In April 1978, Black Gangster Disciple leader Larry Hoover organized a work stoppage among prisoners in Stateville prison. The reason for the stoppage was prisoners being served rotten food and overall being treated poorly. Most prisoners agreed with Larry Hoover even rivals of the Black Gangster Disciples were on board. In the aftermath, the gangs that were allied or had no animosity with Larry Hoover, the Black Gangster Disciples or their allies began hanging out in prison and gathering. This turned into a brotherhood in 1978 behind bars.
In the year 1979, this casual coalition tightened up and a name was given for this coming together. The name of it was the idea of the Simon City Royals to be called “Folks.” Any gang in this brotherhood was referred to as “Folks.”
In the year 1980, the Folks became official behind bars and structure was established. This leaked out into the streets and the term “Folks” was mentioned on the streets in small circles.
In the year 1980, Imperial Gangster leader Ronnie “Mad Dog” Carrasquillo and Maniac Latin Disciple Victor “King Vic” Gomez drew up the “Spanish Gangster Disciple” concepts in prison which governed all the Hispanic gangs that were allied with Larry Hoover’s allies. This governing was approved and oversaw by Larry Hoover. This was also the year that Simon City Royals and Black Gangster Disciples held a meeting in the Grand Boulevard community to discuss a further alliance. This was more of the process of establishing the Folk alliance as official.
In the year 1981, Michael “Mickey Bull” Johnson of the Black Disciples and Richard “Cold Black” Dordies of the Black Gangster Disciples were released from prison that year. Both men preached of the difference between Black Disciple and Black Gangster Disciple and divided the public housing projects between both gangs. They also gave the streets Folk knowledge and all gangs that joined Folk, Hispanic, white, and black all now knew they were Folks on the streets. Key Maniac Latin Disciple members were released in 1981 that also spread the knowledge of Folks.
In the year 1981, Folk and People nation bylaws were enforced on the streets and symbols and fashion trends were made official. The Folk nation represented the right-handed side while the People nation represented the left-handed side.
The Folk alliance was very tight in the Illinois prison system in the 1980s into the 1990s as several pictures could be seen as evidence of top Chicago gang leaders were posed together multiple times. Folks became like brothers to each other.
The alliances became very strong on the streets in the mid-1980s but by the late 1980s the alliances were getting harder to maintain. By the late 1990s into the 21st century Folk and People almost vanished from the streets.
Below is a complete list that I know of for the organizations that joined Folks in 1979:
Ambrose
Ashland Vikings
Black Disciples (became a separate group on the streets in 1981)
Black Gangster Disciples (now known as Gangster Disciples)
Black Gangsters (now known today as New Breeds, only while incarcerated since the early 1990s)
Black Souls (only when incarcerated)
Brazers
Dragons (now known today as Insane Dragons)
Harrison Gents
Imperial Gangsters
Insane Popes (north side group)
King Cobras
Kool Gang
Latin Eagles
Latin Jivers (no incarcerated members in 1978 but joined on the streets upon formation)
Latin Lovers
Latin Souls
Latin Stylers
Lychmen Sercaun Gangsters
Maniac Latin Disciples
Milwaukee Kings
Orquestra Albany
Paulina Barry Community
Ridgeway Lords
Saints (only while incarcerated and only until the late 1980s)
Satan Disciples
Simon City Royals
Sin City Boys
Spanish Chancellors (Only while incarcerated)
Spanish Cobras
Two Six
Two Two Boys
