Black Guerrilla Family

The Black Guerilla Family (BGF, also known as the Black Family,[4] the Black Vanguard,[5] and Jamaa[4]) is an African-American prison and street gang founded in 1966 by George Jackson, George “Big Jake” Lewis, and W. L. Nolen while they were incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California.

Black Guerilla Family

Dragon logo
Founded	1966 (1966)
Founded by	George Jackson, George “Big Jake” Lewis, and W. L. Nolen
Founding location	San Quentin State Prison
Years active	1966–present
Territory	Most US prisons
Ethnicity	African Americans
Membership	100–300 full members with 50,000 associates in and out of prison
Criminal activities	Drug trafficking[1] auto theft,[1] robbery,[1] and homicide[1]
Allies	Symbionese Liberation Army (inactive) Nuestra Familia Black Disciples[2][3] Bloods[2] Crips[2] Black Liberation Army (inactive) Weather Underground (inactive)[2] Latin Kings Dead Man Inc. Gangster Disciples
Rivals	American Mafia Aryan Brotherhood[2] Mexican Mafia Texas Syndicate Mexikanemi Gulf Cartel Serbian mafia

Philosophy and goals

Inspired by Marcus Garvey, the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) characterizes itself as an ideological African-American Marxist–Leninist[6] revolutionary organization composed of prisoners. It was founded with the stated goals of promoting black power, maintaining dignity in prison, and overthrowing the United States government. The BGF's ideological and economic aims, collectively known "Jamaanomics", are laid out in the group's Black Book.[7][4]

History

The Black Guerrilla Family was founded by George Jackson in San Quentin State Prison during the Black Power movement. The group is one of the most recognizable organized crime forces in the United States.

Fay Stender attempted murder

In 1979, former BGF lawyer Fay Stender was shot five times by recently paroled Black Guerilla Family member Edward Glenn Brooks for Stender’s alleged betrayal of George Jackson. Brooks forced Stender to state: "I, Fay Stender, admit I betrayed George Jackson and the prison movement when they needed me most" just before he shot her.[8] Stender was left paralyzed below the waist by the assault and in constant pain. She committed suicide in Hong Kong shortly after she testified against Brooks.[9]

Huey P. Newton murder

On August 22, 1989, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Huey P. Newton was fatally shot outside 1456 9th St. in West Oakland by 25-year-old Black Guerilla Family member Tyrone Robinson.[10] Relations between Newton and factions within the Black Guerilla Family had been strained for nearly two decades. Many former Black Panthers who became BGF members in jail were disenchanted with Newton for his perceived abandonment of imprisoned Black Panther Party members and allegations of Newton's fratricide within the party. In his book, Shadow of the Panther, Hugh Pearson alleges that Newton was addicted to crack cocaine, and his extortion of local BGF drug dealers to obtain free drugs added to their animosity.[11]

Robinson was convicted of the murder in August 1991 and sentenced to 32 years for the crime.[12]

Baltimore unrest

Main article: 2015 Baltimore protests

In 2015 Baltimore police stated that the Black Guerrilla Family, the Bloods, and the Crips were "teaming up" to target police officers.[13] Later, however, leaders of both the Bloods and the Crips denied the allegations,[14] released a video statement asking for calm and peaceful protest in the area,[15] and joined with police and clergy to enforce the curfew.[16] At one occasion, gang members helped to prevent a riot at the Security Square Mall by dispersing attempted rioters.[17] On other occasions, rival gang members helped each other to protect black-owned businesses, black children, and reporters, diverting rioters to Chinese- and Arab-owned businesses instead.[18]

Symbols

• Crossed sabres, machetes, rifles, shotguns with the letters ( B G F ) or ( 2.7.6.)[19]
• A black dragon.[19]

See also

• Hugo Pinell
• Latin Kings

References

1. Pandillas en USA [Gangs in the United States] (PDF). 4. October 4, 2005. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2006.
2. Florida Department of Corrections. "Prison Gangs (continued) - Gangs and Security Threat Group Awareness". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
3. "Major Prison Gangs". Florida Department of Corrections. Archived from the original on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
4. Contributed by: Justin Fenton, The Baltimore Sun. "The Black Book — Black Guerilla Family (Maryland) Handbook". Retrieved June 6, 2020.
5. "The Black Guerrila Family". United States Department of Justice. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
6. Cummins, Eric (1994). The Rise and Fall of California's Radical Prison Movement. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804722322.
7. Smith, Van (May 27, 2009). "The Black Book". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
8. Russell, Diana (Spring 1991). "Fay Stender and the Politics of Murder". On The Issues Magazine.
9. Horowitz, David; Collier, Peter (1981). "Requiem for a Radical". New West.
10. "Suspect Admits Shooting Newton, Police Say". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 27, 1989. Retrieved May 8, 2013. The police said late Friday that an admitted drug dealer had acknowledged killing Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party
11. Hugh Pearson, Shadow of the Panther. p. 6
12. Los Angeles Times, 10-10-91, pA22; 12-5-91, pA19.
13. "Baltimore police say gangs 'teaming up' to take out officers". The Baltimore Sun. April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
14. Porter, Tom (April 28, 2015). "Bloods and Crips gangs reject claims of kill-a-cop pact". International Business Times. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
15. "Gangs call for calm in Baltimore". The Baltimore Sun. April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
16. Berman, John; Castillo, Mariano (April 28, 2015). "Baltimore gangs will help enforce curfew". CNN. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
17. Haake, Garrett W (April 28, 2015). "Gang members help prevent riot at Baltimore mall". WUSA. Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
18. Nixon, Ron (April 27, 2015). "Amid Violence, Factions and Messages Converge in a Weary and Unsettled Baltimore". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
19. "Black Guerilla Family Prison Tattoo". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2007-11-25. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• FBI files on the Black Guerrilla Family