Essay On Bloods Vs Crips

Of all the things Compton is known for, gangs are certainly the most publicized. Compton gangs have been immortalized in movies, songs, and many other mediums. Rappers, actors, athletes, and more all have ties to gangs back in California. The two most well-known gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, have garnered national notoriety for their vicious, and nationwide, feud. These two gangs have been an integral part of the city for decades, shaping the culture and influencing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Indeed, Compton would be a very different, though not necessarily better, place had the two gangs not been created. Of the two gangs, the Crips were created first. Although their origins are disputed, the most accepted theory is that the gang was created by Stanley “Tookie” Williams and Raymond Washington in 1971. Williams and Raymond …show more content…
Comprised mostly of those seeking protection from the Crips, they sought to emphasize their difference by wearing the color red. The rivalry between the two was so intense, members of the bloods weren’t allowed to say the letter “c,” instead replacing it with the letter “b.” The gang was initially much smaller than the Crips, but compensated by being increasingly aggressive, and the Bloods quickly became known as one of the most violent gangs in the world (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). During the 1980s, they began to focus on drug trafficking. Despite all their efforts to distinguish themselves from the Crips, they mirrored their rivals during this period of time, forming alliances with Mexican Cartels and spreading throughout the United States. Before long, the Bloods had a significant presence in the east, due mostly to a large population in New York City, where they actually outnumbered Crips. Today, their numbers are very similar to that of the Crips, with around 20,000 members (The Editors of Encyclopædia