Tattoo - a view of Hispanic gang culture

      

      Mexican tattoos have come a long way from the stereotype gang tattoos that most people wrongly associate with Hispanics and their culture. But Mexican tattoos aren't all about gangs or prison time. Although gang tattoos are quite extensive they have even made it into mainstream street culture with sexy Latinas, chicas and wannabe homeboys adopting this gang banger style.

      However, Tattoos are an excellent tool for law enforcement and corrections officers to use to identify known or suspected gang members. How to distinguish Hispanic gang members based on tattoos? Let’s see typical examples of tattoo worn by predominantly Latino gangs-Mexican Mafia, and Sureno in Los Angeles county.

Black hand, “M” & elements of Aztec

                                     

      The Mexican Mafia also known as “La Eme”, a Spanish word meaning 'the M'. It originated in the mid-1950s at the Duel Vocational Institute in Tracy, California. Many gang members are from barrios, or neighborhoods, in East Lost Angeles. Mexican Mafia patterned their organization after the Italian Mafia, which was often discussed in the media during the 1950s. They even copied the Black Hand symbol used by the Italians. Mexican Mafia symbols include a black hand, the letters "MM" or the term “La Eme”, eagle (stylizes into the shape of an “M”), and Mexican Grim Reaper image - a memorial for Rocky Luna, a Mexican Mafia member who was killed by the gang for his role in the making of the movie "American Me".

     “SUR” & 13

     

    

      In the late 1960s a new gang group formed, which known as the Nuestra Familia. As the war between Nuestra Familia and Mexican Madia, some members began distinguish themselves as either Nortenos (a Spanish work for Notherner) or Sureno (Spanish word for Southerner).  The term Sureno was soon adopted by Hispanic street gang members throughout Southern California.

    Sureno gang members often identify themselves with the number '13' to represent the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, the letter 'M'. This is used to pay homage to the Mexican Mafia. Surenos will use the symbols Sur, XIII, X3, 13, and 3-dots in their graffiti and tattoos.

     It is import to reinforce that the Mexican Mafia and Surenos are two separate identities. Nowaday, the majority of Sureno gang members have no direct contact with Mexican Mafia members, yet the Mexican Mafia is able exercise control and influence over Sureno gangs located in Southern California.

 Reference:

1. "Photo Galleries Latino Gang Tattoos." Police community for cops gangs. 05 08 2009: 1. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. <http://www.policemag.com/Channel/Gangs/PhotoGallery/2009/08/Gang-Tattoos-Hispanic.asp&xgt;.

2. lasrever , . ""Gangland: The Mexican Mafia"." LiveLeak. 27 09 2008: 1. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. <http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1b0_1222545820>.