i m e s .
I T h ere i s one gang i n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a t h a t i s
f e a r e d by a l l and h a t e d by a l l , a f r i e n d o f n o n e . Some
t i m e s , i n th e f a c e o f su c h a p o w e r f u l enemy, some o f th e
S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number s e v e n .
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number f i v e .
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number s e v e n t e e n .
' 6 l ““|
i n d i v i d u a l , v i c t i m i z e d gangs w i l l form a n a l l i a n c e , n o t |
b e c a u s e t h e y l i k e e a c h o t h e r , b u t b e c a u s e t h e y f e a r t h e j
I
I common enemy.
I The calm t h a t som etim es p r e v a i l s i n t h e r e l a t i o n -
I s h i p s o f gangs i n c o n tig u o u s a r e a s may be e n t i r e l y s u p e r
f i c i a l . U nder t h e s u r f a c e t h e r e may be s e e t h i n g h o s t i l i t y ,
a p r o d u c t o f u n r i g h t e d wrong and c o n c o m ita n t g ru d g e n u r s e d
I t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s . T h e re i s a c a s e i n p o i n t . Some y e a r s
! i
: ago i n one o f t h e h o u s i n g p r o j e c t s , a Negro boy was f a t a l l y
1
j i n j u r e d b y some M e x ican -A m erican b o y s . I n t h e p a s s i n g
I
I y e a r s , t h e v i l l a g e p a r e n t s h a v e k e p t a l i v e t h e t u r m o i l
and e m o tio n o f t h e t r a g i c e v e n t . Young p e o p le o f b o t h |
g ro u p s i n t h e h o u s in g p r o j e c t h ave p ic k e d up t h e i r p a r e n t s ' j
a t t i t u d e s . Boys who c o u ld n o t h a v e known t h e v i c t i m o r !
h i s a s s a i l a n t s b e a r a p e r s o n a l i l l w i l l to w a rd o t h e r boys
57
e q u a l l y i n n o c e n t o f t h e m a t t e r .
R e c r e a t i o n and y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s . H o lle n b e c k {
^ I
h a s more r e c r e a t i o n an d y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s p e r c a p i t a j
I
th a n a n y o t h e r a r e a i n t h e c i t y o f Los A n g e le s . The p r o b - {
I
lem , h e r e , c o n s i s t s i n g e t t i n g t h e boys o f t h e a r e a to
t a k e p e r s o n a l a d v a n ta g e o f t h e i r u n u s u a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s
f o r s p o r t s , c r a f t s , c o m p a n io n s h ip , " s o c i a l s , " and o t h e r
c lu b a c t i v i t i e s . However, i t i s a r e g r e t a b l e t r u i s m t h a t
37
Statement by interviewee number fourteen.
62
gang m em bership n o r m a lly w orks to p r e v e n t a b o y 's p a r t i
c i p a t i o n i n t h e p la n n e d an d r o u t i n e a c t i v i t i e s o f s c h o o l ,
p l a y g r o u n d , and b o y s ' c l u b .
I n t h e H o lle n b e c k a r e a , c o m p r is in g a p p r o x i m a t e ly
s i x and o n e - h a l f s q u a r e m i l e s , t h e r e a r e a l a r g e number
o f su c h s e r v i c e s f o r y o u th .
I n s p i t e o f th e number and v a r i e t y o f t h e s e s e r
v i c e s f o r y o u t h , l i t t l e c an be done f o r th e gang boy u n t i l
he ch an g e s h i s m ind. He t e n d s t o f e e l t h a t p la y g ro u n d
a c t i v i t i e s , and a l l s u c h , a r e f o r t h e u n s o p h i s t i c a t e d ,
58
f o r t h e " s q u a r e , " ’ ^
! I n f o r m a l te a m - ty p e p l a y . The n o m in al gang boy f a l l s j
! h e i r t o a fu n d a m e n ta l r e b e l l i o n a g a i n s t a d u l t a u t h o r i t y ;
'h e r a i l s a g a i n s t f a m i l i a l and o t h e r s o c i a l c o n t r o l s . H is |
I r e b e l l i o n and c o n c o m ita n t h o s t i l i t y c a r r y * o v e r i n t o t h e |
58
Y outh work f a c i l i t i e s a r e m ost n eed ed by th e g a n g -
ty p e bo y, a boy who can be " ' . . . i d e n t i f i e d by a t l e a s t
one o f t h e f o l l o w i n g c r i t e r i a :
'1 . T ro u b le -m a k e r o f p a l o f t r o u b l e - m a k e r ;
'2 . A p ro b le m to th e P o l i c e , P r o b a t i o n o r s c h o o l s ;
'3 . A voids c o n t a c t w i t h a g e n c i e s ;
'4 . R e s i s t s and o f t e n d e f i e s a d u l t s o r s u p e r
im posed l e a d e r s h i p ;
'5 . Shows d e v i a t i o n from norm i n ways su c h a s
u s e o f a l c o h o l , m a r i j u a n a sm oking, se x
d e l i n q u e n c y ;
'6 . T endency t o gang p a r t i c i p a t i o n f o r a g g r e s
s i v e p u r p o s e s ; te n d e n c y t o w i t h d r a w a l . '
Q u o ted from m a t e r i a l p r e p a r e d by th e E x e c u tiv e
B oard o f th e Los A n g e les Y outh P r o j e c t , M onthly B u l l e t i n
Y outh Com m ittee (Los A n g e le s : Los A n g e le s County Youth
C o m m itte e ). ~
I ^3
I
I f i e l d o f t e a m - t y p e p l a y . H e e s c h e w s a l l r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t
! d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y r e q u i r e t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f a u t h o r i t y j .
I ‘ I
T h e g a n g b o y d o e s n o t , a s a r u l e , g e t i n v o l v e d i n t e a m - |
t y p e p l a y . i
P a r t i c i p a t i o n i n o r g a n i z e d s p o r t s . T h e g a n g b o y
i s q u i t e a p t t o b e i n r e l a t i v e l y p o o r p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n ;
»
f u r t h e r m o r e , h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p s d o n o t m a k e f o r t h e t r a d i
t i o n s a n d / o r t h e t r a i n i n g n e c e s s a r y f o r s u c c e s s f u l p a r t i
c i p a t i o n i n s p o r t s . T h e c o m p e t i t i v e a s p e c t o f s p o r t s i s
a n a t h e m a t o t h e g a n g b o y . H e i s d i s i n c l i n e d t o p a r t i c i
p a t e b e c a u s e o f t h e f a c t , a m o n g o t h e r s , t h a t i n s o d o i n g
I
I
h e w o u l d h a v e t o s u b o r d i n a t e h i s w i l l t o t h a t o f a n a d u l t . I
B e i n g o n a t e a m a n d b e i n g i n a g a n g a r e a l m o s t i n c o m p a - j
t i b l e s ; t h e p r e c e p t s o f t h e o n e d e n y t h o s e o f t h e o t h e r . j
■ ■ i
C o m p e t i t i o n i n v o l v e s a w i n n e r a n d a l o s e r ; t h e g a n g
I
: b o y h a s l o s t s o o f t e n t h a n h e f e a r s f u t u r e l o s s e s . H e i s ,
I I
a f r â d d o f f a i l u r e a n d r i d i c u l e . O n e o f t h e c h i e f p s y c h o -
59'
l o g i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e g a n g b o y i s h i s i n s e c u r i t y / I
50
' ^ ' " E s t e l l e A l s t o n , w h o w r o t e G r o u p W o r k W i t h H a r d t o
R e a c h T e e n - A g e r s , s a i d i n t h i s r e g a r d :
I t t o o k t h r e e a n d o n e h a l f m o n t h s f o r t h e
t o b e a b l e t o g o t o t h e p l a y g r o u n d a n d p r a c t i c e
b a s e b a l l . T h e y w e r e a f r a i d t o s e e h o w i n a d e q u a t e
t h e y w e r e a n d g a v e u p e a s i l y . W i t h m u c h e n c o u r a g e
m e n t f r o m t h e w o r k e r t h e y w e r e a b l e t o p r a c t i c e .
T h e f i r s t t i m e t h e y p l a y e d a n o t h e r t e a m t h e y w e r e
s o f a r b e h i n d i n t h e f i r s t i n n i n g t h a t t h e y w a l k e d
o f f t h e f i e l d .
r 6 4
A t t e n t i o n o f t h e p o l i c e . T h e b e h a v i o r o f t h e m e m -
I
' b e r s o f t h e g a n g t h a t r e s u l t s i n t h e g a n g b e i n g k n o w n t o
I
: t h e c o m m u n i t y a l s o r e s u l t s i n t h e g a n g b e i n g k n o w n t o t h e
I
p o l i c e . S e v e r a l e x a m p l e s o f p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e m a y s e r v e j
I
t o i n d i c a t e h o w f a r g a n g b o y s h a v e g o n e i n t h e i r i n t e r - j
n e c i n e w a r o n o n e a n o t h e r a n d s o c i e t y . T h e e x a m p l e s d o |
I
n o t i n d i c a t e t y p i c a l b e h a v i o r ; t h e y a r e , r a t h e r , i n d i c a - |
i
t i v e o f w h a t c a n h a p p e n w h e n b o y s o f l i k e m i n d p o o l t h e i r j
h o s t i l i t y . j
O n e m o r n i n g a m a n w a s f o u n d d e a d a t t h e f o o t o f a |
t r e e i n P r o s p e c t P a r k . H i s f a c e h a d b e e n h a c k e d a n d j
s l i c e d b e y o n d r e c o g n i t i o n . P o l i c e p h o t o g r a p h s o f t h e v i e - I
t i m r e v e a l t h e h o r r i b l e e f f i c a c y o f t h e m u r d e r w e a p o n , a j
b r o k e n o f f b e e r b o t t l e . S u b s e q u e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e v e a l e d ;
, t h e f a c t t h a t t h e b o y s h a d g o t t e n l e s s t h a n t w o d o l l a r s ]
: f o r t h e i r e f f o r t s . T h e m a n w a s f i f t y - e i g h t y e a r s o f a g e
I ' I
] E m e r g i n g f r o m a l i q u o r s t o r e l a t e o n e n i g h t o n j
i
F i r s t S t r e e t s e v e r a l b l o c k s E a s t o f t h e r i v e r , a m a n w a s
a p p r o a c h e d b y a b o y w h o a s k e d f o r a " l i g h t . " T h e b o y t h e n
a s k e d f o r t h e b o t t l e t h e m a n h a d p u r c h a s e d i n t h e s t o r e .
T h e m a n r e f u s e d a n d t r i e d t o g e t t o h i s c a r . T h e b o y , a n d
E s t e l l e A l s t o n , " G r o u p W o r k w i t h H a r d - t o - R e a c h T e e n -
A g e r s , " r e p r i n t e d f r o m T h e S o c i a l W e l f a r e F o r u m ( J M e w Y o r k :
C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 1 ) , p . 2 9 0 .
^^Statement by interviewee number eleven.
65
j h i s y o u t h f u l a c c o m p lic e s , who had b e en s t a n d i n g i n t h e
I shadows n e a r b y , g o t t o th e c a r f i r s t . The r e s t o f th e
I
I e v e n t i s s h r o u d e d , w i t h th e e x c e p t i o n o f th e f a c t t h a t t h e
m a n 's body was foun d th e n e x t m o rning on th e s h o u l d e r o f
S a n t a Ana Freew ay a few h u n d re d f e e t S o u th o f F o u r th
4 l
S t r e e t .
I n O c to b e r o f 1955.» a boy o f F l a t s was s t a b b e d . One
o f t h r e e M exican-A m erican boys a c c o s t e d a Negro boy and j
!
a s k e d f o r a dim e. The t h r e e had b e en d r i n k i n g . When t h e !
ho
Negro boy r e f u s e d , he was s t a b b e d by one o f th e o t h e r s . ;
R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e m o t i v a t i o n s , gang boys m u rd ere d
I
a man f o r " s m a ll c h a n g e , " m u rd ere d a man f o r some w h is k e y , '
a n d s t a b b e d a boy f o r a dim e. ^ !
I n c i d e n t s i n t h e H o lle n b e c k a r e a have a way o f b u i l d
in g up t o a c lim a x ; t h e p e r i o d o f i n c r e a s i n g t e n s i o n may :
^ ^ S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number e l e v e n .
42
S ta te m e n t by i n t e r v i e w e e number f o u r t e e n .
45
I n an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "The Drama o f Y outh i n Our
O r im in a l C o u r t s , " I r v i n g Ben C oo p er, C h ie f J u s t i c e o f th e
C o u rt o f S p e c i a l S e s s i o n s , New York C i t y , s a i d :
A common f a c t o r i n m ost o f t h e s e c a s e s i s t h a t ,
s e t a g a i n s t th e l i f e s i t u a t i o n , th e c r i m i n a l c h a rg e
l a c k s m a jo r i m p o r t a n c e . Where t h e r e i s so much d e e p -
s e a t e d m is e ry one a d d i t i o n a l in c r e m e n t d o e s n o t seem
t o m a t t e r to o much...
j I r v i n g Ben C o oper, "The Drama o f Y outh i n Our C rim i-
jnal C o u r t s , " F e d e r a l P r o b a t i o n ( p u b l i s h e d by th e A d m in is tr a -
j tiv e O f f i c e o f th e U .S . C o u rts i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h th e
B u re a u o f P r i s o n s o f t h e D e p artm en t o f J u s t i c e , W a sh in g to n
b . c . , XIX, March 1955)» P. 37.
I ' 66
I c o v e r s e v e r a l weeks o r s e v e r a l m o n th s. The c a s e i n p o i n t
I i s t h a t o f t h e Hollenbeck R o u te o f S e p tem b er 22, 1955. I n
I t h e e a r l y day s o f t h e f a l l s e m e s t e r , t r o u b l e had b e en brew-j
in g between th e M exican-A m erican and t h e Negro bo ys o f |
H o lle n b e c k J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l. I n c i d e n t s i n th e b u i l d - u p |
p e r i o d i n c l u d e d f i g h t s , k n i f i n g s , and s e v e r a l boys "Jump- ‘
in g " one b o y . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l o f H o lle n b e c k J u n i o r j
H igh S c h o o l c a l l e d a m e e tin g o f some o f t h e l e a d e r s o f '
t h e a n t a g o n i s t i c y o u t h g r o u p s . E s s e n t i a l l y , t h e Dukes and ^
I I
' t h e F l i p s o f F l a t s w ere a g a i n s t t h e P u r p l e H e a r t s and t h e |
! i
S k u l l s o f F l a t s , r e s p e c t i v e l y M exican-A m erican and Negro j
youth g r o u p s . In s p i t e o f th e u n d e r s t a n d i n g s and th e i
; !
i com m itm ents a r r i v e d a t i n th e c o n f e r e n c e , th e s c h o o l * |
I grounds c o n ti n u e d to be a p l a c e o f ru m ors t h a t t h e r e was ;
' I
; g o in g t o be a b i g f i g h t . On th e morning o f th e 22nd, one ,
I o f t h e gang boys came t o t h e v i c e p r i n c i p a l to w arn him
I I
I t h a t t h i s was the day f o r th e f i g h t . The boy gave t h e |
i I
I p l a c e and tim e o f t h e p la n n e d f i g h t and i n d i c a t e d w hat |
I I
! y o u th g ro u p s w ere to be i n v o l v e d . The v i c e p r i n c i p a l I
j n o t i f i e d t h e p o l i c e . A t t h e p r e - a r r a n g e d tim e , H o lle n b e c k
was swarming w i t h boys and g i r l s ; f o r , a s one o f t h e co u n -
I
s e l o r s i n J u v e n i l e H a l l h a s s a i d , " J a c k s o n High S c h o o l i s |
th e t e le c o m m u n ic a tio n s c e n t e r f o r t h e errant y o u th o f
E a s t Los A n g e l e s . M exican-A m ericans o c c u p ie d a l a k e s i d e
^^Statement by interviewee number eighteen.
I
I p o i n t o f v a n ta g e and N egroes o c c u p ie d t h e bridge o v e r th e
! l a k e . S e v e r a l h u n d re d boys r e p r e s e n t i n g th e two e t h n i c
g ro u p s a d v an c ed to w a rd e a c h other. The p o l i c e w ere ready.
C o l l e c t i n g s e v e r a l boys and w eap ons, th e y s to p p e d th e
i route. Sometime l a t e r tw e lv e r i n g l e a d e r s w ere arraigned
I i n C om m issioner H o ld e n ’s cham bers o f J u v e n i l e C o u r t. Only
j f i v e o f th e tw e lv e a d m i t t e d any p r i o r know ledge o f th e
j planned f i g h t o r o f th e f a c t u a l r o u t e . The d e n i a l s w ere
made i n s p i t e o f th e f a c t t h a t h u n d re d s o f boys an d g i r l s
had g a t h e r e d f o r th e fu n and e x c i t e m e n t .
Probation, F o r e s t r y Camp, Y outh A u t h o r i t y , and
P a r o l e . B ecause o f t h e a n t i - s o c i a l nature o f th e g a n g ,
i t i s e n t i r e l y n o rm al f o r a p a r t i c u l a r g a n g , a t any g iv e n
t im e , t o have a number o f i t s members i n th e s t a t u s , "wards
o f t h e c o u r t . F o r t h o s e boys who have become w ards o f
^The J u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e J u v e n i l e c o u r t e x te n d s ,
t o any .person u n d e r th e age o f twenty-one y e a r s whose |
c o n d i t i o n o f l i f e o r conduct can be d e s c r i b e d a s f o l l o w s : i
1) who i s fo u n d begging, (2) who h a s no p a r e n t o r g u a rd ia n )
,3 ; who i s d e s t i t u t e , (4) whose home i s an u n f i t p l a c e , (5)1
iwho i s found wandering, (6 ) who i s a vagrant, (7) who i
i v i s i t s p o o lro o m s , s a l o o n s , e t c . , (8) who u s e s l i q u o r , ;
I to b a c c o , o r d r u g s , (9 ) who p e r s i s t e n t l y o r h a b i t u a l l y r e
f u s e s t o o bey, (10) who i s an h a b i t u a l truant, (11) who
i s leading an im p ro p e r l i f e , (12) who i s i n s a n e , f e e b l e
m in d e d , o r so f a r mentally d e f i c i e n t t h a t h i s p a r e n t s or
g u a r d i a n s a r e u n a b le t o e x e r c i s e p r o p e r parental control
o v e r him , (13) wlio v i o l a t e s an y law , o r ( l 4 ) who i s a f
f l i c t e d w i t h s y p h i l i s , g o n o r r h e a o r c h a n c r o i d .
T here a r e normally o n ly t h r e e ways o f h a n d l i n g th e
boy who h a s b een d e c l a r e d a w ard o f t h e court. E i t h e r he
can be r e t u r n e d t o h i s home under t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f a
I 68
I t h e c o u r t and rem anded t o F o r e s t r y Camp o r Y outh A u th o r ity ^
I t h e gang p r o v i d e s a s o r t o f " s a b b a t i c a l l e a v e . " Upon th e ir!
I
I r e t u r n from su c h c o n f i n e m e n t , th e y u s u a l l y c a r r y a m a n tle
o f a u t h o r i t y and an a u r a o f s o p h i s t i c a t i o n t h a t have a
p o w e r f u l I n f l u e n c e on th e m inds o f t h e i r l e s s e x p e r i e n c e d
f e l l o w s .
A p o l i c e l i e u t e n a n t ^ r e f e r r i n g to gang boys I n th e
c u s to d y o f s t a t e I n s t i t u t i o n s , s a i d , "Gang k i d s c a r r y
t h e i r a f f i l i a t i o n s I n t o th e s t a t e s c h o o l s ; th e y t a k e c h a rg e
A6
o f o p e r a t i o n s . " The o f f i c e r was s p e a k in g o f t h e c l a n
d e s t i n e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f gang boys t h a t f l o u r i s h I n P r e s
to n S c h o o l o f I n d u s t r y . An Incom ing member o f a gang I s
g r e e t e d w i t h e n th u s ia s m by f e l l o w members In t h e I n s t i t u -
j t l o n . ,
; I t was o b s e rv e d by a y o u th w o rk e r t h a t n i n e t y t o
I
i n i n e t y - f i v e p e r c e n t o f h i s g ro u p had b e e n o r w ere th e n
i p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r , s e n t t o County F o r e s t r y Camp, o r com-
I m l t t e d to th e Y outh A u t h o r i t y . The f o u r t h c a t e g o r y I n d l -
i c a t e d by t h e t i t l e o f t h i s s e c t i o n r e f e r s t o th o s e boys
who have b een s e n t home from t h e Y outh A u t h o r i t y . I n th e
I w ords o f t h e c o d e : "When any p e r s o n co m m itted to th e
I C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y d e s e r v e s p a r o l e a c c o r d i n g to
. r e g u l a t i o n s and I t w i l l be to h i s a d v a n ta g e t o be p a r o l e d
I th e A u t h o r i t y may g r a n t p a r o l e u n d e r su c h c o n d i t i o n s a s I t
I deems b e s t . "
W e lfa re an d I n s t i t u t i o n s C ode, P e e r i n g ' s C a l i f o r n i a
Codes (San F r a n c i s c o ; B a n c r o f t “W hitney Company, 1 9 4 4 ),
p p . 4 6 . and o t h e r s .
'^^Statement by Interviewee number nineteen.
69
4?
on p r o b a t i o n . A n o th e r s a i d t h a t a l l o f h i s g ro u p w ere on
. p r o b a t i o n , a n d . I n a d d i t i o n , two w ere on p a r o l e from th e
■Youth A u t h o r i t y . I n one g ro u p o f t h i r t y - s e v e n a c t i v e mem
b e r s , f o u r had b e e n on p a r o l e and a l l w ere t h e n on p r o b a -
t l o n 9 ^
f
S p o n s o r s h ip and ag en c y a f f i l i a t i o n . Most o f t h e
i
; l o n g - te r m g a n g s I n th e H o lle n b e c k a r e a have become r e l a -
i
I t l v e l y I n a c t i v e . At t h e same tim e, - th e number o f sp o n so red
I c lu b s h a s I n c r e a s e d . The c lu b s have t h e i r b e in g I n a n a t
m osphere h e a v i l y c h a rg e d w i t h th e c u s to m s , t r a d i t i o n s , and
le g e n d s o f th e I n d ig e n o u s g a n g s . T hese c u sto m s , t r a d i t i o n s j
i
and le g e n d s have a s t r o n g I n f l u e n c e on th e c lu b s ( s e v e r a l !
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c lu b s p o n s o r s have commented to th e e f f e c t t h a t th e y w ere j
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I f a i r l y c e r t a i n t h a t t h e i r c lu b s w ere u se d a s f r o n t s f o r j
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' gang a c t i v i t i e s ) .
j The f o l l o w i n g s t o r y h a s b e en I n c l u d e d t o I l l u s t r a t e ;
I t h e work o f a t l e a s t one o r g a n i z a t i o n . About a y e a r a g o ,
I I n an a r e a c h a r a c t e r i z e d by sim m erin g d i s c o n t e n t and ;
I r i v a l r y b e tw e e n boys o f c o n tig u o u s gangs t h e r e was a s e r l -
I I
' ous s t a b b i n g . The a s s a u l t w i t h a lo n g , wavy b l a d e k n i f e
!
I r e s u l t e d I n a n e a r - f a t a l I n j u r y t o th e boy (10" p é n é t r a - *
1 '
; t l o n o f h i s l i v e r ) . He r e c o v e r e d I n G e n e ra l H o s p i t a l .
' B ecau se o f th e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e s t a b b i n g and th e s e r l - |
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I o u s n e s s o f th e l o c a l s i t u a t i o n t h a t w ould g iv e r i s e t o
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' s t a t e m e n t by I n t e r v i e w e e number f i v e .
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: 70
j s u c h a c t i o n . C o u n t y P r o b a t i o n w a s a b l e t o c h a n n e l m o r e
j t i m e a n d m o n e y t o t h e a r e a . O n e o f t h e d e p u t y p r o b a t i o n
j o f f i c e r s w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f a y o u t h w o r k e r f r o m
I C a t h o l i c Y o u t h O r g a n i z a t i o n o r g a n i z e d a c l u b f o r t h e b o y s
o f o n e o f t h e t w o a r e a s . T h e c l u b m e t w e e k l y u n d e r t h e
s u p e r v i s i o n a n d g u i d a n c e o f t h e D P O a n d t h e C Y O s p o n s o r s .
I n a l a t e r c o n v e r s a t i o n t h e D P O s a i d t h a t t h e c l u b h a d
s e r v e d I t s p u r p o s e d u r i n g t h e e i g h t m o n t h s o f I t s e x i s t
e n c e , f o r t h e r e h a d b e e n v i r t u a l l y n o g a n g - c o n n e c t e d
t r o u b l e I n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d I n t h e e i g h t m o n t h s .
I n c o n c l u d i n g t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f I n f o r m a t i o n o n
s p o n s o r s h i p , t h e f o l l o w i n g c o m m e n t b y a n o f f i c e r o f
C a l i f o r n i a Y o u t h A u t h o r i t y i s a p p l i c a b l e , " M o v e m e n t t o
w a r d c l u b s I s a r e s u l t o f b e t t e r c o n t r o l ; B o y S c o u t s ,
W o o d c r a f t R a n g e r s , e t c . , a r e n o t g o o d f o r t h e s e b o y s ;
t h e y c a n n o t m a k e c o n t a c t . T h e b o y s w a n t a n d n e e d a m o r e
m a n l y a n d r o u g h e r p r o g r a m .
R e l a t i o n o f s p o n s o r a n d g a n g . T h e s p o n s o r w h o
a t t e m p t s t o f o r c e a r e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e t h i n k i n g , a t t i
t u d e s , a n d b e h a v i o r o f t h e m e m b e r s o f a g a n g h a s a s s u r e d
h i m s e l f o f a n e a r l y f a i l u r e . H e I s l i k e l y t o e x p e r i e n c e
■ r e b e l l i o n , r e j e c t i o n , a n d / o r p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e . T o p u t
^^Statement by Interviewee number twenty.
^^Statement by Interviewee number twenty-one.
71
t h i s t h o u g h t i n a d i f f e r e n t f o r m , " I t t a k e s a long t i m e
t o w i n t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f a n d e s t a b l i s h r a p p o r t w i t h
M e x l c a n - A m e r l c a n b o y s . I t m a y e v e n t a k e y e a r s . I t I s
e s s e n t i a l l y a p r o b l e m o f r o l e b e h a v i o r o n t h e p a r t o f t h e
'5 l
s p o n s o r .
T h e s p o n s o r r e g u l a r l y a t t e n d s m e e t i n g s a n d o t h e r '
a c t i v i t i e s p l a n n e d b y t h e boys; h e h e l p s t h e m b y m a k i n g
a r r a n g e m e n t s r e q u i r i n g h i s g r e a t e r e x p e r i e n c e o r c o n t a c t s ; <
Rp I
h e c a r r i e s t h e m I n h i s c a r . H e n e e d s , f o r s u c c e s s I n I
h i s w o r k , t i m e t o " l o a f " w i t h t h e boys, t o " h a n g a r o u n d " j
w i t h t h e m b e f o r e a n d a f t e r m e e t i n g s . T h e s p o n s o r c a n I
I
l e a r n a l o t a n d l a y t h e groundwork f o r m u c h e f f e c t i v e w o r k -
l a t e r I f h e s p e n d s t i m e w i t h t h e boys I n w h a t w o u l d a p p e a r ;
!
t o a n o u t s i d e r a s e n d l e s s a n d a i m l e s s t a l k i n g . T h e s p o n - I
s o r n e e d s t o b e c a u t i o u s I n c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d a n I n t e l l l - |
g e n t l i s t e n e r . H e m u s t k e e p a f i r m h o l d o n t e n d e n c i e s t o '
p a s s a n e a r l y a n d / o r u n i n f o r m e d v a l u e j u d g m e n t . I t t a k e s
a l o n g t i m e t o m a k e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m e m b e r s o f a g a n g ,
f o r " w e w e r e b o r n w i t h a c h i p o n o u r s h o u l d e r s .
T h e f i n a l , w o r k i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p r e q u i r e s a w o r l d
o f e x p e r i e n c e , t e c h n i c a l s k i l l , a n d p a t i e n c e . H e w h o c a n
n o t p u t h i s h o p e a n d f a i t h I n t h e f u t u r e c a n n o t s u c c e e d
^ ^ S t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r f i v e .
^ ^ S t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t w e n t y - t w o .
^ ^ S t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t h r e e .
72
i n h i s e f f o r t s w i t h g a n g - ty p e b o y s . The p h i lo s o p h y and
p r a c t i c e o f s u c c e s s f u l y o u th work r e q u i r e s t h a t th e s p o n
s o r s t a r t w i t h t h e boys w here th e y a r e ; a s p r a c t i c a b l e he
h e l p s them f i n d b e t t e r , more s o c i a l l y a c c e p t a b l e ways o f
t h i n k i n g , f e e l i n g , and d o in g .
The s p o n s o r r e p r e s e n t s th e G re a t S o c i e t y ; he i s a
" f a t h e r - f i g u r e " f o r some. F or many o f t h e boy s he s t a n d s
a s a sym bol o f h a t e d a u t h o r i t y . I n s p i t e o f t h e s e h a n d l -
I
I c a p s to s u c c e s s . I f t h e s p o n s o r i s g e n u i n e l y c o n c e rn e d ,
c a r e f u l , an d w i s e , th e bo ys may l e a r n t o a c c e p t him and
t r u s t him ; th e y may, e v e n , t a k e him i n t o t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e .
I t w ould seem t h a t when t h e y o u th w o rk e r and t h e boys
jhad a c h i e v e d a s t a t e o f m u tu a l r e s p e c t and c o n f i d e n c e , h i s
jgood o f f i c e s c o u ld b e g i n . But b e in g en. r a p p o r t w i t h boys
lof more o r l e s s c r i m i n a l b e n t p o s e s I t s own s e t s o f p r o b
lem s . F i r s t , th e s p o n s o r may f i n d o u t , a s m e n tio n e d p r e
v i o u s l y , t h a t h i s s p o n s o r s h i p h a s l e n t a r e s p e c t a b i l i t y t o
i
jand an a p p a r e n t s a n c t i o n f o r a g a n g - ty p e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t
em erges I n h i s a b s e n c e . S eco n d , th e s p o n s o r may be p u t
iln to a q u a n d a ry I n r e s p e c t to w hat to do w i t h I n f o r m a t i o n
t h a t s h o u ld be g iv e n t o t h e p o l i c e . I n t h e i r t r u s t o f
t h e i r s p o n s o r , t h e boys may t e l l him who i t was t h a t
" k n i f e d " a boy o f a r i v a l g a n g , o r w here th e y k e ep t h e i r
w eap ons, o r who th e " p u s h e r" I s from whom th e y buy m a r l -
Iju an a . I f t h e boys f i n d t h a t t h e s p o n s o r h a s t o l d th e
p o l i c e w hat th e y I n c o n f i d e n c e t o l d him h i s work w i t h th e
73 i
j group i s f i n i s h e d . T h ir d , th e s p o n s o r may, th r o u g h no
j f a u l t o f h i s own, o v e r - i d e n t i f y with t h e boys o f t h e gang;
jhe may t r y to a v o id t h e f a c t t h a t t o th e boys he r e p r e -
t s e n t s s o c i e t y . The s p o n s o r who o v e r - i d e n t i f i e s may t r y t o
i p r o t e c t the bo ys from t h e la w f u l p r o c e s s e s o f s o c i e t y ;
;he may advise w i t h " h is b o y s" a s t o how to ev ad e th e law ,
land i f i n th e h and s o f th e law how to f r u s t r a t e t h e law .
jfh e re i s a s t o r y o f a y o u th w o rk er o f th e a r e a who w ent
t o g i v e advice to a boy i n l e g a l c u s t o d y . A s o p h i s t i c a t e d
j e x - J u v e n l le d e l i n q u e n t h i m s e l f , he fo u n d th e f i r s t o f two
m ic ro p h o n e s t h a t had b e en I n s t a l l e d I n th e room. The j
'second e n a b le d t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t o g a t h e r enough I n fo r m a - |
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[tlon on t h e y o u th w o rk e r " to hang h im ." The s t o r y s e r v e s |
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jto I l l u s t r a t e t h e p ro b le m s t h a t I n h e r e I n work w i t h gang- j
jtype boys when th e y o u th w o rk e r over-Identifies w i t h them . ;
: i
I Y outh work I s n e i t h e r s im p le n o r e a s y ; th e youth :
worker t r i e s t o show th e boys and t o h e l p them f i n d out
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f o r th e m s e lv e s t h a t t h e r e I s a b e t t e r way th a n t h a t o f f
I t
h a t r e d and v i o l e n c e . Y e t, f o r lo n g , he may have t o go
a lo n g w i t h t h e i r h a t r e d and v i o l e n c e , f o r I f he d o e s n o t !
I I
o b t a i n t h e i r c o n f id e n c e I n him , he can do l i t t l e th o u g h I
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t h e y may d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d h i s h e l p . !
' Changes I n th e gang b e c a u s e o f s p o n s o r s h i p . I n th e !
h e c e n t p a s t t h e r e w ere se v e n p o w e r f u l, w e l l - o r g a n i z e d , and j
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a b i d i n g gangs I n t h e H o lle n b e c k area. They w ere f e a r e d
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a n d / o r r e s p e c t e d by m ost o f th e p e o p le who l i v e d i n th e
com m unity. Now, a l l b u t one a r e r e l a t i v e l y q u i e t .
W hether t h e r e I s , I n f a c t , a r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n
y o u t h work and th e change I s open to d e b a t e . T h ere a r e
many who b e l i e v e t h a t t h e t r e n d t o c lu b s I s t r u l y a p r o d
u c t o f t h e i r work w i t h y o u t h f o r th e l a s t f i f t e e n y e a r s .
T h ere a r e many y o u th s e r v i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b o t h p u b l i c
and p r i v a t e , t h a t have b e en e s t a b l i s h e d I n t h e a r e a . I n
s p i t e o f th e r e c e n t l y f a v o r a b l e crim e t r e n d , t h e r e a r e
s t i l l a c t s o f v i o l e n c e and g a n g - ty p e a s s a u l t ; t h e r e I s
s t i l l a g r e a t d e a l o f j u v e n i l e c rim e . B ut th e d i f f e r e n c e
b e tw e e n j u v e n i l e c rim e now and t h a t o f a d e cad e ago seems
t o be t h a t now th e c r i m i n a l a c t s a r e more o f t e n p r o d u c t s
j o f t h e c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f t h e Im m ed iate tim e and p l a c e .
Now, t h e r e I s f a r l e s s o f t h e lo n g ra n g e re v e n g e so c h a r -
i a c t e r l s t i c o f th e gang o f a d e ca d e a g o . An o f f i c e r o f
I th e J u v e n i l e Gang D e t a i l , Los A n g e les P o l i c e D e p a rtm e n t,
I o b s e r v e d t h a t t o d a y 's gang boys a r e l i v i n g on t h e g l o r y
I * 5 4
I o f t h e p a s t . ^ A m i n i s t e r whose p ro g ram c o n s i s t s p r l -
! m a r l l y o f s e r v i c e s t o gang a r e a y o u th s a i d " t h i n g s have
I b e e n p r e t t y q u i e t a ro u n d h e r e f o r th e l a s t two y e a r s .
An o f f i c e r o f C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y I n a k n o w le d g e
a b l e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e e f f e c t s o f y o u th work I n H o lle n b e c k
tzh
^ S ta te m e n t by I n t e r v i e w e e number s e v e n .
^Statement by Interviewee number twenty-three.
i commented, "W e're i n b e t t e r shap e now t h a n e v e r b e f o r e .
75
,,56
I Si-immary o f t h e c h a p t e r . T h is c h a p t e r h a s s e r v e d
j a s a v e h i c l e f o r th e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l r e l e v a n t
I t o t h e a t t i t u d e s and a c t i v i t i e s o f th e gang s o f H o l l e n -
I b e c k . The m a t e r i a l was d e r i v e d from two s o u r c e s I n th e
m ain , e . g . : (1) c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h y o u th w o rk e rs o f many
r a n k s I n th e m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a o f Los A n g e le s ; and (2)
I r e s p o n s e s o f s e l e c t e d H o lle n b e c k y o u th w o rk e rs t o a
j s c h e d u le o f q u e s t i o n s p u t t o them I n t h e c o u rs e o f f o rm a l
j I n t e r v i e w s .
I The I n t e n t i o n o f th e r e s e a r c h e r h a s b e e n t o d e -
I s c r i b e th e gang l i f e o f H o lle n b e c k so t h a t th e r e a d e r
I s h o u ld be b e t t e r a b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e phenomenon a s he
! may s t u d y I t I n s c h o o l o r e x p e r i e n c e I t I n f a c t .
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-one.
j CHAPTER IV
!
! A DESCRIPTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE CLUB OF
I HOLLENBECK
I T h is m a t e r i a l I s s u b j e c t t o th e same l i m i t a t i o n o f
I
I p u r p o s e a s was s t a t e d I n th e I n t r o d u c t i o n t o C h a p te r I I I .
j T h ere I s no c lu b t h a t c o u ld be I d e n t i f i e d I n a know ledge
o f t h i s c h a p t e r . R a t h e r , t h e c h a p t e r s e r v e s a s a v e h i c l e
f o r a d e s c r i p t i o n o f some o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a t t i t u d e s
and a c t i v i t i e s o f c lu b s o b s e r v e d I n H o lle n b e c k .
I
I J u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r and t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s d e s c r l p -
: t l o n o f c lu b l i f e d e r i v e from th e f a c t t h a t a know ledge
o f t h e gang may be a c q u i r e d I n t h e I n d i v i d u a l ’s a b i l i t y
t o n o te th e p o i n t s o f s i m i l a r i t y and d i f f e r e n c e I n th e
ways o f th e gang and o f th e c l u b .
I . THE CLUB
Name. T h ere I s an e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e I n th e c o n
n o t a t i o n o f a gang name and o f a c lu b name. The gang name
I s a r e l a t i v e l y s t a b l e p a r t o f th e l i f e o f t h e n e i g h b o r
hood and o f th e com m unity; i t commands t h e a t t e n t i o n o f
a l l and t h e l o y a l t y o f many o f th e members o f th e com
m u n ity . The c lu b name, by c o n t r a s t . I s l i k e l y t o be
e p h e m e ra l and o f l i t t l e o r no I n f l u e n c e on t h e l i f e o f
t h e com m unity. C r e a t i n g some c o n f u s i o n f o r t e a c h e r s , o f
f i c e r s o f th e law , and o t h e r s who work w i t h y o u t h , a name
I 77
; may be u s e d by s e v e r a l entirely d i s c r e t e g ro u p s concur-
I
j rently o r c o n s e c u t i v e l y .
I The f o l l o w i n g named c lu b s w ere e x t a n t d u r i n g th e
I w i n t e r o f 1955-56 I n t h e Hollenbeck a r e a . As a n o t e o f
I
j c a u t i o n . I t s h o u ld be m e n tio n e d t h a t th e l i s t I s n o t com
p l e t e , n o r c o u ld I t e v e r b e , f o r t h e number o f l i v i n g
c lu b s c h an g e s a lm o s t by t h e d a y .
SOME SPONSORED CLUBS OF HOLLENBECK
R o y a ls
J e s t e r s
S e n i o r T ro ja n s
S c o r p io n s
S k u l l s
P u r p l e H e a r ts
Vagamundos
S p a r t a n s
D r i f t e r s
Dukes
Nobles.
L l l C a e s a rs
F l i p s
H o n e y d rip p e rs
F a lc o n s
S n o o k e rs
E a s t Los Angeles A t h l e t i c s
U n d e r ta k e r s
Age o f th e c l u b . C lubs I n H o lle n b e c k ra n g e I n age
from t h o s e w h ich a r e b u t em bryo nic n e ig h b o rh o o d p la y g r o u p s
t o th e lo n g te rm and s t r o n g l y o r g a n i z e d c lu b s o f th e s e v
e r a l youth work a g e n c i e s . A c lu b b e g i n s , q u i t e t y p i c a l l y .
I n th e coming t o g e t h e r o f some boys who have fu n t o g e t h e r .
I n th e passing o f tim e and I n th e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e r e
l a t i o n s h i p s , th e y b e g in to t h i n k o f th e m s e lv e s a s a g ro u p ;
th e y a c q u i r e a "we" feeling; t h e y choose a name and become
! 78
I i d e n t i f i e d e a c h w i t h th e o t h e r and a l l w i t h th e nam e.
. They become known to th e n e ig h b o r h o o d , and become a s o c i a l
1
f a c t o f th e n e ig h b o r h o o d . i
C lubs have t h e i r b e g in n i n g s and t h e i r c o n t i n u i n g I
i
e x i s t e n c e i n t h e i r a b i l i t y t o m eet t h e n e e d s o f some o f |
t h e y o u th o f th e n e ig h b o rh o o d o r s u r r o u n d i n g com m unity; j
when th e n e e d s change o r th e boys m a tu r e , o r move awpy, th e
c l u b , l a c k i n g "new b l o o d , " q u i e t l y d i e s . I n t h i s c o n
n e c t i o n i t m ig h t be m e n tio n e d t h a t many c l u b s , o r w o u ld -b e
c l u b s , do n o t s u r v i v e t h e p r o c e s s o f b i r t h and o r g a n i z a
t i o n .
E l i g i b i l i t y and j o i n i n g . The g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e , I n
t h e p r o c e s s o f j o i n i n g a gang and a c lu b c o n s i s t s In w hat
a boy m ust do and be I n o r d e r t o j o i n e a c h o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y . As h a s b e e n m e n tio n e d , th e gang t e s t s a
boy I n ways t h a t a r e n o r m a lly b r u t a l and o f t e n b lo o d y ;
T h ere I s a tim e I n th e l i f e o f a g ro u p , a f t e r th e
members have d e v e lo p e d a n a w a re n e s s o f th e m s e lv e s a s a
g ro u p and b e f o r e th e y have e s t a b l i s h e d a g ro u p c h a r a c t e r ,
t h a t I s e s p e c i a l l y c r i t i c a l f o r th e f u t u r e o f th e g ro u p
a n d I t s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o s o c i e t y . T h is I s th e tim e when
t h e g ro u p c a n , w i t h e q u a l e a s e , go th e way o f th e gang
o r o f th e c l u b . T h is I s th e tim e t h a t c a l l s f o r th e
s k i l l e d y o u th w o rk e r t o be on h a n d , f o r t h e s k i l l e d y o u th
w o rk e r on th e p la y g r o u n d . I n th e a g e n c y , o r I n th e n e i g h
b o rh o o d a t l a r g e can h e l p t h e boys make up t h e i r m inds
t o be a c lu b I n s t e a d o f a g a n g .
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-four.
79
th e c lu b t e s t s a boy i n ways t h a t are n o r m a lly n o n - b r u t a l
and se ld o m , i f e v e r , b lo o d y .
P r e r e q u i s i t e s t o m em bership i n a c lu b may i n c l u d e
some o r m ost o f th o s e common t o th e g a n g . S p e c i f i c a l l y ,
t h e c lu b may r e q u i r e e t h n i c i d e n t i t y , n e ig h b o rh o o d r e s i
d e n c e , boys o n ly , age w i t h i n f i x e d l i m i t s , a community
o f I n t e r e s t s and a p e r s o n a l i t y a c c e p t a b l e t o th e m embers.
Assum ing t h a t th e boy m e e ts a l l th e r e q u i r e m e n t s a s
s t a t e d , he m ust w ant t o b e lo n g and th e members m ust w ant
him t o b e lo n g . Normally, m em bership I s a c q u i r e d by th e
v o t e o f t h e m em bers. The p r o c e d u r e . a s u s e d by one o f th e
l o c a l c lu b s can s e r v e t o I n d i c a t e t h e m ethod I n m o st. j
I The c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h i s c lu b s p e c i f i e s t h a t t h e boy who
j w a n ts t o become a member m ust a t t e n d t h r e e m e e ti n g s , co n -
I I
! s e c u t l v e l y . I n e a c h o f th e m e e ti n g s , he t e l l s why he |
! ;
; w a n ts t o j o i n . A f t e r h i s s t a t e m e n t d u r i n g t h e t h i r d m e e t- ‘
I I n g , he I s d i s m i s s e d from t h e m e e tin g . The members d l s -
! j
! CUSS h i s p e t i t i o n f o r m em b ersh ip , h i s d e s i r a b i l i t y a s a ;
i p r o s p e c t i v e member, and th e n v o te on him . A f t e r th e
2
m e e tin g , he I s t o l d o f th e r e s u l t s o f th e v o t i n g .
U n t i l r e c e n t l y , two o f th e c lu b s I n th e a r e a v o te d
on t h e c a n d i d a t e a s he s t o o d outside th e m e e tin g room.
As so o n a s t h e v o t i n g was f i n i s h e d , th e boy was t o l d th e
r e s u l t s . The sponsor o f t h e two c lu b s was a b l e . I n e a c h
2
Statement by in te r v ie w e e number twenty-five.
j 80
I c a s e , t o h e l p t h e m e m b e r s u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e y were d o i n g
' t o t h e b o y s w h o m t h e y r e j e c t e d . T h r o u g h h i s e f f o r t s t h e
I club c o n s t i t u t i o n w a s c h a n g e d s o t h a t a c a n d i d a t e f o r m e m -
i b e r s h i p c o u l d b e v o t e d o n i n h i s a b s e n c e a n d t o l d t h e r e -
I ' s u l t s a f t e r t h e m e e t i n g w a s f i n i s h e d .
I
; E v i d e n c e o f b e l o n g i n g . T h e m e m b e r s o f a c l u b want
I t o be k n o w n . T h e y w a n t t h e p r e s t i g e a n d s e l f - r e s p e c t t h a t
I
I a c c r u e t o t h o s e w h o belong t o a s o c i a l l y d e s i r a b l e o r g a n i -
I
I z a t i o n .
I f t h e c l u b i s o f a n a t h l e t i c m i n d , t h e b o y s a r e
known f o r t h e i r t e a m p l a y a n d t h e i r d i s t i n c t i v e t e a m u n i - |
f o r m s . M o s t c l u b b o y s s e c u r e recognition b y " t h r o w i n g |
s o c i a l s " f r o m t i m e t o t i m e u s i n g e i t h e r a " l i v e " o r c h e s t r a l
o r m e m b e r ’ s r e c o r d s . B o y s w i t h a c o m m o n I n t e r e s t I n s i n g
i n g s p e n d h o u r s perfecting t h e i r r e n d i t i o n o f t h e l a t e s t j
popular songs . B o y s w h o play m u s i c a l I n s t r u m e n t s m a k e u p !
s m a l l " c o m b o s " t h a t p l a y f o r t h e i r o w n p l e a s u r e , f o r t h e i r ;
I
o w n c l u b dances , a n d o n c e I n a w h i l e , f o r s o m e o t h e r s o - [
I '
I c l a l f u n c t i o n I n t h e c o m m u n i t y .
j T h e c l u b b o y ’ s m o s t e v i d e n t s i g n o f belonging c o n -
’ I
i s l s t s o f h i s j a c k e t . C o m p l e t e w i t h I d e n t i f y i n g I n s i g n i a ;
> I
' on t h e b a c k . I t u s u a l l y c o s t s th e boy a b o u t t h i r t y d o l l a r s .
! C o h e s iv e n e s s . One o f th e o f f i c e r s o f C a l i f o r n i a
I
I Y o u t h A u t h o r i t y t o l d t h e m e m b e r s o f a w e l l - k n o w n m e n ’ s
^Statement by Interviewee number fourteen.
: " 81
I 4
i s e r v i c e c l u b t h a t t h e y w e r e , a s s u c h , g a n g m e m b e r s . P r e -
I
[ s c h o o l p l a y g r o u p , b o y ' s c l u b , h o s t i l e j u v e n i l e g a n g , o r
I m e n ’ s s e r v i c e c l u b a l l s a t i s f y s o m e o f t h e i d e n t i c a l n e e d s
1
j o f t h e m e m b e r s .
!
I G a n g a n d c l u b l i f e b o t h g i v e r i s e t o c o h e s i v e n e s s .
I
I T h e d i f f e r e n c e I s t h a t t h e g a n g ' s c o h e s i v e n e s s I s I n
c l i n e d t o b e I r r a t i o n a l a n d o f t e n l e a d s t o v i o l e n c e ; t h e
c l u b ' s I s m o r e I n c l i n e d t o b e r a t i o n a l a n d l e a d t o w a r d
e x c e l l e n c e o n t h e f i e l d a n d s u c c e s s I n s o c i a l r e l a t i o n
s h i p s .
I n a s i n g l e g r o u p o f b o y s t h e r e m a y b e a d u a l s e t
o f l o y a l t i e s , a l l e g i a n c e s , a n d c o h e s i v e n e s s e s . T h i s
" D r . J e k y l l a n d M r , H y d e " a r r a n g e m e n t w a s o b s e r v e d I n a
s o c i a l c l u b b y I t s s p o n s o r . R e p e a t e d l y , d u r i n g a n i n t e r
v i e w , t h e c l u b s p o n s o r m a d e r e f e r e n c e t o t h e c l u b a n d
I t s p r e s i d e n t a n d t o t h e g a n g a n d I t s l e a d e r . I n a n s w e r
I
j t o a q u e s t i o n a b o u t t h e c l a n d e s t i n e o r g a n i z a t i o n , h e s a i d
t h a t a l t h o u g h h e d i d n o t h a v e t h e f a c t s o n t h e g a n g , h e
w a s s u r e o f I t s e x i s t e n c e ; h e w a s c e r t a i n w h i c h b o y w a s
t h e l e a d e r . ^
T h e g a n g b o y ' s c o h e s i v e n e s s c o m e s o u t o f a n e e d t o
s u r v i v e I n w h a t h e d e f i n e s a s a h o s t i l e s o c i e t y ; t h e c l u b
^ S t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t w e n t y - o n e
6 s t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t w e l v e .
82
b o y ’ s c o h e s i v e n e s s c o m e s o u t o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n I n a society
that h e d e f i n e s a s e s s e n t i a l l y friendly. H i s c o h e s i v e n e s s
I s b u i l t o f m e m o r i e s o f a t h l e t i c v i c t o r i e s a n d d e f e a t s ,
s u c c e s s f u l a n d u n s u c c e s s f u l " s o c i a l s , " a g e n c y sponsored
t r i p s t o s n o w a n d b e a c h . H i s c o h e s i v e n e s s c o m e s o u t o f
t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t h e b e l o n g s t o a c o m p a n y o f t h e e l e c t
a n d o u t o f a l o y a l t y t o t h e s p o n s o r a n d t h e a g e n c y h e
r e p r e s e n t s .
B e c o m i n g t h e l e a d e r . T h e p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g t h e
p r e s i d e n t o f a c l u b m a y b e q u i t e c o m p l e x , controlled I n
i d e t a i l b y t h e written c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e c l u b . N o m l -
- n a t l n g c o m m i t t e e , f o r m a l p r e s e n t a t i o n o f s l a t e , R o b e r t s ’
R u l e s o f O r d e r a r e t h e w a y o f a t l e a s t o n e c l u b I n t h e
6
a r e a . O r , o n t h e contrary, t h e p r o c e s s m a y b e exceed
ingly s i m p l e w i t h n o m i n a t i o n s f r o m t h e f l o o r a n d s i m p l e
v o t i n g .
I n t h e gang, t h e l e a d e r c o m e s t o h i s p o s i t i o n
t h r o u g h t h e e x e r c i s e o f force, cunning, a n d s o p h i s t i c a t i o n
I
I n t h e ways o f c r i m e . I n t h e c l u b , t h e l e a d e r c o m e s t o |
I
h i s p o s i t i o n t h r o u g h t h e exercise o f s u p e r i o r p e r s o n a l i t y , I
tact, a n d e x c e l l e n c e I n w h a t m o s t m a t t e r s t o t h e majority
o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c l u b . T h e c l u b p r e s i d e n t I s a p t t o
6
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-five.
83
; be th e b e s t l i k e d i n general, th e b e s t c o o r d i n a t o r o f
a c t i v i t i e s , th e b e s t spokesm an f o r th e g ro u p , and th e b e s t
a t h l e t e ..
The f o r e g o i n g comments a r e n o t i n t e n d e d t o " w h ite
w ash" th e c lu b l e a d e r , f o r t h e l e a d e r , a s a s p i r a n t to
o f f i c e . I s p e r f e c t l y c a p a b le o f "strong-arm" m ethods o f
getting v o t e s . I n g e n e r a l , th e l e a d e r o f th e c lu b comes
t o o f f i c e I n th e w o rk in g s o f th e d e m o c r a tic p r o c e s s .
P u rp o s e s o f t h e c l u b '. E ach c lu b came I n t o being
a s an e x p r e s s i o n o f th e n e e d s a n d / o r d e s i r e s o f a group o f
b o y s . E ach c lu b c o n t i n u e s t o e x i s t o n ly so long as I t
c o n t i n u e s so t o s a t i s f y I t s m em bers.
G e n e r a l l y , H o lle n b e c k c lu b s e x i s t f o r th e sak e o f
I
i s p o r t s , s o c i a l l i f e , cars, c r a f t s , and c o m p a n io n s h ip . I n
ian Interesting com m entary on th e p l a c e o f th e c lu b I n th e
I l i f e o f t h e com m unity, a community c e n t e r d i r e c t o r r e -
i
jm arked, "Some o f th e boys sp en d more tim e h e r e I n th e c e n -
I rj
,ter than th e y do a t ho m e."
i
I E c o l o g i c a l I d e n t i f i c a t i o n . The members o f a c lu b
! do not, u s u a l l y , have a s t r o n g a r e a l I d e n t i f i c a t i o n . A
c lu b I s n o t so much a c r e a t u r e o f a geographic community
a s I t I s t h a t o f an I n t e r e s t com m unity. B ecau se o f I t s
7
'Statement by Interviewee number tw e n ty -six
84
I o r g a n i z a t i o n a b o u t c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s , i t m a y i n c l u d e b o y s
I f r o m s e v e r a l n e i g h b o r h o o d s . " M e m b e r s o f m y c l u b l i v e a l l
j o v e r E a s t L o s A n g e l e s , w a s t h e w a y o n e p l a y g r o u n d
!
i d i r e c t o r - s p o n s o r o f a c l u b p u t h i s a n s w e r t o a q u e s t i o n |
I r e g a r d i n g a r e a l l i m i t a t i o n s . H e a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t h i s j
c l u b I n c l u d e d s o m e b o y s w h o b e l o n g e d t o d i f f e r e n t g a n g s |
I n a n d a r o u n d t h e H o l l e n b e c k a r e a . I
H a n g o u t . I n t h e g a n g s e n s e o f t h e w o r d a c l u b
d o e s n o t h a v e a h a n g o u t . T h e w o r d h a s c o m e t o c o n n o t e j
a p l a c e w h e r e j u v e n i l e m i s c r e a n t s g o t o " l i c k t h e i r w o u n d s , "
w h i l e a w a y t h e I d l e h o u r s , a n d t o l a y g r a n d i o s e p l a n s f o r
r e v e n g e a g a i n s t t h e i r r e a l o r f a n c i e d t o r m e n t o r s . T h e
i
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m e m b e r s o f a c l u b c o n d u c t t h e i r b u s i n e s s r a t h e r o p e n l y I n |
t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e i r s p o n s o r . I n t h e i r l e i s u r e , t h e y i
t u r n t o a g e n c y , s c h o o l g r o u n d , o r r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t p l a y
g r o u n d . T h e c l u b b o y t e n d s t o c o n g r e g a t e w h e r e t h e r e I s ,
i
t h e p r o m i s e o f f u n t h r o u g h g a m e s , c r a f t s , a n d s p o r t s . H e j
I
l o o k s f o r w a r d t o a n d p r e p a r e s f o r t h e o c c a s i o n a l " s o c i a l . " i
T h e c o r e a n d t h e f r i n g e . - " C o r e " a n d " f r i n g e " s p e a k j
t h e t y r a n n y o f t h e g a n g . A s f a r a s t h e m e m b e r s o f a c l u b j
a r e c o n c e r n e d , a b o y I s e i t h e r c l e a r l y I n o r n o t I n . I n
8
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-five.
j 8 ^
t h e c l u b , a s i n a l l s o c i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s o m e d o m o r e
w o r k t h a n o t h e r s a n d s o m e a r e m o r e i m p o r t a n t t o t h e g r o u p
t h a n o t h e r s . H o w e v e r , f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e c l u b , t h e
w o r d s " a c t i v e " a n d " i n a c t i v e " a r e f a r m o r e a p p l i c a b l e t h a n
" c o r e " a n d " f r i n g e . "
T e r m i n a t i o n o f m e m b e r s h i p . M o s t c l u b s h a v e r u l e s
c o n c e r n i n g a c c e p t a b l e b e h a v i o r o n t h e p a r t o f m e m b e r s .
T h e r u l e s r a n g e f r o m " u n w r i t t e n l a w " t o f o r m a l c o n s t i t u
t i o n . A c o n s t i t u t i o n t y p i c a l l y m a k e s m e n t i o n o f p r e r e
q u i s i t e s t o m e m b e r s h i p , c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f
j m e m b e r s h i p , a n d p r o c e d u r e f o r t h e t e r m i n a t i o n o f m e m b e r -
I s h i p . I n m o s t o f t h e c l u b s r e p r e s e n t e d I n t h i s s u r v e y ,
i
j b o y s c a n b e d r o p p e d f o r f a i l u r e t o a t t e n d m e e t i n g s , f a l l -
I u r e t o p a y d u e s , a n d u n b e c o m i n g c o n d u c t . I n a n I n t e r e s t -
■ I n g e x c e p t i o n t o t h e d u e s p a y i n g r e q u i r e m e n t . I n o n e c l u b
; a b o y w h o c a n n o t a f f o r d t o p a y h i s d u e s m a y b e c a r r i e d a s
I a n o n - d u e s - p a y i n g m e m b e r I n g o o d s t a n d i n g .
; I n r e f e r e n c e t o c o n d u c t u n b e c o m i n g a m e m b e r , t h e r e
; I s t h e c a s e o f t h e b o y w h o s t o l e a n I n s i g n i a . D u r i n g t h e
I t i m e t h a t a c l u b w a s I n t h e p r o c e s s o f b u y i n g j a c k e t s a n d
I I n s i g n i a f r o m a l o c a l s t o r e , o n e o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e
I c l u b w a s c a u g h t s t e a l i n g o n e o f t h e I n s l g n l a s f r o m t h e
I
I
j s t o r e . T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c l u b c h o s e t o d r o p t h e b o y ,
n o t f o r t h e r e a s o n o f s t e a l i n g ( t h e y a l l h a d s t o l e n a t
o n e t i m e o r a n o t h e r ) , b u t f o r t h e f a c t t h a t h e b r o u g h t
86
d i s h o n o r t o t h e n a m e o f t h e i r c l u b . I n t h e i r e y e s , i t w a s
a r e p r e h e n s i b l e t h i n g t o s t e a l f r o m o n e w i t h w h o m t h e y
Q
w e r e d o i n g b u s i n e s s .
S o m e c l u b s h a v e a s o r t o f " k a n g a r o o c o u r t " f o r t h e
d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f g u i l t a n d p u n i s h m e n t . C l u b s p o n s o r s
m u s t b e w a t c h f u l I n o r d e r t h a t t h e b o y s n o t b e c o m e t o o
s e v e r e I n t h e i r c o n d e m n a t i o n a n d p u n i s h m e n t o f a f e l l o w
m e m b e r . B o y s w i l l o f t e n p r o p o s e p u n i s h m e n t f a r m o r e s e -
I v e r e t h a n t h e i r s p o n s o r w o u l d h a v e s u g g e s t e d .
j I f t h e c l u b h a s a g e l i m i t s , a n I n d i v i d u a l ’ s m e m -
i b e r s h i p c o m e s t o a q u i e t a n d n a t u r a l e n d . I n o n e a g e n c y
1
I t h e g r a d u a t e s o f t h e l a s t I n a s e r i e s o f a g e - g r a d e d c l u b s
i ^
j b e c o m e , e l i g i b l e t o s e r v e a s v o l u n t e e r s p o n s o r s f o r
! y o u n g e r c l u b s o f t h e a g e n c y . P r o m a m o n g t h e s e v o l u n t e e r s ,
t h e a g e n c y I s a b l e t o s e l e c t t h e b e s t f o r p a r t - t i m e , p a i d
' 10
, c l u b s p o n s o r s h i p . T h e c l u b b o y ’ s m e m b e r s h i p c o m e s t o
a n e n d t h r o u g h r u l e o r d e s i r e ; h e d o e s n o t h a v e t o f i g h t
h i s w a y o u t .
' G i r l s ’ a u x i l i a r y . A m o n g t h e s e v e r a l c l u b s I n c l u d e d
j I n t h i s s u r v e y , o n e w a s " c o - e d " ( n o t a n a u x i l i a r y ) , o n e
I
I w a s a s s o c i a t e d l o o s e l y w i t h a g i r l s ’ c l u b f r o m a c o n t l g u -
j
I o u s a r e a , a n d t h e g i r l f r i e n d s o f t h e m e m b e r s o f o n e c a m e
^Statement by Interviewee number fourteen.
^"^Statement by Interviewee number twenty-seven.
87
from a g i r l s ’ c lu b I n t h e same community c e n t e r . I n th e
exam ple m e n tio n e d , t h a t o f th e g i r l s ’ c lu b a s s o c i a t e d
l o o s e l y w i t h t h e n e i g h b o r i n g b o y s ’ c l u b , th e two g ro u p s
w ere s o c i a l l y e q u a l , n e i t h e r s u b o r d i n a t e t o t h e o t h e r and
b o th o f t h e same e t h n i c g ro u p . The g i r l s ’ c lu b was u n d e r j
th e s p o n s o r s h i p o f a d e p u ty ï3 ro b a tlo n d f f l c e r ; t h e b o y s ’ |
c lu b was u n d e r th e s p o n s o r s h i p o f a y o u th w o rk e r o f I
C a t h o l i c Y outh O r g a n i z a t i o n . The g i r l s had t h e i r m e e tin g '
I
p l a c e moved I n o r d e r t o be n e a r t h e i r n a m e sa k e s, th e b o y s . |
The g i r l s ’ a u x i l i a r y I s a lm o s t e x c l u s i v e l y a f u n c t i o n o f !
; t h e h o s t i l e g a n g , and ev en a s su c h I t seems t o be r a r e . i
! '
i Age l e v e l s . C lubs u s u a l l y have m in im al a s w e l l i
I
I a s m axim al a g e s f o r m em b ersh ip . Age l e v e l s c o n n o te th e
. c h r o n o l o g i c a l h i e r a r c h y o f th e g a n g . In th e c lu b sy ste m
o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , a boy who I s to o young f o r th e c lu b o f ^
' h i s c h o ic e m ust e i t h e r w a i t u n t i l he becom es e l i g i b l e o r
I
i f i n d a g ro u p e s t a b l i s h e d f o r boys o f h i s a g e . '
I
' Community known b e h a v i o r . C lu bs a r e l i k e l y Lto be
! known f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i v e work th e y do In^ th e com m unity,
' f o r t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n I n s p o r t s , f o r t h e i r " s o c i a l s , "
and f o r t h e i r s p o n s o r an d a g e n c y b a c k i n g . Among th e com
m u n ity known a c t i v i t i e s o f c lu b s a r e t h e c o l l e c t i n g o f
money and fo o d f o r . c h a r i t i e s , d i s t r i b u t i n g o f b a s k e t s
e a c h C h r i s t m a s , d o n a t i n g o f l a b o r and m a t e r i a l f o r com
m u n ity p r o j e c t s . F o r c lu b m em bers, th e y e a r l y F e s t i v a l
88
o f F r i e n d s h i p i s p r o b a b l y t h e s i g n a l c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r e d
I e v e n t o f t h e y e a r . H u n d r e d s o f y o u n g p e o p l e o f d i v e r s e
e t h n i c g r o u p s w o r k t o g e t h e r I n p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e f e s t i v a l .
I n t h e i r p l a n n i n g a n d w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r , t h e s e b o y s a n d i
g i r l s o f E a s t L o s A n g e l e s h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a b e t t e r , j
m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e a c h o t h e r . T h e F e s t l - j
v a l o f F r i e n d s h i p h a s p r o v i d e d a m p l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e ;
c o m m u n i t y t o s e e c l u b m e m b e r s I n a m o s t f a v o r a b l e l i g h t . j
I
H o s t i l e a n d f r i e n d l y g r o u p s . H o s t i l e a n d f r i e n d l y
g r o u p s a r e o f t h e w o r l d o f t h e g a n g . C l u b s , a s s u c h , a r e j
n e i t h e r h a t e d n o r f e a r e d . C l u b m e m b e r s h a v e l i t t l e r e a s o n j
t o s e e k s i t u a t i o n s o f s t r e n g t h o r a l l i a n c e s o f p o w e r . i
C l u b b o y s f i g h t , b u t n o t I n t h e s t a n d a r d g a n g w a y i
!
o f a c h e r i s h e d I l l - w i l l e r u p t i n g I n t o a n a t t a c k I n f o r c e j
I o n a n o u t n u m b e r e d f o e . T h e c l u b b o y . I n d i v i d u a l l y a n d I
I c o l l e c t i v e l y , f i g h t s o n t h e s p o t b e c a u s e o f a n I m m e d i a t e
p r o v o c a t i o n . T h e r e I s a c a s e I n p o i n t .
A g r o u p o f b o y s w e r e o n a s n o w t r i p . I # i l l e t h e y
w e r e c a v o r t i n g I n t h e s n o w , a c a r l o a d o f c o l l e g e b o y s
d r o v e p a s t . T h e M e x l c a n - A m e r l c a n c l u b b o y s p e l t e d t h e
c a r w i t h s n o w b a l l s . T h e A n g l o c o l l e g e b o y s m a d e I n s u l t
i n g r e m a r k s a b o u t t h e c l u b s p o n s o r . I n a n I n s t a n t , t h e
b o y s o f t h e c l u b p o l a r i z e d a r o u n d t h e i r s p o n s o r ; t h e y
w e r e r e a d y t o d o b a t t l e f o r h i s h o n o r a n d t h a t o f t h e i r
c l u b . A t t h i s p o i n t t h e s p o n s o r , b e t t e r a b l e t h a n t h e y
89
t o se e t h e w hole s i t u a t i o n , a d v i s e d a g a i n s t f i g h t i n g . He
was a b l e t o show them t h a t th e y had l i t t l e t o g a i n and
much t o l o s e by c h a l l e n g i n g th e c o l l e g e b o y s . The boys
d i d n o t f i g h t .
R e c r e a t i o n and y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s . C i ty r e c r e
a t i o n and p a r k f a c i l i t i e s a r e e q u a l l y a v a i l a b l e to a l l
t h e young p e o p le o f a com m unity. I n a d d i t i o n to th o s e
p u b l i c a g en c y f a c i l i t i e s t h a t a r e a v a i l a b l e t o a l l y o u t h ,
t h e r e a r e t h o s e t h a t a r e e n jo y e d e x c l u s i v e l y by some boys
! I n v i r t u e o f t h e i r c lu b m em bership and a g e n c y a f f i l i a t i o n .
I T hese c lu b boys have t h e u s e o f m e e tin g room s, c r a f t and
game room s, and gym f o r s p o r t s and " s o c i a l s . " D u rin g th e
! tim e he sp e n d s I n t h e a g e n c y , a c lu b member I s u n d e r th e
! s u p e r v i s i o n a n d / o r g u id a n c e o f one o r more q u a l i f i e d y o u th
I w o rk e rs o f th e a g e n c y .
Some y o u th g r o u p s , su c h a s c a r c l u b s , a r e s p o n s o r e d
I by t h e owner o f a c o r n e r s e r v i c e s t a t i o n o r a u t o r e p a i r
I
i sh o p . H is work shop I s t h e i r f a c i l i t y ; he f u r n i s h e s th e
I
p l a c e , th e t o o l s , and th e a d v i c e . The bo y s f u r n i s h th e
m a t e r i a l s , t h e a m b i t i o n , and t h e p a t i e n c e . The boys a r e
e n c o u ra g e d to t u r n o u t "custom j o b s . " They a r e e n c o u ra g e d
IP
t o u s e a u t h o r i z e d "d ra g s t r i p s . "
11 '
S t a te m e n t by I n t e r v i e w e e number t w e n t y - t w o . '
12
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-eight.
j ' ' ' - - - 90
O n a p e r c a p i t a b a s i s , t h e y o u t h o f H o l l e n b e c k h a v e
a l a r g e r t h a n p r o p o r t i o n a t e s h a r e o f t h e c i t y ’ s r e c r e a t i o n
a n d y o u t h s e r v i c e s . T h e p r o b l e m s t e m s n o t f r o m a v a i l
a b i l i t y , b u t f r o m t h e a t t i t u d e o f m a n y o f t h e y o u n g p e o p l e i
t o w a r d y o u t h s e r v i c e s . F o r m a n y o f t h e u n a f f i l i a t e d b o y s , I
I
c l u b s a n d p l a y g r o u n d s a r e c o n s i d e r e d p r o p e r o n l y f o r t h e ;
u n s o p h i s t i c a t e d , t h e " s q u a r e . "
I n f o r m a l t e a m - t y p e p l a y . Team-type play c a n b e
t a k e n t o m e a n a n y t h i n g f r o m t h e d e s u l t o r y " s h o o t i n g " o f
b a s k e t s b y a h a l f a d o z e n b o y s o n a city playground t o a
" p i c k - u p " g a m e o f t o u c h f o o t b a l l a m i d s t t h e b e e r c a n s ,
b o t t l e s , a n d w e e d s o f a v a c a n t l o t t o a s c h e d u l e d g a m e
i
j u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f a g e n c y , p l a y g r o u n d , o r school.
* M a n y o f t h e c l u b s I n H o l l e n b e c k a r e a t h l e t i c a l l y
: I n c l i n e d . T h e y e x i s t f o r l e a g u e c o m p e t i t i o n , f o r s u c h
' I s u s u a l l y l i m i t e d t o t h e m e m b e r s h i p o f r e c o g n i z e d c l u b s .
i
I Only f i v e o f t h e e i g h t e e n y o u t h g r o u p s r e p r e s e n t e d I n t h e
I s u r v e y d e p r e c a t e d a n d / o r f o r b a d t e a m - t y p e p l a y b y t h e i r
I m e m b e r s . Nhlle o n t h e contrary, t h e t h i r t e e n g r o u p s
j r e c o g n i z e d b y m o s t I n t h e c o m m u n i t y a s c l u b s encouraged
I a n d p r o v i d e d f o r t e a m - t y p e p l a y .
P a r t i c i p a t i o n I n organized s p o r t s . W i t h i n t h e
meaning o f t h i s s e c t i o n , "sports " r e f e r s t o f o o t b a l l ,
t o u c h f o o t b a l l , b a s e b a l l , s o f t b a l l , b a s k e t b a l l , o r a n y
o t h e r s u c h a c t i v i t y e n t e r e d I n t o a s a m e m b e r o f a t e a m
91
I n v o lv e d i n s c h e d u le d p l a y a s a p a r t o f an o r g a n i z e d
l e a g u e . T h ere a r e s e v e r a l le a g u e s I n th e H o l l e n b e c k a r e a
I i n a d d i t i o n t o th e s c h o o l l e a g u e s . T hese le a g u e s I n c l u d e :
I ( l ) t h e C a t h o l i c Y outh O r g a n i z a t i o n L e a g u e s , (2) th e
J e w is h C o m m u n i t y C e n te r L e a g u e s, and (3) t h e D e p artm en t
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o f R e c r e a t i o n a n d P a r k s L e a g u e s .
A t t e n t i o n o f t h e p o l i c e . N o r m a l l y , c l u b b o y s , a s
s u c h , a r e n o t k n o w n t o t h e p o l i c e f o r a n t l - s o c l a l o r d e
s t r u c t i v e c o n d u c t . C l u b b o y s a r e s o m e t i m e s p i c k e d u p f o r :
! l o i t e r i n g , c u r f e w , d r i n k i n g , n a r c o t i c s , s t e a l i n g , a n d
^ o t h e r s u c h n o n - v i o l e n t I n f r a c t i o n s a n d c r i m e s . S e v e r a l
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i Club sponsors reported that their club and the members
o f their club were not known to the police.
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' T h e f a c t t h a t s o m e m e m b e r s o f a c l u b b r e a k l a w s
i a n d a r e d e l i n q u e n t s h o u l d n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d t o t h e d l s -
! c r e d i t o f t h e c l u b . I t s h o u l d b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t s o m e
I c l u b s w o r k w i t h b o y s w h o h a v e n o t a s y e t a c c e p t e d t h e
I m o r a l s t a n d a r d s o f o t h e r t h a n t h e i r o w n s u b c u l t u r e .
' 17
" ^ T h e r e I s s o m e e v i d e n c e t h a t n o t a l l b o y s p a r t l -
* c l p a t l n g I n l e a g u e c o m p e t i t i o n d o s o s o l e l y f o r t h e p l e a s -
I u r e s o f t h e g a m e s . T h e r e w a s a t l e a s t o n e c l u b I n H o l l e n - i
I b e c k t h a t r e f u s e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e I n o n e o f t h e p l a y g r o u n d
I l e a g u e s u n t i l t h e y h a d b e e n p r o v i d e d w i t h f u l l u n i f o r m s ;
! I d e n t i f y i n g " t e e " s h i r t s w e r e n o t s u f f i c i e n t u n t o t h e i r
j n e e d ' s .
I S t a t e m e n t b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t w e n t y - n i n e .
^^Statement by Interviewee number thirty.
92
S o l o n g a s a b o y r e t a i n s h i s c l u b a f f i l i a t i o n . I n s p i t e
o f h i s o c c a s i o n a l l a p s e s I n t o d e l i n q u e n c y , h e h a s s o m e
c h a n c e f o r o n g o i n g s o c i a l s a t i s f a c t i o n s a n d a better-than
o t h e r w i s e c h a n c e f o r a s o c i a l l y a c c e p t a b l e a d u l t h o o d .
P r o b a t i o n , F o r e s t r y C a m p , Y o u t h A u t h o r i t y , a n d
P a r o l e . S e v e r a l o f t h e c l u b s r e p r e s e n t e d I n t h i s s t u d y
h a d o n e o r m o r e a c t i v e m e m b e r s w h o w e r e o n o r recently h a d
b e e n o n p r o b a t i o n o r parole.
S p o n s o r s h i p a n d a g e n c y a f f i l i a t i o n . I n H o l l e n b e c k
t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l a g e n c i e s d e v o t e d t o recreation a n d y o u t h
s e r v i c e s . T h e s e a g e n c i e s h a v e a c o m m o n s e t o f g o a l s ; t h e y
a r e w o r k i n g t o h e l p y o u n g p e o p l e a c h i e v e o p t i m a l p h y s i c a l |
I ;
j a n d p e r s o n a l g r o w t h ; t h e y a r e w o r k i n g t o m a k e t h e c o m m u n i t y j
a b e t t e r p l a c e t o l i v e I n . '
P r i v a t e a g e n c i e s d e v o t i n g a l l o r p a r t o f t h e i r re-
i
[ s o u r c e s t o t h e a m e l i o r a t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m s o f youth v a r y j
I
i l n s i z e f r o m t h e v e r y s m a l l , v e r y p o o r t o t h e v e r y l a r g e ,
w e l l - e n d o w e d . T h e m i n i s t e r o f t h e M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h o n E a s t
F i r s t S t r e e t b y A l l s o V i l l a g e H o u s i n g P r o j e c t w o r k s I n a n d
w i t h a n o l d , d e c r e p i t s t o r e b u i l d i n g . B o a r d s o v e r b r o k e n
[ w i n d o w s , p l a s t e r o f f t h e I n t e r i o r w a l l s , r o a r o f t r a f f i c
a f e w f e e t r e m o v e d , b l a c k b o a r d s a n d c u r t a i n s t o s e t a p a r t
| a g e - l e v e l s o f I n s t r u c t i o n c a n n o t d e n y t h e g o o d w o r k a n d
c o m m u n i t y I n f l u e n c e o f t h i s m a n o f t h e c l o t h .
A t t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e f a c i l i t y s p e c t r u m s t a n d s
93
V a r i e t y B o y s * C l u b . Well-staffed b y c o m p a r i s o n w i t h
p o o r e r n e i g h b o r s I n s e r v i c e t o y o u t h , w e l l - e q u i p p e d w i t h
c r a f t r o o m s , c l u b r o o m s , g a m e r o o m s , a n d g y m . Variety I s
a t h o r o u g h l y u s e d c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r . I t , t o o , s e r v e s w e l l
t h e community around.
R e l a t i o n o f s p o n s o r a n d c l u b . T h e conscientious
c l u b s p o n s o r f a c e s a r e a l a n d continuing c o n f l i c t I n h i s
! w o r k w i t h b o y s . H e n e e d s t o b e l o y a l t o t h e boys w h o
!
I l o o k t o h i m a s s p o n s o r a n d a s f r i e n d . H e n e e d s t o b e
w o r t h y o f w h a t e v e r c o n f i d e n c e t h e b o y s m a y h a v e I n h i m .
H e n e e d s t o f e e l t h a t t h e boys' s u c c e s s e s a r e h i s a n d
j t h e i r f a i l u r e s a r e h i s . H e n e e d s t o l o o k t o t h e d a y w h e n
I h e w i l l n a t u r a l l y s a y "we " a n d " u s " I n s t e a d o f " t h e y " a n d
j " t h e m . " O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e stands- t h e I n e s c a p a b l e
f a c t t h a t a s t h e a d u l t sponsor o f t h e c l u b , h e represents
j t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d h e m u s t b e a n a g e n t o f l a w a n d o r d e r .
' T h e s p o n s o r m u s t b e o n g u a r d a g a i n s t o v e r - I d e n t i f i c a t i o n ;
I - « f r
' h e m u s t know h i s r o l e s a n d p l a y t h e m w e l l .
l b
^ T l m e a n d t i m e a g a i n I t h a s b e e n proven t h a t
teen-agers w a n t l i m i t a t i o n s . T h e y w a n t t h e i r
l e a d e r s t o h a v e s t a n d a r d s . T e e n a g e r s h a v e re
spect f o r , a n d c o n f i d e n c e I n , t h e a d u l t w h o I s
n o t s h o c k e d b y t h e i r b e h a v i o r , b u t w h o w i l l n o t
contribute t o t h e i r d e l i n q u e n c y .
E s t e l l e A l s t o n , " G r o u p W o r k With H a r d - t o - R e a c h
T e e n - A g e r s , " ( r e p r i n t e d f r o m T h e S o c i a l W e l f a r e F o r u m ,
C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1951, p . 294.1
94
T h e s p o n s o r m u s t s p e n d a n e v e n i n g a w e e k , o r m o r e ,
w i t h t h e h o y s o f h i s c l u b . I f h e h a s t i m e f o r r e l a x i n g
. w i t h t h e m e m b e r s f o r a n h o u r b e f o r e t h e m e e t i n g , s o m u c h
t h e better . O n e o f t h e c l u b s p o n s o r s , a n e m p l o y e e o f
C a t h o l i c Y o u t h O r g a n i z a t i o n , r e m a r k e d a b o u t h i s e a r l y
f a i l u r e s w i t h h i s group . I n t h e beginning o f h i s assign
ment t o t h e c l u b , s e v e r a l w e e k s p a s s e d b e f o r e h e b e c a m e
a w a r e o f t h e f a c t t h a t h e n e e d e d t o s p e n d m o r e t i m e w i t h
t h e b o y s . H e r e a l i z e d t h a t s u p e r v i s i o n o f meetings w a s
n o t e n o u g h . Accordingly, h e p l a n n e d h i s w o r k load so
t h a t h e could a r r i v e a t t h e r e c r e a t i o n h a l l a n h o u r b e f o r e
m e e t i n g t i m e . I n rambling conversations , t h e b o y s l e a r n e d
t o k n o w h i m a s a person a s w e l l a s a s u p e r v i s o r . T h e i r
f i r s t h a n d knowledge o f t h e i r sponsor l e d t o h i s s u b s e q u e n t
10
success w i t h t h e m .
A n a g e n c y employed sponsor f a i l e d I n h i s a t t e m p t s
t o w o r k w i t h t h e boys oT onecdfthe c a r c l u b s I n t h e a r e a .
I n discussing t h e problems o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r sponsorship,
o n e o f t h e co-founders o f t h e c a r c l u b ( a s e r v i c e station
o w n e r o f deep concern f o r t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e b o y s I n h i s
n e i g h b o r h o o d ) m a d e t h e following observations, " D o y o u k n o w
I w h y h e failed? H e f a i l e d b e c a u s e h e w a s a l w a y s shoving
p r o g r a m . Y o u c a n ' t s h o v e p r o g r a m a t t h e s e b o y s ; y o u ' v e
g o t t o g o a l o n g w i t h t h e m . T h e sponsor c a n ' t t r y t o d o m l -
16
Statement by Interviewee number twelve.
95
C h a n g c D I n t h e c l u b b e c a u s e o f s p o n s o r s h i p . E v i
d e n c e s o f change I n t h e area c a n b e s e e n I n t h e s u c c e s s
o f t h e c l u b m o v e m e n t ; I n t h e growing a c c e p t a n c e o f a d u l t
s p o n s o r s h i p a n d guidance; a n d I n t h e f a c t o f t h e s e v e r a l
y o u t h coordinating c o u n c i l s I n c l u d i n g t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f
Y o u t h C l u b s a n d t h e E a s t L o s A n g e l e s F e d e r a t i o n o f S o c i a l
a n d C a r C l u b s .
T h e p l a y g r o u n d d i r e c t o r I n t h e h e a r t o f F l a t s ,
18
s a i d , " T h e r e a r e n o g a n g s I n F l a t s . " O n e o f t h e e x e c u
t i v e o f f i c e r s o f t h e h o u s i n g p r o j e c t s I n F l a t s s a i d ,
I " T h e r e I s n o e v i d e n c e o f r o v i n g , w i l d g a n g s o f kids t h a t
j 1 Q
j e n g a g e o t h e r r o v i n g , w i l d g a n g s . "
! A n o f f i c e r o f L o s A n g e l e s C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e p a r t -
I
■ m e n t m a d e a s u m m a r y s t a t e m e n t r e g a r d i n g c h a n g e s I n t h e
' a r e a , " I n t h e beginning a l l a n t l - s o c l a l g r o u p s u s e s p o n -
I s o r s h i p a s a front, b u t g r a d u a l l y , t h r o u g h c h a n g e s I n
; t h e i r a t t i t u d e s , t h e g a n g b e c o m e s a c l u b .
I " T h e r e h a s b e e n a radical c h a n g e I n t h e p a s t t w o
1
' t o t h r e e y e a r s f r o m g a n g p a t t e r n s t o s o c i a l a n d c a r c l u b s .
17
Statement b y I n t e r v i e w e e number twenty-eight.
^^Statement b y I n t e r v i e w e e n u m b e r t w e n t y - f o u r .
^ ^ S t a t e m e n t b y Interviewee number thirty-one.
20
Statement by Interviewee number th ir ty -tw o .
96
I n d i v i d u a l s a n d g r o u p s a r e p l e a d i n g f o r a d u l t s u p e r v i s i o n ,
n o t rebelling a g a i n s t a d u l t supervision. T h e r e I s a great
d e s i r e t o d o t h i n g s o n a m o r e a d u l t l e v e l . B o y s a n d girls
a r e g e t t i n g a t a s t e o f a d u l t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d p r i v i l e g e .
I T h e y a r e m a n a g i n g t h e i r o w n m e e t i n g s , k e e p i n g t h e i r o w n
b o o k s , having J a c k e t s , e t c . T o d a y , t h e r e I s pattern a n d
o r g a n i z a t i o n t o y o u t h g r o u p s . Y o u t h g e t s I t s b i g g e s t
k i c k s o u t o f a d e s i r e t o f e e l l i k e t h e y h a v e a m e a n i n g f u l
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o m a k e t o t h e i r c o m m u n i t y a n d t o s o c i e t y a t
"21
large . T h e y w a n t t o b e w o r t h w h i l e .
S u m m a r y o f t h e chapter . T h e r e s e a r c h e r h a s I n t e n d e d
I n t h i s p r e s e n t a t i o n o f m a t e r i a l o n c l u b s t o c o m p l e t e t h e
p i c t u r e o f y o u t h g r o u p s I n H o l l e n b e c k a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t o
I
, f a c i l i t a t e t h e r e a d e r ' s understanding o f t h e gangs o f t h e
I a r e a . Y o u t h f u l gangs a n d clubs a r e n o t o p p o s i t e s , e a c h
I
I o f t h e o t h e r , b u t , r a t h e r , a s h e a t a n d c o l d r e p r e s e n t d l f -
I f e r e n c e s I n t h e r a t e o f r a d i a t i o n o f t h e r m a l energy, s o .
I
I gangs and c l u b s r e p r e s e n t d i f f e r e n c e s I n t h e f o r m o f e x
p r e s s i o n g i v e n t o t h e n e e d s a n d d e s i r e s c o m m o n t o t h e c o r
p o r a t e l i f e o f a l l young p e o p l e o f t h e c i t y .
T h e w a y s o f t h e g a n g c a n n o t b e understood I n e n -
2 1
Statement by Interviewee number twenty-three
L _ .
97
tlr e .tÿ ;- w i t h o u t a n a w a re n e s s and a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e i r
e x tre m e s a s o b s e rv e d I n th e c l u b ; ev en a s an u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f th e c lu b d ep en d s I n l a r g e p a r t upon a know ledge o f th e
g a n g . The p a r t c a n n o t be known In I s o l a t i o n from th e
w h o l e .
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
I . SUMMARY
The young p e o p le o f H o lle n b e c k b e lo n g to groups f o r
t h e r e a s o n that t h e y , a s a l l men, cannot n a t u r a l l y do
o t h e r w i s e . The p ro b le m obtains n o t i n th e f a c t o f t h e i r
b e lo n g i n g , b u t i n t h e f u n c t i o n s and p u r p o s e s o f some o f
t h e g r o u p s . The i n f l u e n c e o f th e g ro u p s c a l l e d gangs
makes f o r an e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g v i t i a t i o n o f a b o y 's a b i l i t y
t o p e rfo r m h i s a s s i g n e d r o l e s a s a member, a l b e i t l a r g e l y
an u n w i l l i n g member, o f th e l a r g e r s o c i e t y .
j
The sh ap e o f a b o y 's f u t u r e and th e k i n d o f an
- a d u lt h o o d he w i l l know depend to a considerable e x t e n t
I
I upon th e k in d o f g ro u p s w i t h w h ich he becom es a f f i l i a t e d ,
j T r a g i c a l l y I n many c a s e s a boy h a s v i r t u a l l y no c o n t r o l
j o v e r h i s a f f i l i a t i o n s ; th e y a r e determined f o r him by
I h i s n e ig h b o rh o o d and h i s ethnic g ro u p .
I
: M exlcan -A m erlcan and Negro boys o f H o lle n b e c k h a v e ,
I ^
th r o u g h no f a u l t o f their own, b e e n d e n ie d many o f th e
r i g h t s and p r i v i l e g e s t h a t s h o u ld be t h e i r s by th e s i n g u
l a r f a c t o f b i r t h . P r e j u d i c e and d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , s u f f e r e d
I p r i m a r i l y a t th e h a n d s o f the Anglo com m unity, have g iv e n
rise to h u m i l i a t i o n and a n g e r and f r e q u e n t l y a p e r v a s i v e
u r g e t o " g e t e v e n ."
I 99
I n t h e d o m i n a n t c u l t u r e o f m i d - c e n t u r y U n i t e d
S t a t e s , a d o l e s c e n c e i s a t i m e o f d o u b t a n d c h a l l e n g e ,
j T y p i c a l l y , t h e A n g l o b o y o f h a p p y h o m e a n d congenial s u r -
I r o u n d i n g s r a i l s a g a i n s t t h e o l d a u t h o r i t i e s t h a t a r e s o
I c a v a l i e r l y I m p o s e d o n h i m a n d h i s k i n d . T h e M e x l c a n -
A m e r l c a n a d o l e s c e n t , a product o n t h e o n e h a n d o f a s t e r n
a n d d e m a n d i n g p a t r i a r c h y a n d o n t h e o t h e r o f t h e m o r e
p e r m i s s i v e c u l t u r e t h a t s u r r o u n d s h i m and h i s family o n
e v e r y s i d e , h a s r e a s o n s m o r e c o m p e l l i n g b y f a r f o r d o u b t
a n d c h a l l e n g e a n d r e b e l l i o n .
T h e j u v e n i l e g a n g , a s I t h a s e x i s t e d I n Hollenbeck
a n d t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t s t i l l e x i s t s , brings t o g e t h e r t h e
1 d o u b t a n d c h a l l e n g e o f t h o s e w h o a r e a d o l e s c e n t , t h e
I
j r e b e l l i o n o f t h o s e w h o s u f f e r s u b j u g a t i o n a t t h e h a n d s o f
t h e arbitrary p a t r i a r c h , a n d t h e h a t e o f t h o s e w h o h a v e
. known d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d r e j e c t i o n b y t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e
I d o m i n a n t s o c i e t y . I n t h i s u n h a p p y c o m b i n a t i o n o f d o u b t ^
; a n d c h a l l e n g e a n d r e b e l l i o n a n d h a t e t h e r e m a y s e e m t o
i b e c a u s e f o r b o y s t o t r y t o d e s t r o y t h e l o c a l r e p r e s e n t a -
i t l o n s o f t h e s o c i e t y t h a t h a s s o u n j u s t l y h u r t t h e m ; t h e r e
I m a y s e e m t o b e c a u s e f o r t u r n i n g , f r o m t i m e t o t i m e . I n
I m i s d i r e c t e d f u r y , a g a i n s t o t h e r g r o u p s o f b o y s who s u f f e r
a s t h e y . B u t , t h e r e I s e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e o l d p a t t e r n s
a r e b e i n g broken, t h a t o l d w a y s , p r o v i n g t o b e I n s u f f i
c i e n t t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e p r e s e n t , a r e s l o w l y b e i n g
changed.
100
I I I . CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OP
! A REPRESENTATIVE GANG OP HOLLENBECK
I
I
I The r e c o g n i z e d p u r p o s e s o f th e gang I n c o m b in a tio n
w i t h t h e I n d i v i d u a l m em b ers' d e f i n i t i o n s o f t h e i r r o l e s
I n th e gang r e s u l t I n a number o f t r a i t s t h a t have become
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e l i f e o f th e g a n g . Some o f t h e more
r e a d i l y a p p a r e n t o f t h e s e gang t r a i t s have b e e n I s o l a t e d
an d d e s c r i b e d I n te rm s o f a n a t u r a l h i s t o r y , e . g . :
1. I n a d d i t i o n t o th e f i x e d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a g e ,
s e x , r e s i d e n c e , and e t h n i c g ro u p , a c a n d i d a t e f o r member
s h i p m ust p ro v e beyond any r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t t h a t h i s
l o y a l t y t o th e g ro u p w i l l c o n t r o l I n s p i t e o f p a i n a n d / o r
f e a r . He m ust p ro v e t h a t he I s c a p a b le o f g r e a t emo-
! t l o n a l and p h y s i c a l s ta m in a In s p i t e o f h a r d s h i p a n d / o r
I f a t i g u e .
I
I 2 . A member o f a gang a lm o s t a lw a y s p r o t e c t s th e
i I d e n t i t y o f a l l o t h e r members o f t h e g a n g . A lth o u g h h i s
i
I h a t r e d o f a u t h o r i t y c a u s e s him t o r e f u s e t o d i s c l o s e th e
; names o f f e l l o w m em bers, he d e f a c e s p u b l i c and p r i v a t e
I p r o p e r t y w i t h e l a b o r a t e and s t y l i z e d s i g n a t u r e s o f h i s
I
j g a n g . T hese s i g n a t u r e s , s p r e a d a c r o s s H o lle n b e c k o f t e n
I c o n t a i n h i s p e r s o n a l n ic k n a m e .
3 . As a r e s u l t o f t h e m em bers' I n t e n s e and v e r y
n e a r l y c o m p le te I d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e gang and t h e i r
a n th r o p o m o r p h ic c o n c e p ti o n o f th e g a n g , an I n s u l t o r
101
i n j u r y t o any member i s su c h t o a l l . As a c o n c o m ita n t o f
t h e i r I d e a o f th e gang a s a l i v i n g , o r g a n i c w h o le , an a c t
o f re v e n g e can be t a k e n a d e q u a t e l y a g a i n s t any member o f
a r i v a l gang.
4. L e a d e r s h i p o f t h e gang I s v e s t e d I n t h e boy
who I s th e b e s t f i g h t e r , h a s th e m ost e x p e r i e n c e and
s o p h i s t i c a t i o n I n th e ways o f c rim e , a n d , a s a ty p e o f
g e n e r i c f a c t o r , h a s th e m ost "Intestinal f o r t i t u d e ."
5. I n th e m inds o f th e m em bers, a gang e x i s t s a s
a n e n g in e o f I n d i v i d u a l a n d / o r c o r p o r a t e s e l f - d e f e n s e .
T hrough th e i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f h i s g a n g , a boy fights
I a g a i n s t th e f o r c e s o f society t h a t w ould s e c u r e h i s p e r -
I
I s o n a l o b e d ie n c e and anonymity. The gang f i g h t s a g a i n s t
o t h e r g a n g s t h a t w ould ta k e I t s p l a c e I n t h e com m unity.
6 . A gang a t t e m p t s t o c o n t r o l th e com ings and
g o in g s o f a g e - p e e r s I n I t s n e ig h b o r h o o d . O c c a s i o n a l l y ,
t h e s e e f f o r t s a r e r e i n f o r c e d by p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e . R i v a l
g an g s r e c o g n i z e and n o r m a lly r e s p e c t one a n o t h e r ' s c la im s
t o t e r r i t o r i a l s o v e r e i g n t y .
7. T e r m in a tio n o f m em bership I n a gang can be
a c h i e v e d I n s e v e r a l w ay s, e . g . : (1) p h y s i c a l re m o v a l t o
a community beyond e a s y c o m m u n icatio n o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ;
(2 ) m a r r i a g e w i t h th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f parenthood; (3)
l o n g - te r m s e r v i c e I n th e m i l i t a r y ; and (4) d e s i r e t o w i t h
draw c o u p le d w i t h th e c o u ra g e and s ta m in a to go th r o u g h
r 102
th e so m etim es b r u t a l p r o c e s s .
8 . S e l f - d e f e n s e , a s th e gang m em ber's s t a t e d
r e a s o n f o r b e in g o f th e gan g , d i c t a t e s t h a t a l l o t h e r
I g angs be c o n s i d e r e d i n i m i c a l to th e w e l f a r e o f th e gang i n
q u e s t i o n . Gangs form a l l i a n c e s , n o t i n m u tu a l lo v e and
r e s p e c t , b u t i n m u tu a l f e a r and h a t r e d o f a common, p o w er
f u l enemy.
9. T eam -type p l a y and p a r t i c i p a t i o n I n fo rm a l
s p o r t s a r e an ath em a to th e gang b oy. Gang members v i r
t u a l l y n e v e r p a r t i c i p a t e I n th e s p o r t s p ro g ram s o f y o u th
work a g e n c y , p la y g r o u n d , o r s c h o o l .
10. P o l i c e come t o know g an gs and th e I n d i v i d u a l
members o f gan gs f o r v e ry n e a r l y e v e r y crim e " In th e b o o k . "
I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e gang boy t e n d s to e x p r e s s h i s h o s t i l i t y
I n c rim e s o f v i o l e n c e , e . g . , p a r t y c r a s h i n g , a s s a u l t ,
arm ed r o b o e r y , g r a n d t h e f t a u t o , m u rd e r, and d e s t r u c t i o n
o r d e f a c i n g o f p r o p e r t y .
I I I . CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF
A REPRESENTATIVE CLUB OF HOLLENBECK
1. I n a d d i t i o n t o b e in g r e q u i r e d t o s a t i s f y one o r
more f i x e d r e q u i r e m e n t s su c h a s a g e , s e x , r e s i d e n c e , and
e t h n i c g ro u p , t h e c lu b boy u s u a l l y s e c u r e s h i s m em bership
t h r o u g h th e m a j o r i t y v o t e o f t h e m embers.
2. A member o f a c lu b n o m in a lly w an ts o t h e r s t o
know a b o u t h i s a f f i l i a t i o n . H is m em bership becom es known
103
th r o u g h h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n a s a c lu b member In th e s c h e d u le d
s p o r t s e v e n t s o f a g e n c y , p la y g r o u n d , o r s c h o o l . U sing
v a r i o u s m e d ia , he a d v e r t i s e s h i s s o c i a l e v e n t s I n and
a ro u n d th e n e ig h b o r h o o d . As a member o f a s o c i a l c l u b , he j
jw e a r s a d i s t i n c t i v e J a c k e t ; a s a member o f a c a r c lu b , he |
j d i s p l a y s a m e ta l p la q u e on h i s c a r . I
3 . The c lu b boy I d e n t i f i e s w i t h h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n
and I s c a p a b le o f g r e a t l o y a l t y to I t . H is l o y a l t y , o r
c o h e s i v e n e s s , a s I t may be d e s i g n a t e d . I s I n c l i n e d t o be |
b o t h r a t i o n a l and c o n t r o l l e d to th e end o f s e c u r i n g am i- j
c a b l e r e l a t i o n s h i p s I n th e com m unity, good team p l a y on !
t h e a t h l e t i c f i e l d , and o r d e r l y , well-attended " s o c i a l s . "
4 . L e a d e r s h ip o f th e c lu b I s v e s t e d I n t h e boy who '
!
I e n jo y s th e c o n f id e n c e and r e s p e c t o f a m a j o r i t y o f t h e
i m em bers. The members a r e I n c l i n e d t o v o te f o r th e one I
I
I I
I who m ost n e a r l y a p p ro x im a te s th e I d e a l o f b e i n g , a t o n c e , ^
I th e b e s t l i k e d , th e b e s t coordinator, t h e b e s t a t h l e t e ,
i I
: t h e b e s t spokesman, and who h a s th e enigmatic q u a l i t y o f j
I " c l a s s . "
I 5. H o lle n b e c k c lu b s e x i s t I n an sw e r t o boys* n e e d s
a n d / o r d e s i r e s t o work w i t h c a r s , to p a r t i c i p a t e I n s p o r t s J
t o "th ro w s o c i a l s , " t o do c r e a t i v e c r a f t w ork, and f o r |
p u r e and s im p le c o m p a n io n s h ip . 1
6. C lub s o f Hollenbeck do n o t have a strong e c o - j
l o g i c a l I d e n t i f i c a t i o n . B ecause th e y a r e non-hostlle I n
f u n c t i o n and p u rp o s e and a r e o r g a n i z e d around I n t e r e s t s
j 104
j o t h e r th a n t h o s e o f s e l f - d e f e n s e , t h e i r m em bership may
j come from a number o f d i f f e r e n t n e ig h b o rh o o d s o f th e
j com m unity.
I 7 . C lubs u s u a l l y have w e ll-k n o w n r u l e s g o v e rn in g
t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s t e n u r e o f m em b ersh ip. A b o y 's r e l a t i o n
s h i p w i t h th e c lu b may be t e r m i n a t e d by m oving away, b e
coming o v e r a g e , d e s i r e t o d r o p , f a i l u r e t o pay d u e s ,
f a i l u r e t o a t t e n d m e e ti n g s , a n d c o n d u c t unbecom ing a mem
b e r .
8. I n h i s I d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a c l u b , t h e I n d i
v i d u a l member does n o t t a k e on a b u rd e n o f t r a d i t i o n a l
h a t e s a n d / o r f e a r s . The I n t e r g r o u p r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f
c lu b s a r e e s s e n t i a l l y d i s i n t e r e s t e d , c o o p e r a t i v e , o r com-
j p e t l t l v e . They a r e a lm o s t n e v e r h o s t i l e .
9. The c lu b boys o f H o lle n b e c k t y p i c a l l y b e lo n g
' t o a number o f s p o r t s l e a g u e s ; th e y may p a r t i c i p a t e In
I
th e C a t h o l i c Y outh O r g a n i z a t i o n L e a g u e s , t h e J e w is h Com-
I
m u n lty C e n te r L e a g u e s , and th e D e p artm en t o f R e c r e a t i o n
and P a rk s L e a g u e s . They u s e and e n jo y a g e n c y , p la y g r o u n d ,
and s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s f o r gam es, team p lay , and fo rm a l
s p o r t s .
10. I n g e n e r a l , c lu b b o y s , a s s u c h , a r e n o t known
t o th e p o l i c e . T h e i r c o n d u c t I n t h e community I s n o r m a lly
I p e a c e f u l , c o o p e r a t i v e , a n d / o r c o n s t r u c t i v e . The few who
I do become known t o t h e p o l i c e t y p i c a l l y do so I n th e com-
i m i s s i o n o f n o n - v i o l e n t c r im e s .
105
IV. A RESUME OF THE OUTSTANDING POINTS OF DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GANGS AND CLUBS IN HOLLENBECK
1. The gang t y p i c a l l y t e s t s c a n d i d a t e s by p a i n and
p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e .
The c lu b t y p i c a l l y t e s t s c a n d i d a t e s by th e v o t e o f
th e m em bers.
2. The gang t e n d s t o c o n c e a l o r d i s g u i s e th e f a c t o f
m e m b e rs h ip .
The c lu b t e n d s t o make a p u b l i c d i s p l a y o f t h e f a c t
o f m em bership.
3 . The gang c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y demands an I r r a t i o n a l
and s e l f - d e n y i n g l o y a l t y to th e g ro u p .
The c lu b c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y e n c o u r a g e s a r a t i o n a l
and c o o p e r a t i v e o r c o m p e t i t i v e l o y a l t y t o t h e g ro u p .
4 . U s u a l l y , th e gang l e a d e r h o l d s h i s p o s i t i o n I n th e
t h r e a t and th e f a c t o f s u p e r i o r p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e .
U s u a l l y , th e c lu b l e a d e r a t t a i n s t o o f f i c e I n th e
v o t e o f th e m em bers; w h ile I n o f f i c e he Im p lem en ts
t h e w i l l o f t h e m a j o r i t y .
5. The gang I s e i t h e r p a s s i v e o r d e s t r u c t i v e I n I t s r e
l a t i o n s w i t h s o c i e t y . I s s o c i a l l y d e s t r u c t i v e and
I s e s s e n t i a l l y h o s t i l e t o a l l o t h e r g a n g s .
The c lu b I s e i t h e r p a s s i v e o r c o n s t r u c t i v e I n I t s
r e l a t i o n s w i t h s o c i e t y . I s s o c i a l l y c o n s t r u c t i v e
and u s u a l l y c o o p e r a t e s w i t h o r com petes a g a i n s t
106
o t h e r c lu b g ro u p s .
6 . The gang g e n e r a l l y l a y s c la im t o an a r e a and upon
s u f f i c i e n t p r o v o c a t i o n w i l l physically d e fe n d t h a t
a r e a .
The c lu b generally h a s l i t t l e o r no a r e a l I d e n t i f i
c a t i o n and d oes n o t a t t e m p t t o e x e r c i s e p r o p r i e t a r y
r i g h t s .
7 . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , th o u g h n o t a b s o l u t e l y , gang
m em bership I s f o r l i f e .
Club m em bership c o n t i n u e s a t th e p l e a s u r e o f th e
I n d i v i d u a l and according t o th e r u l e s o f th e o r g a n i
z a t i o n .
8 . The Intergroup r e l a t i o n s o f gangs o f t e n e x p r e s s
t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h o s t i l i t y to w a rd e a c h o t h e r .
The I n t e r g r o u p r e l a t i o n s o f c lu b s a r e n o r m a lly
c o o p e r a t i v e o r c o m p e t i t i v e .
9 . The gang u s u a l l y d e p r e c a t e s a n d / o r f o r b i d s te a m - ty p e
p l a y and p a r t i c i p a t i o n I n s p o r t s .
The c lu b u s u a l l y e n c o u r a g e s and o f t e n makes p r o v i
s i o n s f o r team-type play and participation I n s p o r t s .
10. The gang I s known t o th e p o l i c e primarily f o r c rim e s
o f violence.
The c lu b I s known. I f a t a l l , p r i m a r i l y f o r n o n
v i o l e n t c r i m e s .
I . 1 0 7
I
I V , REG OmENDATI ONS
I
j T h is g e n e r a l s t u d y o f th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a t t i t u d e s
I and a c t i v i t i e s o f gangs I n H o lle n b e c k s h o u ld be followed
' by o t h e r work I n th e same p a t t e r n . A d d i t i o n a l g e n e r a l
s t u d i e s w ould s e r v e t o c o r r o b o r a t e th e f i n d i n g s o f th e
' p r e s e n t s tu d y and to c o n t r i b u t e much a d d i t i o n a l data t o
t h e f i e l d s o f a ca d em ic and a p p l i e d s o c i o l o g y .
I n a d d i t i o n t o parallel s t u d i e s , a s s u g g e s t e d
above, t h e r e I s a n e e d f o r I n t e n s i v e , long-term, s i n g l e
gang s t u d i e s o f t h e s o r t made by M b y te . By a p p r o a c h in g
h i s s tu d y a s a l o n g - t e r m p r o j e c t , t h e r e s e a r c h e r would
have an o p p o r t u n i t y to make a d e f i n i t i v e a n a l y s i s and
e x h a u s t i v e . d e s c r i p t i o n o f th e phenomenon o f g a n g in g a s
s e e n a t c l o s e r a n g e . I t seems t h a t su c h a s tu d y c o u ld
b e s t be made by one who had an I n t i m a t e an d b ro a d per
sonal knowledge o f t h e neighborhood o f t h e g a n g .
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109
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: San F r a n c i s c o : B a n c r o f t- W h itn e y Company, 1944. !
I W hyte, W illia m F o o te , S t r e e t C o rn e r S o c i e t y : The S o c i a l i
t S t r u c t u r e o f an I t a l i a n S lu m . C hicago : U n i v e r s i t y o f
C h icag o P r e s s , 1943.
Young, P a u l i n e V. P i l g r i m s In R u s s ia n ! o w n . Los A n g e le s :
U n i v e r s i t y o f C hicago P r e s s , 1932.
Ill
B. PUBLICATION OP THE GOVERNMENT
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
I A nnual R e p o rt on C a lif o r n ia # ' s Y outh and C h i l d r e n . Sacra -
j m en to, C a l i f o r n i a : G o v e r n o r 's C o n f e re n c e , F e b r u a r y
' 2 5-2 6, 1 9 5 4.
, A nnual R e p o r t o f Los A n g e le s P o l i c e D e p a r tm e n t. Los
A n g e le s : 1954.
A nnual R e p o rt on th e O p e r a tio n o f J u v e n i l e H a l l . Los
A n g e le s : Los Angeles Probation C om m ittee, 1954.
i
, Background f o r Planning. Los A n g e le s : R e s e a r c h D e p a rtm e n t,|
I Welfare Planning C o u n c il, Los A n g e le s R e g io n , 1955.
D e lin q u e n c y and P r o b a t i o n I n C a l i f o r n i a . S a c ra m e n to ,
C a l i f o r n i a : A s t a t i s t i c a l summary prepared f o r th e j
Department o f th e Y outh A u t h o r i t y by th e B u re a u o f 1
Criminal S t a t i s t i c s , 1954.
Directory o f H e a l t h , Welfare and R e c r e a t i o n A g e n c ie s I n j
Los Angeles C o u n ty . Los Angeles : W e lfa re P la n n in g
C o u n c il, Los Angeles Region, 1954. '
I
Group Work w i t h Hard-to,.TReach T e e n - A g e r s . ( r e p r i n t e d from
The S o c i a l W e lfa re Forum . New York: C olum bia U n iv e r
s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 1 ) .
I
P e r s o n s w i t h S p a n is h S u rn a m e s. U n ite d S t a t e s C ensus o f
I P o p u l a t i o n , U n ite d S t a t e s D e p artm en t o f Commerce,
j B u re a u o f t h e Census, 1950.
I R e c r e a t i o n and Y outh S e r v i c e s R e s o u r c e s . Los Angeles :
M e t r o p o l i t a n R e c r e a t i o n and Y outh S e r v i c e s Council,
1 9 5 5 .
I C. PERIODICALS
I
I Bower, E. M. "Training T e a c h e r s to R e c o g n iz e E a r l y Symp- '
i toms o f Y outh I n D i f f i c u l t y , " C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u th o r - :
I I t y Quarterly., Volume 4 , Number 1 , Spring, 1951.
I
I C ooper, Irving Ben. "The Drama o f Y outh I n Our C r im in a l
C o u r t s , " F e d e r a l P r o b a t i o n . XIX (March 1955) 3 6 -4 2 .
Putnam , George F . "A Newscaster Looks a t Delinquency,"
C a l i f o r n i a Y outh A u t h o r i t y Quarterly. Volume 8 ,
112
Number 1, Spring 1955.
S t e i n b e c k , J o h n , " J u v e n i l e Gangs F u l f i l l a N e e d ," Time
M agazine * Ju n e 6, 1955 ( q u o te d from S a tu r d a y R e v ie w ).
D. UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS
D w o s k l n , S id n e y , " D e v e lo p in g s o c i a ^ l i z a t i o n o f a d o l e s c e n t s
by th e Group G u id an ce U n i t o f th e D e lin q u e n c y P r e v e n
t i o n D i v i s i o n o f Los A n g e le s C o u n t y P r o b a t i o n D e p a r t
m e n t . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y
o f S o u th e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los A n g e le s , 1948.
J a n a p o l , Mel and N at F e d e r. "Area V R e p o r t . " Los A n g e les
Los A n g e l e s Y outh P r o j e c t s , Y outh S e r v i c e s D i v i s i o n ,
W e lf a re C o u n c il o f M e t r o p o l i t a n Los A n g e l e s , c a .
1 9 5 0 . ( D u p l i c a t e d . )
K id d e r, Lewis G. "The a d j u s t m e n t p r o c e s s a s f o u n d In th e
e x p e r i e n c e s o f tw e n ty f o r m e r l y d e l i n q u e n t boys d u r i n g
and f o l l o w i n g p r o b a t i o n . " U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r 's
t h e s i s . The U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , Los
A n g e le s , 1949.
K r o e b e r , F. J . # 4 2 1 4 , " A c tiv e G a n g s - - H o l l e n b e c k A r e a . "
Los A n g e le s : H o lle n b e c k D i v i s i o n , Los A n g e l e s P o l i c e
D e p a r t m e n t , May 6, 1953.
\
"N otes on C o n fe re n c e B etw een Mr. Jo e D a v i la and D r. F ra n k
R e g a r d i n g G a n g G r o u p s ." Los A n g e l e s : W e lfa re C o u n c il
o f M e t r o p o l i t a n Los A n g e le s , March 11, 1953. ( T y p e d . )
" S p e c i a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n , G a n g A c t i v i t i e s Los A n g e l e s
C o u n ty ." S a c r a m e n t o : I n t e r - D e p a r t m e n t a l C om m unication
from Mr. R a lp h B. W rig h t, A s s i s t a n t t o t h e D i r e c t o r ,
t o Mr. Hernan G. S t a r k , D i r e c t o r o f Y outh A u t h o r i t y ,
December 21, 1953. ( T y p e d . )
E . N E W S P A P E R S
Los A n g e le s H e r a ld & E x p r e s s , O c to b e r 25, 1955.
Los A n g e l e s H e r a ld & E x p r e s s , November 3, 1955.
Los A n g e l e s H e r a ld & E x p r e s s , J a n u a r y l 4 , 1956.
113
A P P E N D I X A
R E C R E A T I O N A N D Y O U T H S E R V I C E S R E S O U R C E S F O R T H E
HOLLENBECK AREA OF E A S T LOS ANGELES
San A n to n io E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l )
P r o s p e c t P a rk ( Los A n g e le s C i t y D e p a r t m e n t o f R e c r e a t i o n
and P a r k s )
B r id g e S t r e e t E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l (Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls )
Ramona High S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l)
B r o w n s o n House ( C a t h o l i c Y outh O r g a n i z a t i o n s )
U tah S t r e e t E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l (Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o ls )
P ecan S t r e e t P l a y g r o u n d (Los A n g e les C i ty D e p artm en t o f
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s )
D o lo re s M is s io n E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l)
S e c o n d S t r e e t E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l (Los A n g e le s C ity S c h o o l s )
H o lle n b e c k S o c i a l C e n te r ( P r i v a t e )
Los A n g e le s J e w is h Academy E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l ( P r i v a t e )
E a s t s l d e J e w is h Community C e n t e r ( P r i v a t e )
B re ed S t r e e t E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l (Los A n g e les C i t y S c h o o ls )
S t . Mary E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l)
DAR C e n te r ( P r i v a t e )
Los A n g e le s M usic and A rt S c h o o l ( P r i v a t e )
P ic o G ardens P l a y g r o u n d (Los A n g e le s C i ty D e p artm en t o f
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s )
I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f Los A n g e les ( P r i v a t e )
H o lle n b e c k P a r k (Los A n g e les C ity D e p a r t m e n t o f R e c r e a t i o n
and P a r k s ) '
Los A n g e les O r p h a n a g e E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l ( P r i v a t e ) |
S a n ta I s a b e l E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( P r i v a t e ) i
S t a t e S t r e e t P la y g r o u n d (Los A n g e l e s C i ty D e p a rtm e n t o f I
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s )
S h e r i d a n E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l ( Los A n g e l e s C ity S c h o o ls ) i
V a r i e t y B o y s' Club ( P r i v a t e )
Wabash P la y g ro u n d (Los A n g e le s C i ty D e p artm en t o f R e c r e - '
a t l o n and P a r k s ) ,
E v e r g r e e n P la y g ro u n d ( L o s A n g e le s C i ty D e p a rtm e n t o f j
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s ) '
H ebron Community C e n t e r ( P r i v a t e )
' A s s u m p t i o n E le m e n ta r y S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l )
I M a lab a r S t r e e t E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l)
; F i r s t S t r e e t E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l)
'E v e r g r e e n P la y g ro u n d (Los A n g e le s C i t y D e p a rtm e n t o f
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s ) !
' R o o s e v e lt H igh S c h o o l ( Los A n g e le s C i t y S c h o o l s )
' H o l l e n b e c k J u n i o r High S c h o o l (Los A n g e l e s C i ty S c h o o ls )
: S o t o S t r e e t E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l (Los A n g e l e s C i ty S c h o o ls ) '
! A n d r e w J a c k s o n H igh S c h o o l (Los A n g e l e s C ity S c h o o ls ) I
I 114 I
^ E u c l i d Avenue E le m e n ta ry S c h o o ls (Los A n g e le s C i t y Schools)!
1 F re s n o P la y g ro u n d (Los A n g e le s C ity D e p a r t m e n t o f R e c r e a - |
i t l o n and P a r k s ) i
I L o r e n a S t r e e t E le m e n ta r y S c h o o ls (Los A n g e les C i t y S c h o o ls )
I H o s t e t t e r P la y g ro u n d (Los A n g eles C i ty D e p a rtm e n t o f
^ R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s )
ÎD a co ta h S t r e e t E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l (Los A n g e les C i t y S ch o o ls).
' Lou C o s t e l l o J u n i o r R e c r e a t i o n C e n te r (Los A n g e les C i ty
D e p a rtm e n t o f R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s ) ;
! R e s u r r e c t i o n E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l ) j
■Stevenson J u n i o r H igh S c h o o l ( Los A n g e les C i ty S c h o o ls ) i
'Marengo H e ig h ts E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l (Los A n g e le s C i ty Schools))
!H a za rd P la y g ro u n d ( Los A n g e les C i t y D e p artm en t o f R e c r e - j
I a t l o n and P a r k s ) ■
IM urchi8on S t r e e t E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l (Los A n g e le s C i ty '
' S c h o o ls ) ■
!Santa T e r e s l t a E le m e n ta ry S c h o o l ( C a t h o l i c S c h o o l) '
! R a m o n a G ardens P la y g ro u n d (Los A n g e les C ity D e p artm en t o f •
R e c r e a t i o n and P a r k s ) * |
I ^
Maps number 28 and 36, R e c r e a t i o n and Y outh S e r v
i c e s R e s o u r c e s , M e t r o p o l i t a n R e c r e a t i o n and Y outh S e r v i c e s
C o u n c il, Los A n g e le s , 1955.
Dirx
C L A S P ( H ^ j ) EN V ELO PE
N o . 5 S . 6 x 9
116
APPENDIX C
I
A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE RECORD OF AN INTERVIEW WITH
THE SPONSOR OF A GANG IN HOLLENBECK
I
E x c e p t f o r a pseudonym f o r t h e name o f th e gang and
d e l e t i o n o f o t h e r i d e n t i f y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , a s n e c e s s a r y , *
I
t h e m a t e r i a l to f o l l o w i s an e x a c t copy o f th e r e c o r d o f !
w hat a y o u th w o rk e r s a i d a b o u t th e g ro u p he s p o n s o r e d .
H is s t a t e m e n t s w ere made d u r i n g th e c o u r s e o f a fo r m a l ;
i n t e r v i e w em p lo y in g a s c h e d u le o f t w e n ty - s e v e n q u e s t i o n s , j
i
S u b s e q u e n t e v a l u a t i o n r e v e a l e d th e f a c t t h a t h i s was th e
m ost h o s t i l e o f th e e i g h t e e n g ro u p s r e p r e s e n t e d i n th e
survey.
1. Q. What i s t h e name o f t h i s g r o u p ?
A. The B la c k Swans.
2. Q . How o ld i s th e g ro u p i n i t s p r e s e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n ?
A. The B la c k Swans g o es b a ck a t l e a s t t h i r t y years,
more o r l e s s . At t h i s t im e , o n ly t h e C y g n e ts o f B la c k
Swans a r e a c t i v e . T h e i r h i s t o r y goes b a c k a b o u t f o u r
y e a r s . T h e i r l i f e a s a g ro u p d ep en d s upon t h e t r a d i t i o n
t h a t a l l boys o f th e a r e a J o i n th e B la c k S w ans.
3. ^ . How do es a boy become e l i g i b l e f o r m em b ersh ip ?
A. To become e l i g i b l e , th e boy n e e d s t o be between
f o u r t e e n and e i g h t e e n y e a r s o f a g e , M ex ica n -A m erica n ,
and w ant t o be i n . F u r t h e r , he m ust l i v e i n the B la c k
Swans a r e a .
4 . Q. What i s th e p r o c e s s o f becom ing a member?
A. B e a tin g up i s th e r i t u a l o f J o i n i n g . A f t e r he
h a s s u c c e s s f u l l y p a s s e d t h e t r i a l by f i r e th e code i s
117
e x p l a i n e d t o him (no r a t t i n g o r s q u e a l i n g , one f o r - a l l
and a l l f o r one, e t c . ) . Once t h e hoy i s i n , f e a r c a n
! k e e p him i n . The new member i s t a k e n a l o n g on gang a c t i
v i t i e s , gang f i g h t s , f o r w h ich he h a s t o c a r r ^ t h e w eap
ons . The code o f t h e gang makes c l e a r t h a t i f he i s
c a u g h t b y t h e p o l i c e he w i l l n o t ^ ’r a t ” on h i s b u d d i e s ;
he w i l l t a k e t h e f u l l blam e and p u n ish m e n t on h i m s e l f .
He m ust k eep h i s m outh s h u t ev en th o u g h he i s p e r f e c t l y
i n n o c e n t o f wrong d o in g .
A p p r o x im a te ly f i f t y boys i n t h e a r e a do n o t b e
lo n g t o B la c k Swans; e i t h e r t h e y d o n 't w ant t o b e lo n g
o r t h e y w ere n e v e r a s k e d . A boy d o e s n 't h a v e t o b e lo n g ,
b u t p r e s s u r e from o t h e r g ro u p s o r gangs c a n v e r y w e l l
f o r c e him i n t o t h e gan g . Boys o f o t h e r gangs assum e
t h a t t h e f a c t o f a r e a r e s i d e n c e i s t h e same a s i d e n t i f i
c a t i o n w i t h t h e a r e a g a n g . F o u r o r f i v e boys from
a n o t h e r gang jumped a b o y from t h e B la c k Swans a r e a ; when
he k e p t c la im i n g h i s in n o c e n c e o f m em b ersh ip, t h e y r e
p l i e d , "W ell, you l i v e t h e r e , d o n ' t y o u ? "
5 . Q. How does a b o y show t h a t h e b e l o n g s ?
A. A boy shows t h a t he b e lo n g s by p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n
f i g h t s , k e e p in g h i s m outh s h u t w h ile i n t r o u b l e , b y
g o in g a l o n g w i t h t h e g ro u p o p i n i o n and d e c i s i o n i n tim e
o f c r i s i s .
6. Q. How c o h e s iv e i s t h e g ro u p i n t h e f a c e o f o p p o s i -
d a n g e r ?
A. T h is gang i s v e r y s t r o n g ; t h e y h av e enough mem
b e r s t o th ro w t h e i r w e ig h t a r o u n d . I f i n a f i g h t t h e y
f i n d th e m s e lv e s o u tn u m b e red , t h e y ' l l go and g e t guys
o u t o f bed f o r r e t a l i a t i o n b e f o r e t h e n i g h t i s o v e r . An
i n j u r y t o one o r a n i n s u l t t o one i s a n i n j u r y o r i n
s u l t t o a l l (g ro u p s o l i d a r i t y r e s u l t s from t h e s h a r e d
f e e l i n g o f r e j e c t i o n and s o c i a l p r e s s u r e ) . T h e i r code
o f c o n d u c t i n r e l a t i o n t o law e n fo rc e m e n t o f f i c e r s r e
q u i r e s no r a t t i n g , no s q u e a l i n g . T h is i s a v e r y s e l f -
c e n t e r e d g ro u p . I s o l a t e d from h i s g ro u p t h e i n d i v i d u a l
b o y a p p e a r s t o be s t u p i d , o f vacuous mind and e x p r e s
s i o n ; t h e bo y a p a r t from t h e gang h a s no s e n s e o f p e r
s o n a l w o rth , no s e n s e o f p e r s o n a l d e s t i n y . I n th e
p r e s e n c e o f t h e p o l i c e , h e h a s no more p e r s o n a l i t y t h a n
a lump o f p u t t y .
A boy who was w ro n g ly a c c u s e d by t h e p o l i c e o f
h o u se b r e a k i n g and s t e a l i n g r a d i o s from t h e h o u se b ro u g h t
h i s c o n f l i c t t o t h e Group G uidance s p o n s o r o f t h e g an g .
The b o y was i n n o c e n t , b u t he d i d know who was t h e g u i l t y
118
p e r s o n . The law o f t h e gang r e q u i r e d t h a t he t a k e t h e
p u n ish m e n t f o r t h e o t h e r p e rso n ^ t h a t he k e e p h i s m outh
s h u t . He d i d n ' t w ant t o go to j a i l . The s p o n s o r , knowing
t h e c o n f l i c t and s e n s i n g t h a t t h e tim e was r i p e f o r
c h a l l e n g i n g t h e h oy, s a i d , "Do you w ant t o be P edro
R o d rig u e z , a man, o r do you w ant t o he B la c k Swan? The
I b o y made a n i n s t a n t d e c i s i o n , s t r a i g h t e n e d up a lm o s t
j v i s i b l y a s he shook o f f t h e l o a d . He b r o k e t h e c o d e;
he t o l d t h e p o l i c e who d i d i t . The p o l i c e a r r a n g e d t h e
a r r e s t i n su c h a m anner t h a t t h e o t h e r members o f t h e
gang n e v e r s u s p e c t e d how t h e y fo und o u t t h e r i g h t p e r s o n .
7. Q. What i s t h e p r o c e s s o f becom ing t h e l e a d e r ?
A. T h is i s a h a r d o n e . T h e re a r e no p a r t i c u l a r
s t e p s to f o l l o w , j u s t human n a t u r e . T h ere i s s t a t u s -
s e e k i n g a c t i v i t y g o in g on a l l t h e t im e . The more v i c i o u s
a boy i s , t h e more he h a s assum ed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e
a c t s o f o t h e r s , t h e more tim e s h e h a s b e e n i n t h e can ,
e t c . , t h e more s t a t u s he h a s a n d t h e more c h an c e t o b e
come t h e l e a d e r . A c t u a l l y , t h e k i d s s a y t h e y d o n 't w ant
t o h a v e a r e c o g n i z e d l e a d e r ; i n tim e s o f t r o u b l e w i t h
t h e p o l i c e i t ' s e a s i e r f o r them i f t h e r e i s no d e f i n i t e
l e a d e r , makes i t h a r d e r f o r t h e p o l i c e . I n t h i s gang,
t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e l e a d e r i s n o t c l e a r l y d e f i n e d . Any
one c a n i n i t i a t e a c t i o n ; a l l go a l o n g b e c a u s e one w an ts
i t .
8 . Q. What a r e t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e g r o u p ?
A. A gang h a s no g o a ls o t h e r t h a n d e s t r u c t i o n and
r e l e a s e o f h o s t i l i t y ; t h e gang i s a means o f c o n t i n u i n g
t h e ^ t r a d i t i o n s o f y o u t h f u l crim e i n t h e a r e a . The p u r
p o se o f t h e gang i s t o e x e r t a g g r e s s i o n to w a rd o t h e r
g ro u p s a s w e l l a s to d e fe n d i t s e l f .
9 . Q. What a r e a d o es t h e g ro u p c l a i m ?
A. A rea bounds a r e F o u r th S t r e e t t o S a n ta Ana F reew ay
an d L o ren a S t r e e t t o E u c l i d S t r e e t .
10. Q. Where do t h e members h ang o u t ?
A. They h a n g o u t a t t h e c o r n e r o f ________ and
i n f r o n t o f t h e g r o c e r y s t o r e ; i n tim e s o f h e a v y p o l i c e
p a t r o l l i n g t h e y h an g o u t and m eet i n m em ber's h o u s e s .
1 1 . Q. How many a r e i n t h e c o r e ?
A. A l l a r e a c t i v e ; t h e r e i s no f r i n g e ; t h e r e a r e
t h i r t y - f i v e members.
i 119
12. Q. How many a r e I n t h e f r i n g e ?
j A. See num ber e l e v e n .
1 3 . Q. What I s t h e p r o c e s s o f g e t t i n g o u t o f t h e g r o u p ?
A. The o n ly way t o g e t o u t c o m p l e t e l y i s t o be
b e a t e n o u t . A boy m ust t e l l e a c h member, s e p a r a t e l y , o f
h i s d e s i r e t o g e t o u t . A b u l l s e s s i o n i s h e ld ( t h e mem
b e r s a r e n o t c a p a b le o f m anaging a k a n g a ro o c o u r t ) t o d e
c id e w hat t o do ( t h e i r d e c i s i o n i s e s p e c i a l l y s e v e r e and
t h e b e a t i n g to f o l l o w , i f t h e boy h a s l e t them know t h a t
h e w a n ts t o j o i n a n o t h e r g a n g ) . T h is k in d o f s e p a r a t i o n
o c c u r s p r i m a r i l y among t h e new members a t t h e end o f t h e
I honeymoon, when t h e new ness h a s w orn o f f and t h e y r e a l i z e
w hat t h e y have g o t t e n th e m s e lv e s i n t o . The aw ak e n in g
o c c u r s a t a b o u t t h r e e to f o u r m o n th s.
The o l d s ta n d b y s d o n ' t q u i t . A member i s r e l a
t i v e l y o u t i f he j o i n s t h e m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e o r g e t s m a r
r i e d . However, t h e m a r r i e d member w i l l be c a l l e d upon
f o r h e l p i n tim e s o f e m erg en cy ; t h i s d e p en d e n ce on him
w i l l c o n t i n u e u n t i l he h a s a c o u p le o f k i d s . Moving o u t
o f t h e a r e a i s n o t enough f o r a b o y t o g e t o u t o f t h e
g a n g ; some come from V e n ic e , E l M onte, e t c .
I h ave b e e n i n s t r u m e n t a l i n g e t t i n g e i g h t t o
d ro p o u t o f t h e gang b y b e in g b e a t e n o u t .
14. Q. %8 t h e r e a g i r l s ' a u x i l i a r y ?
A. Y es, t h e C y g n e t t e s . They r a n g e i n a g e from f o u r
t e e n t o e i g h t e e n ; t h e y a r e , i n g e n e r a l , t h e g i r l f r i e n d s
o f t h e B la c k Swans. They come t o m e e tin g s and a r e a c t i v e
i n t h e m e e tin g s o f B la c k S w ans. An u n a t t a c h e d g i r l i s
e x p e c te d t o s a t i s f y t h e s e x u a l n e e d s o f t h e members n e w ly
r e t u r n e d fro m j a i l . Y outh A u t h o r i t y , o r F o r e s t r y Camp.
The code o f t h e gang a ll o w s t h e g i r l s who a r e g o in g s t e a d y
n o t to be im posed upon b y t h e r e t u r n e e s t o t h e a r e a . The
bo ys o f t h e C y g n e tte s buy t h e i r g i r l f r i e n d s l i q u o r , n a r
c o t i c s , e t c .
The g i r l s o f B la c k Swans, t h e C y g n e tt e s , seem t o
be a s i n t e r e s t e d a s t h e boys i n a m em ber's a b i l i t y t o t a k e
i t . S e v e r a l tim e s a p r o s p e c t i v e member o f t h e C y g n e tte s
h a s been b e a t e n up b y two members o f t h e C y g n e t t e s . The
b e a t i n g h a s gone o n a s lo n g a s a h a l f h o u r a t w h ich tim e
t h e a s s a i l a n t s h av e l e t up f o r r e s t and t h e n gone b a c k
t o t h e b lo o d y b u s i n e s s . I f t h e w o u ld -b e member begs f o r
m ercy, h o l l e r s i n p a i n , o r o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e s w eakness
sh e f a i l s t h e t e s t and c a n n o t become a member.
120
1 5 . Q. Is_ t h e r e a n a g e - l e v e l s u b d i v i s i o n ?
A. C y g n e tt e s , n o ; f o r t h e C y g n e tte s a r e a n a g e - l e v e l
s u b d i v i s i o n o f B la c k Swans. B la c k Swans h a s t h e f o l l o w i n g
s u b d i v i s i o n s , e . g . : ( l ) V e te r a n o s , t w e n t y - f i v e t o t h i r t y
y e a r s , (2 ) M o n s te rs , tw e n ty -tw o to t w e n t y - f o u r y e a r s ,
(3 ) C h e r r i e s , e i g h t e e n t o tw e n ty -tw o y e a r s , and (4)
C y g n e t t e s , f o u r t e e n t o e i g h t e e n y e a r s . The V ets a r e a l l
i n c u s t o d y o r a r e m a r r i e d ; t h e M o n ste rs a r e a l l i n c u s to d y ;
t h e C h e r r i e s a r e a l l i n c u s to d y .
1 6 . Q. W h a t a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e g r o u p m a k e i t k n o w n i n
t h e c o m m u n i t y ?
A. N o th in g c o n s t r u c t i v e .
|17. Q. W h a t a r e t h e n a m e s o f f r i e n d l y g r o u p s ?
A . N o n e.
1 8 . Q. W h a t a r e t h e n a m e s o f h o s t i l e g r o u p s ?
A. A l l , and m ost s p e c i f i c a l l y : E v e r g r e e n , F l a t s
(Dukes and F l i p s , P u r p le H e a r t s and S k u l l s ) , M ateo, L i t t l e
I V a l l e y , V a rio Nuevo, M ara, and El-H oyo S o to .
19. Q. W h a t r e c r e a t i o n a n d / o r y o u t h w o r k f a c i l i t i e s a r e
a v a i l a b l e i n t h e n e ig h b o r h o o d ?
A. A C i t y o f Los A n g e le s D epartm en t o f R e c r e a t i o n
and P a rk s f a c i l i t y , and t h e f a c i l i t i e s o f Group G uidance
U n it o f C ounty P r o b a t i o n D e p a r tm e n t.
2 0 . Q . D o t h e m e m b e r s g e t t o g e t h e r f o r i n f o r m a l a n d
u n s u p e r v i s e d t e a m - t y p e p l a y ?
A. None o f a n y k i n d . They w i l l n o t e v en a t t e n d a
p r o - b a l l game w i t h t i c k e t s p a i d f o r and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
f u r n i s h e d ; t h e y w i l l n o t a t t e n d L e g io n b o x in g ; t h e y do
n o t w a tc h f o o t b a l l on TV. T h e i r o n l y l i k i n g i s s o c i a l
d a n c in g .
'21. Q. p £ t h e members p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e fo rm a l and
I s u p e r v i s e d s p o r t s p r o g r a m s o f s c h o o l , p l a y g r o u n d , o r
a g e n c y ?
I A. None.
121
22. Q. What k i n d s o f b e h a v i o r have b r o u g h t th e g ro u p to
th e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e p o l i c e ?
A. The r u n - o f “ th e - m in e a c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d i n g n a r
c o t i c s , d ru n k , r o b b e r y , c u rfe w , but no s e x u a l c o m p l a i n t s .
2 3 . Q. How many members a r e on p r o b a t i o n o r p a r o l e ?
A. Forty-two have b e e n on p r o b a t i o n a n d / o r p a r o l e .
At t h i s tim e t h i r t y - e i g h t a r e on p r o b a t i o n o r p a r o l e .
! 24. Q. How many members a r e i n F o r e s t r y Camp o r th e
i Y outh A u t h o r i t y ?
A. Seven a r e i n F o r e s t r y Camp and e i g h t more a r e
g o in g a s a r e s u l t o f th e New Y e a r 's Day f r a c a s ( t h e t r o u b l e
on New Y e a r 's Day was a d i r e c t outcom e o f th e November 2nd j
s h o o t i n g o f th e B la c k Swans b o y ) . At L o u rd es Church th e
boy who g o t s h o t November 2nd th o u g h t he r e c o g n i z e d th e
one who had s h o t him . The B la c k Swans boy s t a b b e d th e
o t h e r i n t h e back w i t h o u t t a k i n g th e tim e o r e f f o r t to
make s u r e o f th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ; th e s t a b b i n g was fo llo w e d |
by a b e a t i n g . The B la c k Swans boys w ere p i c k e d up by t h e |
p o l i c e , b u t r e l e a s e d to t h e i r homes (no room i n J u v e n i l e i
j H a l l ) . When th e s t a b b e r was p ic k e d up he s a i d , " I ' l l k i l l !
, t h e guy t h a t s h o t m e. " '
I T hese boys f o l l o w i n s t i n c t s ; t h e y d o n ' t go by j
, t h e r u l e s o f r i g h t and w rong. ;
2 5 . Q. What agency h a s a s s i g n e d a s p o n s o r ?
I A. Group G uidance o f County P r o b a t i o n ; D e p a rtm e n t ;
I o f R e c r e a t i o n and P a rk s f u r n i s h e s a m e e tin g room i n th e
r e c r e a t i o n b u i l d i n g e v e r y T h u rsd ay e v e n in g . |
2 6 . Q. What i s th e sponsor' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith th e g r o u p ?
A. The s p o n s o r w orks by g i v i n g p e r s o n a l a s s i s t a n c e |
on a d i r e c t b a s i s ; he o f f e r s counsel and g u id a n c e ; he ,
I u s e s some s o c i a l an d g ro u p work t e c h n i q u e s . T h is i s a ;
i c rim e c o n t r o l p ro g ra m , n o t a p r e v e n t i o n o f J u v e n i l e d e l i n -
i quency. I
!
2 7 . Q. What c h a n g e s i n th e g ro u p have b e e n b r o u g h t a b o u t 1
by t h e s p o n s o r ? '
A. The members o f B la c k Swans a r e n o t fighting as I
i
122
much a s o r a s f r e q u e n t l y a s b e f o r e ; a t my i n s t i g a t i o n
e i g h t have d ro p p e d o u t ; some have J o i n e d th e s e r v i c e ; th e
gang h a s J o in e d th e F e d e r a t i o n o f Y outh C lubs ( t h e y have
b e e n a b l e and w i l l i n g to s i t down w i t h o t h e r g ro u p s i n
c o u n ty t e r r i t o r y ) . *
Statement by interviewee number sixteen
123
APPENDIX D
A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE RECORD OF AN INTERVIEW WITH
THE SPONSOR OF A CLUB IN HOLLENBECK
E x c e p t f o r a pseudonym f o r th e name o f th e c lu b and
d e l e t i o n o f o t h e r i d e n t i f y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , a s n e c e s s a r y ,
t h e m a t e r i a l t o f o l l o w i s a n e x a c t copy o f th e r e c o r d o f
i
j w hat a y o u th w o rk e r s a i d a b o u t th e g ro u p he s p o n s o r e d .
I H is s t a t e m e n t s w ere made d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f a fo rm a l
i
I i n t e r v i e w e m p lo y in g a s c h e d u le o f t w e n ty - s e v e n q u e s t i o n s ,
I
S u b s e q u e n t e v a l u a t i o n r e v e a l e d th e f a c t t h a t h i s was one
o f th e t h r e e m ost s o c i a l o f th e e i g h t e e n g ro u p s r e p r e s e n t e d
i n th e s u r v e y . i
1. Q. What i s th e name o f t h i s g r o u p ? ^
I
A. The W a r r i o r s . j
How o ld i s t h e g ro u p i n i t s p r e s e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n ?
T hree y e a r s ,
How d o es a boy become e l i g i b l e f o r m em bersh ip?
2. Q
A
3 . Q
A . The boy m ust a t t e n d t h r e e m e e ti n g s ; a t e a c h
m e e tin g he m ust s t a n d u p , g iv e h i s f u l l name, t e l l o f
any p r e v i o u s c lu b a f f i l i a t i o n , and why he w a n ts t o b e
lo n g t o th e W a r r i o r s . The s e c r e t a r y r e a d s th e r u l e s o f
th e c l u b . On th e f o u r t h m e e tin g n i g h t , th e boy i s v o te d
on by s e c r e t b a l l o t .
4. Q. What i s th e p r o c e s s o f becom ing a member?
A. See number t h r e e .
5. Q. How does a boy show t h a t he b e l o n g s ?
A. They have j a c k e t s , s h i r t s w ith a c lu b s e a l on th e
124
f r o n t , and th e y have m em bership c a r d s .
6. Q. How c o h e s iv e I s t h i s g ro u p I n t h e f a c e o f o p p o s i
t i o n o r d a n g e r ?
A. Quite c o h e s i v e , p r e t t y c l o s e - k n i t a s a c lu b (two
d o l l a r f i n e and f i v e sw a ts f o r f a i l u r e t o go to snow w i t h
th e c l u b ).
7 . Q. What i s th e p r o c e s s o f becom ing th e l e a d e r ?
A. I n November o f e a c h y e a r th e n o m in a tin g com m ittee
m ee ts t o p r e p a r e th e s l a t e . The s l a t e i s p r e s e n t e d f o r
c lu b a p p r o v a l and e l e c t i o n s i n Decem ber. The o f f i c e r s
h o ld o f f i c e f o r a year.
8. Q. What a r e t h e p u r p o s e s o f th e g r o u p ?
A. D ancing and s p o r t s a r e th e m ain p u r p o s e s o f th e
g ro u p .
Q. What a r e a does th e g ro u p c l a i m ?
A. The g ro u p c la im s Evergreen Playground a s t h e i r
own area.
10. Q. Where do th e members hang out?
A. They hang o u t i n a l l o f E a s t Los A n g e les i n a
p r o m o ti o n a l way. They s t a r t e d on a s t r e e t c o r n e r . A f t e r
they failed i n t r y i n g t o h o ld a d a n c e , th e y were t u r n e d
o v e r to Bobbins by C ouncilm an R o y b a l.
11. Q. How many a r e i n th e c o r e ?
A. T h ree boys a r e t h e r e a l l e a d e r s o f th e group.
12. Q. How many a r e i n th e fringe?
A. None, f o r th e r e a s o n t h a t t h e c lu b i s to o w e l l
known f o r boys t o make f a l s e c la im s o f m em b ersh ip; th e
group i s q u i t e c l o s e - k n i t a s a w h o le .
1 3. Q. What i s th e p r o c e s s o f getting o u t o f th e g r o u p ?
A. I f a boy brings d i s g r a c e on th e name o f th e c lu b ,
he may be d ro p p e d (disgrace does n o t i n c l u d e p o l i c e a r
r e s t , d ru n k e n n e s s , e t c . ) . He may be d ro p p e d f o r u n
e x c u s e d a b s e n c e from m e e tin g s o v e r an e x te n d e d p e r i o d
o f time.
125
14. Q . 1^ t h e r e a g i r l s ' a u x i l i a r y ?
A. None, now. T h ere u s e d to be b u t they g o t Into
t r o u b l e ,
1 5 . Q. t h e r e a n a g e - l e v e l s u b d i v i s i o n ?
A. Y es, a b o y s ' g ro u p c a l l e d th e J a g u a r s .
, 1 6 . Q. What a c t i v i t i e s o f th e g ro u p make i t known i n
t h e community?
A. They furnished a l l t h e h o t dogs f o r th e play
ground H allo w een p a r t y and managed th e b o o th f o r t h e s a l e
o f th e h o t d o g s . The i n d i v i d u a l members o f t h e W a r r io r s
have come from and belong to o t h e r c lu b s an d gangs o f
th e H o lle n b e c k area. A W a r r io r can v e r y w e l l b e , a t t h e
same tim e , a member o f E l Hoyo S o t o , t h e F l i p s , o r any
one o f a number o f o t h e r youth g r o u p s .
1 7 . Q. What a r e th e names o f f r i e n d l y g r o u p s ?
A. The W a r r i o r s have no b e e f s i n E a s t Los A n g e le s ;
th e members go and come f r e e l y (boys come from many a r e a s
and belong t o a number o f different gangs i n E a s t Los
A n g e l e s ).
1 8 . Q. What a r e t h e names o f h o s t i l e g r o u p s ?
A. See number s e v e n t e e n .
1 9 . Q. What recreation a n d / o r y o u th work f a c i l i t i e s are
a v a i l a b l e i n th e neighborhood?
A. The boys can u se th e f a c i l i t i e s o f H o lle n b e c k
Junior High, R o o s e v e lt H igh, and J a c k s o n H igh; th e y have
E v e r g r e e n P la y g ro u n d and t h e C a t h o l i c C hurch a c r o s s F o u r th
I S t r e e t .
! 2 0 . Q. Do^ th e members g e t t o g e t h e r f o r i n f o r m a l and
u n s u p e r v i s e d team-type play?
!
! A. Yes, a s a c l u b , b u t n o t a s i n d i v i d u a l s .
2 1 . Q. Do th e members p a r t i c i p a t e i n th e fo r m a l and
s u p e r v i s e d p ro g ram s o f s c h o o l , p l a y g r o u n d , o r agency?
A . Y es, th e y p l a y e v e r y s p o r t a s a club.
2 2 . Q. What k i n d s o f b e h a v i o r have b r o u g h t th e g roup t o
t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e police?
126
A . N one.
2 3 . Q. How many members a r e on probation o r p a r o l e ?
I A. None
j 24. Q. How many members a r e i n Forestry Camp o r th e j
I Youth A u t h o r i t y ? I
! :
: A. None. |
2 5 . Q. What ag en c y h as a s s i g n e d a s p o n s o r ? '
A. Los A n g e le s City Recreation and Park D e p a rtm e n t |
j p r o v i d e s th e u s e o f E v e r g r e e n P la y g ro u n d and th e tim e o f
I t h e C h ie f D i r e c t o r . E a s t Los A n g e les Rotary Club h e l p s !
I w i t h money and a d v ic e ( c a n ' t be a l e g a l s p o n s o r ) . 1
] 2 6 . Q. What i s th e s p o n s o r ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e g ro u p ?
A. A l l dances o f th e W a r r io r s a r e attended by from |
f i v e t o e i g h t members o f th e Rotary C lub ; th e C h i e f D i r
e c t o r attends m e e tin g s on Sunday e v e n in g s on h i s own tim e .
2 7 . Q. What c h an g es i n th e g ro u p have b e en b r o u g h t
a b o u t by th e s p o n s o r ?
A. The p r e s e n t conduct and a t t i t u d e s o f t h e members
show th e e f f o r t s o f a g ro u p o f boys t o work t h e i r way o u t
, o f a gang situation t o a c lu b s i t u a t i o n ; th e y want t o be
i n a p o s i t i o n t o h e lp boys now in v o lv e d i n gang l i f e .
. A c c o rd in g to th e c o n s t i t u t i o n , a l l th e money from d a n c e s
' ( t h e p r o f i t s ) m ust go for education o r h e lp o f o t h e r
' s o r t s for i n d i v i d u a l m em bers. The c lu b h a s lo a n e d o v e r
I $5 0 0. t o t h r e e members o u t o f work i n th e g r a v e l s t r i k e .
' Five boys who a t t e n d E a s t Los A n g e les Junior C o lle g e have
I b e e n h e lp e d w i t h money for t u i t i o n and b o o k s .*
Statement by interviewee number twenty-five.
127
A P P E N D I X E
T H E T Y R A N N I C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N O F T H E G A N G
C O R E
I I
I I I .
' R I N G E
I V .
I . T h e l e a d e r o f t h e g a n g a n d h i s l i e u t e n a n t s .
I I . R e l a t i v e l y d e p e n d a b l e m e m b e r s o f t h e g a n g .
I l l . R e l a t i v e l y u n d e p e n d a b l e m e m b e r s o f t h e g a n g .
I V . N o n - m e m b e r s w h o h a v e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e g a n g
(diversity of Southern

Abstract (if available)

Abstract The problem, as defined for the purpose of this study, has been to describe the attitudes and activities of gang boys as they were observed in the Hollenbeck area of East Los Angeles during the Fall and early Winter of 1955.

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University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

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Asset Metadata

Creator Ranker, Jess Elwood (author)

Core Title A study of juvenile gangs in the Hollenbeck area of East Los Angeles

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Sociology

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,Social Sciences

Place Name California (states), East Los Angeles (city or populated place), Hollenbeck Area (city or populated place), Los Angeles (city or populated place), Los Angeles (counties), USA (countries)

Format [viii], 127 leaves : ill. ; 29[?] cm. (aacr2), application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor McDonagh, Edward C. (committee chair), Neumeyer, Martin H. (committee member), Sabagh, George (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-m33

Unique identifier UC11313897

Identifier EP65759.pdf (filename),usctheses-m40 (legacy collection record id),usctheses-c39-413068 (legacy record id),usctheses-m33 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier EP65759.pdf

Dmrecord 413068

Document Type Thesis

Format [viii], 127 leaves : ill. ; 29[?] cm. (aacr2),application/pdf (imt)

Rights Ranker, Jess Elwood

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the au...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA