Gangland and Texas gang identification
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:55 pm
There's a thread from Jan 2010 discussing Gangland, but I've just now encountered this show. I watched the episode on Tango Blast available on YouTube (here is part 1--viewer discretion advised) and was surprised to learn that this Texas gang's insignia is local sports and civic pride related, such as city outlines and team jerseys. Several examples stuck out in my mind of people I've encountered who probably belonged to this gang, but I didn't recognize the signs of membership at the time.
Being able to identify signs of gang affiliation, particularly for those gangs I'm most likely to encounter, is something I had not thought of before. While a pack of youth all wearing identical clothes stands out, a single male teen wearing khaki pants, white shirt, white belt might not have triggered red flags before for me. I found this website http://stophoustongangs.org/ which has pictures and descriptions of gang signs, clothes, colors, insignia, and tattoos for Texas-based gangs, especially those that frequent the Houston area.
Here are the Gangland episodes that seem to be connected to Texas. Many are available on YouTube or similar websites and my husband says they're available on Netflix for instant viewing as well.
Season 1 Episode 3 "Code of Conduct" on the Mexican Mafia
Season 2 Episode 14 (1st of the season) "Maniacal" on the Maniac Latin Disciples who originated in Chicago but are in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, TX as well
Season 2 Episode 17 (4th of the season) "Texas Terror" on the Texas Syndicate
Season 3 Episode 31 (6th of the season) "Bandido Army" on the Bandidos Motorcycle Club out of San Antonio
Season 3 Episode 35 (10th of the season) "Die, Snitch, Die" on the Gotti Boyz of New Orleans who moved to Houston following Katrina
Season 4 Episode 44 (7th of the season) "Aryan Terror" on the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas
Season 5 Episode 53 (4th of the season) "Blood River" on the Barrio Azteca along the Rio Grande
Season 5 Episode 57 (8th of the season) "Circle of Death" on the Aryan Circle which originated in Texas jails
Season 5 Episode 61 (12th of the season) "Deadly Blast" on Tango Blast out of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin
Season 6 Episode 63 (2nd of the season) "Trinity of Blood" on the Tri-City Bombers and the Texas Chicano Brotherhood
There are a few general non-location-specific episodes as well:
Season 1 Episode 8 "Hate Nation" Skinhead gangs across the United States
Season 1 Episode 11 "Basic Training" Insider's view of how street gangs infiltrate the U.S. military
Season 2 Episode 25 (12th of the season) "From Girl to Gangster" As long as there have been gangs, women have been involved as members and leaders, with some engaged in illegal activities.
Season 4 Episode 45 (8th of the season) "Silent Slaughter" The Sons of Silence, Colorado's largest motorcycle gang, has spread to 36 chapters throughout the world since its inception in the 1960s; undercover agents infiltrate the gang.
Season 5 Episode 51 (2nd of the season) "Klan of Killers" The Imperial Klans of America look to the future
Season 7 Episode 75 (1st of the season) "Most Notorious" The most notorious gang members
Being able to identify signs of gang affiliation, particularly for those gangs I'm most likely to encounter, is something I had not thought of before. While a pack of youth all wearing identical clothes stands out, a single male teen wearing khaki pants, white shirt, white belt might not have triggered red flags before for me. I found this website http://stophoustongangs.org/ which has pictures and descriptions of gang signs, clothes, colors, insignia, and tattoos for Texas-based gangs, especially those that frequent the Houston area.
Here are the Gangland episodes that seem to be connected to Texas. Many are available on YouTube or similar websites and my husband says they're available on Netflix for instant viewing as well.
Season 1 Episode 3 "Code of Conduct" on the Mexican Mafia
Season 2 Episode 14 (1st of the season) "Maniacal" on the Maniac Latin Disciples who originated in Chicago but are in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, TX as well
Season 2 Episode 17 (4th of the season) "Texas Terror" on the Texas Syndicate
Season 3 Episode 31 (6th of the season) "Bandido Army" on the Bandidos Motorcycle Club out of San Antonio
Season 3 Episode 35 (10th of the season) "Die, Snitch, Die" on the Gotti Boyz of New Orleans who moved to Houston following Katrina
Season 4 Episode 44 (7th of the season) "Aryan Terror" on the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas
Season 5 Episode 53 (4th of the season) "Blood River" on the Barrio Azteca along the Rio Grande
Season 5 Episode 57 (8th of the season) "Circle of Death" on the Aryan Circle which originated in Texas jails
Season 5 Episode 61 (12th of the season) "Deadly Blast" on Tango Blast out of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin
Season 6 Episode 63 (2nd of the season) "Trinity of Blood" on the Tri-City Bombers and the Texas Chicano Brotherhood
There are a few general non-location-specific episodes as well:
Season 1 Episode 8 "Hate Nation" Skinhead gangs across the United States
Season 1 Episode 11 "Basic Training" Insider's view of how street gangs infiltrate the U.S. military
Season 2 Episode 25 (12th of the season) "From Girl to Gangster" As long as there have been gangs, women have been involved as members and leaders, with some engaged in illegal activities.
Season 4 Episode 45 (8th of the season) "Silent Slaughter" The Sons of Silence, Colorado's largest motorcycle gang, has spread to 36 chapters throughout the world since its inception in the 1960s; undercover agents infiltrate the gang.
Season 5 Episode 51 (2nd of the season) "Klan of Killers" The Imperial Klans of America look to the future
Season 7 Episode 75 (1st of the season) "Most Notorious" The most notorious gang members