Black Disciples

Founded	Founded in 1958 by David Barksdale, Richard Strong, Dirk Acklin, and Prince Old Timer in or near Englewood Hyde Park
Affiliations	Folk Nation — c. 1979 – 2000 or later;
Colors	Black, Red, and Blue
Color usage	Black 1958-1969; Black and blue 1969-21st century; Black, blue and red - present
Primary ethnicities	African American
Symbols	III
Status	Active

Included is the story of Mickey Bull and the conquest of the Robert Taylor Homes

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.

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 BDs would buy houses here making this sacred lands for the Disciples.

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.  Over time BDs have surpassed the GDs for dominance of these projects and many GDs in O-Block flipped to BD.

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 the white gangs. 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.

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.

Disciples 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.

When the Outlaw Supreme Gangsters moved to Roseland in 1968, that brought the Gangster influence to this community but when the BD and GD split happened in 1981, a major amount of these streets went to the Black Disciples because they had deep history since 1964 and many of these Disciples remained loyal to Disciple concepts and rejected Gangster concepts.

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 BDs.

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 but most of the Disciple presence in these burbs ended up being GDs but BDs still have influence in Robbins and Chicago Heights.

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.

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.

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.  BDs had good numbers in these buildings as the 1981 split gave BDs much of the Darrows, Wells and Madden projects until they were all torn down but BDs remained strong the Oakland and Douglas neighborhoods after the projects were torn down.

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. When the 1981 split of the BGDN was handed down, the GDs would control most of the northern buildings while BDs had the southern buildings.  BDs made lots of money in crack cocaine sales in these projects and even worked tight security.  By the early 1990s most of the Del Vikings flipped to BDs at 35^th and State which put BDs in the north in these projects.  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.

Grand Boulevard and the Robert Taylor projects 1966, Mickey “Bull” Johnson (the founder)

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. BDs 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. BDs still remain strong on the streets of Grand Boulevard.

By the year 1968, The Robert Taylor Homes public housing projects were ran by gangs like the Cobra Stones (Mickey Cobras).  Fourteen-year-old Black Disciple Vanguard (Heavy hitter enforcer) Michael “Mickey Bull” Johnson moved into the Robert Taylor Homes in 1966 and became one of the first Disciples in these projects at the age of 12.  Johnson led a conquest to take over a large piece of the buildings between 49^th and State down to 53^rd and State in the Grand Boulevard and Washington Park neighborhoods in 1968.  His conquest against the Cobra Stones was a success and Mickey Bull put the Disciples in the Robert Taylor Homes for the first time in history, he then became the leader of all BD operations in those buildings.

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.  The BDs were big in these projects and when the GD/BD divide happened in 1981, BDs took a large portion of these projects until they were torn down in the 2000s.

West Side expansion 1966

With this great expansion and the recruitment of several gangs into the Disciple coalition came settlement in a part of Chicago south side gangs normally were not found.  Disciples turned out some small gangs on the west side of Chicago primarily in the Near West Side community in and near the Henry Horner projects area and the Medical District section and possibly in the North Lawndale area.  I don’t know exactly where the Disciples were at this time in 1966, but it was described to me as “pockets” of Disciples scattered around the west side.  It was also said they had an “L” shaped territory out west in the 60s, but I don’t know where.  These sections of Disciples were not very significant but worth mentioning because this was the beginning of BD settlement out west which we will expand upon later.

Rockwell Gardens projects

I don’t know exactly when BDs came to these projects on the Near West Side but I suspect Disciples had been in these buildings since the later 60s but when the GD and BD divide happened in 1981, most Disciples ended up GDs in these projects but BDs would retain strong control over the Madison and Rockwell area buildings until the projects were torn down in the 2000s.  BDs also controlled the Damen Courts apartments in the Near West Side neighborhood.

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.

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 involved 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.  Sometimes gang fights and shootings happened in the classes.

Black P Stones and Disciples squashed their war in May of 1968, and it lasted for days until May 8th.  David Barksdale was out around 65th and Ellis in the Woodlawn area when Detectives showed up to talk to him.  Barksdale told the cops that the Ellis Rebel Stones, the only Stone group in west Woodlawn, was out to kill him.  He did a test and led the cops to the end of an alley and sure enough the Stones opened fire and shot at David, the Stones were then arrested but this also ended the peace treaty (Source: People Vs. McChristian) (The Almighty Black P. Stone Nation, Moore, Williams).

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.

The Government grant set up 1968

During this same year of 1968, Jeff Fort and the Black P Stones were raking in thousands of dollars in government grant money after projecting the public appearance as a community youth group in need of funding to help poverty.  The money went to a lot of good and helped open legitimate businesses that helped young blacks but on the other side of it some of the money was used for illegal activities and this caught the attention of the F.B.I that began investigations.  The same groups that granted money to the Stones also gave money to the Disciples as well.  The Disciples did not stick their necks out as much for the money and received the money as a default because the gang apologists and liberal groups wanted to give money to the rivals of the Stones too.  When Stones were questioned about who their worst rival is, they pointed to the Disciples and that prompted these groups to line the pockets of the Disciples as well, many of times without Disciples even asking for the money.  Disciples used a lot of this money for good just like the Stones as they opened legit businesses and created programs to help black youths on the south side just like how the Vice Lords and Stones were doing; just like Vice Lords and Stones, the Disciples fell under F.B.I investigation for mismanaging those funds for illegal activities such as buying drugs and guns.  The Disciples’ involvement with mismanaging these funds was not much in the newspaper because of their lower profile activities and the Disciples didn’t trust the white man and the social case workers, they practically had no choice by 1968 to deal with them after the money was practically forced on them.  Disciples would end up not facing conviction for mismanaging funds like the Stones did.

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.

Gangsters in the deep 100s 1969

In the year 1969 the Disciples… began spreading into the West Pullman, Morgan Park, and Riverdale 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.

Disciples in Altgeld Gardens 1969

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). When the divide happened between GD and BD in the early 80s, about half the Disciples in the Altgeld projects identified with BD.  BDs would also gain control of the Concordia apartments in Riverdale.  BDs still remain powerful in the Riverdale community and the Altgeld projects since 1969.

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.  When the GD and BD divide happened in the early 80s several Disciples went with BD, especially by Ada Park where the BDs have been strong since 1969.

West Pullman

On the streets 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 Black Disciples in West Pullman as BDs are very powerful in this community running several blocks.

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, the BDs would not have much interest in Cabrini Green but I have mentioned it on this page because BD founder Richard Strong was the one who brought Disciple concepts to these projects and if he did not these projects may have never become GD dominated because no Disciples would have been here to be taken in by the Gangsters.

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.

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.

Mickey “Bull” Johnson

In the Robert Taylor Homes Mickey Bull was advancing in rank as a top Vanguard and was still running the buildings between 49^th Street and 51^st Street, especially the 5 white buildings at 51^st and State and the red buildings on 49^th.  He was put in prison in 1973 for manslaughter charges then was released in 1975.  Now by the summer of 1976 he had enough power to order deeds he needed to be done.  In July 1976, Todd White had stopped in the Robert Taylors by the 4844 S. State Street building.  White was not known around there and was wearing fancy clothes and drove a nice car.  Mickey Bull and Thaddis Terrell saw the man and saw an opportunity to rob White.  Mickey Bull approached White while Terrell walked up and put a pistol to White’s temple and told him to give them all his money.  White said he had no money and Bull searched him and found nothing.  Bull then grabbed the man by his necktie and dragged him across the street.  White gave a wise crack saying, “I told you I didn’t have any money.” Then he twisted away and started to run.  Bull was enraged because the man not only got physical and started running but also because of his wise crack, but Bull did not have to shoot White instead he told Terrell to do it, Terrell then fired one shot right through White’s chest, Mickey then said “Pop him again…..make sure he’s dead.”  After the incident both Terrell and Johnson were charged with murder.  Even though Bull was still on parole for the 1973 manslaughter he was only given 5 years for the murder and was back out in Robert Taylor by 1977 (Chicago Tribune, December 3, 1986).

Mickey Bull was incarcerated again in the late 1970s.  Before Bull went into prison, he managed to convince several members of the Mickey Cobras from a 49^th and State Street Robert Taylor building to become Black Disciples.  These Mickey Cobras were known as the “Fidel Castro Mickey Cobras.”  The building that was taken was the 4844 building.

April 18, 1978 the beginning of the Folks

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.

Growing strength of the BDs

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

 

In the year 1981, Mickey Bull was released from prison and was given a new rank as “Bishop” which was a very high position.  Jerome Freeman was also released that same year.  Mickey Johnson was like a prophet that informed all Disciples that they were just Black Disciples, and it was no longer the name of the alliance and all the gangs that had been under it were only to be known as Black Disciples.  All those that were Gangsters or were Disciples that represented the BGD banner for over a decade would become part of the Black Gangster Disciple gang.  This is how the Gangsters ended up being the larger force on the streets because of all the many Disciple groups that loved the BGD banner.  These new ways and the removal of the BGDN alliance brought great peace between BDs and BGDs in 1981 for years as the Folk alliance still bound them together and allowed them more dependence from each other.

Mickey also taught BDs the new hand sign which was the “Gates” or the three fingers, this was the new hand sign.

Mickey Johnson made sure not all of the Stateway Gardens became BGD and even convinced most of the Del Vikings to flip to BDs making the BDs have a strong presence in the Stateway Gardens, this is the story of how BDs got into the Stateway Gardens in 1981.

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.

Back of the Yards – Any Disciple groups became BGD.

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 if 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 the majority of 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. The majority of 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 the year 1982, Mickey bull and the BDs took over the long-standing Mickey Cobra buildings near 45^th and State.  This was the 4555 and 4525 buildings which the Cobras held since 1962.  This left the Mickey Cobras with only “The Hole” which was three buildings from 53^rd and State down the 54^th and State.  Mickey Bull had successfully pushed the MCs south of 53^rd Street.

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.

In the year 1984, Mickey Bull was promoted again to the rank of “Minister” which gave him his own “Dynasty.”  Being a Minister was a very high rank that usually no one receives in the organization.  Having a dynasty means you control on entire area of the city.  Mickey’s dynasty was the entire south side of Chicago, anywhere from Bronzeville down to the wild 100s was controlled by Mickey.  His main territory that he directly supervised daily was the Robert Taylor Homes.  He held BD meetings in front of the 4950 building.  Bull himself stayed at the 5041 S. Federal St in apartment 1505 with Brenda Wear.  He ran that building and all the buildings around (Chicago Tribune, December 3, 1986).

In the early 1980s and mid-1980s relations between BDs and BGDs was at its best point, especially now that Folk nation rules and regulations reached the streets, now both gangs would often team up against rivals like Vice Lords, Black P Stones, and Mickey Cobras.  The Crack Cocaine epidemic of the late 1980s caused relations between the two gangs to completely break down, mainly because of the Crack trade in the Englewood neighborhood.  Beginning in the year 1987, fierce competition and intense gang wars erupted in the high-rise public housing projects city-wide.  Gangs began muscling in on these buildings and began setting up their own security as they walked through the hallways armed with automatic weapons and shotguns as they patted down residents and imposed curfews, the competition was fierce.  They even controlled the elevators in the projects and would jump down the shafts and hitch rides up and down.

Marquette Park BDs 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 and Black 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.  BDs have a large chunk of the east Marquette Park community.

The Englewood neighborhood is Chicago’s most violent and most impoverished neighborhood and just like the high-rise housing projects, the Englewood community became a hotbed for Crack Cocaine users which made distribution a large money-making commodity. The BDs had a long-rooted history in the Englewood community as the largest piece of their story started on these streets and they felt ownership of this neighborhood.  Black P Stones and Mickey Cobras were never welcomed by BDs in this neighborhood, but now the BDs biggest allies the Black Gangster Disciples were muscling in on too many BD drug spots because BGDs felt they were entitled due to being the larger organization and sitting at the top of the Folk Nation alliance.  BDs felt disrespected from their BGD brethren. By 1989 the tempers began to flare.  Jerome Freeman ended up back in prison with a 28-year sentence for felony drug charges in 1989 and soon after all hell was about to break loose on the streets of Englewood.  This was the beginning of severe conflict between BDs and BGDs.

In the hot summer of 1991, some GDs were ready for war with the BDs, but Mickey Bull was holding relations tight between the two organizations, and this was a threat to GDs that did not want to be controlled this way.  Bull was not expecting GDs to come after him because there was no full-fledged war yet, he was also untouchable, and many BDs and GDs feared and respected him.  Mickey was mild mannered and charming, but he would also have no tolerance for those that crossed him.  When he walked the streets, he had a special whistle that BDs knew.  When Mickey whistled it meant he was summoning some soldiers for business.  It didn’t matter what you were doing; if you were lying in bed with the flu, if you were lying in bed with your girl, if you were taking a shit, it didn’t matter, you had to stop everything and rush outside to Mickey when he whistled.  He had this kind of power and enemies could not touch him because he could see it coming, but in August of 1991, he never expected GDs to come at him and that is what happened. Members of the Gangster Disciples shot him dead on the streets which caused an immediate violent backlash from the BDs that became legendary.  Payback had to be harsh for this and on August the 7^th Englewood was a war zone.

By August of 1991, during one of the hottest and driest summers in Chicago history the feuding between GDs and BDs was taken to a new level because of the death of Mickey Bull.  On August 7, 1991, the Black Disciples murdered three members of the Gangsters Disciples in cold blood on that hot August Wednesday night.  The murders were done out of a taxicab, yes a taxi cab the BDs actually shot them from a taxi cab which is one of the craziest ways a gang could do a hit on someone.  The problems all started that day at 66th and Peoria at the apartments at 6556 S. Peoria st (now torn down) when “Tojo” a Black Disciple came pulling up in the afternoon and taunted three Gangsters Disciples members by throwing up the BD gang sign.  One of the GDs Kevin Gibbs threw up a sign and shouted “BDK” and Tojo said “GDK,” then someone inside the building shot at Tojo and he started to drive off but stopped real quick to say he would be back later.  Later that night at 11:00 P.M. the Gangsters Disciples were back out there selling drugs on that corner when a red and white taxicab drove up with a red Lebaron.  Both vehicles then stopped and one of the windows on the taxicab rolled down and a barrel of a gun appeared as the shooting suddenly started.  All three Gangsters Disciples were shot but two of them survived while the other died.  A little while later at 618 West 71st Street out in front of a submarine sandwich shop (71st and Lowe, now a vacant lot, buildings torn down since then) another shooting happened in which three Gangsters Disciples were shot again, two of them ended up dying at that corner.  The taxicab was apparently stolen to be used in this shooting perhaps as a diversion, after all who would expect a taxi to pull up and start shooting at you?

Between 1991 and 1994, the southside of Chicago was in a state of intense warfare between GDs and BDs.  Gang members from both gangs basically said you couldn’t go anywhere during that time.  It was not until 1994 when Marvell Thompson stepped in after he was cleared on a murder charge that the violence between GDs and BDs settled down for a short time but in 1994 the war became permanent between GDs and BDs as Black Gangster Disciples were now officially known as Gangster Disciples.

As the 1990s progressed more and more Gangsters Disciple gang members flipped to Black Disciples.  A lot of this flipping was driven by Black Disciple drug dealing factions offering lower taxes on drug profits than the GDs.

These new members were young and eager like Robert Sandifer “Yummy.”  Yummy was a young 11-year-old fresh new recruit to the BDs in 1994.  Yummy was a kid that used to steal cars and break into houses since he was 8 years old.  Law enforcement could not put him in juvenile detention because he was too young, and he could not go to anymore foster homes because he was too violent.  In August 1994 the Black Disciples had him kill some rival GDs.  Yummy blasted a 9mm pistol into a crowd of kids and accidentally killed young 14-year-old Shavon Dean.  The murder brought a lot of public outcry and attention to the Black Disciples.  The BDs feared that this young of a member would snitch if he were caught by the police.  Yummy’s 14- and 16-year-old brothers lured him to a viaduct underpass, had him get on his knees then pumped two bullets in the back of his head.  The two brothers were then convicted of the murder and a lot of attention ended up on the Black Disciples over this issue for a few years to come despite the BD leader’s attempt to cover this up.

In January 1996, Gangster Disciple Governor Chuck “Big Chuck” Dorsey was shot and killed on the streets.  After this happened the GDs and BDs had a meeting at 38th and Cottage Grove in the Bronzeville area.  GDs and BDs were allies at 38th and Ellis and all around the Ida B. Wells and Madden Park projects area.  The death of Chuck could have brought more war in these sections and at the “Low End” located at 46th and Evans (5th Ward) in Grand Boulevard.  At the meeting Rimrod threw down the pitchfork to disrespect GDs but there was no violence.  Instead of violence many GDs flipped to BDs at the Low End and in the projects making BD numbers stronger.  Rimrod was killed shortly after the meeting along with other high-ranking BDs but the BDs had grown stronger at these locations.

The BDs grew incredibly in the 1990s and 2000s decade as they climbed up to becoming one of the top 10 largest gangs in Chicagoland with members in other states and scattered all over the suburbs.  Violent gang wars erupted in the Robert Taylor and Stateway Gardens projects as gun fire echoed day and night mainly between BDs and GDs.  Both gangs exercised majority control of both public housing high rise complexes and other gangs had a very small piece of these buildings; therefore, the BDs and GDs were each other’s biggest competition in these projects.  The BDs showed their muscle against the larger enemy and showed relentless pursuit of violence against their foes which gained them a massive reputation, causing many starry eyes young black youths to want to join the gang as they grew to over 6,000 members.

In 1991, the Black Disciples took over the 16 story high rise Randolph Tower housing authority complex located in the Washington Park neighborhood which was located at 6217 S. Calumet Avenue (63^rd and Calumet).  This large building the BDs nicknamed “The Castle” where they set up a complex $45,000 a day to as much as $300,000 a day Crack Cocaine and heroin operation in this tower.  The Tower was run by Marvel Thompson and residents and anyone were searched at the front door by armed BD guards with automatic weapons and shotguns.  This operation was incredibly complex as money from drug profits was even laundered and invested into an Atlanta nightclub, apartment buildings and even into the rap label M.O.B.  Black Disciple snipers were posted on the roof of the buildings equipped with high powered and complex sniper rifles while they wore night vision goggles at night so they could spot enemy gang members and pick them off.  The building was not friendly to police officers, and Chicago police stayed away especially after one incident where an undercover officer entered the building, and as he was patted down a bullet proof vest was discovered, as he tried to run a BD pulled out his pistol and shot the officer in the back, but the officer survived.  The BDs even became so bold that they hijacked the WCFL 104.7 radio frequency that was a frequency owned by a Christian radio station in the suburb of Morris, once you arrived in Chicago city limits the frequency was playing gangster rap music that was described by the Chicago Tribune article I got all this info from as having lots of foul language.  The frequency owners were shocked when they drove to Midway Airport and the music suddenly took over.  The frequency was also said to be used to communicate with The Tower to alert the gang of any possible threats coming (Chicago tribune David Heinzmann and Todd Lighty, May 14, 2004).  In 2004 a massive raid by the police swept through this complex as several members were arrested, in the aftermath it was decided the best way to stop the dealings at this complex was to tear the complex down and in 2004 the buildings were razed.  The Tower was the largest drug operation the Black Disciples had ever ran but the gang would continue to grow and open new ventures regardless.

In the 2000s decade as the Robert Taylor buildings were being torn down the BDs expanded and were eventually running territory from 43^rd down to 49^th and State.  This brought the BDs a lot of extra profits before the buildings all came down by 2006.  The BDs also took over the 5^th Ward and New Town from the GDs in the 2000s.

The Black Disciples have grown to over 6,000 members.  In 2005 Jerome “Shorty” Freeman was released from prison after being put away for 16 years.  In 2011 Shorty died of health issues at the age of 60.

Please send in 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s pics!

Known Decks of the Black Disciples past and present

Ashburn neighborhood 2000s-present years

Sections of Ashburn

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

Auburn Gresham neighborhood Established 1964-present years

Decks of Auburn Gresham

Morgan from 78^th to 80^th (ATM BussGang Trey Town)

85^th to 87^th, Morgan to Sangamon (Mike City)

Beverly neighborhood

Decks of Beverly

99^th & Malta (Shared with Gangster Disciples)

Chatham neighborhood Established 1964-present years

Decks of Chatham

79^th to 80^th, Drexel to Ingleside (Drill City)

81^st to 83^rd, Ingleside to Cottage Grove (Whiz City Brain Dead)

83^rd & Ellis

Douglas neighborhood Established 1966-2007

Decks of Douglas

37^th & Federal (Stateville, Stateway Gardens projects)

Englewood neighborhood Established 1958-present years

Decks of Englewood

59^th & Normal

61^st to 62^nd, Wallace to Stewart (Tay Town 300, formerly known as E-Town)

64^th to 66^th, Peoria to Halsted (AMG MacBlock HBE)

65^th to 66^th, Lowe to Union (Lowelife)

63^rd to 65^th, Parnell to Normal (Lamron 300)

68^th to 70^th, Halsted to Union (ShawnMoney HBE)

71^st to 73^rd, Green to Halsted (Dogpound HBE)

71^st to 72^nd, Parnell to Eggleston (Dipset Tygang)

67^th & Lowe

57^th to 59^th, Morgan to Lowe (Shorteyville, D-City)

57^th from Morgan to Racine (BD Ave)

59^th & Racine (9-Ball)

65^th & Morgan

Kenwood neighborhood Established 1958-present years

Decks of Kenwood

45^th to 46^th, Greenwood to Woodlawn (THF)

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

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

Grand Boulevard neighborhood Established 1966-present years

Decks of Grand Boulevard

47^th to 49^th, Vincennes to St. Lawrence (Hitzsquad)

45^th to 46^th, Forrestville to Champlain (5^th ward)

49^th from Federal to State (Robert Taylor projects) Established 1966

43^rd from Federal to State (Robert Taylor projects) Established 1998-2006

45^th & Federal (Robert Taylor projects, House of Pain, Shortyville)

Wabash from 45^th to 47^th (New Jack City)

47^th & Michigan

48^th & State (Robert Taylor projects, 3^rd World)

Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Established 1958 as Devil’s Disciples

Decks of Greater Grand Crossing

63^rd to 66^th, Calumet to Martin Luther King Dr (O-Block, Parkway Gardens projects)

67^th to 68^th, Wabash to Michigan (DOD Dre Gang)

70^th to 72^nd, Wabash to State (Bashville)

70^th to 72^nd, Martin Luther King Dr to Prairie (400 East)

77^th to 79^th, Martin Luther King Dr to Eberhart (MTV Bblock)

Greenwood from 76^th to 78^th (HittCity)

79^th from State to Cottage Grove (Lon City)

79^th & Morgan

79^th & Ellis

79^th & Woodlawn

Hyde Park neighborhood Established 1958-1963

Decks of Hyde Park

53^rd & Kimbark (Original headquarters, East Side Disciples) 1958-1963

Marquette Park neighborhood

Decks of Marquette Park

63^rd to 65^th, Mozart to Fairfield (BSC GunnHead)

69^th to 70^th, California to Talman (FaceWorld Bogus Bogus)

Morgan Park neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of Morgan Park

111^th & Vincennes

108^th Pl & Church

111^th to 115^th, Ashland to Racine (Ada Park)

Near West Side neighborhood

Decks of Near West Side

Adams to Jackson, Leavitt to Damen (Damen Courts apartments)

Madison & Rockwell (Rockwell Gardens projects)

North Lawndale neighborhood

Decks of North Lawndale

18^th to 21^st, Karlov to Pulaski

Oakland neighborhood Established 1966-present years

Decks of Oakland

37^th to 39^th, Vincennes to Cottage Grove (OBN)

Ida B Wells projects Established 1966

Clarence Darrow projects Established 1966

37^th to 39^th, Ellis to Cottage Grove (Madden Park projects)

37^th & Ellis (New Town)

Riverdale neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of Riverdale

132^nd & Doty, Greenwood from 132^nd to 133^rd (AMG)

133^rd & Corliss (Altgeld Gardens projects, Block 7)

134^th & Vernon

132^nd to 134^th, Martin Luther King Drive to Indiana (Gooly Gang)

130^th to 131^st, Martin Luther King Drive to Indiana (Concordia BDs, Concordia Apartments)

Rogers Park neighborhood 2010s-present years

Decks of Rogers Park

Howard & Ashland 2010s-present years

Roseland neighborhood Established as Devils Disciples 1964-present years

Decks of Roseland

100^th to 101^st, State to Michigan (Main City)

104^th to 105^th, Wallace to Parnell (4 Block Chill City)

109^th to 111st, Stewart to Wentworth (PTC Wentworth Mob)

109^th to 111st, Wentworth to State (RMG Dirty Perry Wentworth Mob)

110^th to 111^th, Michigan to Edbrooke (Darkside Scoblock)

107^th to 109^th, Edbrooke to Prairie (Dblock)

99^th & Yale

107^th & Perry (Dirty Perry)

South Deering neighborhood 2010s-present years

Decks of South Deering

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

South Shore neighborhood Established 1958-present years

Decks of South Shore

69^th to 71^st, Dante to Stoney Island (Will City)

73^rd to 74^th, Ridgeland to East End (Ridgetown)

65^th & Stoney Island (Shared with Black P Stones)

71^st & East End

79^th & Ridgeland

Washington Park neighborhood  Established as Devil’s Disciples 1958-present years

Decks of Washington Park

54^th to 55^th, Indiana to Prairie (Black Gate)

59^th to 60^th, Indiana to Martin Luther King Dr (600 Steve Drive)

61^st to 63^rd, Indiana to Martin Luther King Dr (Front Street, formerly known as Murder Drive)

61^st & Wabash

Calumet from 61^st to 63rd (Calumet Building, Randolph Towers, The Castle) Established 1991-2004

West Englewood neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1964-present years

Decks of West Englewood

67^th to 69^th, Hamilton to Hoyne (6 Ward BGC LowBlock)

59^th & Elizabeth

59^th & Hermitage

65^th & Wood

69^th & Marshfield

71^st & Racine (The Valley)

57^th from Racine to Elizabeth (BD Ave)

63^rd & Hamilton (Dark Side)

71^st & Paulina

71^st & Parnell

West Pullman neighborhood Established 1969-present years

Decks of West Pullman

123^rd to 125th, Halsted to Wallace (Triggatown Hoollies)

119^th to 121^st, Perry to State (Buff City)

112^th to 115^th, Loomis to Aberdeen (Ada Park)

116^th & Union (Rag Town)

118^th & Peoria (Rag Town)

119^th & Lafayette

117^th & Princeton

Lowe from 123^rd to 126^th

122^nd & Union

Union from 125^th to 126^th

116^th & Emerald

Woodlawn neighborhood Established as Devil’s Disciples 1958-present years

Decks of Woodlawn

66^th to 67^th, Champlain to Evans (Chrisworld)

64^th to 65^th, Maryland to Cottage Grove (TYMB)

60^th & Rhodes

 

Suburbs

Bolingbrook

Calumet City

Chicago Heights

Evanston

Joliet

Maywood

Robbins

Waukegan

Gary, IND

Hammond, IND