Graffiti
The Newspaper of the Streets
by Janene Rae, Director, Off the Wall
(Salt Lake City Graffiti Abatement)
Graffiti is done by members from traditional gangs, as well
as by graffiti writers called taggers. To leave their mark,
gang members use spray paint, wide-tipped markers, and even
scratch (etch) glass with sharp objects.
Gang Graffiti
To claim their turf, gangs mark their neighborhoods with graffiti.
They leave their mark on fences, schools, sidewalks, walls
and even homes. Primary gang hangouts are usually heavily
covered with graffiti, including streets and street signs.
Sometimes, little rival gang graffiti exists, because rival
gangs will not risk getting caught or are outnumbered at these
primary locations.
Different types of gangs create
different types of graffiti. Typically, graffiti will include
the name of the gang, nicknames of the members of the gang,
slogans or symbols exclusive to the gang, the territory claimed,
and even the names of affiliated gangs. Graffiti also includes
threats and challenges to rival gangs. In addition, graffiti
can be used to show disrespect for rivals. Because members
of different gangs often live in close proximity to one another,
graffiti can provoke confrontations. When graffiti is not
cleaned up immediately, it will multiply as different gangs
cross out rivals and add their own graffiti messages.
Gangs use graffiti to gain
recognition or to express the identity of the gang. Gang members
are motivated to put up graffiti because it reflects their
loyalty to the gang. In some cases, new gang members or associates
may be ordered by their gang to put up graffiti to show their
worthiness to join, and to prove that they are "down
for" (loyal to) the gang. Gang members often use nicknames
to identify each other, and it is common for these names to
show up on graffiti "roll calls" or "placas."
Graffiti is used to promote or enhance the names and reputations
of the gang and gang members. In some cases, gang members
use graffiti to brag about crimes they have committed. It
is also not uncommon to find graffiti at the scene of a burglary
or other crime.
Graffiti Specifics
Street gangs use their own language to communicate with one
another through graffiti. This language includes common numbers,
letters, words or phrases which are easily understood on the
streets. The name of the gang is usually abbreviated to two
or three letters in gang graffiti. Hispanic gangs may include
phrases in Spanish, which are sometimes misspelled. Common
phrases include loco/loca (crazy), Rifa/Rifamos (we control),
por vida (for life), vatos (homeboys), jura or hudda (police),
and calle (street).
Numbers also have significant
meanings to gang members. The number 187 is frequently used
in gang graffiti around the United States, and represents
the number of the California Penal Code for homicide. Graffiti
which includes 187 is literally making a death threat. For
Hispanic gangs from southern California, the number 13 (often
written on the streets as XIII), represents the fact that
these gangs are Surenos (southerners). The number 13 represents
the letter M, (M is the 13th letter of the alphabet), short
for "Eme," or the Mexican Mafia. Gangs from northern
California, called Nortenos, may use the number 14 (XIV),
which stands for N, the 14th letter of the alphabet.
Many gang names, particularly
those from Southern California, include the numbers or names
of the streets on which the gang was originally founded. Some
examples of these types of gangs include 18th Street and 38th
Street. In addition, many Los Angeles-style gangs will use
telephone area codes in their graffiti. Gang graffiti may
also include the territory claimed by the gang. Often, this
is represented as directional coordinates, such as East Side
or West Side. These coordinates may also be abbreviated to
E/S or W/S.
When gangs make threats in
graffiti, these threats are often very direct. Threats can
include writing derogatory terms for their rivals, such as
writing slob in place of Blood, or crab in place of Crip.
Gangs may also add the term killer or killa after the name
of a rival, or simply add the letter "K" after initial
of a rival gang, as in B/K (Blood Killer) or C/K (Crip Killer).
Results of Graffiti
Graffiti devalues property and makes people feel unsafe in
their neighborhoods. In addition to its unsightly appearance,
gang graffiti can have frightening results. Graffiti can provoke
gang rivals into a violent confrontation. Gang members take
the messages they read in graffiti seriously, and the longer
graffiti is left up in a neighborhood, the greater the risk
that the threats will be acted upon.
| HOW
TO READ GANG GRAFFITI
Names: Gang names
are usually abbreviated to two or three letters, but
may include the affiliation of the gang written out
(Crip, Blood, Surenos/SUR, Folk, etc.), as well as
slogans, such as "Brown Pride."
Nicknames: The nicknames of gang
members are frequently included within the graffiti,
often in a roll-call list or placa. These names may
be simple, and typically are descriptions of the appearance
or personality of individual gang members: Green Eyes,
Casper, Smiley, Goofy, or other similar names.
Territory: The area claimed by the
gang, including directional locators (east side),
street names, city names, and telephone area codes.
Threats and Challenges: Often graffiti threatens or
challenges rival gangs. A gang may "X" out
or cross out the graffiti of a rival gang or gang
member, or write "187" (homicide) next to
it. A gang member may also write "killer"
in conjunction with a rival gang's name or abbreviate
it with the initial of the gang and the letter K (i.e.,
B/K).
Numbers: Gangs often use numbers
as part of their name (18th Street), or area codes
to identify where the gang is located. The numbers
13 and 14 are very common in Hispanic gang graffiti,
and the letters 5 or 6 may be found in Chicago-style
graffiti.
Symbols: Some gangs use a common
symbol to identify their affiliation. Examples of
this include 5-pointed stars (People Nation), 6-pointed
stars (Folks Nation), and others. |
Tagging Crews
Some groups of graffiti writers could not be accurately classified
as gangs, and are more accurately referred to as tagging crews.
These groups have different motivations for creating graffiti.
To most citizens, their work is vandalism. However, to taggers,
their work is graffiti art.
In many areas, taggers are
individuals from middle and upper income homes, whose source
of entertainment comes from vandalizing public and private
property with their art. Serious taggers are primarily between
the ages of 18 and 22. Some taggers also belong to subcultures,
and wear alternative labels such as skaters (skateboarders),
punks, Straight Edge (anti-drug, alcohol & tobacco), and
anarchists. Taggers tend to have risk-taking personalities,
and may be attracted to extreme sports like skateboarding,
in-line skating, and snowboarding, as well.
Tagger graffiti can often
be easily recognized because it is more stylized and artistic,
with fat, wild-style, or geometric letters. It usually contains
brighter colors and more detail than gang graffiti, and may
include pictures, as well. Taggers will also use the following
tools in addition to spray paint: wide-tipped markers (44
Magnum size), nametag stickers/printed stickers (these are
easily and quickly affixed to almost any surface, resulting
in an instantaneous tag), paint sticks, and sharp objects
(with which to etch glass).
When taggers join together,
the group is called a crew. A crew can have as many as 50
members, but the average size is from 3 to 10 members. Crews
are frequently co-ed, with males and females tagging side
by side. Females will often carry the spray paint because
they are considered to be less likely to be searched by law
enforcement. When crews put up pieces of graffiti together,
sometimes one member will outline the design, and the other
crew members will fill in the colors. After the design is
finished, all the crew members will sign their names or monikers
around the piece (short for masterpiece).
The individual tagger typically
uses a nickname or tag name, generally a short word which
contains 4 to 6 letters, like Choke, Brisk, Sledge, Dime,
Factor, or Avoid. The crews generally use a 3 to 4 word crew
name, such as Controlling All Boundaries, Only the Chosen,
and Superior and Destructive Kings. The names reflect their
rebellious attitude, and the fact that taggers are often highly
intelligent with a somewhat ironic sense of humor. When tagging,
the crew members will abbreviate the crew name to initials
such as CAB, OTC, or SADK. The initials are often more important
than the name, and may stand for more than one name, such
as CAB for Crowned At Birth or Choke and Brisk. Taggers will
generally write their own nickname and their crew initials.
They may also write the names of other crew members, but this
is usually done only when the group is working together.
Fame and Culture
The "fame" of the individual tagger or crew is measured
by the number of tags, by the size of the area the graffiti
covers, or the degree of challenge required to place the graffiti.
Since fame and notoriety are what they seek, tag crews are
not usually territorial. They will display their work wherever
they can find a clean wall or "canvas." They love
to tag freeways or trains so that their graffiti will be seen
by a wider audience. Many taggers thrive on finding spots
which have never been hit by graffiti so they can claim the
fame for breaking new ground. Taggers often feel an adrenaline
rush when they tag an unusual location, like a rooftop or
overpass. The element of danger involved in tagging these
areas only adds to the rush. Taggers will generally stay away
from residential property, committing most acts of vandalism
on business or public property.
To many taggers, graffiti
is a culture and a way of life. Many taggers believe they
are creating a form of artwork, which they call "aerosol
art." As a tagger begins to build a reputation, he or
she will chose a style and nickname. As taggers gain more
experience, they will look for larger walls and locations
that are more difficult to reach. It is difficult for habitual
taggers to resist the urge to put up graffiti. When they are
not doing more graffiti, most taggers will talk about graffiti
and carry sketchbooks to draw ideas. Many will keep ledgers
or records of their activities, including where they tagged
and how long the graffiti stayed up before it was removed.
Some will travel to other areas to learn about graffiti techniques.
They also study the work of other taggers, often from other
areas around the world. Of course, the Internet has only facilitated
this process. Taggers are proud of their "art,"
and will often photograph or videotape their "work"
as it is being drawn by the tagging crew. They will take their
friends to see it.
Taggers often test different
types of paint to determine which types are most effective.
They choose colors for intensity and coverage, not to reflect
group affiliation. Many taggers confess to stealing/shoplifting
the majority of the spray paint they use. Taggers will buy
or steal special spray tips/nozzles for spray paint cans to
make the paint flare, to create thin lines, or to cover a
wide area. They also alter spray nozzle tips from household
products to create different spray styles. Underground magazines,
newsletters, and Internet e-zines publish photos of tagging
hits from across the country, and offer ideas of how to create
similar art pieces. These magazines may also publish advertisements
for special supplies, clothing, and instructional videos.
Taggers access the Internet to share information with other
taggers around the world on tagging techniques, product preferences,
and magazines.
Taggers and Gangs
Tagger graffiti has increased at an alarming rate in most
cities around the U.S. It often appears in even the most affluent
neighborhoods and business districts. Community members may
at first be confused about the fact that "gangs"
are appearing in their area. Taggers, however, are not traditional
street gangs. In most parts of the U.S., taggers are less
violent than traditional street gangs, although they may carry
weapons. Taggers typically will not cross out the graffiti
of other tagging crews or gangs. Taggers do, however, create
most of the graffiti damage in many communities. "Battles"
or wars between tagging crews are common, but are normally
not violent. Two or more crews will agree to conduct a battle,
and will use another crew to judge the competition. The battle
is staged in a specific area and over a predetermined period
of time, such as on a weekend, week, or night. The crews are
judged on style, quality, quantity, and original locations.
The competition determines the best writers or crew. Often,
the losing crew will split up, with former members joining
another crew.
Taggers and gangs tend to
stay separate from one another. Occasionally, taggers will
be hired by gangs to advertise on the gang's behalf through
creating graffiti. Sometimes gang members will join a tagging
crew to learn graffiti art and style. In some states, taggers
who hit up in gang territories are threatened or assaulted,
which has lead to many taggers carrying weapons to defend
themselves.
Law Enforcement
Graffiti is the tagger's voice, their way to express themselves
and to snub or tease the people in authority. Sometimes, taggers
will strike with a deluge of graffiti to retaliate for news
reports. Many crews will meet and then spend an entire evening
putting up graffiti. Graffiti wars are also scheduled in the
early morning hours. This timing creates a problem for law
enforcement, whose numbers may be smallest during these hours.
Business owners are generally not present, and homeowners
are usually asleep. Taggers will frequently drive to a desired
location, park their vehicles, and walk to their targets,
making hits as they go. Because they are on foot, they can
split up and are more aware of their surroundings. Their chances
of being caught in the act of tagging are slim. Traditionally,
the chances of arrest and prosecution for graffiti crimes
have been minimal. One thrill of the tagger lifestyle is to
stay one step ahead of the law. For every action law enforcement
takes, taggers generally find an alternative.
There are signs that parents
and other adults can look for that might indicate a young
person is a graffiti writer. For taggers, the urge to tag
is very strong, so their tag name will be written on many
items the young person owns. They will often write their tag
somewhere in their bedroom. Adults should also look for graffiti-style
writing in the form of a piece book (sketchbook which includes
pictures/words done in graffiti-style), practice sheets, school
folders, and notebooks. Taggers may also keep a collection
of various types of aerosol spray paint, surgical gloves,
loose spray can caps/nozzles, paint sticks, wide-tipped markers,
nametag or printed stickers with graffiti written on them,
and photographs, magazines, or videotapes of taggers and their
work. Adults can also look for paint or marker dye on a young
person's hands, under his/her fingernails, or on his/her clothing.
Use of pullover jackets, large coats with hoods, military
jackets, and small backpacks used to store paint supplies,
baggy pants with large pockets, and clothing with paint manufacturers
names (Krylon is a favorite of taggers) on it are common attire
for taggers.
TAGGER LANGUAGE
Battle:
A contest between crews, judged on hits.
Bomb: Multicolored tag in large
bubble letters.
Buff: To remove graffiti
Crew: Group of individuals that
tag together.
Caps: (Fat/skinny) Spray can nozzles
used to vary the style and width of paint.
Fade: To blend colors.
Fresh: Really good graffiti.
Get Up: To put up a large amount
of graffiti tags.
Graf: Graffiti
Heavens: Hard to reach high areas
such as freeway signs and the tops/upper floors
of buildings.
Hit/Hit Up: To tag.
Landmarks: A prime location where
graffiti won't quickly be erased.
Mob: A whole crew doing graffiti
on a wall at the same time.
Piece Book: A tagger's sketch book.
Rack: To steal from off the store
rack.
Streak: Short for mean streak,
solid paint stick that looks like chalk and is used
on dark surfaces.
Tag Banging: To use violence to
defend a tag.
Toy: A new, inexperienced writer.
Throw Up: One layer of spray paint
filling in bubble letters that are outlined in another
color.
Wild style: A complicated piece
constructed with interlocking letters.
Yard/Train Yard: Gathering place.
Zine: Short for magazines.
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