DON’T DO THE CRIME– IF YOU CAN’T DO THE TIME | A THUG’S LIFE ARCHIVE

“Truth always rests with the minority, and the minority is always stronger than the majority, because the minority is generally formed by those who really have an opinion, while the strength of a majority is illusory, formed by the gangs who have no opinion — and who, therefore, in the next instant (when it is evident that the minority is the stronger) assume its opinion… while truth again reverts to a new minority.”

–Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

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Circa 1972, NY– Prisoner reading in his cell with photos of women covering the walls in Tombs Prison. — Image by © JP Laffont/Sygma/Corbis

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Circa 1954– L.A. Gang Squads.  Image by George Silk for LIFE Magazine.

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Circa 1993– South Central LA 40th Street Gang members show off scars from bullet wounds. — Image by © Mark Peterson/CORBIS

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All my friends know the low rider, the low rider is a little higher. The low rider drives a little slower, low rider is a real good goer.

 

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Tattooed inmates of the California State Prison. –— Image by © Ted Soqui/Corbis

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“It’s so easy to laugh. It’s so easy to hate. It takes strength to be gentle and kind.”

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California State Prison in Los Angeles County.  — Image by © Ted Soqui/Corbis

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Circa 1992– East Los Angeles Gang TMC– The Mob Crew. — Image by © Joel Stettenheim/CORBIS

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Circa 1954– L.A. Gang Squads.  Image by George Silk for LIFE Magazine.

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Circa 1992– East Los Angeles Gangs. “Clown”, TMC member with shotgun accident victim. — Image by © Joel Stettenheim/CORBIS

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LA gang members throwin’ up signs– Left, Pueblo Bishops gang members (section of the Bloods).

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“Haven’t had a dream in a long time. See, the life I’ve had can make a good man bad.”

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Circa 1972, NK– Prisoner shaking his fists through the bars in the Tombs Prison. –Image by © JP Laffont/Sygma/Corbis

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Circa 1983, Watts, LA– Members of the Hustler Crips. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

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Circa 2008– Inmates of the California State Prison in Los Angeles County. –Image by © Ted Soqui/Corbis

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Circa 1982– Two Crips in Venice, California. — Image by © Ken O’Brien Collection/CORBIS

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Chola must-have accessories– AK-47’s & Pit Bulls. (Left) “Sweet Pea” via, (Right) “Diana” via

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“You shut your mouth– how can you say I go about things the wrong way?  I am human and I need to be loved– just like everybody else does.”

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Circa 1954– L.A. Gang Squads.  Image by George Silk for LIFE Magazine.

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Say hello to my little friend.  Diana with Pit Bull via

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Circa 1971– Graffiti by gang member Bird 1 of Florencia 13. Via

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Circa 1992– East Los Angeles Gangs-TMC: The Mob Crew member. –Image by © Joel Stettenheim/CORBIS

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(L) ca. 1984, LA– Crips Gang Member.  (R) ca. 1996– Prison tats in TX. –Images by © Daniel LainÈ/CORBIS

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“And when I’m lying in my bed, I think about life and I think about death– and neither one particularly appeals to me.”

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Circa 1972, NY– Interior of the Tombs Prison, built in 1840. –Image by © JP Laffont/Sygma/Corbis

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Circa 1984, Compton– Crips in Los Angeles’ Compton district. — Image by © Daniel LainÈ/CORBIS

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Circa 1996, Phoenix, AZ– Tattooed gang member inmate. –Image by © Najlah Feanny/CORBIS SABA

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1992, LA– Gang graffiti reading “No banging Just hanging together Bloods and Crips together” written on a wall in response to gang violence, and the ‘not guilty’ verdict in the trial of police officers accused of beating Rodney King. –Image by © Joseph Sohm/Visions of America/Corbis

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“I saw my hometown burning that day.  Can’t we all… just… get along?”

–Rodney King

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Uncredited quotes by Steven Patrick Morrissey

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LA GANG LIFE | DICKIES, THUGS & GUNS THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF ROBERT YAGER

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