The Crips and Bloods are two popular gangs formed in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Los Angeles, California. These gangs were formed on different history, beliefs, cultures, and reasons.
The Crips are known to wear blue, while the Bloods wear red to signify their gang affiliation.
Crips was founded in the late 1960s in an effort to protect African-American youths from racism and to combat police brutality. The Bloods was founded in the early 70s to compete against the influence of the Crips.
Bloods and Crips were founded on different motives. Their dress code and language is different and how they initiate recruits into these gangs is only known by insiders.
Stay with us as we discuss more on the difference between Crips vs Bloods.
Who Are Crips?
Founded in 1969, the Crips is a street gang in Los Angeles, California. The Crips was formed by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams in 1969, which is today an alliance of street gangs across the coastal regions of Southern California.
Presently, the Crips are a loosely-connected network of individuals that often engage in open warfare with other gang members. Members of Crips traditionally wear blue, a colour they have worn since 1973.
The two founders of Crips, Stanley Williams and Raymond Washington made a decision to unite their local gang members in 1969. They succeeded in uniting local gang members from the east and west sides of South Central California.
Washington and Williams united their local gang members to fight off neighbouring street gangs at the time. William and Washington created what is now known as one of the largest and most violent associations of street gangs in the entire United States.
As of 2008, members of Crips were estimated to reach 30,000 to 35,000. They are among the notorious citizens of the United States involved in several robberies, drug dealings, murders, human trafficking, sex assault, etc.
One of the founding members of Crips Curtis “Buddha” Marrow was the first to wear a blue bandana, which was also part of his colour-coordinated clothing of blue Levis, dark blue suspenders, and a blue shirt. However, Curtis “Buddha” Marrow was murdered in 1973 and members of the Crips wore a blue bandana to pay tribute to their fallen comrade.
Since then, the colour blue became associated with Crips.
Some popular members of the Crips include Orlando Anderson, Kelly Jamerson, Colton Simpson, Duane Davis, Tiequon Cox Darren Taylor, and Kody Scott.
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Who Are Bloods?
The Bloods are a popular street gang in Los Angeles, California known for its rivalry with the Crips. Members of Bloods wear red to signify their gang affiliation.
The Bloods gang was founded in 1972 due to the dominance of the Crips. It was formed to compete against the influence of the Crips in Los Angeles, California.
The rivalry between the Crips and Bloods all began in the late 1960s after Raymond Lee Washington and other members of the Crips physically assaulted Benson Owens and Sylvester Scott. Owens and Scott decided to form street gangs of their own.
The Piru street gang, which is also the first “Bloods” gang was formed by Sylvester Scott, while Benson Owens formed the West Piru gang.
The Bloods was founded to protect gang members from the menacing Crips gang members. In 1972, about 20 youths who were members of the Crips attacked and robbed Robert Ballou Jr.
Ballou had refused to give up his leather jacket and was beaten to death by the Crips. It wasn’t long before several non-Crips gangs formed to oppose the Crips but they were no match for the Crips gang members.
The heated rivalry between Crips vs Bloods led to several murders in the early 1970s. Ballou, Fredrick “Lil Country” Garret, and Thomas Ellis were all victims of gang violence.
By late 1972, other gangs that were intimidated by the Crips joined the Pirus in order to form a new federation of non-Crips gangs. They formed an alliance which became what is known today as the Bloods.
Members
Members of Bloods are estimated to be around 7,000 to 30,000 and they are involved in activities such as carjacking, drive-by shootings, murder, drug trafficking, robbery, auto theft, assault, and identity theft.
Notable members of Bloods include Suge Knight, Wardell Fouse, Alton McDonald, Omar Portee, Regis Deon Thomas, and Skipp Townsend.
Crips vs Bloods: Major Differences between Crips and Bloods
Crips and Bloods are two notorious street gangs on the West Coast of the United States. Their cultures, beliefs, and history differ- but here are other differences between Crips and Bloods.
- Crips was founded by Williams and Washington, whereas Bloods were formed by an alliance of street gangs
- While Crips were formed to protect African-American youths from racism and police brutality, Bloods were formed to fight against the influence of Crips
- Members of Crips traditionally wear blue as their dress code, while Bloods wear red as their dress code.
- Members of Crips are estimated to be around 30,000 to 35,000 and that of Bloods are estimated at 7,000 to 30,000
- Crips gang members are predominately African-Americans, whereas Bloods comprise both African-Americans, Latinos, Whites, and Asian-American
Crips vs Bloods: Rivalry and Conflict
The rivalry between Crips and Bloods dates back to the late 1960s. Crips’ aggression and intimidation led to the founding of the Bloods. Many African-American youths were caught in the crossfire and lost their lives in the conflict.
Crips and Bloods fought over territories and control of drug distribution. Their rivalry is rooted in their history.
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Crips vs Bloods: Ceasefire Effort
Efforts have been made to create a truce between the Crips and the Bloods. Many activists, groups, and leaders from various communities have worked towards resolving conflicts between the Crips and the Bloods.
According to Hiphopdx.com, American rappers Snoop Dogg and The Game in 2016 organized an L.A. Gang Forum for Crips and Bloods peace treaty. The report stated that the Los Angeles area Crips and Bloods signed a ceasefire treaty on July 17, 2016.
Crips vs Bloods Difference in Colours and Symbols
Crips traditionally wear blue as their dress code, especially with a blue bandana. The Blood’s dress code is red, which is related to the name of the gang itself.
Bloods and Crips are America’s most popular and violent street gangs on the west coast.
Let’s look at some of the common differences between Crips vs Bloods
| Crips | Bloods | |
| Colour | Blue | Red |
| Symbol | Six-pointed stars | Three dots in a triangle |
| Motto | “Crips for life” | “Blood in, Blood out” |
| Founders | Stanley Williams and Raymond Washington | Other street gangs that were intimidated by the Crips and joined the Pirus |
| Ethnic group | Predominately African-Americans | African-Americans, Latinos, Whites, and Asian-Americans |
| Members | Approximately 30,000 to 35,000 | Approximately 7,000 to 30,000 |
| Territory | United States | United States and Canada |
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Crips and Bloods: Similarities between Crips and Bloods
Here are a few similarities between Crips and Bloods;
- Both Crips and Bloods were founded in Los Angeles, California
- Members of Crips and Bloods are involved in criminal activities such as carjacking, drive-by shootings, murder, drug trafficking, robbery, auto theft, assault, and identity theft.
- Both Crips and Bloods prevailed in the United States
- Both Bloods and Crips mainly comprise of African-Americans
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are frequently asked questions about the difference between Crips vs Bloods.
Which famous rappers are affiliated with the Bloods?
There are many famous American rappers associated with the Bloods. These famous hip-hop stars include Snoop Dogg, The Game, and Birdman.
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Which famous rappers are affiliated with the Crips?
Some of the American rappers that have been associated with the Crips include the late Nipsey Hussle, Blueface, and YG.
Conclusion
Crips and Bloods are two notorious street gangs on the West Coast of the United States. The former was created to protect African-American youths from racism and police brutality, while the latter was created by a few street gangs to fight against Crip’s aggression and intimidation.
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References
- Southwest journal: Blood vs. Crips: Exploring the Differences Between – The Battle of Rivals
- Wikipedia: Crips
- Wikipedia: Bloods
- Difference101: Bloods vs. Crips: What’s the Difference Between the Bloods and the Crips?
- Tabsnation: What Famous Rappers Are Bloods And Crips?
