HomePage Gangstaz
To all the homeboys on the street,
I'm still torcido and can't be beat.
I know I'm taking it just fine,
Because I haven't lost my mind.
I started to play their game,
While my mind was on a different lane.
I've been acting like I'm crazy and down,
But deep inside I know I'm acting like a clown.
I'll probably spend my life in one of these holes,
Maybe some day I'll get life without parole.
I've caught a lot of time for acting like a fool,
But now I'm starting to act real cool.
People tell me my life has just begun,
But to me my life and soul are aleady gone.
I know I should listen to what they say,
Because they're right, the vida loca doesn't pay.
But I'm just a vato loco who doesn't care,
Because this justice is unfair.
I can't stop because I'm into it to deep,
But it hurts to hear my jefita weep.
She tells me that God loves me and He cares,
But I can't find Him anywhere.
I can't believe in someone I can't see or feel,
I need someone who is for real.
So I guess I'll leave God alone,
And let him take care of the poor.
While I just kick back behind my locked door....
From the Mexican Mafia to the Nuestra Familia
The Mexican Mafia was the first of the major Latino prison gangs to be formed. Prior to the mid fifties, there were no major organized Latino gangs in the prison system. Latinos in prison were to a large extent disorganized, and as such they often fell prey to other organized prison gangs.
At this time Latinos in prison were outnumbered by the other two major ethnic groups, whites and blacks. At this time, the prison inmates were cliqued together primarily by race. Whites cliqued together, Blacks cliqued together, and Latinos cliqued together.
It was around 1957 that the Latinos in Duel Vocational Institute1 organized themselves together and formed what became known as the Mexican Mafia. This newly organized gang spread quickly throughout the system. It gained in numbers and power very quickly. It became a truly feared and respected gang. The white and black gangs could no longer prey on the Latino population. The now organized Latino population was a force to be compromised with.
As the Eme, grew in numbers and power, it fell victim to internal turmoil. It's members began to break into factions. One faction was made up of Latinos who were originally from the big cities of southern California, primarily Los Angeles. The second major faction was made up of Latinos from the central valley of California. The central valley of California has long been an agricultural region. It's here in the valley that most migrant farm workers work the fields. As a result, Latinos who were from the central valley became known as farmeros.
The feuding between the sureños, and the farmeros reached the point where the farmeros in San Quentin cliqued together and formed what became known as the Nuestra Familia. Like the Mexican Mafia, the Nuestra Familia grew very fast in numbers and power. The Ene became a force to be compromised with. Even the Eme, as powerfull as it was, couldn't hold back the Ene. From it's initial formation in the mid sixties, a war ensued with the Eme that lasted until the mid seventies. The Ene claimed it's victory and became a major player in prison life.
The North and South/El Norte y el Sur
The Sur is an offshoot of the Mexican Mafia. Since most of its members were originally from the big cities of southern California, they became known as Sureños. Today Sureños still hold allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, but are not always officially recognized members of the Eme. The Sur, or the south, as it's commonly known is made up of gangs whose home turf is in southern California.
The Norte is an offshoot of the Nuestra Familia. Since most of it's members were originally from the central valley of northern California, they became known as Norteños. Today Norteños still hold allegiance to the Nuestra Familia, but are not always officially recognized members of the Ene. The Norte, or north, as it's commonly known is made up of gangs whose home turf is in northern California.
Today the Norteños and Sureños function as distinct gangs. Each one made up of several smaller gangs. And each one holding allegiance to it's respective origin, the Norte to the Ene and the Sur to the Eme. The North and South is primarily an institutional phenomena. Because most Sureños live in southern California and most Norteños live in northern California, they don't have many confrontations outside of jail. But in jail, where they constantly come across each other, tempers flair often, resulting in institutional riots.
Both sides have devised a system of communicating their allegiance. The north utilizes the number fourteen, the letter "N," and most even numbers such as the four, to signify their allegiance to the Ene. The south utilizes the number thirteen, the letter "S," and most odd numbers such as the three, to signify their allegiance to the Eme.
The way they dress and how they comb their hair also distinguishes their allegiance. A shirt with two creases on the back means north. A shirt with three creases on the back means south. A hair cut with a tapered back is north. A hair cut with a round back means south. The red color means north, and the blue color means south.
Identifiers/Symbols:
Initials "EME."
The Mexican flag symbols such as the eagle with a snake in conjunction with the initials "EME."
A single hand print, usually black in color.
The EME symbol of eternal war.
Initials 'MM' or 'M.'
Enemies/Rivals:
The La Nuestra Familia is the EME's chief rival. They are said to have a "kill on sight relationship," which has resulted in Federal Bureau of Prisons adopting an absolute separation of confirmed members.
Other rivals include:
Northern Structure
Arizona's New Mexican Mafia
Black Guerrilla Family
Black street gangs
Allies: The EME has a very active working relationship with the Aryan Brotherhood.
Other allies include:
Arizona's Old Mexican Mafia
Mexikanemi
New Mexico Syndicate
urban Latino street gangs.
La Cosa Nostra (LCN)
18th Street Gang (Los Angeles).
Urban Latino street gangs.
The EME often provides protection for imprisoned La Costa Nostra members.
Recruitment/Initiation:
Members are Mexican-American/Hispanic male inmates.
The wives, girlfriends, and relatives of the EME are held in extremely high regard due to their support of drug transactions, financial activities, and mail-forwarding operations.
The EME is generally considered a "blood in, blood out" organization
| Loco - Spanish for crazy. It means that the person is serious, brave, and will take care of business
Mexican Mafia - A Latino prison gang. Started sometime around 1957. Possibly in Duel Vocational Institute (DVI), a correctional facility in Tracy, California, the central valley. DVI was operated concurrently by the adult system (CDC) and the youth system (CYA). The Mexican Mafia was the forerunner to the Sureños.
Norte - North. References northern California. Latinos from northern California are destinguished from Latinos in southern California.
Norteño - Northerner. A Latino from northern California. Cholos in California are divided between north and south. Those from northern California are Norteños, those from southern California are Sureños.
Nuestra Familia - A Latino prison gang. Started sometime in the early to mid 60s. Possibly in San Quentin or Folsom, the only true prisons in California at those times. Both were maximum security prisons. The Nuestra Familia was the forerunner to the Nortenos.
Orale - Right on! For sure.
Paisa - Short for paisano, fellow countryman. Someone from your home land.
Pinta - Prison. The big house.
| | Placas - The police.
Pleito - Fight. Scuffle.
Rata - Rat. A snitch. An informant.
Scrapa - Scrap. A derogatory term used to reference sureños (cholos from southern California).
Sur - South. References southern California. Latinos from southern California are destinguished from Latinos in northern California.
Sureño - Southerner. A Latino from southern California. Cholos in California are divided between north and south. Those from sothern California are Sureños, those from northern california are Norteños.
Taca - Tac. Tattoo.
Trece - Thirteen. Represents the "M," the 13th letter of the alphabet, which in turn represents the Mexican Mafia, the forerunners to the Sureños.
Trucha - Watchout. To keep a lookout.
Vato - Dude. A guy. Leva - Someone who has been thrown out of a clique. An outcast. An informer. Jura - Slang for police. Also used for authority figures.
Hyna - Slang for girl |
