Transcript Gangs of New York

Gangs of New York
New York City
• 5 Boroughs
– Manhattan (1)
– Brooklyn (2)
– Queens (3)
– Bronx (4)
– Staten Island (5)
The South Bronx
• 1950s – middle class communities
- white, black, Irish, Jewish, Peurto
Rican
• Robert Moses – Cross-Bronx Expressway
- Exodus from the South Bronx
The South Bronx
• 1970s – Slumlords - Burning apartment buildings
- Insurance $ - Abandonment
The South Bronx
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1950-1970: Over 750,000 left the South Bronx
600,000 lost jobs
Youth unemployment: 60-80%
Drug addicts – Heroin, Crack
Development of gangs
Bronx Gangs
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Savage Skulls
Black Spades
Savage Nomads
Ghetto Brothers
Seven Immortals
Roman Kings
Outlaws
• Community protection – junkies/burglars
• Doing police dirty work
• Violence – Gang wars (between clubs)
Gang Initiations
• Savage Skulls – Russian Roulette
• Other gangs - Apache Line
Movies
Block Parties
• Summer – food, music, community building
• Music – turntables – Power: street lamps
• Dancing – Disco/funk, Latino
Afrika Bambaataa
• Member of Black Spades
• 1971 – Peace pact between
gangs
• Formation of the Universal
Zulu Nation
• Zulu Kingz – Bboys
• Pioneer of Hip Hop
• DJ (more to come)
Rocking/Uprocking
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Apache Line
Latin/disco/funk influences
Jerks/Burns – humiliate opponent
Gang members would rock
Battles led to fights