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• 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

• 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• Apache Line• Latin/disco/funk influences• Jerks/Burns – humiliate opponent• Gang members would rock• Battles led to fights