A chicago gang history finatic ...... (Streamwood, Madison: crime, home, neighborhood)

[OLDSKOOLL]

growing up in logan quare as a youth in the early 80z i think gangs were a way of life maybe not really even knowing that you are in a gang but with several "brothers "you consider your second family or first in some aspects because of a broken home ? in my case i had a family and was white in a dominately puerto rican neighborhood . so we stuck together pretty much but i wasnt a rascist at all i had many pr friends .to make a long story short i survived my childhood and consider myself a success story with a family of my own these days in the south west burbs . but i still hold onto my youth in a way im fascinated with gangs the history not for publish for personel refreshing ? i collect old chicago gang memoralbilia i cant get enough of the stories piks cards whatever articles i have alot of ex rivals as friends these days we get together and talk about the bad ole days ?lol anyone else ever bang as a kid and from where ? the chicago gang scene has changed alot over the decades now it aint about fist fights or corners but drugs and money . its a terrible place to be and wouldnt want my kids in da city for nothing . heres a few sweaters that been collected over the years enjoy .

[noid_1985]

I've always been interested in "what gangs are in what neighborhood" that's about it. I've never been in a gang- I have enough family and friends who were killed by them.

[Steve-o]

Back in my young, dumb, hang-out-with-gangbangers days, I hung out with many. I had 2 friends that were in gangs (one in the Future Stones and one in the GD's) and therefore was exposed to them from time-to-time. I had an interesting escapade with the Future Stones and the cops in Streamwood one night, that was scary. lol There are times when I kind of miss the "adventures" of hanging around em and roaming the streets late at night, but then again, I dont miss those nights at all. Hard to explain.

[Irishtom29]

I hung on the corner of Madison and Central in the mid 1960s, sometimes we called ourselves the "MCs" but usually just "Madison and Central". What some would call gangs we usually called "corners". Our ethnic makeup was mostly Irish and Italian with a couple of Jews and Greeks; one Pole.

Other white West Side corners at the time were Chicago and Lawndale, Orr, Chicago and Lavernge, Polk and Lavernge, Dipsy-Doodle, Ohio and Leavett (C-Notes), Taylor St. Dukes and the JPs.

We wore cabretta jackets (gray replaced black as the style) or quilted work jackets, baggy cotton work pants, Italian knit shirts or button sweaters over white T-shirts, army boots or Italian shoes, stingy-brim hats or flat-caps. Nobody wore clothing that identified your corner or gang; maybe up north they did but the other side of North Avenue was like another world full of Poles and Germans.

Battles were fought with fists, boots, sticks and car antennas (very heavy and stiff in those days, you just snapped one off a nearby car).

[OLDSKOOLL]

steve , its funny i still see alot of my friends i grew up with and they havent changed one bit of course they live place to place at times with no stability at all . but we play softball against old rivals once in awhile the older guys are very wise the ones who survived . we have written books and served many yrs in jail but life goes on growing up in the hood aint never easy .we all miss our youth at times but only the good times .

[OLDSKOOLL]

heres a few cards out of my 1400 or so . http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/OLDSKOOL_06/Picture029-2.jpg (broken link)http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/OLDSKOOL_06/Picture031-1.jpg (broken link)

[Steve-o]

(^)

Are those gangbanger "business" cards? LOL

[OLDSKOOLL]

very popular in the 70z n 80z .they were made to pass out at meetings or to even just show what your about they have been left a corners of rivals. at crime scenes so yes i guess they would be considered gangbanger buisnesss cards ? very collectable .

[Venom]

I'm still surrounded by gangs. Through family, friends, and neighbors.

[87vertgt]

wow......Old skool Banger sweaters......I wish you can tell me the story behind each sweater as to who's was it...how did you get it etc...


MORE PICS!!! MORE PICS!!!