The King of Gangs

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Recommended: History of los angeles black gangs

Imagine war on the streets of Los Angeles, people shooting in open schoolyards,

and on storefronts. The fighting resulting in deaths all over the suburbs. Riots breaking

out and people smashing windows. This violence is a part of Los Angeles’ history

from the 1980’s during the Blood and Crip shootings. The members of both were

disenfranchised African-Americans, which had been the targets of discrimination and

segregation for centuries.

However painful the shootings were, they pale in comparison to the warfare

dominance the gang Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, continues to have internationally today.

Grabbing power through fear, exploitation, and unrivaled masses of members, MS-13

became one of the richest underground drug trade industries in the world overnight. MS-

13 is unique as an inter-city gang because of its Latino origins and because of the extent

of its boundaries. The mindset of this organization is “for the gang” and “para libertad”,

for the reason that the members came into the country to seek liberty from the guerilla

warfare in El Salvador. As they determine to be free in our society, they become chained

to us, in a number of vindictive ways. The Salvadorian gang and its leader represent

America’s failures, insecurities, and the most negatively stereotyped parts of our society

because it is spread over 42 of the states. Moreover, the gang is embalmed within a

legacy that outlives their inception: the legacy of Count Dracula, the vampire.

Hall 2

Now one may think that Dracula was the first vampire story, but these monsters

were actually introduced in rural countries, being mythical creatures that were oppressive

and vile to awaiting mothers. The first vampires ...

... middle of paper ...

...have maintained loyalty with the gang itself.

Vampire tales have been told throughout history, as a way of approaching a very

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different way of life. As Dracula passes on his legacy of the king of vampires to Edward

Cullen in today’s teen fantasy fiction series Twilight, Americans see a perceptual shift of

the vampire. Vampires become the fear of the 1900-century, because people embraced

their ideas. Although the leaders of MS-13 may remain a mystery, its hoard of minions

remains infamous. For this reason, it isn’t surprising that a person can find a gang’s trail

in any school, or street in North County. Finally, the gang members are most like Dracula

because of their sense of family, in their fight for revolution. Because of their likeness to

Dracula, they are enduring, regardless of the negative impacts to the people around them.

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