Safe to wear gang colors? (Los Angeles, Pasadena: felon, college, living in)

[matt345]

I wear red and blue all the time. I'm just not totally decked out in it walking down an alley in Compton at 2am. Actually, the whole blue and red thing isn't nearly as big as it once was. Anyone who keeps up with the news here in LA knows that the Bloods and Crips are in serious decline and no longer rule the streets like they used to. It's all about the Latino gangs now.

[wclac]

Originally Posted by matt345

I wear red and blue all the time. I'm just not totally decked out in it walking down an alley in Compton at 2am. Actually, the whole blue and red thing isn't nearly as big as it once was. Anyone who keeps up with the news here in LA knows that the Bloods and Crips are in serious decline and no longer rule the streets like they used to. It's all about the Latino gangs now.

They rule soem parts of South LA. They're pretty predominant on the Westside of South Central.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by LAFan

I live in California and if I was walking on the streets of LA, I wouldn't risk wearing blue or red.

There's blue and red clothing, and then there's blue and red gang clothing. Something merely being red or blue does not turn it into a gang symbol. I wear blue jeans all the time, occasionally with a blue T-shirt and sometimes blue baseball cap, but I don't look gang. (I don't look good in red.)

If I let my belt droop and my underwear show and turned the baseball cap bill to the back I might be beginning to look gangsta, but that is a ridiculous look I'd never emulate.

Of course I'm probably 3x the age of most gang bangers.

[winter-phantom]

You should wear any gang colors, but instead come up with some others colors, like Purple shirts and white pants. Or if you can take something gay and use it in gang colors, like you can wear Barney colors (purple and green), or Dora the Explorer colors (pink and brown), or Arthur colors (Yellow and brown), or Blue's Clues colors (Blue and light blue) or Teletubby colors (Purple, Geen, Yellow and Red). No one will think you're trying to look like a gang memember and there fore won't see you as a threat.

[mellabella]

Originally Posted by winter-phantom

You should wear any gang colors, but instead come up with some others colors, like Purple shirts and white pants. Or if you can take something gay and use it in gang colors, like you can wear Barney colors (purple and green), or Dora the Explorer colors (pink and brown), or Arthur colors (Yellow and brown), or Blue's Clues colors (Blue and light blue) or Teletubby colors (Purple, Geen, Yellow and Red). No one will think you're trying to look like a gang memember and there fore won't see you as a threat.

omg, that's so funny

[LivingInExiles]

Originally Posted by MightyGandhi

I will moving to LA in August, and I will be living about one block West of USC. I know that the area is a gang territory. I was curious if I could be safe wearing gang colors like red and blue. By no means do I look like a ganster, but I have heard of innocent people getting harmed for wearing certain colors. I am of indian descent if that makes a difference.

In my mind it seems incredibly insane to think that one would have to stop wearing certain colors. It seems that the media and certain people tend to overexaggerate the rare times that innocent people are harmed in gang related murders and beating. But perhaps I am wrong about this.

Most of the people in here who've responded so far don't know what they're talking about.

When living in L.A., just like living in every major city, you have to use your street smarts, and if you don't have them, learn them. The immediate area around U.S.C. isn't the best neighborhood around at all, and you do have to be alert about your surrounding at all times, because its a sketchy area.

As far as wearing colors and such, you're safe dude. But, you have to wear your colors smart. Don't go outside "flamed up" which basically means large amounts of red on at one time (eg. red shirt, red pants, red shoes, etc), nor should you go out "trued up", which is "flamed up", but substitute the red with blue.

The way you carry yourself around town is also an important factor. Watch your body language, and don't make yourself look like a mark (target). Many of the idiots we have roaming on the streets here in L.A. get offended by any little thing, such as the way you walk, talk, or even how you look at them, so as I said before, watch your body language, it can potentially save your life.

As far as anything else, you're pretty much set. Now, what I said doesn't mean stuff doesn't happen, because it does, especially living in an area with moderately high crime. Like I said, use your street smarts, stay low key, and you'll heavily reduce your chances of being a victim of crime in that area.

[LivingInExiles]

Originally Posted by matt345

Anyone who keeps up with the news here in LA knows that the Bloods and Crips are in serious decline and no longer rule the streets like they used to.

I wish I could agree with you there, but that's so far from the truth.

What you're saying is partly true though. Many of the Black American gangs (Bloods & Crips) in the Eastside of South Central (East of Main Street) are in decline, but they're not by any means disappearing. Many of those same idiots are relocating to other parts of the city, and even to suburbs like Lancaster, Palmdale, Rialto, Moreno Valley, Victorville, Bakersfield, etc, dragging the quality of life down there too.

Not to mention Black American gangs still have a stronghold on basically all of the Westside of South Central, Gardena, Carson (Del Amo), large parts of Watts, and about half of Compton. But it won't be too long before these idiots decide to follow their comrades, and relocate to the same areas I've mentioned above.

[jc76]

I wear a Black INDIANA UNIVERSITY cap with Red IU logo...should I not be wearing this? Just dawned on me Black & Red is a gang color i believe I don't need no fools bustin caps at me yo, life's hard enough without being filled full of holes over a stupid color.

[antialphabet]

Originally Posted by jc76

I wear a Black INDIANA UNIVERSITY cap with Red IU logo...should I not be wearing this? Just dawned on me Black & Red is a gang color i believe I don't need no fools bustin caps at me yo, life's hard enough without being filled full of holes over a stupid color.

Seriously, even gangbangers have enough critical thinking skills to know that not every white boy with a hint of red or blue is a gangbanger, lol.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by antialphabet

Seriously, even gangbangers have enough critical thinking skills to know that not every white boy with a hint of red or blue is a gangbanger, lol.

Hahaha! Well I hope so, but ya never know. I guess they see a farm fed white boy with an Indiana cap and figure I aint gonna be slangin' cain and pushin' weight