LOS ANGELES GANGS

Gangs in LA compete with gangs in Chicago for the country's most written about and stereotyped. Fortunately, there is an ample supply of good research on LA gangs, and some of it is even readable.

Always Running La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodgriguez

Simply the best autobiography of a gang member. Internationally acclaimed poet Luis Rodriguez lives in Pilsen near UIC.

1993. New York. Touchstone Books

Going Down to the Barrio: Homeboys and Homegirls in Change by Joan W. Moore.

The best and most scientific treatment of the gang experience written to date. Moore was John Hagedorn's mentor.

1991. Philadelphia. Temple University Press

Homeboys: Gangs, Drugs, and Prison in the Barrios of Los Angeles by Joan W. Moore.

Moore's first book on gangs. Written in the best traditions of community studies. Ranks as a classic.

1978. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Barrio Gangs by Diego Vigil

Diego's ethnography is a fine complement to Moore's collaborative techniques. Vigil worked with Moore in East Los Angeles and has continued there. This book orginates Vigil's concept of "multiple marginality." Diego has accepted an appointment to Harvard beginning the fall of 2000.

1988. Austin: University of Texas.

City of Quartz by Mike Davis

Not a book on gangs, but far ahead of those gang researchers who are stuck in the past and don't look at how gangs have changed and the structural reasons for it. Davis' book is evidence for the importance of understanding the political economy of cities in order to understand gangs.

1990 New York: Vintage.

The Dream Shattered: Vietmanese Gangs in America by Patrick Du Phuoc Long

More of the thoughts of a counselor than social science or journalism. A good book to read to put Vietnamese gangs in context.

1996 Boston: Northeastern University Press.

Gangbangs and Drivebys by William B. Sanders. (San Diego)

Interesting ethnography, but done from a police perspective.

1994 New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

Why take only my opinion on what to read? There's a website linked to Crips.com called Street Level Rap that gives opinions on books and rap music on the LA scene. I can't endorse the 19 year old writer's views, but he presents more information than I knew existed.

Uprising: Crips and Bloods Tell the Story of America's Youth in the Crossfire edited by Yusuf Jah and Sister Shah'Keyah

Documents from the front line. Lots of street talk and lots of political talk. Dismissed by law enforcement and most social scientists, I think it is interesting to see what direction the gang truce movement is moving. Gangs have always been political, and there is no reason why they shouldn't be in the information era.

1995 . New York: Scribner.

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, by Sanyika Shakur.

Well known book with one sensational story after another. Shakur also ends up talking politics.

1993, New York: Penguin Books.

Wallbangin': Graffiti and Gangs in L.A. by Susan A. Phillips

A different perspective on gangs, based in anthropology and a unique cross-national perspective. Fascinating and perceptive.

1999 Chicago. University of Chicago.