I was a royal javelin from 1969 to 1976 I left and moved to Washington state. Joined the army at 18yrs old and never looked back I survived now 61yrs old.
I was part of the 8th div. Towards the end we made a small group of us into the javelins Gestapo like inside police we kept our guy's from using hard drugs
@@jamesrivera7618 your division was by 176th st and Morris ave under johnny javelin correct i got a pic of the javelin gestapo colors with the genie in the middle and it had the puerto rican behind the genie I know what gestapos in the outlaw world im also a outlaw gang historian im also a former navy seal myself my pops was a sgt in the army during nam
True .. but I last lived on 169th and sheridan ave one block off the grand concourse as for the colors I made them there was about only 6 pairs they were bad ass mine being the best cause I took about a month to make them
@@jamesrivera7618 i live by 172nd st and morris i can tell you for a fact the 8th div was one of the biggest divisions around the area you have facebook ?
I'm 41, I used to be in a gang in Phoenix in the 90's. Watching this and looking back at my days in that life, one thing continues to stand out: What attracts kids to gangs is the instinctive understanding of strength in numbers. You're no longer just an individual, you're part of a family, some are disfunctional and some function well together. And when you're young you're subconsciously trying to forge tight relationships with your friends (at least I was) so you'd be solid for the long haul. Obviously things don't always go as planned.. people fall in love, move away, have a change of heart, end up dead or caught in the correctional system. Gangs become a substitute for your actual family but there's no guarantee that the family (gang) you vow loyalty to will be loyal in return. Such is life.
May I quote you, sir? Many Organizations in these United States are attempting to encourage the Black and Brown Community in our USA Region to look "inwards", at (we) ourselves, and as a Community of Persons with shared spaces/environments i.e. neighborhoods, shared interest(s) (a long life, right?), shared circumstances (many of "we" are parents of children we truly do not want to be burying, rather than the other way around), and in reality a shared Struggle (America, in some ways, does seem to 'eat her young'). Personally, I think we Need more Love in our Approach(es). More Love, and better, improved, Understanding of what factors in young children's lives is conducive to those vulnerable youths arriving at identifying with gang identity/gang culture. I think you hit the nail on its head with: "belonging, sense of security/safety in numbers, and protection". Please advise. Thank you.
I'm a native of the Bronx. I'm 52. I got emotional watching this documentary, watching people like Blackie, China, Laurie, Benjy, etc. My mentor was from the Galaxies, and because of him, I standed clear of street life and went to college. There aren't dudes like that anymore. May God bless them.
Man this was awsome , my fam and i we left THE BRONX in 72, im 68 now, brought back lot of memories! Joined the ARMY stayed in the ARMY 20 years learned Radiology Technology , still working it will soon retire! living in Jax FL
Interesting doc about 70s New York gangs that inspired movies like "The Warriors". The black & white footage is particularly fascinating because the quality is very good for footage filmed 40+ years ago. The slang, the way they spoke, the attitude, it's very gritty & don't feel old.
Very good documentary. Brought back a lot of memories of how things were in the Bronx back in the day. And how from all that neglect, poverty, and violence came an art form that influenced pop culture, and is still influencing it to this day.
The new doc Rubble Kings looks to be an updated sleeker version of this film but Flyin' Cut Sleeves is awesome in it's own right! Also cool to see it was directed by Henry Chalfant of Style Wars fame.
Apart from The Warriors The Rogues The Satan’s Mothers and The Turnbull ACs every other gang in that movie doesn’t depict any real life New York street gang
Excellent documentary. All politicians and law enforcement should watch this. Our youth today need help. These neighborhoods needs help. The same problems still exist.
@@leehodges8422 Since news spread of Mr. Melendez’s death on May 28 at 64, after a long illness and a heart attack, his wife has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of love for a man whose political awakening - not to mention his charisma, optimism and musical skills - transformed young lives and helped break the cycle of violence among warring cliques when he brokered a historic truce in 1971. www.nytimes.com/2017/06/04/nyregion/benjy-melendez-bronx.html
19:58 Love this Picture. I grew up in Chicago where the gangs used to wear the sweaters with the patches. For the most part the white, mexican and puerto rican gangs...I remember I stole a book from the library about 70's new york gangs. Sagave Nomads, Dirty Ones, etc. The first name of the Author was Sandra. Wish I still had that book. I was obsessed with that culture.
Incredible... brings me back to the 70s, although I was very younf back then. Every time I watch one of these videos, I think of an old friend named Delma, I thought she lived in Sunset Park, but I think she told me she moved to Coney Island, we were in our senior year together in FHHS [class of 83 !!] and while we talked, we knew some of the same writers [grafitti...] for some reason I never had the courage to ask her out. Last time I saw Delma was in Bay Ridge, 77th and 3rd, she was talking to maybe Eddie ?? who had a blue Nova at the time, Delma was decked out in a dungarees Jacket and mini skrt, no shoes she was barefoot in the street.. man, Delama was hard !! but I was on the 3rd ave bus, and missed her............. and to this day Delma denies that was her, and maybe she's right because today she is Iris living down south. This film was incredible, it just gets better and better and deeper as it goes on, especially past the 50 min mark. A lot of people fail to realize the positive aspects the gangs had on their communities back in the day, how they were instrumental and getting programs set up for the school kids, like breakfast and lunch, among other things.... funny, you never see stuff liek this in the good neighborhoods. Makes you wonder, don't it... Thank you so much for posting this film.
I think I knew that lady name Lorine Padilla, her daughter baylit and brother went to the public school CS150! Wow how amazing is this doc. The way things were compare to now it's a very big change!!
Helped my brother clean his basement and we came across a binder he had of a hundred "business cards" from Chicago gangs from the 70s-80s. Crazy they made business cards with their aliases on it
@@1503ONERUS I was told they were like a get out of jail card . They gave them to friends who were non members . If the friend ever gets pressed by a fellow gang member or rival gang they could show the card and they ether knew you was homies with a member or the gang would back the non gang member up if another gang started problems.
Incredible documentary. Thank You very much for uploading it on UA-cam. These were very exciting times to be young and alive, that's for sure. I would love to take a time machine and visit 70's/80's/90's New York.. Well, it's all gone now.. glad that I can at least watch this and get some feeling about how it was like.
I wouldn't call the attire of New York 70"s street gangs fashion but more of a uniform. The Street Gangs of that era looked to the more well known Motor Cycle Gangs for examples of Structure and Public Image, thus the denim jackets with the Top Rocker, Middle Logo, Bottom Rocker layout, also the structure of hierarchy that mimics the military was also copied from Biker Gangs. Early Rap Music fashion was influenced by NY Street Gangs as well as late 70's glam rock. The early professional rap music performers were faced with the decision of what should the costume / wardrobe of these new performers consist of thus in the beginning you see rappers (ex. Sugar Hill Gang) wearing normal street clothes then a few years latter you start to see the leather pants and ripped shirts (ex. Furious Five, Kurtis Blow) as those artist were emulating what was seen in rock shows. It was Russell Simmons who insisted Run (his brother) and partner DMC dress like the groups newest addition DJ Jam Master Jay, who was a veteran of NYC street life and wore the flashy clothing that street hustlers of that era commonly wore. With the wild success of Run - DMC from that point on the trend in rap music has been to copy the inner city street fashion trends.
Very true my dad God rest his soul was a savage skull and he told me a lot of the old gangs got inspired by the hells angels because they represented true freedom
Facts 👍🤘 This documentary is only an hour long. Even if it was a 2 hour long documentary Not every member was interviewed Some of the clips wasn’t the south Bronx. Not an important factor Anyways. Cool bro 👍🤘
This was a great Doc... You could only find this in the library. It was almost too ahead of its time, the Bronx was just as bad in 1990, if not worse in murders than in the mid 70's. This was also Pre-"Rubble Kings", almost exactly the same, without fancy editing.
People saying they miss these times or that they wish today was like this haha no no you don't you can't fathom what these people lived through, it was dangerous times back then
Yeah, but the cities were full of creative energy and cheap places to live. If you watched your back you'd survive fine. And there was great music and shit going on. It was great.
So you prefer being constantly judged, surveillance recording your every move, speech/messages recorded via social media & being constantly blamed for your predecessors from hundreds of years ago nowadays? Nah, gimme freedom anyday of the week.
At the end of this, what really makes me wonder is if The Ghetto Brothers will ever do another album, because in my opinion, that is one of the greatest albums I've ever heard in my life.
Never will a second album happen. All the members are resting in peace. The released other material as Street The Beat. There’s a lot missing to the documentary. 👍🤘
I am 63 and THESE are the streets I grew up on. This may sound crazy but I would rather go through every minute of back then again, than to be here now.💀 That was real, back then… today is unreal, fake, insulting and not worth a damn. One day real soon everybody will realize and it’ll be too late.
You must have it really bad if you hate today and think its unreal. Leave tik twitter and with mates and family life is very real, tough sometimes, but real.
It sickens me to see children who never got to be children. I know this experience under sonewhat different circumstances. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I see this here ✊🏽
This is a must see...especially for those who are clueless about the core of the hip hop culture and those whom are oblivious to the turmoil urban youth face in their communities
@@billreid818 these group of people gave rise to that generation you speak of. Similar to around here where the generation before us still had a decent (but "humble") upbringing but got into meth. Now a generation of dope addicts raise there kid and gave them a shitty upbringing. Some turn like coal into diamonds, but most end up shitty uneducated junkies
I’m 57 and had the best and worst of both worlds from Philly and NYC. Springing up from a Black Bruce Lee Secret Society in Philly, and being a slave of the funky percussion and style war uprock dancing and turntablism, to book dealing leading to underground law, (Common law Equity, Private Banking, Redemption Sovereignty movement) it has transformed my life. This doc conjured up memories. The CIA, Rockefeller and Ford Foundation had a vested interest in promoting a Marxist socialist agenda along with the division, drugs and gun trafficking leading up to the world we are in today. Yet we rise and here we are ..for better and for worse. Thank you for uploading this.. if you made it to the end of this rant, you badass..😂
im a teenager from the south bronx and yes its not how it use to be but their is still some young cats trying to bring positivity to the borough and gradually trying to bring it back on its feet
wow i remember being scared to walk down certain streets in the north bronx having white angels on one side golden ginnies on the other and having to alter my route home not knowing if i would make it home or to school!!
we didnt have no gangs in mt vernon in the 70s but plenty of every other kind of street violence and at 8 and 9 years old walking to hamilton school from stevens by the contrail tracks yeh i remember that same ambivelance about my propspects of making it home alive each day-- those were italian gangs in the bronx--im neapolitan never in a gang but heard of them
this is where hip hop was born. im surprised they didnt show pablo guzman and geraldo rivera in this documentary because they were part of the young lordz as well.
+IAN m The punk biker look was so cool looking! All the movies used punks and these kinds of looking fellas to play bad guys in movies all through the 80s. When i was a kid I thought all gangs were punks with mohawks and spikes. But then I found out when I got older gangs just sagged their pants and wore boring and dumb looking clothes.
“These were very bright young people who, if born into other families, could have been senators, congressmen, and community leaders.” 52:40 They should be now, capitalism, poverty, and racism be damned.
Most middle class white people don't have to face racism, poverty, or a lack of education & opportunity, on a daily basis. Most middle class white people are either blind, ignorant, or just plain don't want to know, & so don't care. Treat people like animals, & they'll act like animals. There's still a hell of a lot more educating needed to be done. :-( Thanks for posting.
I think my generation was the last to experience the Bronx being broken down. I miss it and when I visit my old neighborhood, it’s so different that its almost shocking. Where there used to be piles on piles of trash on stained concrete are now trees. School yards of garbage, broken glass, food and crack tubes are now a clean environment for parking and for kids to play during recess. No graffiti. The bodegas not smelling like cat piss. People standing on the corner. Abandoned buildings are gone and so are the unfriendly empty parks. It’s kind of...bizarre. The positive change, I’m grateful for. But a part of me misses the crap.
took me back to a sad time in my life, but thank God I survived! my question is where the hell was the help from Geraldo Rivera, he was a Young Lord or is it Gerry Rivers the fake Puerto Rican?!
Man thats crazy! Tell blackie he should write a biography about his life, especially around the time he was growing up in NY and started the skulls ... ,not much info on those times in the gangs besides this doc an 80 blocks from Tiffany's
George i met you this morning on the beach in Aguada. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video. Please finish this project and get it out there for people to view an integral part of NYC history. Bwell Brother
@Sash Lilac HI Sash, this video address was given too me by the man who alledged to have made it. His name is George, met him on the beach in Aguada Puerto Rico
@@ivantorres7924 Fam The Warriors was Hollywood fiction lol. No gangs were wearing make-up like in the movie. The Education of Sonny Carson was way more real and had real gang members
These street hoods don't cuss they are very articulate. Now a days you couldn't make a documentary w/o a lot of cussing and the n word dropped every 2 seconds. There was still a respect for human life. Even though they still fought and killed each other. The human condition is so baffling.
See's a pretty girl standing close by: Yeah mah brotha, we tough! The zippits were scared. Real punk stuff. I killed 3 of them that night. (Woop! Woop! Cop lights) Man this is so wrong
My dad grew in the Bronx and actually knew a few guys in the Savage skulls. It’s interesting to watch documentaries about the gangs of NYC in the 70’s.
So what in New York back in those days could you just do whatever you want and walk anywhere and go all over buildings and rooftops? It seems like you could find all kinds of hang out spots back then.
MaharlikaAWA the city was bankrupt and the banks had not yet bought up all the city and rebuilt it for the rich - whites had fled - the rich had fled and with them their tax revenues from high paying jobs and purchases - the police and fire was cut in half in some places and the departments of police were corrupt - most people in areas were welfare recipients- these are just a few of the reasons - schools were underfunded so it goes without saying with millions of poor people and no public funding for schools, police , fire departments, everything like this that crime was rampant and any illegal business could thrive if run correctly ...
Those young dudes in that gym were so dynamic in their speaking! Some people really have that leadership quality! It's just amazing to see it in young ppl! Tupac was like that. Young and fierce..... Just around the wing energy but was so gifted!
i know...7 years later but... No, that's wrong. The Warriors was written in 1965, years before Benji's death and the gang meeting. It's two similar things being conflated as connected when in fact they are not.
One of the best documentaries ever! This is the true life "Warriors". Real Men don't need gangs that's for immature minds. As you grow up you learn this and find or create family. You find something really worth fighting for. These were goodtimes and none of the youths are to blame. Government and Society creates these problems. And the youth are left alone to try and solve them..... = Gangs = Family
no bro we all as individuals create our destiny. its not a black and white or race issue, but the choices we make . i grew up dead poor with my family and never once pointed fingers but instead pushed ahead and did my best to be a productive member of society/
This was way better than Rubble Kings. I liked how this doc, as compared to Rubble Kings, had more about what the more political gangs members were doing later in life to positively change their enviroment. I wish more people would wake up to who the real oppressors are and their shady distracting ways and that to make a difference you don't need to be a Jordan or a Clinton, you can effect change in your own community in many different ways, and not just the conventional medias portral of what is esentially a "money'd hero". Maybe someone should do a doc as to what these people are up to in their comunities in another 10-20 years?
It's crazy I've watched this more than 10 times and what they went through back then still is going on now . This should be played to everyone that is involved in any gang culture. Before the blood's and crips where out New York was already gang banging hard there where real gangster in the tristate
So true. No one is as hard as the ppl in the hood back then. Imagine this was before the police created ATF n TNT and before the RICO was passed these guys were doin watever they wanted n watever it took 2survive in the city and yet had heart 2think about the future and try 2change their community for the better. Look at the guy Blacky he said if u care and help the kids with something 2do b4 they do something bad. He really cared. Today, nobody gives a shit like that. You look at Chicago..they need ppl like him over there soo bad. All they do is kill each other off, go 2jail with life sentences and this is b4 they turn 20yrs old. Even girls get shot or become shooters. Wish they would see this n get the message smh
There's been gangs everywhere forever lol.. Crips & Bloods in California only get so much attention BECAUSE it's California!! There isn't a state in America that doesn't have gangs.. even places like Maine, new Hampshire, places people would never even think about
I miss the broken down streets, the rundown buildings, the cobblestone streets, the garbage strewn avenues, the potholes, the packs of dogs roaming around, the smell of burnt wood atop a rubble. I miss all of this. It had character, flavor,spice. It embodied simplicity, true friendship, freedom because when you have nothing materially you have each other. I miss true friendships. The South Bronx of today is congested, packed of people, cleaned up and sanitized. It has sterilized those wonderful feelings of belonging to a community and in turn presented a visually appealing borough to the gentrifiers but has killed its soul!! In my opinion, the South Bronx of today is dead.
I do not understand the hostility expressed at my comment. I enjoyed the broken down cobble ridden streets and the abandoned buildings because it evoked a sense of simplicity and community. We were all poor but we had each other which is worth more than the built up gentrified Bronx of today.
I couldn't agree with you more. I grew in harlem and there used to be a sense of belonging there. Even though everybody was piss broke as shit, everyone got along, there was unity. It felt as one big family. Kids would be together from sunrise to sunset. People would look out for one another. Even though conditions in the neighborhood was horrible, but everyone lived almost the same way. Now it got gentrified, which isnt a bad thing, but now you would live next door to someone for 3 yrs and not kno there name and they wouldnt acknowledge you or anyone else. Now its not really a neighborhood or community anymore, just skyrocketing property value area with a bunch of non-new yorkers residing there. I miss the NYC of my youth. But nothing stays the same forever.
Cosine Modulator im against gentrification but man the streets back then were fucking bad, cops were even worse.... shit had to change... but i think it should of changed with the community and grow and help the community not push them out and move rich people in... but for that we need to change the SYSTEM and society....
Ryan Morris the fact that people are still racist is sad... you really fucking think skin color makes a different? if you did not have immigrants america would of never existed.... how do you think your veggies and fruits and food get to your loud mouth ? you really think white lazy ass people want to or can do the work that these hard working immigrants have done? NO ..dont kid yourself... white people have become apathetic,fat and lazy
Mimi , hotlips carmen , Lucy , cheri , candi , big red , sunni , Goldie, mala , dulce , maria , flaca , bettie , mousey lulu , blondie , roxy , ruby , the savage skulls had a bad a%$ roster of fine bronx honeys some very down sisters with mad heart
My father told me when I was young : " When you do good, no one remembers ... but, when you do wrong , no one forgets."
That's pretty stupid - what about Oscar Schindler?he did good and everyone remembers him, they made a movie about him
52958 True indeed
TheThepusherman7 lol. no one remembered him ... till they made the movie. more rememnered barbie, mendolson, etc.
@Andy T Latin so bachelors much love old school bangers P3 Lee p i t o......cypress ave.b.l.s.1418
@@TheThepusherman7 it's very true. You can do a world of good, but one significant mess up, that poses to ruin that good.
I was a royal javelin from 1969 to 1976 I left and moved to Washington state. Joined the army at 18yrs old and never looked back I survived now 61yrs old.
Which division of the royal javelins were you in i know few royal javelins from different divisions
I was part of the 8th div. Towards the end we made a small group of us into the javelins Gestapo like inside police we kept our guy's from using hard drugs
@@jamesrivera7618 your division was by 176th st and Morris ave under johnny javelin correct i got a pic of the javelin gestapo colors with the genie in the middle and it had the puerto rican behind the genie
I know what gestapos in the outlaw world im also a outlaw gang historian im also a former navy seal myself my pops was a sgt in the army during nam
True .. but I last lived on 169th and sheridan ave one block off the grand concourse as for the colors I made them there was about only 6 pairs they were bad ass mine being the best cause I took about a month to make them
@@jamesrivera7618 i live by 172nd st and morris i can tell you for a fact the 8th div was one of the biggest divisions around the area you have facebook ?
I worked as one of the editors on this back in College, great experience and I learned a ton. So glad to see that it is still out there.
Thank you sir!
Amazing work by you and the crew. Love this documentary.
@Jeremy Stillwell We pulled as much as the old footage that we could get, there was some stuff that got cut but not much from what was shot first.
thanks. what year was it?
@@tree-hutlastname4008 This back in 1992-1993
I'm 41, I used to be in a gang in Phoenix in the 90's. Watching this and looking back at my days in that life, one thing continues to stand out: What attracts kids to gangs is the instinctive understanding of strength in numbers. You're no longer just an individual, you're part of a family, some are disfunctional and some function well together. And when you're young you're subconsciously trying to forge tight relationships with your friends (at least I was) so you'd be solid for the long haul. Obviously things don't always go as planned.. people fall in love, move away, have a change of heart, end up dead or caught in the correctional system. Gangs become a substitute for your actual family but there's no guarantee that the family (gang) you vow loyalty to will be loyal in return. Such is life.
FACTS💯💯💯💯
@Dsmv The less intelligent perspective
Facts,that's real.
May I quote you, sir? Many Organizations in these United States are attempting to encourage the Black and Brown Community in our USA Region to look "inwards", at (we) ourselves, and as a Community of Persons with shared spaces/environments i.e. neighborhoods, shared interest(s) (a long life, right?), shared circumstances (many of "we" are parents of children we truly do not want to be burying, rather than the other way around), and in reality a shared Struggle (America, in some ways, does seem to 'eat her young'). Personally, I think we Need more Love in our Approach(es). More Love, and better, improved, Understanding of what factors in young children's lives is conducive to those vulnerable youths arriving at identifying with gang identity/gang culture. I think you hit the nail on its head with: "belonging, sense of security/safety in numbers, and protection". Please advise. Thank you.
@Dsmv Perhaps. But then again.....
I'm a native of the Bronx. I'm 52. I got emotional watching this documentary, watching people like Blackie, China, Laurie, Benjy, etc. My mentor was from the Galaxies, and because of him, I standed clear of street life and went to college. There aren't dudes like that anymore. May God bless them.
I was same , we left in the 80s but nothing but best memories, but I was a kid . Different world really
My family were members of "The Javelins" this is an amazing documentary. I love the fact that I could see my old neighbor hood in these clips.
Which division they belonged to?
Man this was awsome , my fam and i we left THE BRONX in 72, im 68 now, brought back lot of memories! Joined the ARMY stayed in the ARMY 20 years learned Radiology Technology , still working it will soon retire! living in Jax FL
Interesting doc about 70s New York gangs that inspired movies like "The Warriors". The black & white footage is particularly fascinating because the quality is very good for footage filmed 40+ years ago. The slang, the way they spoke, the attitude, it's very gritty & don't feel old.
Very good documentary. Brought back a lot of memories of how things were in the Bronx back in the day. And how from all that neglect, poverty, and violence came an art form that influenced pop culture, and is still influencing it to this day.
The new doc Rubble Kings looks to be an updated sleeker version of this film but Flyin' Cut Sleeves is awesome in it's own right! Also cool to see it was directed by Henry Chalfant of Style Wars fame.
That tears it. I'm officially obsessed with '70s gangs in New York.
I remember those dayz.
Have you seen 80 blocks from Tiffany's?
Jane Doh they got a fresh style too. That biker outlaw look was 💯
John Williams well, if you was there then you would take it very seriously trust me.
John Williams ok tough guy. That’s what they all say.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT AM LOOKING AT "BLACK BELT BENJI" ON THIS UA-cam VIDEO. AM LEE. ITS BEEN OVER 45 YEARS ...WOW!
Hope everything is well with u OG.
Rip to Benji
The Warriors is one, but a modern film with an old school plot would be insane!
The Warriors is a classic. I love that movie.
Hey if they can do it with Star Wars then anything’s possible
Trust me, they need a remake
Apart from The Warriors The Rogues The Satan’s Mothers and The Turnbull ACs every other gang in that movie doesn’t depict any real life New York street gang
@@patriotamerican3426 what about the orphans 🤣🤣
I have this documentary on DVD. And I happen to love it very much since it's about the 1970s in NYC.
Excellent documentary. All politicians and law enforcement should watch this. Our youth today need help. These neighborhoods needs help. The same problems still exist.
RIP Benjamin Melendez 1952 - May 28, 2017
R Montana hi there if you don’t mind could you tell me what he died of????
@@leehodges8422 Since news spread of Mr. Melendez’s death on May 28 at 64, after a long illness and a heart attack, his wife has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of love for a man whose political awakening - not to mention his charisma, optimism and musical skills - transformed young lives and helped break the cycle of violence among warring cliques when he brokered a historic truce in 1971.
www.nytimes.com/2017/06/04/nyregion/benjy-melendez-bronx.html
Familia RIP & Blessings to the ones still here. Viva La Isla & The Bronx 👍🤘
Feels Great To See My Parents Are Still Alive After Watching Them In This video...
Which one are they?
🤥
Nigga they dead this video is old.
@@earlyculyer4103 lol
It’s the 70’s my dude it’s not that old you brain dead idiot.
19:58 Love this Picture. I grew up in Chicago where the gangs used to wear the sweaters with the patches. For the most part the white, mexican and puerto rican gangs...I remember I stole a book from the library about 70's new york gangs. Sagave Nomads, Dirty Ones, etc. The first name of the Author was Sandra. Wish I still had that book. I was obsessed with that culture.
What happened to the book x)
Bro is so honest with the stolen book.
Thank you for posting this video . I enjoyed watching it, it's all about unity and respect . Now we just have to preach it,and take action !!
Incredible... brings me back to the 70s, although I was very younf back then.
Every time I watch one of these videos, I think of an old friend named Delma, I thought she lived in Sunset Park, but I think she told me she moved to Coney Island, we were in our senior year together in FHHS [class of 83 !!] and while we talked, we knew some of the same writers [grafitti...] for some reason I never had the courage to ask her out.
Last time I saw Delma was in Bay Ridge, 77th and 3rd, she was talking to maybe Eddie ?? who had a blue Nova at the time, Delma was decked out in a dungarees Jacket and mini skrt, no shoes she was barefoot in the street.. man, Delama was hard !! but I was on the 3rd ave bus, and missed her............. and to this day Delma denies that was her, and maybe she's right because today she is Iris living down south.
This film was incredible, it just gets better and better and deeper as it goes on, especially past the 50 min mark.
A lot of people fail to realize the positive aspects the gangs had on their communities back in the day, how they were instrumental and getting programs set up for the school kids, like breakfast and lunch, among other things.... funny, you never see stuff liek this in the good neighborhoods.
Makes you wonder, don't it...
Thank you so much for posting this film.
You can tell this is a good genuine person here ^
These gangs where the real gangs. These young, punks we got today are a bunch of cowards.
"So we made it an un-racial problem." Right on man
I think I knew that lady name Lorine Padilla, her daughter baylit and brother went to the public school CS150! Wow how amazing is this doc. The way things were compare to now it's a very big change!!
Helped my brother clean his basement and we came across a binder he had of a hundred "business cards" from Chicago gangs from the 70s-80s. Crazy they made business cards with their aliases on it
Their called compliment cards
I woukd love to see them! Bet their worth something too now.
They did same thing in Cali. Cause with a business card . Your considered a SOCIAL CLUB not a gang = no enhancements, no curfew, ect
@@1503ONERUS
I was told they were like a get out of jail card . They gave them to friends who were non members . If the friend ever gets pressed by a fellow gang member or rival gang they could show the card and they ether knew you was homies with a member or the gang would back the non gang member up if another gang started problems.
Incredible documentary. Thank You very much for uploading it on UA-cam. These were very exciting times to be young and alive, that's for sure. I would love to take a time machine and visit 70's/80's/90's New York.. Well, it's all gone now.. glad that I can at least watch this and get some feeling about how it was like.
I wouldn't call the attire of New York 70"s street gangs fashion but more of a uniform. The Street Gangs of that era looked to the more well known Motor Cycle Gangs for examples of Structure and Public Image, thus the denim jackets with the Top Rocker, Middle Logo, Bottom Rocker layout, also the structure of hierarchy that mimics the military was also copied from Biker Gangs.
Early Rap Music fashion was influenced by NY Street Gangs as well as late 70's glam rock. The early professional rap music performers were faced with the decision of what should the costume / wardrobe of these new performers consist of thus in the beginning you see rappers (ex. Sugar Hill Gang) wearing normal street clothes then a few years latter you start to see the leather pants and ripped shirts (ex. Furious Five, Kurtis Blow) as those artist were emulating what was seen in rock shows. It was Russell Simmons who insisted Run (his brother) and partner DMC dress like the groups newest addition DJ Jam Master Jay, who was a veteran of NYC street life and wore the flashy clothing that street hustlers of that era commonly wore. With the wild success of Run - DMC from that point on the trend in rap music has been to copy the inner city street fashion trends.
*era
Very true my dad God rest his soul was a savage skull and he told me a lot of the old gangs got inspired by the hells angels because they represented true freedom
Most of the gangs are motorcycle clubs now like the Dirty Ones The Savage Nomads
Facts 👍🤘
This documentary is only an hour long.
Even if it was a 2 hour long documentary
Not every member was interviewed
Some of the clips wasn’t the south Bronx.
Not an important factor
Anyways. Cool bro 👍🤘
It’s wild how a lot of the gangs in NYC went from hurting to rebuilding the community, such an awesome thing.
This was a great Doc... You could only find this in the library. It was almost too ahead of its time, the Bronx was just as bad in 1990, if not worse in murders than in the mid 70's.
This was also Pre-"Rubble Kings", almost exactly the same, without fancy editing.
Kelsey Charter
34 murders in 1970. How many in 1989?
People saying they miss these times or that they wish today was like this haha no no you don't you can't fathom what these people lived through, it was dangerous times back then
Yeah, but the cities were full of creative energy and cheap places to live. If you watched your back you'd survive fine. And there was great music and shit going on. It was great.
So you prefer being constantly judged, surveillance recording your every move, speech/messages recorded via social media & being constantly blamed for your predecessors from hundreds of years ago nowadays? Nah, gimme freedom anyday of the week.
Miguel Cervantes I’m from this time and still wish for these days today’s world sux
Still dangerous now in these times
@Channel It must have been very oppressive to live in that environment. It certainly doesn't look like a place where people were set up to prosper.
At the end of this, what really makes me wonder is if The Ghetto Brothers will ever do another album, because in my opinion, that is one of the greatest albums I've ever heard in my life.
Thanks for the info gonna check it out
Yeah that album is funky as hell. Bboy shit.
awesome album but benji melendez passed away a couple of years ago.
They are all dead
Never will a second album happen. All the members are resting in peace.
The released other material as Street The Beat.
There’s a lot missing to the documentary. 👍🤘
I am 63 and THESE are the streets I grew up on. This may sound crazy but I would rather go through every minute of back then again, than to be here now.💀
That was real, back then… today is unreal, fake, insulting and not worth a damn. One day real soon everybody will realize and it’ll be too late.
shut up old head
You must have it really bad if you hate today and think its unreal. Leave tik twitter and with mates and family life is very real, tough sometimes, but real.
Amen to this as well YESSIR
Only the ones who didn’t live it will never understand the difference today 👍🤘
It sickens me to see children who never got to be children.
I know this experience under sonewhat different circumstances. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I see this here ✊🏽
This is a must see...especially for those who are clueless about the core of the hip hop culture and those whom are oblivious to the turmoil urban youth face in their communities
This was before hip hop was around...
@@billreid818 these group of people gave rise to that generation you speak of. Similar to around here where the generation before us still had a decent (but "humble") upbringing but got into meth. Now a generation of dope addicts raise there kid and gave them a shitty upbringing. Some turn like coal into diamonds, but most end up shitty uneducated junkies
Stop the VIOLENCE,Make a change,Were all in the SAME gang..Lets Build!!!
I’m 57 and had the best and worst of both worlds from Philly and NYC. Springing up from a Black Bruce Lee Secret Society in Philly, and being a slave of the funky percussion and style war uprock dancing and turntablism, to book dealing leading to underground law, (Common law Equity, Private Banking, Redemption Sovereignty movement)
it has transformed my life. This doc conjured up memories. The CIA, Rockefeller and Ford Foundation had a vested interest in promoting a Marxist socialist agenda along with the division, drugs and gun trafficking leading up to the world we are in today. Yet we rise and here we are ..for better and for worse. Thank you for uploading this.. if you made it to the end of this rant, you badass..😂
im a teenager from the south bronx and yes its not how it use to be but their is still some young cats trying to bring positivity to the borough and gradually trying to bring it back on its feet
Did he say , ''hey YO'' in 1970?? Damn New Yorkers been saying YO....Lol
yo is just iam in spanish man
yo is a 50s term buddy boy
...Razor Ramon!
Yo is also a Jersey & Philly thing.
Its not that long ago
wow i remember being scared to walk down certain streets in the north bronx having white angels on one side golden ginnies on the other and having to alter my route home not knowing if i would make it home or to school!!
Ron Smith were those Italian gangs ?
Yea north bronx got a little italy too
we didnt have no gangs in mt vernon in the 70s but plenty of every other kind of street violence and at 8 and 9 years old walking to hamilton school from stevens by the contrail tracks yeh i remember that same ambivelance about my propspects of making it home alive each day-- those were italian gangs in the bronx--im neapolitan never in a gang but heard of them
this is where hip hop was born. im surprised they didnt show pablo guzman and geraldo rivera in this documentary because they were part of the young lordz as well.
Yeah they're already out the gang , moving on with their life
Yeah there’s a lot missing. 👍🤘
I find it fascinating how the fashion went from a punk biker look to the hip hop look in 5 years or so.
***** No one has ever accused the Yanks of being original.
***** More like 15-20 years. The punk & biker look was prominent throughout the 70's & 80's.
+IAN m The punk biker look was so cool looking! All the movies used punks and these kinds of looking fellas to play bad guys in movies all through the 80s. When i was a kid I thought all gangs were punks with mohawks and spikes. But then I found out when I got older gangs just sagged their pants and wore boring and dumb looking clothes.
+Kaan Kaant (Kaankaant) Don't know where your from or for that matter do I care, but most of ,if not all of recent pop culture originates with yanks.
Erm, fuck no kiddo!
Did SKA originate in Yankyville?
Incredible documentary. Thank you.
“These were very bright young people who, if born into other families, could have been senators, congressmen, and community leaders.” 52:40
They should be now, capitalism, poverty, and racism be damned.
Did you ever notice white people don't need Community leaders
tolfan elaborate
None of those things require integrity or intelligence, especially if your district lacks people those two things.
tolfan
They’re called ministers, preachers, Klan leaders, and Priests.
Most middle class white people don't have to face racism, poverty, or a lack of education & opportunity, on a daily basis.
Most middle class white people are either blind, ignorant, or just plain don't want to know, & so don't care.
Treat people like animals, & they'll act like animals.
There's still a hell of a lot more educating needed to be done. :-(
Thanks for posting.
Damn time have changed hope everyone in this film found peace with themselves
Pre and early Hip Hop era. No MTV, no record deals, no Radio, no
Recorded songs. Just Blacks and Afro Latinos in the Bronx, NY.
Latinos of all shades not just afro
Papi Champú here we go
these were my days and I know most of these people, awesome doc, thanks for the memories....PALANTE!
I think my generation was the last to experience the Bronx being broken down. I miss it and when I visit my old neighborhood, it’s so different that its almost shocking. Where there used to be piles on piles of trash on stained concrete are now trees. School yards of garbage, broken glass, food and crack tubes are now a clean environment for parking and for kids to play during recess. No graffiti. The bodegas not smelling like cat piss. People standing on the corner. Abandoned buildings are gone and so are the unfriendly empty parks. It’s kind of...bizarre. The positive change, I’m grateful for. But a part of me misses the crap.
I love this documentary , definitely in my top three, thank you
Rip, Benji Melendez. My teacher and mentor
What's his story, if you don't mind me asking?
New York and L.A gangs are like night and day
L.A. gangs don't TALK as much.
handball was big with all the nuyorican's from the bronx
took me back to a sad time in my life, but thank God I survived! my question is where the hell was the help from Geraldo Rivera, he was a Young Lord or is it Gerry Rivers the fake Puerto Rican?!
L.A. PAGAN how was it growing up there brother?
He's Jewish.
geraldo is a pos
Wow I know Blackie fromthe Savage Skulls He is still in there.
He's still in the Bronx???
+cjbotts yup
Man thats crazy! Tell blackie he should write a biography about his life, especially around the time he was growing up in NY and started the skulls ... ,not much info on those times in the gangs besides this doc an 80 blocks from Tiffany's
hey mate is blackie still alive?? ready like this documentary
What gang did the savage skulls for into?
Great documentary! Thanks for the upload!
VERY GOOD DOCUMENTARY.
It’s 2020 and nothing has changed
Great stuff...Thanx from England.
George i met you this morning on the beach in Aguada. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video. Please finish this project and get it out there for people to view an integral part of NYC history. Bwell Brother
@Sash Lilac HI Sash, this video address was given too me by the man who alledged to have made it. His name is George, met him on the beach in Aguada Puerto Rico
It's great to see how these guys were still behind their community - but NY sadly as t the same.
I'd love for someone to make a movie about the youth gangs of 1970's NY.
...they did , it's pretty popular. .. maybe you've heard of it , 'Warriors'
@@bretsmith2492 most def I have mine
you can check the Warriors, the outsiders or the wanderers. But Warriors by far are the more realistic with more truth to it.
Rubble kings
@@ivantorres7924 Fam The Warriors was Hollywood fiction lol. No gangs were wearing make-up like in the movie. The Education of Sonny Carson was way more real and had real gang members
These street hoods don't cuss they are very articulate. Now a days you couldn't make a documentary w/o a lot of cussing and the n word dropped every 2 seconds. There was still a respect for human life. Even though they still fought and killed each other. The human condition is so baffling.
thought i was the only one who noticed that. Chedarmentos Brown
Respect for human life but kill each other. lmao
I grew up in New York South Bronx Brook Avenue I remember those days good days and bad days
Damn people tellen on they self back then to lol
Self snitching is rife
bow down you don’t understand what this “documentary” means to those who are being interviewed. Tells about how open minded you are.
See's a pretty girl standing close by:
Yeah mah brotha, we tough! The zippits were scared. Real punk stuff. I killed 3 of them that night. (Woop! Woop! Cop lights)
Man this is so wrong
My dad grew in the Bronx and actually knew a few guys in the Savage skulls. It’s interesting to watch documentaries about the gangs of NYC in the 70’s.
So what in New York back in those days could you just do whatever you want and walk anywhere and go all over buildings and rooftops? It seems like you could find all kinds of hang out spots back then.
in south bx and lower east side pretty much yea
MaharlikaAWA the city was bankrupt and the banks had not yet bought up all the city and rebuilt it for the rich - whites had fled - the rich had fled and with them their tax revenues from high paying jobs and purchases - the police and fire was cut in half in some places and the departments of police were corrupt - most people in areas were welfare recipients- these are just a few of the reasons - schools were underfunded so it goes without saying with millions of poor people and no public funding for schools, police , fire departments, everything like this that crime was rampant and any illegal business could thrive if run correctly ...
cjbotts Harlem and Bklyn too
Sure did . Walk in the street with a beer, smoking a joint even through the 80s.;
Those young dudes in that gym were so dynamic in their speaking! Some people really have that leadership quality! It's just amazing to see it in young ppl!
Tupac was like that.
Young and fierce.....
Just around the wing energy but was so gifted!
So Cyrus in the movie The Warriors was based on Cornell Benjamin? I didn't realize that the movie was based on some actual events.
i know...7 years later but...
No, that's wrong. The Warriors was written in 1965, years before Benji's death and the gang meeting. It's two similar things being conflated as connected when in fact they are not.
Thanks for making this.
That teacher that started her filming was a Fn saint!
Thank you for this jewel of a documentary
One of the best documentaries ever! This is the true life "Warriors". Real Men don't need gangs that's for immature minds. As you grow up you learn this and find or create family. You find something really worth fighting for. These were goodtimes and none of the youths are to blame. Government and Society creates these problems. And the youth are left alone to try and solve them..... = Gangs = Family
no bro we all as individuals create our destiny. its not a black and white or race issue, but the choices we make . i grew up dead poor with my family and never once pointed fingers but instead pushed ahead and did my best to be a productive member of society/
2 years have passed & watching the doc again lol 💜💙💚💛
Yo “Blackie” in every NY hood video lol
This was way better than Rubble Kings. I liked how this doc, as compared to Rubble Kings, had more about what the more political gangs members were doing later in life to positively change their enviroment. I wish more people would wake up to who the real oppressors are and their shady distracting ways and that to make a difference you don't need to be a Jordan or a Clinton, you can effect change in your own community in many different ways, and not just the conventional medias portral of what is esentially a "money'd hero". Maybe someone should do a doc as to what these people are up to in their comunities in another 10-20 years?
9:45 is a hard bar! 🔥
No problems brother, thanks for watching.
THE BX NEED TO COME BACK TOGETHER YALL !
now this is what im talkin bout... what an excellent documentary... thank you very much.
It's crazy I've watched this more than 10 times and what they went through back then still is going on now . This should be played to everyone that is involved in any gang culture. Before the blood's and crips where out New York was already gang banging hard there where real gangster in the tristate
So true. No one is as hard as the ppl in the hood back then. Imagine this was before the police created ATF n TNT and before the RICO was passed these guys were doin watever they wanted n watever it took 2survive in the city and yet had heart 2think about the future and try 2change their community for the better. Look at the guy Blacky he said if u care and help the kids with something 2do b4 they do something bad. He really cared. Today, nobody gives a shit like that.
You look at Chicago..they need ppl like him over there soo bad. All they do is kill each other off, go 2jail with life sentences and this is b4 they turn 20yrs old. Even girls get shot or become shooters. Wish they would see this n get the message smh
There's been gangs everywhere forever lol.. Crips & Bloods in California only get so much attention BECAUSE it's California!! There isn't a state in America that doesn't have gangs.. even places like Maine, new Hampshire, places people would never even think about
It’s hilarious watching the TOD kids raising their hands to talk! So cute and horrible all at all once🤦🏽♀️🤣
The babies are so adorable!
Make em proud, Pops 💕💕💕💕💕
People are confusing the two Black Benji's. The Black Benji in this doc is still alive
song at 20:00?
Viva Puerto Rico Libre-Ghetto Brothers
I was born in 87 but for some reason i feel like i remember this era. Maybe because ive always lived in the south bronx. Patterson houses 🏘 🙌
Benny Blanco from the Bronx done grown up. Good for him.
Lol
Thanks for posting!
This dude reminds me of D'Angelo Barksdale.
Army of Ninjas Ha! Agreed
man most of these gangs predated The Warriors before
the film even came out.
When do they start singing and dancing in unison?
R JN 😂 lol, Westside story
First time watching this, interesting doc, nice to see Henry Chalfont’s name at the end of it too
whateva happened to Crazy Joe of the Savage Nomands??? Is he still alive???
why do they always wear the same style jacket regardless of gang? that clothing distributor must be making a killing
I miss the broken down streets, the rundown buildings, the cobblestone streets, the garbage strewn avenues, the potholes, the packs of dogs roaming around, the smell of burnt wood atop a rubble. I miss all of this. It had character, flavor,spice. It embodied simplicity, true friendship, freedom because when you have nothing materially you have each other. I miss true friendships. The South Bronx of today is congested, packed of people, cleaned up and sanitized. It has sterilized those wonderful feelings of belonging to a community and in turn presented a visually appealing borough to the gentrifiers but has killed its soul!! In my opinion, the South Bronx of today is dead.
I do not understand the hostility expressed at my comment. I enjoyed the broken down cobble ridden streets and the abandoned buildings because it evoked a sense of simplicity and community. We were all poor but we had each other which is worth more than the built up gentrified Bronx of today.
I couldn't agree with you more. I grew in harlem and there used to be a sense of belonging there. Even though everybody was piss broke as shit, everyone got along, there was unity. It felt as one big family. Kids would be together from sunrise to sunset. People would look out for one another. Even though conditions in the neighborhood was horrible, but everyone lived almost the same way. Now it got gentrified, which isnt a bad thing, but now you would live next door to someone for 3 yrs and not kno there name and they wouldnt acknowledge you or anyone else. Now its not really a neighborhood or community anymore, just skyrocketing property value area with a bunch of non-new yorkers residing there. I miss the NYC of my youth. But nothing stays the same forever.
Cosine Modulator im against gentrification but man the streets back then were fucking bad, cops were even worse.... shit had to change... but i think it should of changed with the community and grow and help the community not push them out and move rich people in... but for that we need to change the SYSTEM and society....
Cosine Modulator buildings were fucked because of corruption and greedy slum lords with no regard for laws or humans
Ryan Morris the fact that people are still racist is sad... you really fucking think skin color makes a different? if you did not have immigrants america would of never existed.... how do you think your veggies and fruits and food get to your loud mouth ? you really think white lazy ass people want to or can do the work that these hard working immigrants have done? NO ..dont kid yourself... white people have become apathetic,fat and lazy
ty for uploading this movie...
THE REAL WARRIORS!
Holy ish that's Amazing Stories intro music on the beginning. True VHS rip here
great moments in street history
sleepdep Looks like they were haveing some great times!!!! These people lived in poverty
Hipsters and Yuppies would've never made it in one of our communities if they'd tried moving into one of them during the 70's or 80's
I assume that's the same Blackie from 80 block from Tiffanys
When Benjy says he's from St Thomas and he'd been in New York City for 16 years did he mean St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands?
Yes, That's the way I took it
Mimi , hotlips carmen , Lucy , cheri , candi , big red , sunni , Goldie, mala , dulce , maria , flaca , bettie , mousey lulu , blondie , roxy , ruby , the savage skulls had a bad a%$ roster of fine bronx honeys some very down sisters with mad heart
Can someone please tell me what that song is, it drops at 20:19...
Viva Puerto Rico Libre-Ghetto Brothers