In some cases, the hand sign will go further, adding three of more combinations to illustrate the gang name, their affiliation and the street or neighborhood. For example: The Dodge City Crips/Second Street Mobsters from San Pedro, sign an "M" with their left hand, crossing the middle and ring fingers and the number 2 by using two fingers of the right hand. The Grape Street gang of Watts is a subset of the Crips, but its members have their own hand signs and their members use the same technique, but point the "M" upward to signify a "W," for Watts, while the right hand forms a "G" for Grape.

Mexican, Central American, and Pacific Islander gangs also have their own traditions and signs, whose origin often go back several generations.

In all cases, the influence of the gang culture can be seen on the street, as young men and woman, who are not members of a gang, throw signs and pose with either toy or real guns, mimicking their elder “homies.”

The majority of these images by Axel Koester, were taken before the LA riots, between 1987 and 1988. The gangs Koester photographed are: The Crips, The Bloods, The Son of Samoa, The Grape Street Watts Crips, East Side Longos, and the East Coast Baby Dolls." />


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