1973 SPECIAL REPORT: "PHILADELPHIA STREET GANGS" (PART II) скачать в хорошем качестве

1973 SPECIAL REPORT: "PHILADELPHIA STREET GANGS" (PART II)

In 1973, Philadelphia was grappling with significant gang-related violence, often described as the "gang capital" of America due to high rates of juvenile gang activity. The city saw a surge in teenage gang violence, with 13 teenagers killed in gang-related incidents that year, following 39 deaths in 1972 and 43 in 1971, totaling 248 over the prior decade. Estimates suggested 100 to 150 gangs operated in the city, with membership ranging from 6,000 to 8,000, primarily aged 10 to mid-20s. Most gangs were concentrated in West, North, and South Philadelphia, with West Philadelphia’s issues being relatively newer. The majority of these gangs were Black, though some white and Puerto Rican gangs existed. Gangs like the Mongol Nation and Woodland Avenue gang were active, often clashing over contested turf, such as areas near schools like Shaw Junior High. Gang structure included roles like “runners” (leaders) and “check holders” (influential members), with prestige often tied to violence involving knives, guns, and clubs. Firearms use had escalated compared to the 1950s switchblade era, with weapons like rifles and automatic pistols recovered in police roundups. The Black Mafia, formed in 1968 by Samuel Christian, was a prominent organized crime group in 1973, distinct from juvenile street gangs. Operating primarily in Black neighborhoods, it engaged in drug trafficking (especially heroin), extortion, and high-profile crimes, including the 1973 Hanafi Muslim massacre, where seven Sunni Muslims were killed. The Black Mafia intimidated communities to avoid police cooperation, earning nicknames like “Muslim Mafia.” It also challenged the Italian Philadelphia crime family’s control over rackets in African-American areas, leading to a partial ceding of gambling operations by Angelo Bruno’s mafia, though Black gangsters paid a “street tax.” By 1973, the Black Mafia was losing anonymity due to media attention and law enforcement pressure. Other organized crime groups, like the Philadelphia crime family (Italian Mafia) and the K&A Gang (Irish-American), were active but less tied to the street gang phenomenon. The Italian Mafia, under Angelo Bruno, controlled rackets like gambling and heroin distribution, while the K&A Gang focused on burglary and was transitioning toward drug trafficking. Public outrage grew as gang violence affected innocent bystanders, like 9-year-old Ronald Hollis, wounded by a stray bullet. Mayor Frank Rizzo admitted police efforts, including a 60-man gang control unit, were insufficient, as containing the violence would require an impractical “police state.” Community workers like Benny Swans and activists like Hardy Williams highlighted the social roots of gang activity—poverty, unemployment (around 33% for young Black men), and lack of recreation—driving youth to gangs for social belonging and prestige. Efforts to curb violence included community protests and early intervention programs, though funding for prevention was limited. The House of Umoja, founded in the late 1960s by Falaka and David Fattah, began addressing gang issues, later brokering the 1974 Imani Peace Pact, which reduced homicides. In summary, Philadelphia’s 1973 gang landscape featured widespread juvenile street gangs, primarily Black, fueled by socioeconomic challenges, alongside organized crime groups like the Black Mafia. Violence was pervasive, with limited police control and growing community efforts to address root causes. #americanhistory #socialstudies #organizedcrime #philadelphiahistory