Latin Kings subscribe to “kingism” or identify themselves as “Kingists” which is a particular code of practicing pride. The kings know more about the political, social, and economic oppression targeted towards Latinos. Such awareness motivates their determination to uplift their people. On the other hand, a cultural group is a set of people who share conventional morals, value, and beliefs. In support of this explanation, the Latin Kings gang is an instance of a cultural group.
The Latin Kings gang was founded with a core objective of protecting and thus preserving the identity of their culture (“Latin Kings The Largest Hispanic Street Gang Kings of New York”, 2016). Besides the gang would help to better the social, economic, and personal needs of its people. Some of the social factored that may have motivated the formation of the gang is that the neighborhoods had several gangs and Latinos were subjected to racism. With the formation of the gang they earned a reputation of being violent in protecting each other and their territory. With time Latin kings deviated from the primary objective and got involved in the gang wars. And similar to other neighborhood protection groups, Latin kings’ gang were also involved in vicious criminal activities.
The gang-maintained consistent growth by recruiting and acquiring new territories. As the gang grew, it got involved in numerous criminal activities such as extortion, drugs as well as sex trade. The primary gang source of income was the street-level distribution of drugs such as heroin, marijuana, crack, and cocaine. Besides, the gang also generated revenue through prostitution in particular teenage streetwalkers in some cities. Moreover, the gang would impose taxation on independent drug dealers. In regards to leadership style, the gang adopted hierarchy with several levels such as national hierarchy then the region hierarchy, which was state-specific and the local authority for tribe or chapter. A similar hierarchy was replicated within correctional facilities (prison) that had Latin Kings.
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Gang members were accustomed red, black, and gold. Red represented the blood that the Latin Kings have shed for the cause of the crown nation (Latin Kings The Largest Hispanic Street Gang Kings of New York, 2016). With gold representing the sun and black for the past remembering their history of oppression. The members also carried black and gold beads. Design-wise the beads were similar to prayer beads of the different cultures. To the gang how the beads were sequenced had symbolic meaning. Members had five black and five gold. Executive five black two gold and all-black were for assassins and enforcers. Besides, the Latin Kings used a five-pointed crown, a lion head with a crown, five-pointed star, and the imagery had a code of armor. The five-points on the crown were symbols of obedience, respect, love, honor, and sacrifice. Some of the tattoo for members included LK (Latin Kings), crown, ADR (Amor De Rey- King) hand sign, love among many others.
Several risk factors may have made it appealing for residents in low-income urban neighborhoods to join Latin Kings. Such may include possible incarceration, racism, exposure to violent crime. Other risk factors that would have an increased likelihood of teen joining Latin Kings could consist. The presence of gangs in the neighborhoods, histories of physical and sexual abuse, poverty, having access to drugs and weapons as well as lack of success in some areas of life such as school. Nevertheless, members of a community feel a sense of belonging, attachments often characterize by interdependence. As such, the vital characteristic of a community that the Latin Kings gang offered includes influence, membership, fulfillments, and integration of needs.
Gang as “subculture” or “counterculture” that the “dominant” offers several elements that society cannot. Such include belonging; being a member of an organized gang provides a sense of belonging, associated with being part of a family, particularly for a teen who does not have a patriarchal figure. Gangs also offers protection and status. A considerable number of teens who join gang lack a legitimate avenue to gain status and respect that are often associated with educational success and career progression. Besides, gangs offer financial gains and pleasure.
