Latin Kings
The Latin Kings gang is the first gang that M.A.S.C will make a blog about. The Latin Kings started in the late 1950s and 1960s. One originators of the gang goes by the name of Gustavo ‘Lord Gino’ Colon. The gang was started in Chicago, where Puerto Rican males gathered to try and stop problems that were arising in the city. The problems ranged from racism, prejudice, and aiding the new immigrants who were treated badly in the city. Later on when drugs became a money maker, is when the Latin Kings became involved with dealing drugs, such as heroin.
One of the symbols that represent the Latin Kings is the five pointed crown. Each point on the crown represents something; love, sacrifice, honor, obedience, and respect. The Latin Kings also use a three point crown, and the points stand for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Another symbol is the lion which represents courage, just as the crown does. The colors of the Latin Kings even have a meaning to it, black and gold. Gold represent the sun, which is the direction they pray to, and the color black stands for the darkness among all enemies.
While ‘Lord Gino’ was incarcerated, he created a set of rules which was known amongst the Latin Kings as ‘The Constitution’. This was spread to each member of the gang. One of the rules of the Latin Kings was that as a member, it was mandatory to know all the laws and the beliefs of the Latin Kings.
The first step to be initiated into the gang is to endure a three minute beating, and possibly commit a crime. This is all to prove that the individual really wants to become part of the Latin Kings, and their loyalty. After they do complete these tasks then they must remember all of the teachings, symbols, and what everything stands for. Such as, ALKN, which is Almighty Latin King Nation. Almighty: A Love Measured In Great Harmony Towards Yahweh, Latin: Latin American Tribe Illuminating Naturally, Kings: Knowledge Indestructible Nobility Growing Strengths, Nation: Natural Allies Together One Nucleus. A requirement of the Latin Kings is that every member must have a tattoo symbolizing the gang.
As a Latin King, there are five principles that must be followed, first, once a king always a king, second, no king shall engage in gay acts, third, no kings should be collaborating with the media, fourth, no king is to leave the nation without approval of the coronas (the top kings), fifth, one king moves all kings move. If any of these principles are disobeyed it may lead to a brutal beating, or death.
-Steph Rivera
To view some clips from the history channel about the Latin Kings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5FLJ2R40F4
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I found reading this article to be interesting because i kno people who are a part of the Latin Kings and also because I never how the Latin Kings tied religious belief into their set of laws.
ReplyDelete-Aaron Rios
Reading this entry really opened my eyes to all the violence around me. Growing up in Queens,NY and now living close to communities where Latin Kings are always roaming the streets I know from personal experience how much each member trusts one another and has faith in eachother.
ReplyDelete-Michael Pociask
I find it really shocking that most gangs develop in order to prevent violence when their main focus seems to be exactly that. I think that the initiation alone into the Latin Kings shows how violent gangs can be. Their set of principles relates to our faith because it is sort of like our Ten Commandments. They follow it strictly and get punished if they break one of the codes.
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