My Choice

For my choice of a blog i just decided to give you the entire series of the second set of videos i started showing in my later blogs. They are straight form YouTube but hosted by the show called Lockdown on National Geographic. There's 5 parts to the video. I will also post an additional one that i found interesting.

Part 1/5:



Part 2/5:



Part 3/5:



Part 4/5:



Part 5/5:



Additional Video:

American History X vs. The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead

             Between the movie: American History X and the book: The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, the only real differences are the characters. After studying in my cultural ethnic studies class about white power movements, I’ve learned that the values of true skinhead cultures are fervent and reoccurring in all white nationalist groups and gangs. White power is the goal derived from old ideologies of the German Nazis from Adolf Hitler’s days. They all believe that Whites are special and deserve the privilege to rule the world and have every other “incompetent” race at their disposal to do what they please.

            More importantly, the recruitment process is EXACTLY the same. The brainwash tactic is such a handy tool for those older believers in white supremacy because the mind controls everything. If you can successfully convey an evil message to a young, misguided, lost in life “soldier” as being the “right thing to do/believe”, their whole world becomes altered. These are the people that are targeted. In American History X, the main character Derek Vinyard, loses his father because of a murder that happened to be by black guys. From there on, he blamed minorities for every problem that the WORLD was having, including HIV/AIDs. While he’s down and feeling like a lost cause at his lowest, he is recruited to become a skinhead and share the beliefs of people who agree that all other races are the root of all evil. He becomes engulfed so deep into the ideology that he serves the best and becomes a high-ranking official.

            Frank Meenink, the main character in The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, has a similar story. He didn’t have his father killed but still grew up troubled in a broken home. His mother was a drug addict and his stepfather was extremely abusive. He never felt comfortable or safe at home and was always in search of an escape. However, he couldn’t find that at school either because it was just as bad as being at home. Feeling alienated, the white supremacist nation took an interest in a blank mind that could easily be reformed to believe what they believe. What both these stories also have in common is the startling realization that other races are people just like whites. It takes a rude awakening along with a simple interaction for both these misguided young men to realize this and they learn that its never too late to change. The unfortunate part is that most white supremacists do not believe this and live the rest of their lives on this rugged path. 

A Personal Connection

Personal Connection

            When I started to research this topic, I became engulfed in it head first and all of the videos were interesting from start to finish. Different documentaries showed different members who had left the gang for one reason or another and decided to testify or tell all that goes on inside of the organization.  The video below is one that I came across that is the start of a 5-part History Channel special. In this video, it showed, where the AB started, and what states it spread to.  One of the highlighted states was Virginia, which is my hometown. Seeing the ruthlessness of this gang, it made me question the safety of my cousin who is currently incarcerated and serving time in a Virginia penitentiary. His details will remain anonymous for his own safety.

            But knowing how the Aryan Brotherhood operates in such violent manners but yet in such secrecy, in the back of my mind there is paranoia that he will not make it out safely. In the San Quentin Penitentiary, the Aryan Brotherhood makes up less than 0.01 percent of the population. However, they are responsible for over 20 percent of all the murders that take place. These numbers are outrageous and only makes the mind wander more of how things go down in the other prison facilities. Aryan members are even responsible for killing guards. There is no person or official who is safe in the prison system. 

Aryan Nations on Verge of Collapse Following Judgment | Southern Poverty Law Center

Aryan Power

The collapse of the Aryan nation is on the brink of happening as the Southern Poverty Law Center brings a major scandal to the light of the public. The Aryan Compound is located in Hayden, Idaho and serves as the headquarters for the leader and the highest ranked officials in the Brotherhood. The 20 acre compound and all its glory was raided and suspects were apprehended from the grounds around them that they once terrorized, for the armed attack of a woman and her son.

Here is an article that explains the whole case in depth:

Aryan Nations on Verge of Collapse Following Judgment | Southern Poverty Law Center

Cyber Racism In Prison

Cyber Racism In Prison

            Cyber racism in prison seems like it would be an impossible thing to happen because in most prisons, inmates don’t have computers, let alone Internet access. It may seem impossible because it almost is, but that’s also depending on the way you choose to look at things. Although its not cyber it holds many of the same qualities. The Aryan Brotherhood thrives on having these skills of communication.

            When I say communication it comes in double meaning for the inmates. They have different means of conveying simple messages within the prison system to each other that guards rarely ever catch. This is the key to their secret existence. They pass messages by using string and weighted bags with either sand or small rocks. They will then proceed to slide them at an angle to get them to the next cell when guards aren’t looking. This is just one of the hundreds of ways inmates make illegal exchanges in the cells, on the yard, etc. In the messages they send, to anyone besides the members of the Aryan Brotherhood members may look like a letter of wellbeing or maybe a casual update on the writer’s life status. Looking closer into the letter and deciphering its codes, one will find hidden instructions linked to the next crime. It can be anything from the passing of drugs to the next target to be killed behind the prison walls, or even outside the prison walls.

            These hidden messages if thought about, are a lot like having a cloaked website. Only those interested in the facts of the cloaked website or those who know about it are most likely the only ones who are going to be able to obtain its information. It is also a lot like the old days before white nationalism took flight to the Internet when everything was on paper and flyers passed out.

Check out this video and see how the messages are hidden in a regular letter:

Bobby Adams

Bobby Adams

            Bobby Adams is a founding member of the ABT or the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. At 54 years old he originally went to prison for armed robbery. He got into prison and became one of the founding members of the prison chapter of the ABT. Because of the gang activity taking place behind bars involving the ABT’s assaults and murders, Bobby Adams who’s known as B.A. is serving a life sentence. Growing up, B.A. came from a poor family and living style, was rebellious early on, and was attracted to the crime life. The ABT would be a perfect fit for young B.A. and his bad habits were exploited and flourished as a member of the gang.

            “Obviously by virtue of my rank, I’ve been involved in just about everything,” says B.A. in an interview with Gangland camera crews. The ABT prided itself on anonymity early on and B.A. was one of the best at keeping a low profile. Being one of the best at handling jobs without being caught is what caused him to be one of the highest ranked soldiers in the ABT. As the time went on and B.A. got older, the values of the gang as a whole changed. “The younger generation is just too strung out,” says B.A. “They are all about being flashy and yelling things around and it didn’t used to be that way. We used to take care of our business and we didn’t have to say anything because we knew who we were and that was enough but not anymore.” There is no order to the chaos going on outside the prison walls and even inside the walls of that Texas penitentiary inhabited by the ABT. With a huge portion of the Dallas chapter apprehended, two of which being young generals, there is just a bunch of soldiers running around on the outside with no guidance and doing things to advance their rank.

            B.A. at the age of 54 is so disgusted with what the gang has become, he sees no reason to stay in the gang. Knowing a that he would have no shot at parole if he continues to claim the gang, he made the decision to drop it because it isn’t what it used to be. “I mean, had it been like it was before, I would have no problem staying in the gang even if I had to die in here. But since it’s not, I don’t see the point in it anymore. And more than half of them are telling on each other.” This is definitely not seen as normal because usually the only way out of the gang is to be killed which is known as being X’ed.

Racial Purity & Racial Genocide

Racial Purity & Racial Genocide
The only racial purity that is and can be controlled in the prison is the admission of pure white members only. Even if a black or Hispanic inmate rapes a member, he is still considered pure because a male’s purity cannot be polluted that way. The genocide of the white race in prison is being fought by the formation of the gang. Being in the gang ensures backup and rescue at all times.
When the first white prison gang started, it was because a lot of the white inmates were being harassed and assaulted by other inmates who traveled in packs and were more aggressive. Attacks went as far as rapes, stabbings, stealing property or just old fashioned beatings. Officers and administrations were unable to stop these attacks and therefore were unable to protect the white inmates. These packs were usually of black or Hispanic decent and because of this, in the late 1950s the first white prison gang was formed. Consisting of mostly bigger and stronger white inmates who were bikers on the outside, they took on the name The Diamond Tooth Gang because they had broken shards of glass in their teeth. Using prison made weapons they armed up and banded together to protect one another and defend themselves against all enemies. They started to encourage other whites to create weapons and join the gang. It took a long while but after gaining more members, they dropped the original name and started to go by the Blue Bird Gang. The gang tattoo was usually inscribed on the neck as two birds in flight, which symbolized freedom. It wasn’t until the 1960s, until after the Blue Bird gang had almost fallen off, that they reached their strongest and started to grow even more by joining forces with a few neo-Nazi groups.
The Aryan Brotherhood was then born and became one of the most dangerous prison gangs around and still exists today. At first, they only recruited the biggest, strongest, and most violent white inmates who would not hesitate to kill. This brought strength to their unit as a whole and ensured more safety. The brotherhood eventually came up with a set of rules that had to be abided by in order to be a part of it. The rules were as follows:

1. After reading these rules and you decide you would like to be in the Brotherhood and you are voted in and accepted, there is only one way out, and that is death.
2. Once you enter into the AB, do not try to backslide in any way. You are not being given a free ride thru prison. If you join the Brotherhood with this in mind and we find out, we will kill you.
3. After you are sworn into the AB, you will be advised of the social structure of the AB and will be expected to recognize it and abide by it’s decisions and orders.
4. The AB is exactly what it says, “A Brotherhood.” When you see a brother involved in any sort of trouble or hassle, you go to his side. You may not be on the best of terms with the man, but he is your brother and will be treated as such. So back him and he will return the favor when you are in need.
5. A brother can sometimes be wrong, but in front of a non-brother, he’s right. Afterwards when you are alone, his being wrong can be dealt with. But never in front of a non-brother.
6. You will not bullshit or play games with a brother in front of non-brother. Always show respect to a brother and let everyone around you know that the respect is there.
7. We take care of our own. We don’t have time for the games that non-brother are involved in. You will protect your brother, his property, and the interest of the AB as if it were your own. Your brother will be doing the same for you.
8. If you are told to do something there is a reason for you being told to do it, so do it.
9. You are in the AB for life. If you hit the streets and come back, you’re still in it. You must be willing to do for a brother what you want him to be willing to do for you. No matter where you are.
10. After a certain length of time, it will be necessary to make a donation to a bank account in case any brother is placed on the adjustment center (maximum security detention). A brother is to be taken care of to the fullest of the AB’s capacity. The donations will be reasonable.
11. The purpose of the Aryan Brotherhood is to bring back the respect that is long overdue in coming to this prison and to the White Race. At all costs. We will strive to maintain that respect.
Inmates are more concerned with the genocide of their race if anything. Prison is more of a state of survival than anything. I don’t think white prisoners are worried about the white race dying in prison, because nobody wants to be in prison. They have also made it pretty clear that genocide is not the main concern in the rules because it was clearly stated several times that they will kill their own if they are ever crossed. So even though this gang got started to protect white inmates and bring them back into power over all races genocide is not the main concern, it is survival. The only way to prevent the genocide of their race is to protect their own and make sure they get home to their families if they ever get out. And the only way to survive and be apart of the gang is to go undiscovered.
Here are a couple of videos that show how some inmates go about their gang status:

Literature Reviews on White Prison Gangs

Literature Reviews

            Bill Valentine is the author of a well-known book called Gangs and Their Tattoos. In this book he goes into intricate details about each type of gang across the United States prison system. Robert Schober did original illustrations for the book of the gang tattoos among other things. It goes on to say, what to look for to notice gang members behind bars as well as in the free world, what they are known for, what their tattoos look like, and how prison tattoos are even available. As far as the reviews for the book goes, most readers thought the author did a great job depicting what a prison gang member would look like ranging all the way across the board. However, one of the readers questioned the author’s angle; stating that all people of the races he mentioned may not be gang affiliated just because they have some of the tattoos. I believe this to be a masking technique by the gangs to blend in and be more incognito in order to remain with the gang instead of discovered and pulled out.

            The Aryan Brotherhood is known inside and outside of prison for extreme violence against all other “un-pure” races as well as homosexuals. They wear certain tattoos to show their allegiance to the Aryan nation, some of which are even done inside the jailhouse. Inmates are able to take a small needle and make a tattoo gun with the motor of an old Walkman. Some of the noticeable tattoos would be an Irish three-leaf clover with a six in each leaf and the letters “AB” under it. There is also a hawk holding a rose up in one claw, with the phrase “Sinn Fein” under it. This means “we ourselves” in Irish. A bald eagle behind a shield, swastika on its tail feathers, and a banner across the bottom with Aryan Brotherhood on it surrounded by a border design with the 3 leaf clover mentioned before above the whole picture with an “A” to the left of it and a “B” to the right of it is another known tattoo which is more elaborate. One of the more simple tattoos would be a 3-leaf clover with the initials A.B.H., one in each leaf, and a swastika in the background. The book also lists all 11 rules that are required to join the brotherhood.

            There is also an article from a newspaper publication called “Denver Westward News” available online. Back in February of 2011 they published an article entitled “Raped & extorted by a prison gang, Scott Howard was called a ‘drama queen’ by correctional officers.” The information shared in this article went on to discuss that this openly gay man, Scott Howard had been repeatedly harassed and raped by the 211 crew which is a white supremacist prison gang located in Colorado for his whole 2 year stretch done in prison. When writing to the board of the prison asking for help, they did nothing to protect him. They only told him that he should expect to be targeted by one gang or another because he was openly gay. His story was finally heard upon his release from prison and he was actually taken seriously.

There is also this video that I found on how correctional officers go about finding prison gang members…

The History of White Nationalist Prison Gangs

A prison gang is a term to denote any type of gang related activity that occurs behind bars with inmates. Correctional Officers (or CO’s) refer to prison gangs as STG’s or Security Threat Groups. This is basically because gangs are created and stick together for their own protection and survival. Prison gangs are responsible for most of the violence that occurs in prison such as kidnapping, prostitution, assaults, and even murders. They are also responsible for any tobacco, alcohol or drug trade that occurs behind bars and can even be capable of laundering money from outside gangs.

The Aryan Brotherhood is one of the first white supremacist gangs created behind bars way back in 1964 in San Quentin Prison amongst a group of Irish men. They created what they call “The Brand” which is a symbol showing that you are a member of the brotherhood. It consists of a shamrock, a swastika, and the number 666. They have a history of extreme violence and it is believed to be because they were established late amongst the many black and Hispanic gangs already in existence; so they felt they had to make their presence known. Their ruthlessness led them to be the most heavily targeted gang in the federal prison systems in the 1990s. Most of the main members or leaders have been apprehended and moved to “super-max” control unit prisons at the state as well as the federal level, or transferred to Pelican Bay into a Security Housing Unit. Once this happened a newer white supremacists gang arrived by the name of the Nazi Lowriders. Known as the NLR, the Nazi Lowriders are affiliated with members originally from the Antelope Valley and are coincidentally known to accept light-skinned or Caucasian identified Hispanic members, which shows that the one drop rule may not be of strong belief to them. This also shows what prison gangs do in order to adapt, survive, and strengthen their numbers.

The Aryan brotherhood, as well as most other prison gangs are known to have different chapters around the United States as well. Standing among the original chapter, there is the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, which is located across the Texas prison system. There is Dead Man Incorporated, which is known as DMI. This group was found in the Maryland Correctional System and it also has branches throughout the United States. There is the Aryan Circle, which is a white supremacist group affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas as well as the KKK. The Confederate Knights of America is a white supremacist gang in Texas also affiliated with the KKK as well as the Aryan nation. European Kindred is the name of a white supremacist gang founded in Oregon and they are affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood and the Klu Klux Klan as well.

The reason for all of these gang creations and alliances is simple. Prison is a dangerous place and strength lies within numbers. Most members only join in a desperate attempt to survive their sentence.

Intro To Lockdown

My name is Deonta and I will be blogging about prison gangs and religious hate that happens within the prison system. I am blogging for my class about white power movements and all of my posts will be directly correlated with the readings that we have. It is my job to share my point of view on white nationalist movements in today's world as well as the prison system. I am in no way a white nationalist and don't support the movements but I will be trying to bring both sides as well as trying to make sense and understand motives of white nationalism.