![]() ![]() The Vice Lords, in several branches, are still a gang today, with thousands of members, often running through generations. Dawley could never fit into the Black gang members' shoes, but as an ally he documents parts of their story that might not have otherwise been recorded in writing. The book's photos show you the faces of real people and they demand respect. ![]() They found many obstacles in the so-called promised land of the North. They were followed by people of color escaping from the Jim Crow South during the mid-20th century Great Migration. White people, especially Irish and Jewish, formed gangs in Chicago early in the 20th century. Urban gangs have been how many poor youths banded together and coped with living in the cracks of a largely-unfair society. He tells the individual and group story via interviews with real O.G's when they founded the gang in the 1950s and came of age in the 1960s. It seems as though the city does not want to see “criminals” bettering their communities and thriving economically.ĭavid Dawley, a white guy with connections, helped the Chicago West Side gang, the Vice Lords, get government grants for community projects. This is seen in the multiple letters that the Lords had sent to the city of Chicago asking for support in their development of programs going unanswered. Much of the positive progress and efforts of the Vice Lord leaders unfortunately did not last the test of time, as still there is stigmatization from external societal forces blocking their efforts. Meanwhile, due to lack of government support and living in poverty, these individuals were just trying to survive in a world that has outcasted them. This movement seems to be ignored when thinking of the Vice Lords as politicians and media alike portray this group as a blood thirsty gang that is a danger to society. Throughout 1968-1969, the Vice Lords with help from Dawley, developed multiple programs through grants and loans in order to turn Lawndale into a better place to live and help the young lords and ladies. Through the TransCentury Corporation, Dawley was introduced to Vice Lord leaders and together they worked tirelessly on developing community programs to support & encourage the youth of Lawndale, with the goal of ending the violence that has been forced upon them. As black people, we gotta start worryin’ about what’s happening, where our real humbug (fight) is and the way to humbug with it.” (pg. I might be the worse dude in the world I might be a stickup man, but I’m somebody. “I might be in the penitentiary, but I’m somebody. ![]() But like the Reverend say: I am somebody! We been resolved to the thing that we ain’t nobody, ain’t gonna never be shit. “These cats see that we ain’t got but one humbug (fight) and that’s to get our asses out of the sand and stand up like men. The older members realized change must come and no one else but them will make it happen,īobby Gore said, “Well, this is these cats that’s sick in the mind and the reason they’re sick in the mind is because whoever did the job on em’ did a damn good job, and it’s time for us to try and reverse this shit. The lack of government support in a densely populated area with severe poverty, these young individuals have nowhere else to turn to for support other than their fellow brothers and sisters. Having the privilege to be one of the only white honorary Vice Lords, Dawley lived in Lawndale and developed meaningful relationships with the Lords through helping them develop community programs.ĭawley sheds light on the sad reality of young black individuals being marginalized by society and looking to street gangs for support. David Dawley shares his observer-participant fieldwork within the notorious Vice Lords gang in Chicago.
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