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Black Disciples
Encyclopedia
The Black Disciples is a large African American
street gang based in Chicago
, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities. The street gang is estimated to have in excess of 24,000 members and growing.
. The BDs also have a long standing rivalry with the Vice Lords and Black P. Stones
While King Vel is technically the overall leader of the Black Disciples because of Freeman's retirement, traditional Folk Nation "Black Disciples" don't consider him as a leader and don't welcome him in any traditional BD strongholds.
were convicted in federal court. Three members of the gang remain fugitives.
On May 12, 1995, over 200 male/females became members of BD. In the same year, an important member of BD, known as AP (Apollos), was sent to prison and solidified his stature within the group there. His reputation precedes him and he is so highly respected that many people in BD wonder if he is a real person. His loyalty and highly developed skills are often referred to and emphasized because of the time he spent in prison for the crimes he committed under the BD banner. He is said to be a master instructor in Lee Kwan Musul, a Korean martial art, and that he developed those skills to protect the weak and the poor. Following his incarceration, he resigned from the Black Disciples.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
street gang based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois. The gang is considered extremely violent and is known to engage in drug trafficking and distribution, in addition to other criminal activities. The street gang is estimated to have in excess of 24,000 members and growing.
Gang symbols and rivals
The gang's symbols include the roman numeral three (III), representing 'mind, body and soul', and is usually accompanied with the abbreviation BDN (Black Disciple Nation). Their colors are black, blue & red. The Black Disciples are part of the alliance of street gangs but are known to engage in violence with other Folk Nation gangs such as the Gangster DisciplesGangster Disciples
The Black Gangster Disciple Nation is a gang which was formed on the South-side of Chicago in the late 1960s, by David Barksdale, leader of the Black Disciples, and Larry Hoover, leader of the Supreme Gangsters. The two groups united to form the Black Gangster Disciple Nation .The gang has made...
. The BDs also have a long standing rivalry with the Vice Lords and Black P. Stones
Recent History
Around the year 2000, Jerome Freeman's second in command, Marvell Thompson (aka. King Vel), broke away several south side BD factions and formed the "Blue-Fin Black Disciples". They have poor relations with other Folk Nation Gangs (including Folk BD's).While King Vel is technically the overall leader of the Black Disciples because of Freeman's retirement, traditional Folk Nation "Black Disciples" don't consider him as a leader and don't welcome him in any traditional BD strongholds.
Recent news
On February 27, 2006, 43 members of the Black Disciples street gang charged with conspiracyConspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
were convicted in federal court. Three members of the gang remain fugitives.
On May 12, 1995, over 200 male/females became members of BD. In the same year, an important member of BD, known as AP (Apollos), was sent to prison and solidified his stature within the group there. His reputation precedes him and he is so highly respected that many people in BD wonder if he is a real person. His loyalty and highly developed skills are often referred to and emphasized because of the time he spent in prison for the crimes he committed under the BD banner. He is said to be a master instructor in Lee Kwan Musul, a Korean martial art, and that he developed those skills to protect the weak and the poor. Following his incarceration, he resigned from the Black Disciples.