The Almighty Latin King and Queen Research Paper

The Almighty Latin King and Queen - Research Paper Example One of the oldest, largest and most organized street gangs in the United States of America has been the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) which is a Hispanic street gang, dating back to the 1940s in Chicago, Illinois. A reflective exploration of the history of this street gang confirms that ALKQN was originated for the same ideologies for which other street gangs were established, i.e. to protect their rights and to fight injustice, but it soon turned out to be one of the most violent street gangs in the nation. The history of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation offers a convincing case of analysis on the gang phenomenon in the nation, because on the one had this gang is one of the most notorious and criminally pursued gangs in the U.S. and, on the other, it claims to be a social movement working on certain essential social values. As Brotherton and Barrios (2004) argue, â€Å"when one of the most notorious and most criminally pursued gangs in the United States, the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of New York City, declares that it is a social movement acting on behalf of the dispossessed, renouncing violence, refusing to be associated with the underground economy, and making school attendance a criterion of membership, it is time to take a closer look at the gang phenomenon.† (Brotherton and Barrios, 2004, p. xv). Therefore, this paper makes a profound analysis of the street gang ALKQN, focusing on its history, way of working, major ideologies, criticisms, etc. A detailed examination of the history of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation confirms that this street gang was introduced by Gino Gustavo Colon in Chicago, Illinois, during the 1940s. As their manifesto indicates, ALKQN was formed initially in the Illinois prison system to protect the Latino inmates, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans first arriving in the United States. It is important to recognize that this gang has become one of the most powerful and populated Latino urban g angs in the nation having nearly fifty thousand members in the Chicago area alone. However, it has also become one of the most notorious and criminally pursued gangs in the United States. â€Å"Started in the 1940s, the Latin Kings began as many other gangs did – to protect each other, to fight injustice, and to better themselves and their communities. However, over time, they became one of Chicago’s most violent street gangs.† (Kinnear, 2009, p. 189). Therefore, it is significant to realize that the history of the ALKQN has had a mixed impact on the nation’s social scenario and it has become one of the well-organized entities influencing the youth culture of the nation. One may also take note of the fact that the exact date or reason for the inauguration of this gang is unknown, although several factors may have contributed to its origin. One major argument, as their manifesto maintains, is that the ALKQN was introduced as a prisoner self-help group for Latino inmates in the Illinois prison system. According to the community leaders in Chicago, â€Å"it began as a street group called the Latin Angels during the 1950s and later became the Latin Kings during the 1960s. Another explanation for the group’s origin is †¦ that prior to 1965 there was little evidence of the Latin Kings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kontos and Brotherton, 2008, p. 3). Thus, it becomes obvious that the exact year of, or reason for, the origin of the Almighty