Gangster Disciples

Founded	Founded in 1958 in or near Englewood
Affiliations	Folk Nation — c. 1979 – 2000 or later;
Colors	Black and Blue
Primary ethnicities	African American
Symbols	Winged Heart, Devil Horns, and Devil Tail
Status	Active

A special big thanks to TheGhostInTheMachine for all your help!

 

In order to tell the story of the largest mob in Chicago’s history I must intertwine both the history of the Gangsters and the history of the Disciples to bring about the correct understand. The Gangster Disciples are said to be at least 40,000 strong in numbers and continue to grow with members as young as pre-teens and members as old as in their 70s. The Gangster Disciple nation has a hell of a legacy of expansion, power, and dominance. The Gangster Disciples have grown beyond just being a gang and are about Growth and Development. Growth and Development is something positive that turns Gangster Disciple members into productive members of society and helps men of all ages better themselves and become successful. Not all Gangster Disciples get involved in criminal activity and many retire and leave the criminal life and become productive members of Growth and Development.

 

The history of the Gangster Disciple nation has roots that come from civil rights issues and dealing with problems that plagued their communities. It became time to fight back. From the rough parts of Hyde Park to the impoverished and blighted community of Englewood Gangsters and Disciples were born and would evolve to show the world true power in numbers and organization.

 

The Black Disciple history is indeed a fascinating history and a great story of how young pre-teen boys got together and formed an organization that would help fight against the civil rights injustices and wild gangs around them.

 

Hyde Park and Englewood: The beginning

 

In the 1950s, there was a contested and growing African American community in the Englewood and northern Hyde Park areas. African Americans resided in Hyde Park in the older section of the community north of 55th Street now that the area was more affordable for struggling African American families. Many landlords purchased large mansions in the community and converted them into tenement apartments that were affordable. This upset southern Hyde Park, mostly white, wealthier elites residing south of 55th Street. These elites had been politically fighting against African American migration into Hyde Park for decades prior. Slumlords were also the enemy of many people in the white and black community in Hyde Park because they bought these once elegant houses and converted them into neglected and blighted properties for the poor.

 

In Englewood, the community was suffering deterioration and blight as multiple buildings were crumbling and poverty set in by the 1950s. The community remained mostly white until the later 50s but more African American families were migrating to Englewood as white flight set in. Block busting practices became strong in Englewood and northern Hyde Park as real estate took advantage of many white family’s fears that their community was to become bankrupted by African American migration. This allowed landlords to buy the houses from the panicking white families and convert their old homes into tenement apartments for the poor while neglecting these properties afterward. Desperate impoverished African American and white families moved into these tenements which upset the mostly white middle class. Many white families could not afford to leave Englewood, so they stuck around and created racial clashes with African Americans. White gangs formed that were of a violent breed that were heavily opposed to African American migration. Much of the African American middle class arrived in northern Hyde Park and Englewood but soon found these communities were not welcoming or were on the verge of collapse, but it was too late, they already bought the homes.

 

In the year 1953, African American street gangs began to form in Englewood like the Englewood Boys and the 75th Street Brims. These gangs dealt with the worst of the racial battles. The Brims were in the far southern part of Englewood and even drifted into the neighboring Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. I am not sure if the Brims and Englewood Boys were allies or not. I have also heard that Imperial Chaplains and Clovers, who were the biggest African American gangs on the west side were in the Englewood area during these more mid-50s years, but I cannot confirm that.

 

The Dan Ryan Expressway

 

In the year 1958, construction began on the Dan Ryan Expressway which successfully uprooted a portion of Englewood, Washington Park, Roseland, Morgan Park and Fuller Park. This mainly affected the impoverished African American community in these neighborhoods all by design. Many impoverished African Americans had to move in a pinch and areas like Englewood and northern Hyde Park was all that was available and affordable. These mostly white areas became further enraged and the racial differences went full scale. According to legends I heard from old heads, this is when “Lavergne” gathered many African American youths in the Englewood and northern Hyde Park areas mostly consisting of boys between the ages of 11-13 years old alongside the Englewood Boys and 75th Street Brims who were older boys. It become decided to come together as one major force to be reckoned with to battle these racial issues but to also deal with the aggressive Egyptian Cobras that were now growing in the Englewood and Hyde Park areas. The Cobras were another African American gang that started in 1958 and were aggressively growing on the south side. The boys decided to flip through the holy bible to get ideas and that’s when it dawned on them to use the name “Disciple” in their title. The boys then added on the prefix “Devil’s” to give the name an intimidating edge to it. After that was decided the Disciples were simultaneously at 43rd Street in Kenwood and scattered throughout Englewood but especially concentrated along the eastern part of 63rd Street from Normal Street to State Street and Disciples were heavily gathered in the Ogden Park area of Englewood, the first African American community in Englewood. A Disciples group known as the East Side Disciples was the group that started at 43rd and spread all the way south into Hyde Park to 53rd and Kimbark. 53rd and Kimbark became East Side Disciple headquarters and basically the headquarters for all city-wide Disciples, however, Englewood Disciples tended to gather at 63rd and Stewart/Normal.

 

The founders

 

Some founding members were Richard “Champ” Strong who was nominated as the first leader of the Disciples, David Barksdale, D Steele, Mingo Shread, Prince Old Timer Rob Allen, Roy “Kilroy” Dawson, Byron “Big Shoe” Coffey, Leonard Longstreet, Night Walker, Lavergne and various others. The Disciples kept their business out of the press. The Disciples established headquarters at the Hyde Park intersection of 53rd and Kimbark which became their very first stronghold. The Disciples created the symbols of the star of David, pitchfork, and devil’s tail with devil horns when they formed in 1958.

 

Many sources on the internet have information on co-founder David Barksdale but no one talks about Richard “Champ” Strong that was the first leader of the Disciples in the late 50s. Richard L Strong was born in Chicago on April 18, 1946 in Chicago to Thurman and Janet Strong. When the Disciples were formed, Strong was 12 years old. Strong was man with lots of charisma and was a gang leader until his death in 1972.

 

Woodlawn

 

In the year 1958 Disciples made their first expansion move as they settled in the western part of the Woodlawn community west of Woodlawn Avenue as they took over about 2/3 of the Woodlawn neighborhood. The other 1/3 was Egyptian Cobra territory who became archrivals along with the original group of Blackstone Rangers. The Disciples would make this neighborhood permanently as they have maintained a heavy presence over the decades.

 

South Shore

 

In the year 1958 black families began to settle in the northern part of the South Shore community north of 71st Street. This was a neighborhood that was known to have some anti-black and anti-Jewish sentiment since the 19th century. When blacks first arrived, they were met with hostility especially from white gangs. The Devil’ Disciples then migrated to this community to support the black community in their racial struggles back in 1958. South Shore would become another permanent home to the Disciples for generations to come and once African Americans moved more south of 71st Street in the early 70s, Disciples took many pieces of territory in that region. High-ranking and/or senior members often have preferred South Shore over time. Many times, over the decades money-making big-time GDs would buy houses here making this sacred lands for the Disciples. From Sirconn City to the Lakeside GDs, this hood will likely always be a stronghold for the GDs.

 

 

Greater Grand Crossing

 

During the Disciple’s debut year, they immediately advanced into the Greater Grand Crossing community. This was during the Dan Ryan Expressway years and the western part of the community was removed for the expressway. White flight was more advanced in this neighborhood than Englewood as Greater Grand Crossing was 85% African American by 1960 and Englewood was 68% African American by 1960. The neighborhood had vicious racial clashes in the early 50s but by the later 50s this struggling neighborhood, ripe with poverty, had already converted to a mostly African American community as white flight devastated this already struggling community that was on hard times since the Great Depression when poor white people once lived in multiple apartments in this community. The Egyptian Cobras came to Greater Grand Crossing and once had strength in this hood but Disciples would end up conquering this community and later flipping many Cobras to Disciples while other Cobras flipped to Black P Stones eventually.

 

O Block

 

One can’t talk about Greater Grand Crossing and miss the legendary Parkway Gardens projects (O-Block) that was the site of the first black community in Greater Grand Crossing as they were built by 1950. These projects were grass roots projects and were privately owned, providing safe and adequate housing. In 1972 the projects were taken over by HUD and the city and from there maintenance stopped and they declined. Disciples advanced heavily into these projects once the city took over and by the mid-70s these buildings were a haven for Disciples. When GD and BD was separated on the streets in 1981 these buildings were divided between the two mobs as they both distributed heavy drugs through these projects until GDs and BDs went to war making O-Block a dangerous place by the 1990s. O-Block is still talked about and rapped about as a crazy place.

 

Washington Park

 

Many people don’t call this area by its name, instead they consider this area as an extension of Englewood or as part of Bronzeville, neither of those are the truth. Washington Park neighborhood (not the recreational park) is from 51st Street to 63rd and MLK to 63rd and State on the south and from the tracks east of La Salle Street to Cottage Grove Avenue which includes the recreational park. From 60th to 63rd and from MLK Drive to Cottage Grove is part of Woodlawn, not Washington Park. Washington Park was the first Chicago community to experience white flight and block busting back in the 1910s and 1920s which is why it is often mistaken as Bronzeville but Bronzeville always had a decent population of African Americans since the 1860s and African Americans helped found those communities. Washington Park was built as a white community and was even once highly upper income class. Because this community was heavily block busted it became one of the first communities damaged by racial change especially beginning in the Great Depression era. It is of no surprise that Disciples advanced into this community as soon as they formed in 1958 and from there on the Disciples have ruled these streets. When GD and BD was deciphered in 1981 this community was cut in two between GDs and BDs. Once GDs and BDs went to war in the 90s this community has been a war zone between both Folk gangs, GDs and BDs are deep here.

 

Quest for northern Englewood: A racial clash

 

As the years of 1958 to 1961 went by the Disciples became especially powerful in northern Englewood as white flight ran its course and more black families moved in which created excellent recruiting opportunities. As the northern Englewood area changed from white to black a racial battle ensued between white Englewood gangs I don’t know the name of and the Disciples. Disciples would also clash with Egyptian Cobras taking over the far northeast section of Englewood. By 1961 the Devil’s Disciples were the most powerful gang in Englewood. By this time the white population had completely left northern Englewood by 1962.

 

The beginning of the David Barksdale era

 

In the year 1961, 14-year-old David Barksdale took over leadership of the Devil’s Disciples and he directly oversaw the Englewood branch of the Disciples. Barksdale appointed “Mingo” as President of the Disciples in Hyde Park and Kenwood (East Side Disciples). Richard Strong was no longer running the Disciples because his family moved to the Cabrini Green projects when Strong was 15 years old.

 

The Hyde Park/Kenwood chapter was at its peak around when Barksdale took over as they had members from 43rd down to 53rd between the two neighborhoods but starting in 1960 the University of Chicago backed a program to renovate southern Kenwood and northern Hyde Park by clearing out blighted buildings and renovating some of the older and salvageable homes. This action would increase the value of these neighborhoods and push impoverished black families out causing most of these families to move to Englewood. As the families began moving in the early 60s the Disciples grew stronger in Englewood and gradually a new headquarters was set up at 63rd and Stewart in the year 1963 because many homes were razed at 53rd and Kimbark in Hyde Park and the Kimbark Shopping Plaza was built over half of Disciple headquarters. The Disciples from 43rd down to 53rd moved to Englewood by 1963, further solidifying Englewood which is how GDs and BDs are so big in Englewood even up to present day.

 

In the same year that David Barksdale took over the Disciples Richard Strong and his family moved into the Cabrini Green public housing projects that was mostly ran by various small gangs and Egyptian Cobras. Strong developed quite a following in no time and recruited several black youths into his gang the Black Deuces which was the gang he created in Cabrini, but they were tied to the Devil’s Disciples. This is how Disciples became a large presence in the Cabrini Green area until the projects were torn down.

 

Conquest for the further south side 1964

 

 

Beginning in 1963, an undocumented but definite blockbusting campaign began on the further south side of Chicago. If you talk to many older white people that once lived in neighborhoods like Auburn-Gresham, Washington Heights, West Englewood, Calumet Heights, Burnside, Chatham and northern Roseland they will mostly tell you they moved between 1963-1965 which is a white flight pattern I identified and this transition was not easy on anyone as whites were scammed out of property value and blacks were led into a new ghetto.

 

Auburn-Gresham 1964

 

I have seen so many social media posts from older white people that had great things to say about this neighborhood as they grew up here as kids in the 50s and early 60s. For some reason, that they won’t say, they suddenly left between 1963-1965. I found out it was because the community was changing racially starting from the north and heading into the south of the community. The northern part of this community borders Englewood and West Englewood and by the mid-60s all the white people had left Englewood from Halsted Street to the Dan Ryan and now northeastern Auburn-Gresham whites wanted to move out and this is likely where Disciples and Stones advanced into first then moved further south of 79th Street a little later. GDs have been strong in this community for decades as they have viciously battled Black P Stones and Conservative Vice Lords for these streets and drug sales have been high on these blocks. Many heavy hitters live in this community and some even own some of these nicer homes as this community is not a blighted one. In 1968, the Outlaw Supreme Gangsters arrived on these streets and by 1981 when GD and BD was deciphered from each other most identified as GDs.

 

Burnside 1964

 

The small Burnside community on Chicago’s further south side sits just north of the northern Roseland area. Northern Roseland is the oldest black community in Roseland since the early 20th century but Burnside remained white all through these streets until block busting realty showed up in the mid-60s to convince white families living between 93rd to 95th Streets to move out and be replaced by African American families. Black P Stones and Disciples advanced into northern Roseland and the Disciples crossed north of 95th Street to recruit black youths moving to these Burnside streets. Disciples took over these streets and mostly held them all these decades especially by the early 70s when whites were moving heavier out of all of Burnside. Some other gangs claim some of these streets but the GDs are always the most powerful in southern Burnside, northern Burnside has far less gang activity. From 90th Street to 95th you will find many GDs in abundance.

 

Calumet Heights 1964

 

Calumet Heights was once the home of the white middle class but in the 1950s higher income African American doctors moved to Pill Hill area becoming the first African Americans. Since the 1950s African American businesses have successfully operated in this community but because of predatory block busting efforts of the mid-60s on the further southside Calumet Heights was targeted like the other neighborhoods that share a border with this community. Brief racial conflicts on the mid-60s brought the Disciples to this community in 1964 and when the Outlaw Supreme Gangsters moved here in 1968, this community became more friendly to Gangster concepts. Once GD and BD was distinguished on the streets in 1981, almost all Disciples went GD which is how this neighborhood is so dominated by GDs.

 

Chatham 1964

 

Chatham was once a white middle-class community on Chicago’s south side that was highly coveted but also was the home of some rather liberal residents. These liberal residents embraced a cluster of the black middle-class that moved onto these streets in the late 50s in wake of the Dan Ryan Expressway. I wouldn’t even say these white residents were extremely liberal, more of just accepting in a time when acceptance was not so advanced. These white residents did what should have been done in every neighborhood in Chicago, they fought block busting and fought to maintain the value of their community so it did not become taken over by poverty. The mid-60s block busting efforts were far too strong for these groups to overcome and a once solid middle class community fell victim to poverty; however, the black middle-class has fought hard for decades to prevent blight and extreme poverty and has done a damn good job; however, gangs and drugs still found their way into this community causing it to become one of the more rougher neighborhoods of Chicago, although it is livable. When the heavy racial change began in 1964, Disciples became the main gang to take over these streets and fight against racism but once the whites were gone by 1965 the focus was on other black gangs like Black P Stones. Outlaw Supreme Gangsters arrived in 1968 and once they did the gang population of Chatham favored Gangster ways and would later identity as GDs. GDs have been very strong on these streets a long time.

 

Washington Heights 1964

 

The Washington Heights community on Chicago’s farther west side was once home to the mostly white middle class until middle-class African American families moved to this community in the 1950s escaping from harsher neighborhoods like Bronzeville. African Americans were mostly accepted in this community until block busting efforts soured racial relations beginning in 1963 until 1965. Beginning in the Princeton Park and Fernwood areas on the far east side of the neighborhood by Eggleston Avenue lower-income African Americans began moving into the apartments and townhouse areas and from there white flight spread rapidly further west in the neighborhood. During this rough transition in 1964 the Disciples and Stones arrived sparking a gang war that upset many middle-class residents. By the time the 1970 census came out it showed this community was now 75% African American and the rest of the whites near Brainerd Park moved out in the 70s until the community became 98% African American by 1980. When western Washington Heights became more African American the Outlaw Supreme Gangsters came here in 1968. Disciples seemed to have a weak presence in this community in the 60s and the Black P Stones took over most of the eastern portion of the community but any Disciples west of Vincennes joined the Gangsters and western Washington Heights became a strong GD hood starting in the 70s and history was made.

 

West Englewood 1964

 

Disciples heavily descended upon West Englewood in 1964 once African Americans began moving west of Ashland Avenue. A violent racial conflict ensued in this community west of Ashland Avenue that caused white gangs to invade the Ogden Park area looking for trouble. West Englewood at last fell victim to block busting tactics in 1964 and whites moved out rapidly between 63rd Street to 67th Street and from Ashland to Western Ave. Not only were Disciples fighting racist white groups they also battled Blackstone Rangers (Black P Stones) that were also trying to take over this community. Disciples advanced into northern West Englewood in the early 70s when whites started to move out of that area, West Englewood now has lots of GDs.

 

Disciples in the south suburbs in the 60s

The Disciples also spread into the south suburbs in Harvey, Dixmoor, Phoenix, Chicago Heights, Robbins and Ford Heights communities for the same reasons as on the further south side to deal with racial conflicts that ended up turning into more of a rivalry with Blackstone Rangers that were settling in these communities as well. I am not sure exactly when Disciples arrived but it was by the early 70s but they would not maintain a strong influence until Gangsters arrived and made them all become BGD (GD). The Disciples would became permanent residents of these suburbs up to present day.

 

Why the need for Disciples

 

One may ask what I mean by racial strife. From speaking to many over time from these areas and similar white flight areas around the city it can be any or all of these behaviors that bring a need for African American youths living in racially transitioning areas to attach to gangs:

 

Bullying in school – Many times white youths would pick on black students by calling them racial slurs or treating them as less equal.

 

Teaching staff unequal treatment for black students – Often times when white and black students would conflict or even if black students would get in trouble in other ways black students were punished harsher. Sometimes black students were even accused of issues they were not part of.

 

Unfair neighborhood boundaries – After restrictive covenants were banished by the Supreme Court in 1948 communities established sometimes agreed upon racial boundaries in neighborhoods where blacks could not be seen venturing into declared white areas. The problem was in these changing neighborhoods the boundaries were decided by the whites and often included all the public facilities like pools, parks, shopping areas etc…often leaving blacks no choice but to venture into these areas and face violence or taunting. The other option was to remain in their designated areas and succumb to boredom which leads to gang membership.

 

Unfair police treatment – As black residents became new in white neighborhoods, they were watched by police closer, questioned by police more frequently and questioned whenever a crime was committed without just cause. When fights between blacks and whites happened police would not arrest the whites and often brutally beat and arrest blacks involved.

 

These are just some of the behaviors that black residents faced in these changing communities. This is mostly lost history because these issues were often short lived because most whites took part in white flight rapidly and the racial issues were forgotten especially as groups like the Disciples ended up focusing more on conflicts with the rival Ranger groups. It is important to understand that the original cause was conflict between black and white even if it was within less than a one year duration.

 

Supreme Gangsters: 68th & Green 1964

 

Now that we began the story with the creation of the Disciples now let’s look into the formation of the “Gangsters.” This took place in Englewood in the year 1964, more specifically at 68th and Green. A group of thirty young pre-teen African American youths got together at this intersection as they hung out in Larry Hoover’s home (apartment) and watched outside the window as gangsters and pimps hung out in the parking lot of The Guys and Gal’s night Club that used to exist at that intersection. These boys wanted to be just like these pimps and gangsters, and they were living on the border of Cobra/Ranger and Disciple territory. Larry Hoover was inspired to be a leader of gangsters and began dressing himself very well to fit the role. Eventually these boys created their own club called the “Supreme Gangsters” which was Larry Hoover’s idea for the club name. Larry Hoover himself was not the first official leader but more of a behind the scenes type leader. Hoover teamed up with street hustler Andrew “Dee Dee” Howard and Ike “King Ike” Taylor and made King Ike his right-hand man. The Supreme Gangsters wore the color black and their symbols were a heart with wings and a round crown with a sword going through it. The Supreme Gangsters saluted each other with a clenched fist as their hand sign.

 

Upon inception the Supreme Gangsters were immediately at war with Blackstone Rangers and Egyptian Cobras but had no hard feelings against Disciples. Supreme Gangsters were the newer organization in Englewood, and this made them the target of Cobras that wanted to flush them out right away, but the Gangsters fought the Cobras viciously. The Supreme Gangsters were hustlers and were about getting money early in their history before Disciples, Cobras and Rangers were as much about it. These young Gangsters were likely into small drug trafficking as far back as when they formed.

 

In the year 1965, the leader of the Supreme Gangsters was no longer in charge and Larry Hoover stepped up to be the official leader of the Supreme Gangsters instead of being a behind the scenes leader. After Larry Hoover took over, the Supreme Gangsters began to grow in Englewood and became a major force to be reckoned with as Cobras struggled in battles with them.

 

The Devil’s Disciples were the largest gang on the south side by 1965 and before, even after the Black Stone Rangers started, Rangers were not as large. The Rangers only appeared larger because they were more outspoken to media outlets. The Supreme Gangsters were up and coming and even began recruiting older members that were even above high school age. Larry Hoover was becoming increasingly recognized, respected and feared by many. He was only 13 years old when he started the Supreme Gangsters and by the age of 14, he was in charge of older guys and was known as “Scary Larry” to some.

 

The nation of Disciples: 1966

 

On the date of January 6, 1966, the Disciples began recruiting gangs more instead of just focusing on recruiting just individuals. Devil’s Disciples wanted these gangs to call themselves “Disciple” while still maintaining their original name. An example was when the Gonzatos became Gonzato Disciples when they agreed to be part of the Disciples as an alliance. The coalition expanded Disciple boundaries beyond their usual areas and especially into the Bronzeville area. This also gave Disciples flexibility to open territory further north and west in the city, but beyond the south side Disciple influence would be weaker beyond the south side until Gangsters arrived later in the 60s.

 

Wentworth Gardens Armour Square

 

I don’t have a lot of early history on Disciples in the Wentworth Gardens but the Disciples may have arrived as early as 1966 to these projects after the Disciple nation was formed but GD influence may not have come until later when Gangsters arrived. “Murda Town” is or was the name of the GD faction in the Wentworth Gardens. These are one of the oldest African American projects in Chicago being built for African Americans in 1944. By the 1960s the Stateway Gardens and Robert Taylor projects across the Dan Ryan were filled with gangs and white gangs from near Sox park were a threat as well which likely led to Disciples coming here.

 

Douglas projects: Ida B. Wells 1966

 

A big part of northbound expansion for the Disciples was conquering the public housing projects in the Bronzeville area and the Ida B. Wells projects came in high demand for both Disciple and Black P Stone settlement in 1966. This former grass roots project now became populated by more lower income families which caused these projects to destabilize and become blighted and dangerous. Disciples and Stones went into war in this buildings. In later years The GDs held down much of the area around 37th and MLK to Cottage Grove. When GD and BD was deciphered on the streets in the early 80s the GDs were more west of Vincennes while BDs were in the buildings east on Vincennes to Cottage Grove on the Douglas side until the city tore the projects down in the late 2000s.

 

Douglas projects: Clarence Darrow projects 1966

 

The Clarence Darrow projects were built as an extension to Ida B. Wells in the early 60s and they began as a grassroots project but turned deadly by 1966 as lower income families moved in and the financial strength of the community collapsed; the city was doing nothing to help the community. Disciples took over much of these buildings especially by 39th and Langley (DHGs), these Disciples would identify with the Gangsters when the GD and BD lines were drawn in the early 80s and would remain until the projects were removed in the 2000s.

 

Douglas projects: Madden Park projects

 

The Madden Park projects were the newest of the Ida B. Wells, Darrow and Madden cluster being built in 1970; however, the Madden Park projects were doomed from the start and never had a grassroots period like Ida B. Wells; therefore, there was not as much strength in groups that worked for decades to keep the projects in the best shape possible. Madden Park projects fell into blight, crime and drugs with heavy gang activity. Disciples advanced on these projects and when the GD and BD divide happened they would run these buildings against each other until the projects were torn down in the 2000s.

 

Douglas projects: Dearborn projects 1966

 

The Douglas projects are one of the oldest projects in Bronzeville being built in 1950. These projects were first settled by the Egyptian Cobras that were now part of the Black P Stone alliance by 1966 and were dominating the project buildings from 29th Street down to 30th Street in the largest cluster or buildings. The northern part of this complex from 29th Street to 27th Street along State Street has 4 buildings just north of the park area, this area is where Disciples moved into during the Disciple expansion period of 1966 but eventually these Disciples identified more with the Gangsters and became GDs by the 1980s. Gangs wars and drug wars once plagued these buildings heavily and GDs and Cobras would shoot at each other from sniper points on rooftops, these projects have since been renovated; however, GDs still remain strong in the buildings they have always run.

 

Douglas projects: Stateway Gardens 1966

 

The oldest prominent gang element in these projects was the Del Vikings who once dominated these buildings until Disciples arrived in 1966. Disciples flipped many Del Vikings and the Del Vikings would remain loyal to Disciple concepts and this was a big thing in the southern portion of the projects nearest to the Robert Taylor projects. Once Richard “Cold Black” Dordies got out of prison in 1981 he spread the word about GD and BD divisions and seized control of much of the GDs and especially focused on the GDs in the northern area of the Stateway Gardens by 35th and 36th Streets down to 38th. Cold Black and the GDs made millions of dollars in drug profits in these buildings until Cold Black was shot dead in the early 2000s. In the 1990s GDs and BDs engaged in violent gang wars in these towers costing many lives until the city tore the buildings down in the 2000s after Cold Black was killed.

 

Douglas projects: Prairie Courts 1966

 

The Prairie Courts public housing projects were built in 1951 for African American senior citizens but by the mid-60s the city needed these buildings to house low income families. These buildings became troubled once low income families moved in because the city used the excuse of lack of rent payments to no longer uphold maintenance yet they were the same city government that allowed so many impoverished families in because they didn’t want them moving to white neighborhoods. The Disciples took over these buildings once the Disciple nation started. These projects were right near the Ida B. Well projects from 27th to 30th Streets along MLK drive. When the GD and BD divide happened in the early 80s these buildings went to the GDs and they ran these buildings until they were torn down in the 2000s.

 

Grand Boulevard and the Robert Taylor projects 1966

 

The Grand Boulevard neighborhood of Bronzeville, like Douglas, had the oldest gang element of African Americans in the city. These oldest gangs held down Bronzeville until the later 60s. Their grip on the Bronzeville community died as soon as the Disciple alliance formed in 1966 and the conquest of Bronzeville began with an aggressive campaign. Cobras took the Robert Taylor projects prior to 1966 but once Disciples started hanging around these projects in 1966 they would eventually take over. Disciples soon became very large all over the streets and the Robert Taylors but once the GD and BD divide happened in 1981, the northern buildings went to the GDs, the middle buildings went to BDs and the southern buildings in the Hole went to the Cobras. GDs made lots of money in these projects in the 80s, 90s and 2000s and even did security detail of these projects not letting in anyone they didn’t like. If you put up a fight about not being let in they would just shoot you dead on the spot. There was a lot to protect in these projects including a lucrative crack cocaine trade. GDs had snipers on the rooftops with infrared scopes waiting to pick off enemies, in 2006 their operations were shut down when the city tore them down. GDs still remain strong on the streets of Grand Boulevard so there is more to Grand Boulevard GDs than the old projects.

 

Near South Side: The Hilliard projects and the Ickes 1966

 

In the year 1966, the Raymond Hilliard public housing projects were built and guess what…the Disciples moved right in right away. These Disciples would end up going with Gangster ways by the early 80s making this tower ran heavily by GDs. The Harold Ickes projects were finished by 1955 and were a grass roots project until the mid-60s when the Housing Authority moved in low to no income families and the city would not cover the lost costs of a lack of rent payments. These buildings fell into blight and disarray and once the Disciple nation was formed Disciples claimed much of these buildings as did the Black P Stones. When the early 80s GD and BD divide happened all Disciples went with Gangsters and repped GDs in these projects until the city tore them down in 2009. So many drug wars and gang wars happened in these projects from the late 60s to the 2000s and GDs were the center of most of it.

 

Oakland: Madden projects on the Oakland side

 

I need to decipher the Ida B. Wells and Madden projects by neighborhood division because each neighborhood has its own story but also because on the Oakland side of the Madden projects is where GDs were strongest. The Ida B. Wells and Darrow projects on the Oakland side was more for Black P Stones and BDs, the GDs were powerful in the east side of the Madden projects.

 

Aide to the community

 

In 1966, the Disciples became heavily active in the community opening fund raisers, legitimate businesses, enforcing school policies to keep kids in school. Maybe some of that money went to illegal activities but a great deal of it went into helping the community. David Barksdale used his power for some good as can be seen. The Disciples were also tied to civil rights groups and fought against civil rights injustices. In that summer of 1966 Disciples even tried a peace treaty with the Rangers, this didn’t last but at least there was a large attempt to make it happen. In the year 1967, The Woodlawn Organization was awarded over $927,000 to be handed out to the Blackstone Rangers and the Black Disciples to operate job training centers for neighborhood youths in Woodlawn. All Disciples and Rangers were paid a salary to be instructors of this program despite the lack of training. Disciples received about $360,000 of this money for the program. In these programs there were both Disciple and Ranger instructors and students in these classrooms and sometimes gang fights and shootings happened in the classes.

 

Gangster Nation

 

Now that Disciple and Stone alliances were established the much smaller Supreme Gangsters, needed an alliance of their own. Larry Hoover now felt the need to create his own countermeasure against the Black P Stones in 1967. He adopted the same belief as the Disciples in keeping out of media outlets and having a code of silence, hence, why the new Gangster nation alliance flew under the radar when it started in 1967 and through the rest of the 60s. The Gangsters absorbed several African American gangs that were in opposition to Stones from as far south as 71st Street. All organizations that joined the Gangster nation adopted the last name of “Gangster” to show allegiance. One thing people tend to get twisted is that the Supreme Gangsters were known as the “High Supreme Gangsters,” in reality the High Supreme Gangsters were just a branch of Supreme Gangsters from 71st Street. Another branch on 71st was the Imperial Gangsters, once again another name that gets confused as a Supreme Gangster official title.

 

First section on the west side Gladys & Keeler: K-Town

 

In the month of September in the year 1968, Ike Taylor moved to the intersection of Gladys and Keeler in the K-Town section of Chicago’s West Side in the West Garfield Park neighborhood after he was released from the Audy Home detention center. His family moved from Englewood to K-Town. When he arrived, he began spreading the word of the Gangster nation to these young west side youths that were mainly familiar with Vice Lords and Egyptian Cobras. King Ike recruited many youths in this area and established the very first Supreme Gangster branch in history. Ike appointed Robert “Red” Lawson to be his Sergeant of Arms, and this was the birth of the Gangster Disciples on the west side of Chicago, and it all started in 1968. This was also the beginning of the permanent settlement of Gangster Disciples in the southern portion of this community near the expressway.

 

The west side Supreme Gangsters gained quick popularity especially after they absorbed the “Black Pimps” and the “Jive 5” gangs by the 1970s. The Black Pimps were especially large in the West Garfield Park area, so this became a colossal move for the Gangsters turning them out. This gave the Gangsters a major momentum boost and they soon colonized the Henry Horner projects located in the Near West Side neighborhood right away in 1967 putting the Gangsters on the map in two west side neighborhoods. There really weren’t any Disciples or Stones on the west side so this was prime opportunity, the only major rival to deal with was the Vice Lords. This is how Gangster Disciples became so large in the Henry Horner projects until they were torn down.

 

 

Ike “King Ike” Taylor

 

 

In the early 1970s Ike Taylor was convicted of attempted murder and other charges after the shooting of Albert Harris. In the court case of People vs. Taylor on December 24, 1974, Albert Harris was walking home from a friend’s house and was down the street from where he lived. Harris stopped walking when he heard the clicking sound of a gun, he turned and claimed he saw Ike Taylor standing there holding a pistol. Harris said that Ike said, “It ain’t nothing but a Gangster Thing.” Harris then saw another man holding a shotgun in a doorway, then Henry Hearan joined Taylor holding a pistol and Ronald Lawson on the other side of Taylor holding a shotgun. Harris then claimed that Taylor said, “You’re busted,” then shot Harris in the throat. The man with the shotgun in the doorway fired next and shot Harris in his right side. A fifth shooter suddenly showed up and shot Harris again with a 12-gauge shotgun in the face. Harris then turned to see Taylor, Hearan and Lawson standing side by side with flashing sparks coming from their guns. Harris dropped to the ground to crawl away but then a sixth shooter appeared with a 12 gauge and shot Harris yet again. Harris managed to flee under a car as the men continued to open fire on the car as Harris could hear all the pellets striking the vehicle that terrified him so much that he cried out for his mother to save him. His mother heard the frenzy of gun fire and her son cry out then rushed to the scene as the men fled. Harris was blinded, was left with a difficulty speaking, lost six teeth and was left with scars all over but survived the attack. According to court documents Lawson was acquitted of the crime and the other three men not named were never found. Ike Taylor and Henry Hearan were convicted and both men protested their innocence. Ike Taylor was able to get the aggravated battery charges removed but the attempted murder charge stuck (source from People Vs. Taylor App.3d 396 1974). In later years Ike Taylor would become a positive leader and positive advocate for the Growth and Development concepts of the Gangster Disciples.

 

East Garfield Park 1968

 

In 1968, the Gangsters advanced across the Garfield Park recreational park area into the southern portion of the East Garfield Park community and the Ike Sims apartments.  Gangsters have remained on these streets for decades and have done big business even while cliquing up with some Black Soul groups to make money, hence, how the Gangster Black Souls came about.

 

Near West Side 1968

 

Now that the Gangsters reached the west side there was no stopping their sudden growth especially since they were more in tune with how to make money than any other west side mob at the time.  The Near West Side was ground zero for the foundation of multiple important black mobs in Chicago and many of these gangs ended up flipping to feed into the growing Vice Lord army, now the Supreme Gangsters landed on these sacred streets in 1968 and began their work of establishing themselves very well in the projects.

 

Near West Side projects: Henry Horner projects 1968

 

The Henry Horner public housing projects on the Near West Side were once home to grass roots type of residents and lower crime was common.  This did not stop gangs from roaming among these buildings like the Vice Lords and it would not stop the Supreme Gangsters from arriving in 1968 during this west side conquest.  By the 1980s these Gangsters were now “Black Gangster Disciples” and were selling massive amounts of drugs in these buildings.  GDs became deep in multiple buildings in the “Mobb Building” at Madison and Winchester and the “Dubb Gs” ran much of the Washington and Wolcott area.  The GDs were strong until the buildings were torn down in 2010.

 

Near West Side projects: Rockwell Gardens projects 1968

 

As the Supreme Gangsters swept the west side in 1968, they made a home at 340 S. Western Avenue building of the Rockwell Gardens projects.  These projects were another grass roots project until the 80s but by the 80s the drug trade was alive and well in these buildings and the GDs were moving major product until the city tore the building down in 2006.

 

North Lawndale 1968

 

North Lawndale has been the heart and soul of the Vice Lords since the late 50s but some gangs would still stake claim here during the decades of Vice Lord domination.  The key to surviving in such a Vice Lord controlled neighborhood is to be a money maker and to have lots of guns which is traits the Gangsters were good at.  When the Supreme Gangsters made their west side conquest, they brought plenty of guns with them to move into North Lawndale and boldly move next door to both Egyptian Cobras and Vice Lords.  GDs survived the decades in this community and still remain on these streets.

 

West Humboldt Park 1968

 

West Humboldt Park went through major racial transitions in the 1960s and 1970s that caused violent gang wars.  The Puerto Rican community in southern West Humboldt Park from Chicago Avenue to Franklin/Ferdinand and from Sacramento to Pulaski moved out of this area heavily in the late 60s taking the Latin Kings with them.  Impoverished African Americans moved into this area and by the time they arrived whites were no longer the hostile ones enforcing the Chicago Avenue racial border.  Now the conflict moved from white versus brown to brown versus black as blacks were not allowed to cross Chicago Avenue many times and groups like the Latin Kings enforced this.  It wasn’t so much the Latin Kings that were the biggest enemy of many African American youths, it became the Black Souls that began taking over these streets but when Supreme Gangsters arrived in 1968, they put up a major fight against the Black Souls that made the newspapers in the early 70s after a Supreme Gangster was murdered.  This violent conflict caused the Black Souls to move out by the mid-70s but Supreme Gangsters either remained or a new group moved into the same area by 1976, and the Gangsters became big once again, this time they would never leave.  GDs still control the Huron and Homan area, but they also grew north of Chicago Avenue and west Pulaski running it all the way up to Division mixed in with Vice Lords.  GDs have remained a major part of West Humboldt Park and have pulled big profits over the decades as they face off with African American and Hispanic gangs.

 

Gangster versus Disciple war: 1968

 

In the year 1968 war began between the Disciples and Supreme Gangster allied gangs. Larry Hoover became the target for assassination attempts. He was shot on two occasions then on September 4th, 1968, a third attempt was made on him. On this day Englewood was on high alert as Disciples, Gangsters and Stones were packing guns and ready to shoot each other. At Parker High School members of the Supreme Gangsters and Disciples were especially ready to get into drama against each other. Baron Disciple member James Highsmith and Disciple co-founder Leonard Longstreet entered Parker High School even though they weren’t students. The two spotted Larry Hoover standing outside of the principal’s office and Highsmith walked past him with a smile as Longstreet shouted out “Burn him,” Highsmith pulled out a .32 pistol and shot Larry Hoover and two others nearby. No one was killed but Highsmith was convicted of the shooting and sentenced to one to five years (from source A Report on Chicago Crime by the Chicago Crime Commission).

 

During that fall season of 1968 the guns were blazing all over the south side as Disciples, Gangsters and Stones were at each other’s throats as bodies were dropping. This led to a temporary truce between the three organizations that didn’t last long but it was an attempt to curtail the several acts of violence on the south side. One thing to understand is that the leadership and founders did not want anymore violence and were actually friends. This was a friendship of original Black P Stones Devil’s Disciples and Supreme Gangsters. They had no control of factions that would act in self-interest and started violence with factions of the rival group starting the gang wars. The leaders and founders were not interested in war.

 

Gangsters in Roseland

 

The first main drug dealer and syndicate individual in Roseland was an individual nicknamed “Brick.” In the 95th street area black youths admired this older guy in his 40s as he drove around in expensive cars and had lots of money. Many black youths connected to gangs, especially the Syndicate Rangers worked for Brick moving his drugs around the community for a cut of the profits. To many of these youths, both Rangers and Disciples found Brick to be an undesirable even though they often worked for him to make a little extra money. Brick was viewed as a problem for the black community spreading drugs in the neighborhood. Brick would operate for some years, but his reign ended in 1968 when a 17-year-old youth ran him out.

 

In the summer of 1968, 17-year-old Ulysses Floyd (U.S.) rose through the ranks of the Syndicate Blackstone Rangers to the point where he was running the Lowden projects Rangers. In that summer of 1968 Andrew Howard of the Supreme Gangsters brought Ulysses Floyd to see Larry Hoover, the leader and founder of the Supreme Gangsters to a meeting at 68th and Green in Englewood at a park. At this park Ulysses Floyd agreed to join the Supreme Gangsters as a Chief or Supreme Chief and established the Gangsters in Roseland at 95th Street and built from there. Floyd not only put the Gangsters in Roseland, his influence spread all the way up to 79th Street. After these many Syndicate Rangers and Disciples flipped to his branch of “Outlaw Supreme Gangsters” these Gangsters now established themselves very well in the northern Roseland area. Black migration was growing stronger by 1968 and advancing south of 95th Street as Disciples, Outlaw Gangsters and Black P Stones (formerly Rangers) moved into the higher numbered streets that would soon be known as the “Wild hundreds.” After Floyd established the Outlaws, he ran Brick out of business as he had to leave the neighborhood. Floyd was nearly executed by crooked police officers in the Dan Ryan Woods on behalf of Brick but they let Floyd go instead then Floyd pushed out Brick. Shortly after Floyd and the Gangsters realized how much money Brick was worth temptation was too strong for the Gangsters to walk away from all that potential money; therefore, they took over the drug operations; however, they gave back to the community unlike Brick and ran a better operation than Brick. Outlaw Gangsters also worked well with Disciples, and this brought an alliance in 1969 after the B.G.D.N alliance was formed.

 

 

Larry Hoover and Jeff Fort

 

 

In January of 1969, Larry Hoover was highly recognized by David Barksdale and Jeff Fort because the Gangsters had risen to become the third largest outfit on the south side of the city. This is when Jeff Fort became interested in establishing an official alliance with Larry Hoover and the Gangsters. Now this is where history gets tricky and has caused many disputes on the streets for many years on if Larry Hoover and the Gangsters became Stones. Some will tell you he was a Stone and others will say no way. The truth lies somewhere in the middle; however, I will say this right now before we go into details, Larry Hoover was never a Stone and I’ll explain it all right now.

 

In January of 1969 Larry Hoover went to Jeff Fort for a peaceful meeting to discuss an alliance. The two leaders agreed on just having an alliance that had no official title, it was simply a truce between Gangsters and Stones and not a merger in any which way. This alliance was not the same as the Black Disciple type alliance, or Gangster nation type alliance or like the Black P Stone type alliance, this was an alliance that kept Gangsters and Stones separate but would still be governed by Jeff Fort and Larry Hoover supposedly as equals. Larry came up with the idea for him to rule this alliance alongside Jeff, but Jeff ended up declining this in the long run because in Jeff’s mind nobody is his equal. The peace between them lasted close to a half year but ended up going sour as Larry was seeing more and more how Jeff would not let him rule alongside him as an equal. Jeff also came up with the idea for a complete merger of Gangster and Stone concepts that he wanted to call the “Gangster Stones,” but Larry Hoover rejected the idea especially since Jeff wouldn’t let him rule as equals. This and a shooting in May of 1969 when the Stones shot at Supreme Gangsters near Larry Hoover’s home were events that brought an end to this alliance. Here are the details of that shooting that pushed things over the edge between Stones and Gangsters.

 

End of the Gangsters/Stones alliance

 

On May 7, 1969 two Supreme Gangsters Gregory Sanders and Ronald Vandergrift were shot at by Black P Stones at the corner of 69th and Halsted in the Englewood neighborhood. At the intersection of 69th and Green at address 817 West 69th Street (old shrimp shop no longer there) between 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Ronald Vandergrift came across Lonnie King and Charlie “Stone” Smith who were two members of the Double Six Kings which was a Black P Stone gang. Vandergrift knew Lonnie King so he began walking and talking with him as they walked toward 69th and Halsted. Lonnie started telling Ronald that he did not belong around there and to stop coming around that neighborhood because Ronald was a Supreme Gangster. Lonnie had no idea about the Gangster and BPS alliance and somehow Ronald could not convince him of it. Charlie “Stone” Smith then came around the corner and joined Lonnie in telling Ronald he did not belong around there and to keep his Gangsters out. Charlie was ruthless about it and only said it one time then yanked out his revolver and shot at Ronald two times striking him once in the groin area in his inner left thigh. After Ronald was shot, he ran to the other side of the street, Felix Murry and Gregory Sanders were nearby (both Supreme Gangsters too) and fled the scene too. Ronald did not get far because of his wound and fell between two cars. Felix Murry then came to help Ronald and as the two men took off, King and Smith kept shooting at them and grazed Murry. The two men ran two blocks away to the corner of 68th and Green and that is where they met up with Charles Hoover at the family home of Larry Hoover. The two were then taken to the hospital and were treated for their wounds. The hospital called the Police about the fact they were shot but both men declined pressing any charges or naming their assailants according to court documents. On May 9th at about 4 p.m. Charles Hoover was at the corner of 68th and Halsted and saw the shooters Lonnie King and Charlie Smith. King and Smith told Hoover they were sorry and that they did not know Hoover and the Supreme Gangsters were allies. On May 11th Vandergrift, King, Murry, Smith, Charles Hoover and some others attended a “reconciliation meeting” at the Black P Stone headquarters where the shooting was declared an accident due to the fact that the shooters did not know Supreme Gangsters were now allies according to court documents. Black P Stone Ranger chiefs were the judges in this meeting. In June 1969 Ronald Vandergrift was picked up by CPD for jumping bail, Marijuana possession and two charges of aggravated battery according to court documents. Vandergrift made a deal with CPD and decided to testify all about the shooting and now press charges in exchange for leniency for his crimes. He also came to this decision because by then the Supreme Gangsters had now went back to war with the Stones and were now merged with the Disciples (People v. Smith, ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT FIRST DISTRICT (2ND DIVISION)). This opened up a court case of People v. Smith on October 9, 1973 which was a joint indictment of Steven Smith for an aggravated battery charge and was also being indicted on murder charges from June 2, 1969. He was 20 years old at the time and the leader of the Double Six Kings.

 

The BGDN

 

In June of 1969, Larry Hoover had enough of the Stones and conferenced with David Barksdale instead. The two groups established an alliance that had a title known as the “Black Gangster Disciple nation.” The Black Gangster Disciple nation consisted of the Gangster nation, which was the Supreme Gangsters and their Gangster allies, these Gangsters were to be led by Larry Hoover. The Disciples were now known as “Black Disciples” and this was the alliance of all the Disciple gangs led by David Barksdale. Prince Old Timer was appointed the Prince of the Disciples while “Tennesee” the Prince of the Gangsters. Again, this was still just an alliance, but it was a combined concept alliance unlike the one between the Stones and the Gangsters. All Disciple gangs and Gangster gangs were all Black Gangster Disciples.

 

Many Disciples and Gangsters just considered themselves “BGDs” or Black Gangster Disciples when this alliance was first established and didn’t even refer to themselves as Black Disciples or Gangsters, they fell in love with the BGD title.

 

LSD

 

In June of 1969, Vice Lords, Black P Stones and BGDs all got together to form a coalition known as the “Lords Stones and Disciples” or “LSD.” This was a unity of the gangs so they could march on the government and demand equal rights, better jobs and about all the oppression and poverty in their neighborhoods. This coalition effectively slowed down gang violence between these three organizations even after CVL INC went defunct in the fall of 1970. For the rest of 1969 the LSD coalition really set aside a lot of gang wars as they marched on City Hall, Universities and everywhere, until finally in January of 1970 they achieved some success in bringing about “The Chicago Plan” which was “An agreement to implement the employment of minorities in Chicago’s construction industry” (Chicago Building Trades Council, 1970). The final agreement lists 3,000 jobs or training positions in four categories. But a Coalition spokesman claimed that the actual final agreement called for 1,000 jobs in each category (Chicago Defender, January 13, 1970)” (Panagopoulos, The Role of Gangs In The Construction Of UIC). It was soon discovered in the early 1970s that the Chicago Plan was failing about not producing like it should and by October of 1973 the LSD coalition disbanded.

 

Uptown 4848

 

In the year 1969 many south side black youths were being bussed in to Senn High School on Chicago’s far north side. This program was meant to provide south side black students with better education opportunities; however much of the student body at Senn was not accepting. This is when Black Gangster Disciples were among bussed in students. Eventually many of their families would settle in the area of Lawrence and Winthrop which was the oldest black settlement in the neighborhood. The Black Gangster Disciples now became a large and permanent part of the Uptown neighborhood as this was one of the first north side settlements besides Cabrini Green projects. In the year 1970 the notorious “4848” building was built at Lawrence and Winthrop that was built as a building for impoverished black families and was a Chicago Housing Authority apartment complex. The Black Gangster Disciples moved into this building in 1970 as Lawrence and Winthrop was already their territory. In these buildings the Disciples made lots of profits in drug trafficking until the building was torn down.

 

Gangsters in the deep 100s 1969

 

In the year 1969 the Supreme Gangsters/Outlaw Supreme Gangsters etc… began spreading into the West Pullman, Morgan Park, Riverdale, South Deering and Pullman neighborhoods. This was due to the beginning of a major white flight pattern beginning on the far southwest side of Chicago. As this was beginning, there was major racial conflict between whites and African Americans that was not published in any news sources. There were fights over using community resources, schools and territories.

 

Gangsters in Altgeld

 

In Riverdale, residents of the Altgeld Gardens public housing projects wanted to use more amenities from neighboring and more affluent communities like West Pullman and Pullman. This brought the Black Gangster Disciples, both of Disciple and Gangster backgrounds into these projects along with Black P Stones. The Altgeld projects were now filled with both Disciple groups (BDs) and Gangster groups (GDs). The BGDs were the strongest in the projects when they arrived in 1969 which is why GDs and BDs are so big in these buildings and remain there permanently.

 

97th & Cottage Grove

 

In the Pullman community, there was much anger over African Americans moving into the northern part of Pullman as of 1969 and attending white public schools. Greaser gangs and other white groups and even some white supremacists targeted African American migration and racial outbursts happened which caused Black Gangster Disciples (mainly Gangsters) to move into Pullman and permanently settle these streets. Black P Stones also arrived and conflict between Gangsters and Stones would soon ensue.

 

West Pullman

 

On the street of West Pullman, white flight began in 1969. Since the early 60s African Americans had been residing in West Pullman much to the objection of some of the white community but they earned their keeps. By 1969, block busting tactics took a toll on this community causing a white flight exodus that was intense in the 1970s and the community became impoverished and crime filled. The Black Gangster Disciples would arrive in 1969 to deal with racial prejudices but soon focused their energy on the Black P Stones. This began a permanent settlement of the Gangster Disciples in West Pullman.

 

Morgan Park

 

In the Morgan Park community, African Americans had been residing in the eastern part of the community east of Vincennes Ave since the 1890s. Beginning in 1958 racial tensions began once the Dan Ryan Expressway removed a portion of this African American community causing African American residents to move west of Vincennes, this brought racial conflict that ushered in the Blackstone Raiders gang (not Black P Stones or Blackstone Rangers) that became large in the community until they went extinct a short time later. During most of the 60s racial issues seemed to calm until 1969 when there were more programs offered on the far southwest side for African Americans to use white facilities and schools. This sparked protest and racial clashing which ushered in the Black Gangster Disciples into Morgan Park in 1969. Since then, the Gangster Disciples have been the dominating gang in Morgan Park up to present day as they made their presence well-known as soon as they arrived in 1969.

 

Jeffrey Manor and the Trumbulls

 

In the year 1969, white flight had begun to take its toll in the Jeffrey Manor and Trumbull Housing projects areas of the South Deering community. During this process the majority white residents were angered over this. This began racial conflict in South Deering that was heavily unreported ever since the 1953 Trumbull Park project racial riot. By 1969, the projects had become majority African American, but the neighborhood was majority white by a large margin. This was a call for the Black Gangster Disciples to move into the Trumbull Park projects and Jeffrey Manor in 1969 to aid youths dealing with these racial conflicts. No other African American groups were settling these areas; therefore, the BGDs were the ones that assisted the African American community of South Deering. This went on all through the 1970s as BGDs were the only group that were part of the Supreme Gangsters/Gangster nation blueprint. When Conservative Vice Lords, Latin Kings, Latin Counts and Spanish Vice Lords arrived in the early 1980s the BGDs battled them all until CVLs and SVLs left the neighborhood. The Jeffrey Manor GDs especially have a strong and legendary legacy that remains permanent.

 

Rockford GDs 1969

 

It might surprise many to know that the first suburb in Illinois that had identified Disciples from Chicago was the suburb/city of Rockford, Illinois.  The Disciples have been long documented in Rockford since their arrival in 1969 the moment public housing projects were opened in 1969 on the west side of town.  Rockford African Americans moved into these projects, but it seems as if most of the families were brought in from Chicago from all that I have read about and researched.  Old newspapers and court cases starting in the early 70s name the “Disciples” as a black gang from the projects in town.  A 1984 newspaper I found flat out verified these Disciples showed up in the late 60s and were later identified as the “Black Gangster Disciples,” the evidence is outstanding.  Rockford tried to rid their GDs by tearing down many of the projects in the late 70s but that didn’t stop the GDs from multiplying on the west side and even by downtown, they just adapted and moved to new projects or apartments.  GDs in Rockford got plugged in heavy with the crack cocaine game in the late 80s and sold it like hotcakes having dope fiends going crazy for it.  In 1993, the police did a massive crack down on GDs in Rockford, but they just bounced back and kept going strong.  Presently GDs are deep in Rockford and tearing down those old projects did nothing to stop them. 

 

David Barksdale shooting incident 1970

 

Since 1968, David Barksdale had been working with leaders of the Black P Stones on several failed peace treaties. By June of 1970, another weak peace treaty was in effect, but this was broken on June 7, 1970, when David Barksdale was shot in his side at a bar at 848 West 69th Street (69th and Peoria) in the Englewood neighborhood. The accidental shooters were Black P Stones. One of the Stones dropped a rifle, and it went off striking Barksdale. Larry Hoover was there with Barksdale when the shooting started and acted quickly after Barksdale was shot by quickly getting Barksdale into his car. Hoover then raced to St. Bernard’s Hospital in Englewood and was accredited with saving David Barksdale’s life after Barksdale suffered an M-14 bullet wound in his side that passed into his kidneys causing permanent damage.

 

 

Cabrini Green

 

In the year 1970, Larry Hoover connected with the Black Deuces and any Disciple groups establishing a heroin drug ring in the Cabrini Green projects. This business was not as large as it would later become but it caused relations with Cobrastones to sour which led to a deadly gang war by the summer of 1970.

 

Before the 1970s, Cabrini Green was run by various different gangs with a good number of Cobrastones and Disciples running some of the buildings or parts of buildings. In the early 1970s a bid for domination of these projects began and first caught wind in the news when two police officers were shot dead by snipers on the rooftop of one of the project buildings in July of 1970. There was an existing war between Black Deuces and Cobrastones that prompted police to investigate, this is how serious this war was becoming. In 1971, Richard Strong, the Cabrini Green Disciple founder, started a group called the B.L.A.C.K.S which was a civil rights group that aimed to help the people of Cabrini Green facing injustices. Richard Strong was fatally shot to death on June 8, 1972. After Strong was killed the Black Deuces would now become Black Gangster Disciples and the legacy was now set for the GDs in Cabrini Green.

 

Dodged indictments

 

In the early 1970s, investigations into street gangs using government funding for illegal activities came to a close as they now had evidence to convict high ranking gang members from the Black P Stones. In 1971 top leaders of the Black P Stones were officially charged and by 1972 Jeff Fort was sentenced to 4 years in prison. The investigations didn’t stop with the Stones though, investigators went after the Vice Lords and shut down their legit businesses then they aimed their cross heirs at the Black Gangster Disciples. Authorities ended up getting Mingo to testify before the grand jury against his own organization, however, no charges were brought upon the Disciples, but government funding was cut off. Stones and Vice Lords had members testify against their own gangs too in these proceedings and caused Vice Lords and Stones to face prison time, but Mingo’s testimony failed to convict anyone, instead Mingo was severely beaten on the streets by the Disciples for snitching on his own kind. The same exact money that convicted the Stones somehow didn’t get the Disciples convicted even though both groups were technically mismanaging funds. It seemed like the government just had it out for the Stones more. Not only that. The Disciples didn’t seek out this money it was kinda forced on them as equal payment to them to not favor Stones. Disciples weren’t big with talking to the media and stayed out of the spotlight unlike the Stones. The main Disciple leadership did not officially sign up for these programs. Perhaps these factors helped their case and kept them less of a target of the government.

 

Earliest origin of GD vs. BD war

 

In the year 1971 the Disciples began to fall into disorganization and groups of Disciples began not honoring the BGDN and even feuded with other Disciple groups. There were those that wanted to overthrow Larry Hoover and there were others that were Disciples that didn’t like the Gangsters because of the old war with the Gangsters. There were also some groups that had self-interest in mind rebelling against leadership.

 

Larry Hoover’s murder conviction, 1973

 

A harsh conviction did come down on the BGDs in 1973. On February 26, 1973, Larry Hoover ordered the death of William “Pooky” Young, a 19-year-old drug dealer in the neighborhood that stole drugs and money from the BGDs. Andrew Howard killed him on behalf of Hoover, and it all happened at 68th and Union in the Englewood neighborhood in an alley, Young was shot 6 times in the head. On March 16 both men were arrested and charged with the murder. By November 5, 1973, Hoover and Howard were sentenced to 150 to 200 years in prison in Statesville Correctional Facility in Crest Hill Illinois.

 

The life and death of David Barksdale

 

As Larry Hoover was now sitting in prison and David Barksdale’s health was declining. Since Barksdale was shot in 1970 his kidneys needed to be replaced, and his brother was the donor of a kidney. David Barksdale did not live like he got a new kidney against doctor orders and now his health was declining. David Barksdale’s kidneys were slowly shutting down. David Barksdale succumbed to his illness and died on September 2nd, 1974. The fond memory would live on of King David as a positive leader that truly worked to better lives for Disciples and many people in his communities. David Barksdale was no drug dealer, he was no killer, or at least not on record he was no killer, he was barely even a criminal. He was the King of the Disciples but when you look at his old rap sheet you really couldn’t tell. David wasn’t full of money and power, and he didn’t even make money like Larry did. On record he was a small-time hustler that committed petty crimes and he had no real felonies on his record. Here is a list of crimes on record recorded on David Barksdale from a list I got from the NGCRC website written by George W. Knox.

 

The rap sheet begins with the arrest of David Jones, 5 May 65, for Criminal Trespass to Vehicle (dismissed by Judge Comerford). On 13 July 65 the arrest is for “resisting”, and again 28 July 65 “Resist. & Disorderly G.B.”. The case also went to Judge Comerford.

 

* The first twist on the real name begins on 2 December 65, “David L. Barksdale” with investigation for aggravated battery.

 

* The next alias (Davis Jones) comes on 31 Dec 66 for Strong Arm robbery. His gives a home address of 8407 S. Morgan.

 

*Arrested as Davis L. Barksdale 14 Feb 67 for investigation of Burglary, released without charge, and listed as living at 522 W. 64th St.

 

* Arrested then again on 26 April 67 as Donise Barksdale for assault and resisting, it was non-suited. Address given: 6452 S. Union.

 

* An entry on 10 Aug 67 for David L. Barksdale (6452 S. Union) indicates “Appl. Chicago Urban Oppt.”, which presumably means an anti-gang program or gang-treatment program.

 

* David Barksdale was arrested on 13 Sept 67 for possession of marijuana, but it was a case dismissed by Judge Wendt.

 

* George Walker was an alias used in the arrest on 13 Oct 67 for disorderly conduct; but again the charge was non-suited (Judge Wendt again).

 

* David L. Barksdale on 1 Feb 68 was arrested for resisting and disorderly conduct (Xparte $25, Judge Cerda).

 

* On 7 April 68 David Barksdale was arrested for curfew, but again the case was dismissed (Judge Lee).

 

* On 28 May 68 David L. Barksdale was arrested for aggravated assault, battery and criminal damage to property, but also dismissed (Judge Cerda).

 

* On 8 June 68 David Barksdale was arrested for disorderly conduct (Xparte $25 & NC, Judge Zelezinski).

 

* David D. Barksdale arrested 27 June 68 for mob action. Again on 3 July 68 for Agg. battery.

 

* Arrested 24 July 68 for warrants on the two prior arrests, receives 6 months in the “House of Corrections” (i.e., today known as Cook County Jail) by Judge Zelezinski.

 

* On 3 August 68 charged with criminal damage to property, but on 3 Nov 68 it is dismissed (Judge Zelezinski). Similarly, 4 August 68 charged with resisting arrest and disorderly, again dismissed (Judge Zelezinski).

 

* Arrested 7 Mar 69 for a battery warrant, dismissed (Judge Zelezinski). On 4 Sept 69 again for “mob action”, again dismissed (S.O.L., Judge Genesen). Arrested 14 August 69 for unlawful use of weapon, and defacing I.D., dismissed (Judge Mooney).

 

* Arrested 15 January 70 for intimidation, dismissed (S.O.L., Judge Hechinger).

 

* David Lee Barksdale arrested for resisting arrest on 7 May 70, discharged on 10 Mar 71 (Judge Genesen). Arrested 4 Sept 70 for mob action, held to the grand jury (Judge Dunne). He is indicted for Mob Action by the Grand Jury. Verdict: not guilty (Judge Aspen).

 

* On 9 Jan 71 arrested for defacing firearms and discharging a weapon, gets 6 months in the county jail (Judge Dunne).

 

* Next record entry is 12 Jan 71, for traffic court. Arrested 26 January 71 for armed robbery conspiracy, dismissed by Judge Murphy. A 21 June 71 entry for traffic court. A blank entry for 11 July 1972 in the 6th district (CB No. 3586047).

 

* On 18 Jan 74 John David Barksdale arrested for gambling (dice), dismissed by Judge Neal.

 

* Last entry, 13 Feb 74 for possession of marijuana and fictitious license plates (3 days in jail, and $100 fine, Judge Murphy).

 

(2004: National Gang Crime Research Center, Knox)

 

As you can see from this rap sheet, he was no kingpin and was more focused on the activist side of Disciple operations. Barksdale was very much feared and some even said just looking at him sent shivers up your spine. Barksdale did have a hard side, but he was also generous to those disadvantaged. He would go to the Bryn Mawr School at 74th and Chappel in the South Shore neighborhood and he would throw stacks of $1 bills to the children in the school yard in the early 1970s.

 

Civil War

 

After Barksdale’s passing in 1974, he was dearly missed especially by the Gangster gangs allied with the B.G.D.N. Most of the Disciples were also very mournful and wanted to continue growing a closer unity with the Gangsters. A nasty rumor circulated that Larry Hoover thought he was rightfully due the position of King of Black Gangster Disciples causing some groups of BGDs to fight among themselves as some wanted to kill Larry Hoover because of this while others supported this and now violence brewed among groups of Disciples and Gangsters while the main Disciples and main Gangsters had to work together to stop this rumors’ damage. It was also at this time that Disciples that still held grudges against the Gangsters could make moves against Gangsters now that Barksdale had passed away. Chaos was brewing within the BGDN.

 

In the year 1976 the chaos within the Black Gangster Disciples was put to a halt when Dirk “Don Dirk” Aklin took back control of the chaos on the Disciple side and wrote a constitution and bylaws for the Black Disciples and Larry Hoover was able to gain control of the Gangsters once again. This was seen as the birth of the Black Disciples street gang in prison, but it was more of a re-gaining of control by Acklin and others. Larry Hoover and Dirk Acklin were able to work together to bring back peace; however, it would not last. Shortly after Dirk Acklin organized the Black Disciples an immediate civil war began between Black Disciples and Gangsters as some Gangsters considered the new Black Disciple re-structuring as a break away from the BGDN. In the prison system BGDs and BDs were at each other’s throats with no resolve and there was basically chaos everywhere.

 

The beginning of Larry Hoover’s reform

 

During all these wars in the late 70s, Larry Hoover always tried to look for ways to end violence between all the gangs. His overall grand vision was for there to be peace among the nations and if there needed to be war, he wanted it controlled exactly like how the Italian Mafia controls their gang wars. Larry never liked messy wars and uncontrolled bloodshed, nor did he even agree with prison rape. In later years Larry was very much outspoken against prison rape and attempted to forbid this behavior. As I had said Larry only saw violence as needed when completely necessary and wanted it controlled and as he got older, he became less and less fond of violence and instead wanted to see young black men lead more refined lives.

 

April 18, 1978, the reform of Larry Hoover shows results

 

On April 18, 1978, a legendary event took place in Stateville prison which became one of the first major milestones toward the reform of Larry Hoover.  Stateville conditions were harsh and the worst condition of all was prisoners being served rotten food and prison staff not doing anything about it.  This is something you can’t read in newspapers because none of this was public knowledge.  On April 18, 1978, Larry Hoover and several Chicago gang leaders of all races and different mobs got together to stand up together against this atrocity bestowed by Stateville staff.  Larry and the leaders organized a work strike and refused to carry out the prison jobs.  With no one to do the jobs the prison staff had no choice but to give in to demands to improve conditions.  This was uplifting for each gang whether it was Black Gangster Disciples, Black Disciples, Vice Lords, Mickey Cobras, Latin Kings, Spanish Cobras or Simon City Royals, all the mobs came together and learned they could work together when needed.  This revolt was completely non-violent and resembled many of the peaceful protests seen through the ages and around the world.  This was a showing of power in a different way that Chicago gangs were unheard of until this fateful day in 1978 and this changed the course of history for Chicago gangs and began a path for Larry Hoover as an advocate for peace.  In the aftermath, two groups cliqued up from this and brotherhoods were beginning to form which spread to other Illinois prisons.  This was the foundation and the beginning of Folks and Peoples.

 

Brothers of the Struggle and the Stateville riot

 

Stateville prison was overcrowded with squalid conditions by 1978.   The work stoppage in April of 1978 only helped temporarily but the overall issues brought harsh conditions back shortly after.  Larry Hoover organized the “Brothers of the Struggle” movement that involved high ranking Black Gangster Disciples, Black Disciples, Black Souls, Vice Lords, Black P Stones, and Mickey Cobras, all African American gangs. Larry and the Brothers of the Struggle didn’t want violence but after weeks of not getting anywhere through petition it was unfortunately time for violence.  These 17 inmates raised up a rebellion on July 22, 1978, to overthrow the prison and bring mass destruction. In the wake of the intense violence 3 correctional officers were stabbed to death. When the 17 men were out on trial, they were found not guilty, during the trails Larry Hoover was kept in segregation until it was decided to transfer him to Pontiac prison to remove his direct connection to the Brothers of the Struggle.

 

Big heroin in the Greens 1978

 

Court documents have pointed to Larry Hoover being the one to bring heroin to the Cabrini Green projects in 1970; however, Larry did not live in the projects and the projects did not have Supreme Gangsters in them or much in the way of Disciples either besides the essence that Richard “Champ” Strong brought in the early 60s.  Police crackdowns following the infamous snip shooting of two police officers in July of 1970 and the death of Champ in 1972 further weakened any influence the BGDN controlled heroin trade would have on these projects but since Champ’s death BGDs were all over the projects but were more Disciple than Gangster.

 

In the year 1978, Don Smoke and Jr. Hope brought the Gangsters to the Cabrini Green projects. The story on this began in 1978 when these men met up with Larry Hoover in Statesville. After this, Smoke got out of prison and brought heroin mass distribution to the projects. From the start Smoke and Little John were bringing a larger drug trade to these projects beginning in 1978 that was previously small and not well organized. While Smoke was in with Larry, Larry asked if Smoke would become BGD and side with the Gangsters, Smoke agreed and joined the Gangsters. Smoke then got in contact with Little John who was on the streets of Cabrini and now got word that Cabrini Green Disciples would become Gangster. This would absorb up the Black Deuces and the B.L.A.C.K.S. This is the origin of how heroin became so heavily distributed in these buildings until they were torn down by 2011.  GDs ran most of the towers in Cabrini and ran most of the low rises too.  GDs made millions in drug profits and even had their own security detail as they decided who was let in and who was not.  If anyone resisted their security, they were shot dead on the spot.  GDs operated in these towers like the military working in shifts with snipers on the roofs with infrared scopes.  GDs had strict rules in these buildings and punishment was handed out for not being on post and working your shift.  The Cabrini Green drug business was the most profitable drug business for the GDs.  Don Smoke, Junior Hope and Little John dressed well and would drive up to the projects in fancy cars, later dealers would do the same until the projects were razed.

 

Rogers Park: The Juneway Jungle 1979

 

In the Rogers Park neighborhood on the furthest part of the northeast side of Chicago along the most northern street in Rogers Park is one of the most storied streets of Chicago.  Howard Street that nestles between the Evanston and Chicago border was once full of poverty, seedy bars, prostitution and even drugs.  By 1979, this area was collapsing economically and sinking to its worst point in history. Buildings became blighted and vacant lots were filled with debris and garbage.  White flight ensued heavily in 1979 as greaser gangs moved out and African American families moved into the apartments along Howard Street and into the legendary Jonquill Terrace and Juneway Terrace apartments north of Howard Street.  Due to a early prison release program that started in 1979 several Chicago gang members moved into apartments along Howard Street on the Chicago side and the Evanston side.  In Jonquill Terrace and Juneway Terrace several Black Gangster Disciples moved in and started the GDs in these apartments which was the origin of the L.O.C City GDs.  No other African American mobs could touch this area, and GDs opened a lucrative drug trade that connected with dealers at the EL stop at Howard and Paulina, GDs would even serve passengers getting on and off the EL.  In the 80s and 90s GDs fought Vice Lords and Black P Stones west of Paulina but by the 2000s they broke into cliques and began killing each other.  Money making cliques became the thing amount GD factions and the Pooh Bear Gang and Insane Cutthroats came along.  GDs cliques found more common ground with groups of Four Corner Hustlers and Stones than they did with other GD groups. Violent shooting and several deaths have plagued this small area for decades that has survived gentrification.

 

South Chicago GDs

 

Beginning in the year 1979, the South Chicago neighborhood became alive with much more gang activity than ever seen before.  Much of this was due to the loss of the steel industry which dropped the values of housing in the area allowing more impoverished Chicagoans to move here.  The community was racially transitioning since the late 60s including a much higher African American population and alongside the growing African American population came Black P Stones in the late 60s, but I don’t know when Disciples showed up in South Chicago, but it may not have been until 1979 to 1980.  GDs got really big in South Chicago and the “Lakeside GDs” became one to the bigger GD groups to conquer land in this neighborhood.  These GDs would battle not only Stones but also Mexican gangs like Latin Kings and Latin Counts.  GDs are still deep in South Chicago.

 

Western Suburb GDs 1979

 

Maywood GDs 1979

 

In the year 1976, the notorious Latin Kings came to the suburb of Maywood to deal with racial differences between whites and the first Mexican people to move to northeast Maywood.  In the late 70s these Maywood Latin Kings were rowdy and often targeted African American youths for racial reasons and I even found this reported in a 1978 article interviewing African American youths specifically complaining about Latin Kings calling them racial slurs and attacking them.  African Americans had lived in southern Maywood since the 50s but were among the middle-class.  Once the factories nearby started to close in the late 70s, white flight and even middle-class black flight began ramping up which caused lower-income African American families to move it, especially in the apartments.  Racial issues worsened and African American youths were not allowed to cross the railroad tracks into Mexican or Italian neighborhoods in Melrose Park, it became time African American kids needed protection and the Black Gangster Disciples (GDs) were summoned.  These GDs got real deep real fast and have always been the largest African American mob in Maywood.  Vice Lords, Black P Stones and Four Corner Hustlers entered the village by 1980, and GDs fought them all and the Latin Kings, GDs would have no allies in Maywood, yet they have lasted forever and have always been deep in Maywood.

 

Bellwood GDs 1979

 

It is no surprise GDs would move into Bellwood that had the same issues with the same gangs and same racial issues as Maywood starting in 1979.  Sure enough GDs moved in alongside African American migration into the many apartments in town.  Bellwood GDs fought against much opposition from Bellwood Latin Kings to Vice Lords, Black P Stones and Four Corner Hustlers.

 

Lake County GDs 1980

 

Waukegan GDs 1980

 

Waukegan had been a racial town for decades since the 1920s when a racially motivated riot erupted.  African Americans had been living on the south side of town since the Great migration during World War I and by the 1960s many were moved into various public housing projects.  Gang disputes often happened in Waukegan since at least the 1970s but these gangs were home made gangs and not from Chicago.  Once the manufacturing companies began closing their doors in 1979, white flight and the overall flight of hardworking families left he village which allowed impoverished Chicago families to redeem section 8 vouchers and move into the projects and apartments on the south side.  This was frowned upon by many Waukegan residents and some racial issues erupted.  The Gangster Disciples came to the south side in 1980 and recruited many African American youths.  GDs have been deep in Waukegan since the early 80s.

 

North Chicago GDs 1980

 

North Chicago is another Lake County suburb that has a very old African American population since several decades past.  By the 1950s African Americans were living in squalid conditions on the west side; therefore, the Marion Jones public housing projects were built in the early 60s.  When manufacturing began leaving Lake County North Chicago was one of the most impacted because most of those factories that served Lake County were literally located in North Chicago.  The Marion Jones projects became lower income and higher crime, and this brought Gangster Disciples to these projects in 1980.  GDs were strong in these projects until they were torn down and replaced in the mid-2010s.

 

Zion GDs 1980

 

Zion was a strange religious community in far northern Lake County for decades that housed some African American families once the Hebron projects were built in the 60s.  Once manufacturing left Kane County by 1980 low-income Chicagoans moved into the Hebron projects, most of whom were African American.  GDs were one of the major gangs to move into these projects in 1980 and they would square off with Vice Lords that moved into the same projects.  By the 1990s GDs were deep in the Hebron projects.

 

Kane County GDs 1980

 

Aurora GDs  1980

 

Aurora had multiple public housing projects since the 1960s but it wasn’t until the early 80s that these projects became filled with Chicago redeeming honoring section 8 vouchers.   Many in Aurora were pissed off that so many African Americans and racial issues ensued that once happened in the late 60s when African Americans attempted to settle in Aurora.  This time African American youths fought back as gangs like Latin Kings and Insane Deuces were growing in the suburb.  Gangster Disciples came in around 1980 to aid many youths facing racial issues, but they ended up focusing on gang conflicts with Vice Lords, Latin Kings and Insane Deuces instead.  GDs were deep in Aurora at one time, especially in the 90s. 

 

Elgin GDs 1980

 

Elgin has had many GDs since the early 80s when GDs first moved into Kane County in 1980.  I don’t know where in town these GDs are but they have been here a long time.

 

Carpentersville GDs

 

Possibly as far back as the early 80s GDs have been in Carpentersville mainly in the Fox View apartments which became a public housing apartment complex.  These GDs have fought Hispanic gangs over the decades and are the only gang for African Americans in a mostly white and Hispanic town.

 

Will County GDs 1980

Joliet GDs on “The Hill” 1980

 

Joliet was once a powerhouse in the manufacturing world and became home to many African Americans that resided on the east side of the city.  These African Americans worked hard in the factories, even the ones that needed public housing in the multiple projects on the east side.  When the factories began to close these hard workers moved out to find work elsewhere and this is when the projects began taking in section 8 applicants from Chicago.  These families were not so welcomed to Joliet and faced discrimination.  Latin Kings moved to Joliet just before this new wave and were already there to give African American youths from the projects a hard time.  It was also facts that many of these Chicago families moved to Joliet to be closer to incarcerated loved ones at Joliet Correctional and this ushered in gang members from Chicago.  GDs took up residents in the projects, especially the Fairview projects and fought against Latin Kings from the east side.  Vice Lords swelled in numbers in the projects as well and GDs went at it with them.  Starting in the early 80s GDs ran a major drug trade on the east side and had the largest drug ring.  By the late 80s the east side became dangerous and violent, and many legends flew around about “The Hill” which includes the Fairview projects and the houses nearby and the unincorporated Fairmont (Lockport Township) area.  The Hill was legendary and was full of stories I would hear about since I was a kid.  I knew a guy that used to be a Latin Count from Romeoville in the early 90s that went with his friends to the Hill to settle up with GDs from there, he was shot and became paralyzed from the neck down for life.  I can tell you from firsthand knowledge these GDs don’t play.  One time I dropped a friend off to apartments along Broadway Street after high school let out because he was a GD and when I pulled up, there were so many GDs standing outside looking mean and crazy as hell I admit I had a lump in my throat and that wasn’t even The Hill area, but GDs in Joliet were wild all over the east side. 

 

Fairmont GDs on “The Hill” 1980

 

Many people don’t know that “The Hill” in Joliet area is not just in Joliet, it is also in an area that is technically part of Lockport by address only but not part of the City of Lockport.  This means all crime that happens in this part of Lockport is not reported to being part of Lockport’s stats.  The City of Joliet does not claim this area either and it is unincorporated land in Will County known as “Lockport Township” or “Fairmont.”  Joliet police don’t cross Rosalind Street to go here, and Lockport police dare not cross onto the south side of Dellwood Park to deal with this area.  To make it worse, this mostly rural area has been simple, blighted and disorganized since the area was built up a little in the 1900s decade.  This is like a no man’s land with one elementary school, no fire department, no police department and Will County Sheriffs usually forget to or don’t want to patrol here.  There is no garbage service, no village hall…just some houses and vacant lots where either houses used to be or never were.  It is a free style area where through the decades, individuals would buy land and build a house, usually of poorer construction and no village codes could touch them.  The area used to have problems with garbage littered everywhere and terrible flooding and lack of streetlights until the 2020s. Bombed out abandoned houses would sit for decades and at one time even abandoned cars lined the streets up and down.  The closer to Lockport you would get the nicer the houses, the closer to Joliet would be the most blighted and more dangerous area.  The crime in the area would be swept under overall Will County crime stats causing this area to be more forgotten.  African Americans moved into this simple area in the 1940s and built houses.  When manufacturing closed in Joliet, Fairmont suffered as the working class moved out and impoverished Chicago families moved in often renting houses from landlords, some landlords subdivided the houses into apartments.  When GDs came to Joliet in 1980, they immediately noticed this no man’s land and set up a drug operation in this forgotten area and recruited African American youths living in poverty in this rural area.  At time dead bodies would pop up that were mainly orchestrated by the GDs.  The 1990s was the worst time and GDs could easily flee Joliet police crossing Rosalind and Lockport PD could not coordinate with Joliet either, Joliet coordinating with Will County PD was too hard; therefore, GDs did as they pleased on these poorly lit streets.  GDs could even shoot someone up and made sure they would die because ambulance took too long to get here.

 

For those that are curious about the boundaries of where “The Hill” is, here are the streets:

 

Joliet side: Rosalind Street on the north to Juniper Street on the south, Fairview Avenue on the east to Englewood Avenue on the west.

 

Fairmont side: Riley Avenue on the north to Rosalind Street on the south, Fairview Avenue on the east to Illinois Route 71 on the west

 

Bolingbrook GDs 1980

 

The loss of Joliet area manufacturing affected the suburb of Bolingbrook as this triggered white flight from the village in 1980.  Bolingbrook is ripe with apartments and townhouses and once white flight rapidly swept Bolingbrook those apartments and townhouse complexes quickly emptied out to make way from Chicago African American and Hispanic families to take up residence.  This is how Bolingbrook GDs moved into the village.  In my youth I got to know some of these Bolingbrook GDs and many of them were cool as hell and they were deep in Beaconridge townhomes and in the Woodcreek apartments that I once lived in during my 20s.  There were GDs all over Bolingbrook but Beaconridge had one of the deepest groups of GDs along with Woodcreek. 

 

The final wars of BGD and BD in prison

 

There was solid peace between Gangsters and BDs from late 1978 until late 1979 until a flare up happened in Statesville but got patched up only to return a year later. In late 1980 another flare up began again and heightened on January 29, 1981, when an incident happened at Statesville after groups of Black Disciples became aggressive with Gangsters.

 

In Statesville prison unit B, Black Disciple gang member George Baily resided in this unit along with members of the Gangsters. Baily was allowed a privileged duty known as “cellhouse help” which allowed inmates to roam freely in the cell block without cuffs or escort by guards according to court documents. Black Gangster Disciple leader Earnest “Smokey” Wilson disapproved of Black Disciples being cellhouse helpers and declared that all BDs should either resign from this position or flip to becoming part of the Gangsters. Wilson even held a meeting in that unit for BGDs and BDs to attend to lay out the rules, three BDs including Baily were in attendance and two of those three BDs resigned from that position and listened to Wilson according to court documents, but Baily would not drop the position. The BDs did not like this rule that Wilson imposed and for two weeks straight they chanted “B.D. Power” every night around 8 P.M. according to court documents. Wilson then had a meeting with Dirk Acklin, who as I stated earlier was a BD leader, to express Wilson’s dissatisfaction of this revolt from the BDs, but apparently it got nowhere so Wilson picked a fist fight with Baily which got Wilson thrown in segregation. On January 29th he was returned to his unit and met with fellow BGDs to plot the murder of Baily. The BGDs obtained an aluminum bat which ended up in the hands of Fred “Bobo” Collins. Later that day Collins struck Baily in the head with the bat repeatedly which caused Baily to be hospitalized, and on February 5, 1981, Baily died according to court documents (People vs. Harris, 1988).

 

BGDN breaks into BGD and BD: 1981

 

After this incident in Statesville in 1981 Dirk Acklin gained control of the Black Disciples in prison and brought peace to the BGDN; however, it was also decided that the BGDN would be no more and that being BGD just meant to be part of the Gangsters. Several Disciples all over the city simply represented that they were BGDs instead hollering that they were Disciples or Black Disciples. When this re-organization happened all those many Disciple decks that mainly just claimed BGD went under the Gangsters and now it was official that they were BGD with Larry Hoover and the Gangsters. Those that mainly identified only as Disciple and/or as Black Disciple went with the BDs on the streets. This was not a split this was just a re-organizing; however, it was a change for those Disciples that were mainly claiming BGD since 1969 as they would now be with Hoover and the Gangsters, that was really the only change but this change was colossal because the amount of Disciples that cherished the BGD banner was the large majority of Disciples and this is how the Gangster Disciples became the largest gang in the city.

 

In the same year of 1981, Black Gangster Disciples were released from prison as well that assured the re-organization was finalized for the BGD side of things. Basically, there was a big toss up in 1981 between B.G.D.N gangs to side with either Gangsters or Disciples and sections had to turn in their decision to be with the Gangsters or the Disciples. Either follow the Gangsters or go with the BDs. The majority of the founding members of the Disciples chose to go with BGD and they feel they are the “true” Disciples. I have given credit to the Gangster Disciples being founded in 1958 because of the large amount of original Disciples that have felt this is the true path. There is much debate on the streets about who is more righteous GD or BD that stems from this history.

 

Robert “Cold Black” Dordies was released from prison in 1981 and was appointed by Larry Hoover to come to the Stateway Gardens projects and the Robert Taylor projects and flip many B.G.D.N members into BGD members as the Gangsters took over the area of Pershing Road to 43rd Street in the Robert Taylors and most of the Stateway Gardens projects. At the same time Mickey “Bull” Johnson brought the rest of the B.G.D.N into the Black Disciples in the Robert Taylors and Stateway Gardens. The Del Vikings were the dominant gang in both sets of projects until most of them flipped to Black Disciples while some others flipped the BGD.

 

The Black Gangster Disciples were now very strong in the public housing buildings and there were over 400 members in Cabrini Green alone in 1981. This was also the year the lucrative Gangster Disciple and Black Disciple drug operations began in the Robert Taylor and Stateway Gardens that would become legendary in later years.

 

Also in the year 1981, Larry Hoover began to draw the BGDs into politics as he established bylaws for BGDs not to harm prison guards or any prison staff unless ordered to do so. This was also the year the BGDs restructured which brought new titles for higher up members and this is when Larry Hoover no longer wanted the title of “King” and instead became the “Chairman.” At this stage Hoover was transitioning more out of the role as a crime boss and was looking for further reform not only for himself but also for the BGDs.  This is why the RICO charges slammed onto Larry Hoover is 1997 were mostly garbage because Hoover was already well-reformed beginning in 1978 and officially stepped down as the boss of the Black Gangster Disciples.  One can say Larry Hoover never led the Gangster Disciples because by the time BGD/GD had their own nation Hoover was the Chairman and mostly retired.

 

When the 1981 prophecies were handed down this was how the communities divided between BGD and BD:

 

Armour Square Wentworth Gardens projects – These Disciples were big on BGD; therefore, all Disciples became Black Gangster Disciples.

 

Auburn-Gresham – The majority of the Disciple controlled streets were BGD or Supreme Gangster controlled and became BGD. There was still a significant group that became BD.

 

Burnside – All Disciple groups went with BGD.

 

Calumet Heights – All Calumet Heights Disciple groups became BGD.

 

Chatham – The majority of Disciple groups became BGD, but the BDs would have a significant following.

 

Douglas – All Disciple groups went with BGD accept the BD controlled buildings in the Stateway Gardens projects.

 

East Garfield Park – All Disciple groups would become BGD.

 

Edgewater – All Disciple groups became BGD.

 

Englewood – The majority of Englewood Disciples chose BGD; however, that majority was not staggering over the number of BDs as BDs would have a major following as one their largest territories in Chicago.

 

Grand Boulevard – although most Disciple groups chose BGD the BDs would still have a large influence in this community and the majority BGD was not staggering. The BDs also had a large portion of the Robert Taylor projects.

 

Greater Grand Crossing – The majority of Disciple groups became BGD, but it was not a large majority over the BDs as this community became a major BD stronghold.

 

Morgan Park – This neighborhood became equally divided between the Disciple groups going to either BGD or BD.

 

Near North Side – All Disciple groups in this community including Cabrini Green went with BGD.

 

Near South Side – All Disciple groups including Disciples in the Harold Ickes projects chose BGD.

 

Near West Side – The Henry Horner projects Disciple groups all followed BGD. Most Disciple groups in the Rockwell Gardens became BGD but there were some Disciples that became BDs. All Disciple groups on the streets outside of these two projects all turned BD.

 

North Lawndale – Most Disciple groups went with BGD but there was a significant group that turned BD.

 

Oakland – These streets and projects were more evenly distributed as Disciple groups in Ida B. Wells projects, Clarence Darrow projects and Madden projects went with either BD or BGD. The streets nearby were also more evenly divided.

 

Pullman – All Pullman Disciples became BGD

 

Riverdale – The division of Disciple groups was close to equal as Disciple groups in the Altgeld Gardens projects and the streets of Riverdale chose BGD and BD.

 

Rogers Park – All Disciple groups became BGD.

 

Roseland – The majority of the Disciple groups chose BGD, but a very large portion of the Disciple groups chose BD making this neighborhood one of the larger BD neighborhoods in the city.

 

South Chicago – All Disciple groups chose BGD.

 

South Deering – All Disciple groups chose BGD.

 

South Shore – Most of South Shore Disciples chose BGD but the BDs would also have strong establishment.

 

Uptown – All Disciple groups became BGD.

 

Washington Heights – All of Washington Heights Disciples groups chose BGD.

 

Washington Park – Most Washington Park Disciple groups chose BGD, but a very strong following of Disciples chose BD. The Calumet buildings all chose BD. Washington Park would become one of the BDs larger neighborhoods.

 

West Englewood – The majority of Disciple groups went with BGD but a good-sized group chose BD.

 

West Garfield Park – All Disciple groups chose BGD.

 

West Humboldt Park – All Disciple groups went with BGD.

 

West Pullman – The Disciple groups would become almost even with the BGD following only being slightly higher than a BD following.

 

Woodlawn – The majority of Disciple groups turned BGD but the following toward BD was still significant.

 

In 1982, Larry Hoover stepped up his organization as he established “Brothers of the Struggle” as official and this time only for BGDs. He sent out memos to top leaders geared toward bettering the organization and encouraging members to refine themselves.

 

In 1982, the wars between BGDs and BDs almost came to an end after Dirk Acklin was released from prison and disapproved of how powerful Jerome Freeman had become. Dirk then created his own group of Black Disciples to go against Freeman’s called the Asiatic Apostles and a civil war began within the BDs. As a result of this war relations between BGDs and BDs smoothed over as these two BD factions were focused on removing each other until Dirk Acklin’s BDs went back to the rest of the BDs in 1983 or 1984.

 

Evanston GDs

 

I don’t know exactly when GDs started in Evanston, but I can say it was no later than 1982 as news articles began reporting on Evanston GDs in 1982 but only reported on EL Rukns and Vice Lords in Evanston prior to 1982.  GDs became big on the west side of Evanston and once they arrived, they became the largest mob in the suburb.  The GDs have remained in strong numbers in Evanston since 1982.

 

Calumet City GDs

Calumet City was once a strong Italian community that once was the home and business place for Italian organized crime.  By the mid-80s Italians were moving out and organized crime was leaving the area as African American and Hispanic Chicagoans moved in.  Many impoverished families moved into the many apartments in the community, and this is how GDs came to Calumet City.  GDs have had a strong presence in Calumet City for decades.

 

Hoffman Estates GDs 1985

 

When considering Hoffman Estates, no one would ever think this more affluent mostly white suburb would be also be a strong hold of Gangster Disciples.  In the south-central area of the village, sits a cluster of apartments and townhouses that were handed over to section 8 residents coming from Chicago.  These families were mostly African American with some Hispanic families, and they did not fit into the village and the village.  Impoverished African American kids would be picked on or discriminated against and left out of activities, this caused these kids to attach to Chicago gangs like the Gangster Disciples starting in 1985 in the Governor’s Lane townhouses.  These GDs branched off the suburbs of Evanston, but that doesn’t mean the Evanston or Hoffman Estates GDs are soft, instead these are some of the hardest GD factions in the Chicago suburbs.  Since 1985 these Hoffman Estates GDs were dealers and killers, and these GDs had made the news multiple times since 1991.   It was so bad by Governor’s Lane the Village of Hoffman Estates needed to install police cameras to watch the area.  It is even rumored that these GDs wiped out Hoffman Estates Latin Kings which took away the most prominent gang for Hispanic youths to join in the 80s and 90s.  Throughout the decades these GDs flare up on and off with strength and violence.

 

The next step of Larry Hoover reform: minimum security prison 1987

 

In March of 1987, Larry Hoover was seen as becoming reformed especially after his 1981 policy about not harming prison staff. This all granted him a transfer to Vienna Correctional Center in Vienna Illinois which is a minimum-security prison. It was in this prison where Larry Hoover now conducted relations with BGDs easier since security was much lower, but his business was not criminal kingpin business focused on dealing drugs etc…his work was more political and how to teach members the message of reform.

 

After Larry Hoover was transferred to a minimum-security facility all hell broke loose in Stateville and in Pontiac Prison as now Larry was no longer around to smooth things over. At Pontiac prison members of the BGDs conspired to murder Superintendent Robert Taylor for the purpose of avenging mistreatment against BGD members by prison staff. These BGDs wanted revenge for the death of Billy “Zodiac” Jones and Kirk Williams who both died while choking on cocaine they were trying to conceal. When BGD Harry Martin was apprehended and charged for the murder he claimed Larry Hoover gave him the order to kill this prison staff member. Upon investigation it was proven Larry had no ties to this, however, the damage was done because Martin gave up lots of other information about how the BGDs were ran and how they govern, and this led to other investigations. At the time this was happening Larry Hoover was working on a positive program he created that was aimed at steering the BGDs further away from being a criminal organization. He created “Better Growth and Development” and declared BGD stood for those words. Better Growth and Development concepts were to help GDs better themselves and to help better their community instead of fueling the problems that existed in their neighborhoods. It was also a way for BGDs to become legitimately successful and become productive men and women of society. Better Growth and Development was not official and was not even released to the public at this time.

 

Marquette Park GDs 1987

 

For decades the mostly white Marquette Park community on Chicago’s south side hindered a lot of racism toward African Americans.  Martin Luther King even marched in protest against the Gage Park/Marquette Park area racism in 1966 which brought the Nazi party to establish themselves in Marquette Park in 1966.  The Nazi party grew strong by the 1970s as did small crews and gangs of white youths poised against racial migration.  When Hispanic people moved into the 63^rd Street area in the mid-70s it was hard enough on them which brought the need for Two Sixs and Ambrose to move to the neighborhood, but the Nazis seemed to successfully stop further migration of Mexican people by the early 80s.  Mexican people would still earn some keeps in Marquette Park but if a black person dared to cross west of the tracks between Bell Avenue and Hamilton Avenue they were met with hostility.  In the year 1986, the first African American families moved to Marquette Park on the far east side of the neighborhood closest to Western Avenue.  The Nazi party was dying out in the late 80s as was white gangs from Marquette Park and Gage Park area and now African Americans were moving in between Talman Avenue to Bell Avenue and from 59^th Street to 75^th Street.  There was much backlash to this racial transition, but the old Lithuania population was aging out of the area and the crime of West Englewood was off putting for many of these older residents.  Racial clashing soon ensued and gangs like Ambrose and Two Six often victimized African American youths, this is when the Black Gangster Disciples moved into Marquette Park in 1987 to aide these youths.  Within no time Disciples were fighting with several gangs in the area and became big time money-makes along 63^rd Street.  Black Disciples would advance into Marquette Park at some point and a gang war erupted between them by the mid-90s but GDs have been strong in this area for decades.

 

In the year 1988, Michael G took over leadership of all street operations of the Black Gangster Disciples.

Summit-Argo GDs 1989

The suburb of Summit-Argo in the south suburbs in Cook County always had African American residents since the earlier 20^th century. It wouldn’t be until 1989 when African American migration increased dramatically south of 63^rd Street and west of Harlem Avenue. Many African Americans were moving into houses while many others were residing in a public housing structure that once stood on 63^rd Place between 75^th and 74^th Avenues. These projects began taking in section 8 from the city and African American youths moving from Chicago began to conflict with Latin Kings from just north of 63^rd and Harlem. Many Summit residents were not too welcoming of these former city families which led to discrimination and of course harassment from Latin Kings. The Gangster Disciples moved into these projects as did Black Souls and Vice Lords, but the Summit-Argo GDs were legendary. I grew up on Will County area and I even heard of the Argo GDs when I was a youth in the 90s, which indicated how legendary these GDs were for a suburban outfit. Argo GDs fought gang wars against Latin Kings and Vice Lords until the projects were torn down in 2007 then I don’t know where Argo GDs went.

Glendale Heights GDs

In the year 1989, some of the apartment complexes and townhouse complexes began to house section 8 families from Chicago into this upscale Du Page county suburb. Many African American youths struggled to assimilate in this most white middle-class suburb and became alienated. Latin Kings had already existed in the community and many of them would harass African American youths; therefore, they became prospects for the Black Gangster Disciples to recruit in the Emerald Hills apartments and the Cambria Condos. Gangster Disciples in Glendale Heights were legendary and they battled viciously with Latin Kings through the 1990s until many members became incarcerated. The GDs were deep in Glendale Heights until the early 2000s when all Chicago gangs were removed from the suburb.

Hispanic and white GDs in the city and suburbs

The Gangster Disciples were built upon the principles of not trusting the white man and staying away from white controlled media and social services workers attached to gangs. Gangster and Disciples concepts were never racist at any point and GDs have always been mostly friendly with whites and could get along with Hispanics well but many times Hispanic gangs would start problems with GDs in the city and suburbs; however, GDs historically ran in separate circles from other races but embraced Latin Folks heavily and were even great allies with Simon City Royals but GDs mostly would keep other races an arms length away. The first sign of non-blacks joining GDs that I have heard of was in the Uptown neighborhood in the 70s. Prior to the mid-80s I haven’t heard of any GDs of other races outside of Uptown. In the suburbs, other races would join the GDs in some areas but it wasn’t wide-spread until the later 1980s.

Romeoville GDs 1989

I grew up in Romeoville and got to know the GDs in my town very well in the 90s when I moved in. All the GDs from town were white and Hispanic with a few black members. I grew up thinking it was normal for whites and Hispanics to be GDs and I admit I almost considered joining these Romeoville GDs but two of my buddies that I was supposed to join with got grounded by their parents which took the momentum out of the whole idea which I am thankful for. I later learned that the Romeoville GDs were started by south side of Chicago GD named “Moon Rock.” Latin Kings were first in Romeoville and since they were already here the Gangster Disciples started here to fight them. When they arrived they were “Black Gangster Disciples” as I saw old tags carved into desks and written on text books as “BGD” and “BGDN.” Romeoville GDs became quite large by 1992 and many of them ended up in prison, so I can tell you first hand, they were quite active. They once spotted a Latin King outside my friend’s house and shot at him with a huge revolver that hit my friend’s house instead of the target. One of my friends that was GD ended up spending a lot of his later teens in juvenile lockup and another one I knew, his house was burned to the ground around 2000. Another GD I knew of fire bombed a Latin King’s house in 1996 that made the newspaper, that man has since found god and is a father of children, you would never think he burned someones house and tried to kill the people inside. A couple other GDs from Romeoville went into professional fighting and the rest became dedicated fathers and hard working men in later life. I now realize Romeoville has one of the oldest non-black sections in all of Chicago land.

Hispanic and white GDs in Gage Park, Lake View “Blue City,” and Cicero “Hellzone GDs” 1992

By the late 80s GDs were branching out in the suburbs at a higher rate and were clashing the heaviest with Vice Lords and Latin Kings which prompted GDs to recruit outside their own race to deal with these wars and expand money making opportunities. In the late 80s GDs came together in the Lake View neighborhood at Hawthorne Park located at Seminary Avenue and School Street. Three cliques of African American youths, the 8-Ball Posse, Bubbly Boys and the Godfathers came together in the park and joined the GDs. At the intersection of Belmont and Clifton, the Puerto Rican Stones withdrew from the area in 1992 and the Hawthorne GDs recruited these mostly Hispanic youths along with many whites to create the “BC City” GDs at Belmont and Clifton which is one of the earliest non-African American sections in Chicago but they had several black members too. By the early 2000s, the non-black members left the area and Blue City GDs remain. Blue City GDs influenced the 49th Street Boys from the suburb of Cicero in 1992 and quickly turned them out to “Hell Zone” GDs who were at 18^th and 49^th and 21^st and 49^th. These GDs battled several Cicero gangs that were both Folks and People going hard against Two Two Boys and Latin Kings especially. These GDs even recruited family they knew in Mexico and even set up a drug pipe line from Cicero to Mexico.

In the Gage Park community on the south side of Chicago, the Two Six gang was one of the first Hispanic gangs in Gage Park and by 1992 they were leaving the area, this is when the Blue City GDs connect with these former Two Sixs and flip them to GDs by 59^th and Campbell area. These GDs would become very popular for white and Hispanic youths in Gage Park as they spread as north as 56^th Street and they were very active in the 90s and 2000s but went extinct by the late 2000s.

 

BGD vs BD earliest stages of permanent war

 

In the year 1989, the drug trade became increasingly competitive in the Englewood neighborhood between BGDs and BDs and this resulted in a string of violent shootings between these gangs that year that left some bad feelings between BGDs and BDs in Englewood it was also foreshadowing what was to become in later years, for now this clash was squashed later in the year. This is when young members of the BGDs started referring to themselves as “GDs” or “Gangster Disciples” dropping the “Black” out of their name to show no love for BDs but this was not the official name of the organization yet.

 

In the summer of 1991, BGDs gunned down Mickey Bull. After that happened the Black Disciples got revenge on August 7, 1991, by gunning down multiple members of the BGDs in Englewood. During this shooting a group of BGDs from 66th Street started calling themselves “Gangster Disciples” dropping the “B” or “Black” out of their name. In court documents the men represented “GD” and BDs acknowledged them as “GDs” and not as “BGDs.”

 

As this violence between BGDs and BDs ensued in 1991, Larry Hoover was trying to demonstrate to many of his members the “Growth and Development” ways. The name was slightly changed leaving out the “Better” part that was part of the original 1987 plan, this was another step toward “GD” becoming the new ways, however, Growth and Development had nothing to do with the name change or the violence it was purely coincidental because the initials of Growth and Development were “GD.”

 

Between 1991 to 1994, the wars between BGDs and BDs were increasing as members of each gang couldn’t hardly walk around the neighborhood without getting shot at by each other. It was almost like you couldn’t even move a muscle. During this time more and more Englewood BGDs began to call themselves “GDs” and more were dropping the “B” and now more BGDs city-wide were dropping the B.

The end of “BGD”

 

In 1993, the BDs and BGDs reached some peace but it only lasted a year then war became permanent in 1994. 1993 was the year Growth and Development became official and was publicly released. 1994 was the year that BGDs officially became “Gangster Disciples.” Some members still used BGD until 1994 including Gator that went before the White House in January of 1994 and spoke about “Better Growth and Development” but this was the last time BGD name was used in public.

Kankakee GDs and Growth and Development

 

Since the early 80s economic recession, has caused the north-central area of Kankakee to become blighted and dangerous. In 1982, the recession of Kankakee was finalized as the last of the main employers closed their doors leaved north-central Kankakee residents standing in unemployment lines, collecting public aid and waiting on soup kitchens. These mostly white former factory workers bailed out of north-central Kankakee and were replaced by impoverished African American and Hispanic families from Chicago seeking low-income housing. The neighborhood became blighted and high crime by 1985 and several Chicago gangs formed here, most notably the Gangster Disciples.

By 1993, the Gangsters Disciples were trying a new political move known as “21st Century V.O.T.E” which was an attempt to get Gangster Disciple members into politics. To the public it was meant to help rehab neighborhoods and bring about positive change, but critics and law enforcement saw it as a way to help expand Gangster Disciple illegal operations. At that same time in 1993 Larry Hoover was trying to get out of prison and was up for parole. Over 10,000 members of the Gangsters Disciples gathered at a large picnic in Kankakee Illinois where Larry Hoover gave a speech (not live) to all the GDs there. He further expanded on “Growth and Development” which was the new term Larry Hoover wanted to use to replace the Gangsters Disciples term. As I said before, Growth and Development concepts were to help GDs better themselves and to help better their community instead of fueling the problems that existed in their neighborhoods. Afterward there was a flood of letters to Governor Jim Ryan pleading with him to allow the parole of Larry Hoover; however, Larry Hoover was denied parole. Larry Hoover was again up for parole in 1995 and it looked good this time for him getting out. Things only got worse in 1995 when the Chicago Police launched “Operation Headache” which took down 39 high ranking members of the Gangsters Disciples including Larry Hoover and Andrew Howard who had been on parole since 1992. Larry Hoover was brought up on several drug conspiracy charges that dated all the way back to 1970 which was the time when the Gangsters and Disciples started to operate a major drug cartel mostly of Cocaine and Heroin. Hoover and several of his top Generals and Lieutenants were being arraigned on charges of supplying small time dealers, extorting money, and running their own drug cartel that was worth millions of dollars. By the end of the trials in 1997 Larry Hoover was transferred to United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado which is a super maximum-security prison, which effectively cut off over 95% of Hoover’s communication with the outside world. The indictments were rushed and quickly thrown at Larry Hoover to make sure he was put in supermax even though he was a model prisoner and not involved in the drug trade. These charges were not commuted until President Trump gave a pardon in 2025 which sent Larry Hoover back to Illinois State prisons.

Million dollar crack cocaine operations

 

Starting in the late 1980s and escalating in the early 1990s, the Gangster Disciples were operating highly sophisticated crack cocaine operations in the Robert Taylor Homes, Cabrini Green high rise and low rises, Dearborn homes mid-rises and the Stateway Gardens. The GDs ran most of the buildings within these public housing complexes and began a $100,000,000 a year crack cocaine operation just in Cabrini Green alone. Soldiers in the organization worked around the clock 24 hours a day serving crack cocaine as they worked in shifts. The GDs ran public housing project buildings with an iron fist as they had armed security that even patted down residents as they came home, GDs also imposed a curfew on residents after hours so they could control the drug trade more efficiently during peak hours which was later at night. Rules were very strict, especially in Cabrini Green where Gangsters were ordered to meet in the courtyard each night to do exercises just like in the military. There was no tolerance for disobeying any rules and refusing to work your shifts led to being severely beaten or even killed for refusing to do security. GDs were heavily armed in the public housing projects with automatic weapons as they patrolled the project hallways. The drug sales in the public housing developments gave the Gangster Disciples a massive boost in the overall growth of their organization. The GDs took advantage of the City and CHAs lack of interest in the public housing high rises. There were young kids living in the projects poor and struggling in life, the GDs recruited them and turned them into soldiers that were paid and fed while no one else cared. Drug addicts had already taken over the projects since the 1960s, the GDs were there to feed their need and all this was neglected by the city, it makes you wonder who really the bad guy is, the city and police neglected these developments and the GDs came in to a place no one cared about.

 

Before the demolition of the Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor Homes housing projects in the 1990s and 2000s, the GDs were pulling in well over $100 million dollars in drug profits on a yearly basis in these buildings (for more details see my Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor histories). The organization eventually swelled to over 35,000 members.

Back of the Yards GDs

On the southwest side of the Back of the Yards community, Hispanic families were beginning to move out of this area and neighborhood gangs like the Latin Souls had left this area as did the Bishops. Some of the Satan Disciples had also moved out of the area south of 51^st Street by the early 2000s. African American families replaced Hispanic families and the Gangster Disciples moved in alongside this new migration wave that first hatched in the late 1990s and was in full swing by the year 2000. Gangster Disciples quickly grew in this area and moved into former Bishop hood around 53^rd and Winchester, Latin Soul hood at 49^th and Hermitage and some of the old Satan Disciple neighborhood at 51^st and Wood. GDs became one of the larger gangs of the Back of the Yards and even recruited former Latin Souls at 49^th and Paulina as Mexican GDs.

Ashburn GDs

By the early 2000s, a second wave of white flight swept the Ashburn community. African Americans took the place of the departed whites on the more western part of the neighborhood. GDs became strong and recruited heavily. In this neighborhood GDs would become their own worst enemies as gang violence would usually be one GD clique versus another. Black P Stones were in Ashburn since the 80s but war with GDs never became big because GDs were shooting at each other. Black P Stones and GDs share some territory on the east side of the community east of Kedzie, GDs also share with Black Disciples at 79^th and Homan.

In conclusion

 

The Gangster Disciple history is more than just drugs and killing, there is also an activism side of this organization that has been rooted deep since the 1960s. For many years the Gangster Disciples have preached to young Disciples to keep their lives in order and to live as good men to their families and their community. Many of the older members that once were convicted of murders and other serious crimes have become outspoken about true leadership and developing young black men into productive members of society. This could be anything from just being a working man that takes part in Gangster Disciple politics up to being an active member of the crime family within the Gangster Disciples that does not take part in destroying his community and instead works to protect the neighborhood. The Brothers of the Struggle message is still strong today in the hearts of many, but sadly many younger members have lost that message and don’t even know who Larry Hoover is.

 

In present years the Gangster Disciples are divided into warring factions that often hate each other more than they do BDs and People mobs. There is violent and uncontrollable killing with no structure for these decks all over the city and suburbs.

In recent events, much buzz is flying around about Larry Hoover’s pardon by President Trump. I have seen some hate and anger over Hoover’s pardoning but what needs to be understood is that all the charges handed to Hoover in the 1995 indictments are bogus because no one from the streets, besides snitches in the 1995 case, has ever claimed Larry Hoover was running street operations from behind bars. Larry Hoover gave up control of the streets from behind bars in 1981 and authorities determined that when they moved him to minimum security prison in 1987. It is mind-blowing to even think Hoover had the capacity to be in charge of million dollar operations by this point, and in the 90s, small time GD leaders in the city would no way listen to him anymore and would chuck profits up to him. Bottom line is Larry Hoover put forth Growth and Development but many of those that partook in it used it for self-interest behind Larry’s back which is all too common with Chicago gangs, founders and leaders lose control and this has been the case since the early 80s where founders and leaders had found it increasingly impossible to control the streets from prison. Even if Larry really wanted control of the streets he wouldn’t get it.

As for Larry Hoover’s 1973 murder case. The bottom line is Larry killed a DRUG DEALER that was robbing drug houses and drug houses ran by Larry Hoover and that’s why he was killed. Pooky was no innocent man and was violently robbing these dope houses at gun point threatening to shoot people if they didn’t hand over the money. If you think Larry Hoover should still sit in prison for killing a pretty bad man, that is foolish thinking and if that’s the case, I would have to ask how you would feel about Al Capone doing more time than he was given. In Chicago area we glamorize and glorify Al Capone and tour buses move through Chicago area taking tourists to Al Capone hideouts. The same people that want Larry Hoover to go down will turn around and praise Al Capone and look upon his crimes lightly. The main difference between Al Capone and Larry Hoover is race, but they committed almost the same crimes and neither man killed innocent people or ordered good people to die. Larry hoover has gone through multiple stages of reform since at least 1978 and by 1981 every old head will tell you he stepped down as the nation King in 1981, he then became a model prisoner. Larry Hoover is no threat to society and even if he wanted to be the nation King again, the younger generations would shoot him dead fast, there is no gang for him to go home to besides old retired GDs that spend their time working fundraisers in their communities or working with troubled youths while others are very ill and aging poorly. Should Larry Hoover go free….? YES!

 

Please send in 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s pics!

 

Known decks of the Gangster Disciples past and present (some rap groups are indicated because they are pivotal for that section of GDs)

 

Known decks of the Gangster Disciples past and present (some rap groups are indicated because they are pivotal for that section of GDs)

Albany Park neighborhood 1990s-present years

Decks of Albany Park

Ainslie & St. Louis

Sunnyside & Kimball

Armour Square neighborhood Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

Decks of Armour Square

37th to 39th, Princeton to Wentworth (Murdatown, (Wentworth Gardens projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

Ashburn neighborhood 2000s-present years

Decks of Ashburn

78th to 79th, Christiana to Spaulding (MOB ABM)

79th to 80th, Western to tracks on the east (Stain Gang Juice World) 2000s-present years (Shared with Black P Stones)

83rd to 84th, Kedzie to Whipple (TTM Quietmoney) 2000s-present years (Shared with Black P Stones)

79th & Homan 2000s-present years (Shared with Black Disciples)

83rd & St Louis 2010s-present years

79th & Lawndale 2020s (present years)

Auburn Gresham neighborhood Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples, 1968 as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters.  Establishment 1964-present years

Decks of Auburn Gresham

Ada from 77th to 79th (Central City, Shared with Conservative Vice Lords)

76th & Emerald (E-Block)

76th & Union (U Block)

77th & Emerald (Heart of the City)

78th & Union

77th from Throop to Laflin and 81st from Halsted to Ashland (G-Ville)

77th & Ada (Ada War)

Loomis from 78th to 79th

77th & Bishop

79th & Bishop

79th from Wood to Bishop

87th & Vincennes

75th to 77th, Damen to Wood (Jaylo World 5 Block Killa Ward)

78th to 79th, Hermitage to Ashland (Kutthroat Freakoworld Killa Ward)

76th to 79th, Halsted to Wallace (Central City)

80th to 83rd, Hermitage to Marshfield New Money Killa Ward)

79th to 80th, Ashland to Justine (Fuck City)

83rd to 85th, Marshfield to Ashland (Smashville Pat World)

89th to 90th, Hermitage to Ashland (9-0) bordered with Washington Heights

87th to 93rd, Racine to Vincennes (Georgetown CTG Cutthroats) bordered with Washington Heights

Avalon Park neighborhood

Decks of Avalon Park

82nd & Cornell

Back of the Yards neighborhood Early 2000s-present years

Decks of the Back of the Yards

49^th & Paulina

Winchester from 51st to 53rd

Wolcott from 51st to 53rd

Honore from 51st to 53rd (LOC GDs)

Hermitage from 51st to 53rd

51st & Hoyne (HSGs)

Damen & James

53rd & Wood

51st to 55th, Hoyne to Damen (Damenville)

51st to 52nd, Wood to Paulina (LOC City)

Wood from 54th to 55th (QMB)

50th to 51st, Morgan to Halsted (50 Strong OBE)

53rd & Union (Rag Town)

55th & Emerald (Rag Town)

Belmont-Cragin neighborhood

Decks of Belmont-Cragin

Austin & Diversey (After Death)

Beverly neighborhood

Decks of Beverly

103rd to 104th, Aberdeen to Morgan (Mitch Block)

Burnside neighborhood Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples, 1968 as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters.  Establishment 1964-present years

Decks of Burnside

90th to 93rd, Drexel to Greenwood (FSC, formerly 9-Trey)

93rd & University (Flip Side, Renegade GDs)

Calumet Heights neighborhood Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples, 1968 as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters.  Establishment 1964-present years

Decks of Calumet Heights

93rd & Harper (shared with Black P Stones)

93rd & Saginaw (shared with Boss Pimps)

91st to 92nd, Dorchester to Stoney Island (Sco Block)

92nd to 94th, Jeffery to Chappel (Chinworld LTG)

89th to 92nd, Yates to Phillps (Yates Mob)

Chatham neighborhood Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples, 1968 as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters.  Establishment 1964-present years

Decks of Chatham

Burnside & Langley

79th & Vincennes

78th to 80th, St. Lawrence to Cottage Grove (Hittzsquad Evansmobb) partially in Greater Grand Crossing

79th to 80th, State to Wabash (Bashville, formerly known as Dopehouse)

81st to 83rd, St. Lawrence to Cottage Grove (8Tre Mob)

87th to 89th, Cottage Grove to Dauphin (CMB Tinez City 7 Gang)

90th & Martin Luther King Dr. (Tuley Park)

Douglas neighborhood  Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-present years

Decks of Douglas

27th & State (Dearborn projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

35th & Giles

35th & State (Stateway Gardens projects, C Town) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

36th & Federal (Stateway Gardens projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

38th & Federal (Stateway Gardens projects, Trey Ball) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

36th & Vincennes (Ida B. wells projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

37th & Martin Luther King Dr (Ida B. wells projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

38th & Vincennes (Ida B. Wells projects) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

36th & Indiana (Davis Apartments)

36th & Michigan (Davis Apartments)

41st & Langley

35th & Rhodes (Lawless Gardens)

37th to 38th, Michigan to Wabash (Murda Town)

27th to 29th, Lasalle to State (Roc Nation 757)

28th to 29th, Indiana to Prairie (Solo City SCN) Douglas

35th to 37th, Indiana to Prairie (The Ave 757) Douglas

Rhodes to 35th to 37th (Lawless 757, Ida B. Wells Boonie Boyz rap group)

27th to 30th, Prairie to Martin Luther King Dr (Prairie Courts projects)

39th & Langley (Clarence Darrow projects, DHGs) Established 1966 as Devil’s Disciples

Oakwood & Cottage Grove (Oakenwald Apartments, Bungalows)

39th & Indiana

Oakwood & Martin Luther King Dr

East Garfield Park

Decks of East Garfield Park

5th Ave and Sacramento (shared with New Breeds and Black Souls)

Jackson & California

Jackson & Sacramento

Maypole & Kedzie

Van Buren & Washtenaw

Wilcox & Francisco

Lake to Washington, Homan to Kedzie (Ike Sims apartments)

Wilcox to Van Buren, California to Rockwell

Maypole to Madison, Western to Hoyne

Albany & Van Buren (Horan Park)

Edgewater neighborhood 90s-present years

Decks of Edgewater

Thorndale & Winthrop (North Pole) 90s-present years

Granville to Thorndale, Broadway to Kenmore (Guttaville Gangsters, Guttaville rap group, Day Day World rap group) 90s-present years

Englewood neighborhood Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples, 1964 as Supreme Gangsters up to present years

Decks of Englewood

63rd to 71st, Halsted to Dan Ryan Expressway (G-Town) Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples

56th & Aberdeen

56th & Princeton

56th & Lowe

57th & Union

59th to 61st, Racine to Union

Halsted from 59th to 61st

61st & Racine

61st & Sangamon

63rd & Sangamon (Gambinos)

63rd & Normal Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples

67th & May (May Mob)

68th & Green (shared with Black Disciples) Established 1964 as Supreme Gangsters

Carpenter from 70th to 71st (Walk Town)

73rd & Racine (Seven Trey)

55th to 57th, Aberdeen to Carpenter (CPT Landlord No Love City)

56th to 58th, Halsted to Union (MOE No Love City)

55th to 57th, Union to Lowe (WMG No Love City)

57th to 59th, Stewart to Wells (Travis World)

58th to 60th, Racine to Aberdeen (MOM)

58th to 59th, Sangamon to Green (Wallygang No Love City)

59th to 61st, Morgan to Sangamon (Freakyworld No Love City)

60th to 61st, Halsted to Union

63rd to 65th, Morgan to Sangamon (Creep City Trigworld)

67th to 68th, Carpenter to Sangamon (Tunchieville)

Aberdeen from 67th to 69th (Goonsville)

70th to 71st, Aberdeen to Sangamon (Crazyville)

69th to 70th, Sangamon to Green (CMB)

69th to 71st, Wallace to Normal (Block Burna Jojo World)

69th to 70th, Normal to Harvard (Brick Squad Jojo World) border with Greater Grand Crossing

72nd to 73rd, Carpenter to Morgan (YMM)

Union from 75th to 76th (Ublock)

69th & Eggleston

69th & Perry

66th & Peoria

70th & Peoria

Gage Park neighborhood

Decks of Gage Park

58th & Rockwell

59th & Campbell

Garfield Ridge neighborhood 2010s-present years

45th & Lawler 2010s present years

Grand Boulevard neighborhood  Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-present years

Decks of Grand Boulevard

47th Street from State to Martin Luther King Dr.

51st & Michigan (5-1 Block)

51st & Calumet (Met Boy Gangsters)

51st & Prairie

43rd to 46th, Prairie to Martin Luther King (Jigdogs BGGDS)

45th to 46th, Champlain to Evans (TMB Touchmoney rap group)

49th to 51st, State to Indiana (Vulture City)

47th to 49th, Indiana to Martin Luther King (Dell mob)

Federal from 40th to 41st (Robert Taylor projects, 40 strong)

43rd to 44th, Federal to State, Robert Taylor projects, Brick City)

48th & State (Robert Taylor projects, Vulture City)

50th & Federal (Robert Taylor projects, Nickle O)

51st & State (Robert Taylor projects, 51st Gangster City)

45th to 47th, Langley to Forrestville (5th Ward)

43rd & Forrestville

47th & Vincennes (The Junkyards)

40th & Michigan

Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1958-present years

Decks of Greater Grand Crossing

71st & Vincennes (White Walls)

72nd & Woodlawn (Pocket Town, shared with New Breeds)

Dorchester from 72nd to 75th (Sircon City)

79th & Ellis (Lon City)

79th & Ingleside

79th & St. Lawrence

69th to 70th, Normal to Harvard (Brick Squad Jojo World) border with Englewood

68th to 71st, Wentworth to Lafayette (Tay City)

74th to 75th, Vincennes to Wentworth (Bodie World)

71st to 72nd, Eberhart to Rhodes (D Block SBSG)

78th to 80th, St. Lawrence to Cottage Grove (Hittzsquad Evansmobb) partially in Chatham

69th & Michigan

69th & Martin Luther King Dr

73rd & St. Lawrence

75th & Princeton

75th & Eberhart

76th & Calumet

77th & Cottage Grove (Insane Gangster Disciples)

76th to 79th, Vincennes to Normal (Boys Town)

Hyde Park neighborhood  Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples (East Side Disciples) 1958-1963

Decks of Hyde Park

53rd & Kimbark (first headquarters) 1958-1963

Irving Park neighborhood

Decks of Irving Park

Henderson & Keeler

Kenwood neighborhood Established 1958-1960s

Decks of Kenwood

49th & Dorchester Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples until the 1960s

47th Street Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples until the 1960s

Lake View neighborhood late 80s-present years

Decks of Lakeview

Belmont & Clifton (Blue City Outlaws/Lifers) 1992-present years

Belmont & Ashland (G-Town)

Sheffield & Grace 90s, 2000s

Seminary & School (Hawthrone GDs) Late 80s-2000s

Marquette Park (Chicago Lawn) neighborhood 1987-present years

Decks of Marquette Park

Aberdeen from 67th to 69th (Goonsville)

71st & Rockwell

Albany from 63rd to 65th (Rec City A Block)

66th to 67th, Mozart to California (Zone 6)

Rockwell from 59th to 61st (OC City)

59th to 61st, Campbell to Western

61st to 64th, Talman to Maplewood (1140 Doonsquad Scrappville)

63rd to 64th, Artesian to Western (Sam City A Block)

Campbell from 65th to 67th (Camp City)

67th to 69th, Western to Oakley (Trap Squad)

72nd to 74th, Rockwell to Western (FBC Deuce Life)

63rd & Campbell

Morgan Park neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of Morgan Park

115th to 119th, Watkins to Hale (Mickey World)

114th & Edmaire (MPGs)

Near North Side neighborhood Established 1961 as Devil’s Disciples-2011

Decks of Near North Side

Chicago Ave to Division, Larabee to Sedgewick (Cabrini Green, OTE) Established as Devil’s Disciples/Black Deuces Established 1961 as Devil’s Disciples-2011

Clybourn & Ogden (Cabrini Green, The Snipers, Renegade GDs)

Clybourn & Larabee (Cabrini Green, White Walls, Renegade GDs)

Larabee & Scott (Cabrini Green, White Walls, Renegade GDs)

Larabee & Division (Cabrini Green, White Walls)

Division & Cambridge (Cabrini Green, White Walls)

Elm & Larabee (Cabrini Green, Murder City)

Elm & Hudson (Cabrini Green, Nightmare City)

Hobbie & Kingsbury (Cabrini Green, Satan Ward, Renegade GDs)

Cleveland from Hobbie to Elm (Cabrini Green, Black Tops)

Chicago Ave & Cambridge (Cabrini Green, Black Tops)

Near South Side neighborhood  Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-present years

Decks of Near South Side

20th to Cermak Federal to State (Hilliard projects, H Town) Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-present years

Cermak to 24th, Federal to State (Harold Ickes projects) Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-2009

Near West Side neighborhood  Established 1968-2010

Decks of Near West Side

Grenshaw & Western Ave

Madison & Winchester (Henry Horner projects, Mobb Building) Established 1968 as Supreme Gangsters-2010 as GDs

Washington & Wolcott (Henry Horner projects, Dubb Gs) Established 1968 as Supreme Gangsters-2010 as GDs

Western & Van Buren (340 S. Western Ave Rockwell Gardens projects) 1968-2006

Noble Square (West Town) neighborhood 90s-present years

Decks of Noble Square

Milwaukee to Division & Noble (Noble Square Cooperative Apartments, Noble Square GDs) 90s-present years

North Lawndale neighborhood

Decks of North Lawndale

Grenshaw & Pulaski

16th from Kedzie to Sawyer

Cermak & Kildare

Cermak to Ogden, Kostner to Pulaski (K-Town Komak)

Arlington to Grenshaw, Springfield to Independence

Roosevelt & Pulaski

Oakland neighborhood  Established as Devil’s Disciples 1966-present years

Decks of Oakland

35th & Cottage Grove (Lake Grove Apartments)

43rd & Cottage Grove (B-Town)

37th to 39th, Cottage Grove to Ellis (Madden Park projects, New Town) Established 1970

Ida B. Wells projects Established 1966

41st & Cottage Grove (Lunatic Block)

Pullman neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of Pullman

97th to 99th, Cottage Grove to Stoney Island (D Block) Established 1969-present years

Riverdale neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of Riverside

130th to 134th, Vernon to St. Lawrence (Altgeld Gardens projects) Established 1969-present years

Rogers Park neighborhood Established 1975-present years

Decks of Rogers Park

Ashland & Farwell

Clark & Rogers

Howard & Ridge

Howard & Ashland (Juneway Jungle)

Howard & Bosworth (Juneway Jungle)

Juneway & Marshfield (Juneway Jungle)

Morse & Greenview

Howard to Juneway, Paulina to Sheridan (L.O.C City)

Morse to Pratt, Ashland to Glenwood (Insane Cutthroat Gangsters, Pooh Bear Gang)

Touhy & Clark

Morse & Clark

Roseland neighborhood  Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples as Outlaw Gangsters 1968, Black Gangster Disciples 1969, still here in present years

Decks of Roseland

92nd & Princeton (Lowden projects) Established as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters 1968-present

Cottage Grove from 92nd to 93rd

95th from Harvard to Lafayette

103rd from Harvard to Michigan (10 Trey)

103rd & Harvard

Princeton from 102nd to 103rd (G Block)

Princeton from 99th to 101st

Yale from 99th to 103rd

Wentworth from 99th to 103rd

108th & Wentworth

109th & State

110th & Princeton

111th & State

114th & Prairie (Palmer Park)

95th to 98th, Prairie to Martin Luther King

100th to 103rd, Wallace to Eggleston (Lack City)

99th to 101st, Eggleston to Wentworth (Larryland Rico Block)

102nd to 103rd, Wentworth to Perry (Shannon Block Goontown)

102nd to 104th, Michigan to Prairie (VA World Thotboyz rap group)

105th Street from Eggleston to Wentworth (TCG Wentworth Mob)

105th to 106th, Lafayette to Michigan (10-5 MMG Goontown)

110th to 111th, Martin Luther King to Eberhart (UPT Death Valley)

111th to 112th, Parnell to Normal (Roc Block NPG Reno City)

114th to 115th, Stewart to Wentworth (Rookieville RMG Gucci Gang, Formerly Goodman Boys as Insane GDs)

111th to 115th, Indiana to Fort (Palmer Park)

95th to 98th, Yale to LaSalle (095 Mob)

105th & Wallace

110th & Princeton (Outlaw GDs)

111th & Vernon

South Chicago neighborhood

Decks of South Chicago

Merrill from 79th to 80th

91st & Buffalo

77th to 80th, Stoney Island to Ridgeland (RBG GDs) borders in South Shore too

79th to 80th, Clyde to Paxton (MTG Dramaworld)

79th to 81st, Saginaw to Manistee (Lakeside GDs)

79th to 81st, South Shore Drive to Brandon (SMV)

81st to 83rd, Oglesby to Essex (OGB Barnone)

87th to 89th, Saginaw to Manistee (GMB Nutville Murda Ave)

80th & Marquette

South Deering neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of South Deering

95th to 100th, Jeffery to Torrence (Jeffery Manor Homes) Established 1969-present years

106th from Yates to Bensly (Trumbull Park projects) Established 1969-present years

95th to 99th, Merrion to Van Vlissengen (FBE)

103rd to 105th on Calhoun 2010s-present years

107th & Bensley (shared with Black Disciples) 2010s-present years

Southern West Town (West Town) neighborhood 2000s-present years

Decks of Southern West Town

Huron to Erie & Willard 2000s-present years

South Shore neighborhood Established 1958-present years

Decks of South Shore

71st & East End

71st & Paxton (Pax Town)

Coles 75th to 78th (Coles Mob)

79th Street from Saginaw to South Shore Dr (Lakeside Gangsters)

67th to 68th, Blackstone to Stoney Island (Hood Gang Dro City)

73rd to 75th, Kenwood to Dante (Sirconn City)

67th to 69th, Cornell to Ridgeland (Maul Town)

69th to 71st, Clyde to Oglesby (Paxtown)

77th to 80th, Stoney Island to Ridgeland (RBG GDs) borders in South Chicago too

79th & East End

79th & Creiger

79th and Bennett

79th & Jeffrey

Uptown neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1969-present years

Decks of Uptown

Lawrence & Sheridan (Uptown Ghetto Gangsters)

Lawrence & Winthrop (4848)

Argyle to Lawrence, Broadway to Sheridan (L Dubb)

Leland to Montrose, Malden to Clifton (TFG) Established

Washington Heights neighborhood Established 1964 as Devil’s Disciples, 1968 as Outlaw Supreme Gangsters-present years

Decks of Washington Heights

91st & Racine (Brainerd Park)

98th & Sangamon (O.A.K)

87th to 93rd, Racine to Vincennes (Georgetown CTG Cutthroats) bordered with Auburn Gresham

89th to 90th, Hermitage to Ashland bordered with Auburn Gresham

93rd to 95th, Ada to Racine (Brookstown LaDave World)

95th to 98th, Genoa to Halsted (Oakdale)

91st & Ashland

104th & Vincennes

Washington Park neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1958, as Supreme Gangsters 1968-present years

Decks of Washington Park

53rd & Calumet

Indiana from 59th to 61st (Bone Crushers)

Halsted from 59th to 61st (No Love City)

51st to 53rd, Prairie to Calumet (051 MET Boyz)

53rd to 55th, Calumet to Martin Luther King (Geo Drive)

55th to 57th, State to Michigan (Von World)

56th to 58th, Indiana to Prairie (Dukesquad P Block)

58th to 60th, State to Michigan (MOB, formerly Deathrow)

58th to 59th, Prairie to Martin Luther King (Nickogang)

52nd & State (Robert Taylor projects, 52nd Gangster City)

62nd & Wabash (Washington Park Homes, Darkside)

55th & Indiana

55th & Prairie

59th & La Salle

West Englewood neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1964, Established as Supreme Gangsters 1968-present years

Decks of West Englewood

56th & Marshfield

63rd & Ashland (Outlaws)

69th & Western

Winchester from 56th to 58th (WBMT Titus Gang)

55th to 57th, Laflin to Bishop (Flinboyz)

61st to 63rd, Marshfield to Ashland (Madville, formerly known as Outlaws)

59th to 60th, Ashland to Justine (Wild9 Dumpstreet Nate Block)

Laflin from 61st to 63rd (L Block)

61st to 63rd, Ada to Racine (Taco Gang, formerly knowns as Corleones)

63rd to 65th, Hamilton to Damen (Nuneworld ETS)

Wolcott from 63rd to 65th (Dipset 6040)

64th to 65th, Wood to Paulina (D Ville Low Block)

66th to 67th, Ashland to Laflin (Ward Life Low Block)

63rd to 65th, Laflin to Loomis (Willieville WVG)

67th to 70th, Damen to Winchester (Josh Block, formerly Buck Town)

69th to 70th, Damen to Hamilton (Chunky City)

69th to 71st, Paulina to Ashland (Crash Town)

67th to 68th, Ada to Throop (D Town)

68th to 69th, Ada to Throop (TSG)

67th to 69th, Elizabeth to Racine (E Town, formerly Murder Town)

70th to 71st, Ada to Elizabeth (T Luv)

71st to 72nd, Hoyne to Damen (SDub City Frankworld)

72nd to 73rd, Marshfield to Ashland (3rd Gang TGC Red Tape)

73rd to 74th, Loomis to Ada (Skeeze Gang)

57th & Paulina

59th & Hermitage (Hermitage Park)

59th & Ashland

63rd & Paulina

69th & Ashland (Trig Ward)

West Garfield Park neighborhood Established as Supreme Gangsters 1967-present years

Decks of West Garfield Park

Gladys to Harrison, Pulaski to Kostner Established as Supreme Gangsters 1967-present years

West Humboldt Park neighborhood Established as Supreme Gangsters 1967-present years

Decks of West Humboldt Park

Division from Karlov to Pulaski 90s

Huron to Franklin, Homan to Spaulding (Chain Gang) Established as Supreme Gangsters 1967-present years

West Pullman neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of West Pullman

116th & Justine

119th & Michigan

119th & Princeton

118th & Union (Rag Town)

119th & Halsted

120th & Green

122nd & Lowe

118th to 120th, Halsted to Union (Rag Town)

116th to 117th, Stewart to Princeton (Wildside BMG)

118th to 120th, Princeton to Wentworth (11-9 Hellabandz MBMG)

118th to 120th, Michigan to Calumet (MBAM)

122nd to 124th, Racine to Carpenter (EJ World) partially in suburb of Blue Island

122nd to 123rd, Peoria to Halsted (Pacoland Kellz City)

116th to 119th, Morgan to Peoria (NGC Rag Town)

119th & Wallace (Low Life City)

119th & Normal (Low Life City)

121st to 127th, Wallace to Princeton (Sack Town)

121st & Eggleston

123rd & Wallace

125th & Normal

126th & Princeton

127th & Eggleston

 

Woodlawn neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1958-present years, established as Supreme Gangsters 1968-present years

Decks of Woodlawn

63rd Street from Rhodes to St. Lawrence

67th & Champlain

67th & Kenwood

67th & St. Lawrence (Dark Side)

63rd to 65th, Eberhart to Rhodes (EBT)

63rd to 64th, Rhodes to Champlain (STL Tookaville)

62nd to 63rd, Drexel to Ingleside (Roc Creek Dro City)

62nd to 63rd, Greenwood to University (Mac Creek Vicworld)

63rd to 65th, Ingleside to Greenwood (Snoblock BNC Dro City)

66th to 67th, Maryland to Ingleside (D Block Dro City)

65th to 67th, University to Woodlawn (Sawblock Dro City)

67th to 69th, Langley to Cottage Grove (Trap City Zone 7)

61st & Langley

 

Suburban sections

Arlington Heights 1985-present years

Aurora Established 1980-present years

Bellwood Established 1980-present years

Bloomington

Blue Island

Bolingbrook Established 1980-present years

Bristol

Calumet City 1985-present years

Carpentersville 1980-present years

Chicago Heights Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Cicero Established 1992 18th & 49th Ave, 21st and 49th Ave, 16th to Cermak, 50th Ct to Cicero Ave (Hell Zone)

Crest Hill

Decatur

Dixmoor Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Dolton

Downers Grove

East Chicago

East Moline

East St. Louis

Elgin Established 1980-present years

Evanston (Low End) Established 1982-present years

Ford Heights Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Galesburg

Glendale Heights 1989-2000

Harvey Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Hinsdale

Hoffman Estates 1985-present years

Joliet Established 1980-present years

Lockport Township (Fairmont) (The Hill) Established 1980-present years

Lombard

Kankakee 1985-present years

Markham Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Maywood Established 1979-present years

Moline

Montgomery

Mount Prospect

Naperville

Normal

Oak Brook

Peoria

Plainfield

Robbins Established as Devil’s Disciples 1960s-present years

Rockford Established 1969-present years

Romeoville Established 1989

Riverdale, IL

Round Lake

Skokie

Summit Argo 1989-present years

University Park

Waukegan Established 1980-present years

Westmont

Zion Established 1980-present years

Hammond, IND

Gary, IND