The Crips is primarily, but not exclusively, an African American gang (i.e., a durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity) formed in Los Angeles, California. What was once a single gang has evolved into a loosely connected network of individual sets. The gang is known for its members’ affinity for the color blue and notorious for its ongoing feud with the Bloods, who associate with the color red. Crips gang members are implicated in murders, robberies, drug dealing, sex trafficking, and other serious crimes. This entry summarizes the history of the gang, its symbology, and its evolution over time, especially in relation to rivalry with the Bloods and reference to popular culture.

Origins and Early History

South-Central Los ...

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