Jousters
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Almighty Taylor Street Jousters | |
| In | Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1960's - 1995 |
| Territory | Chicago |
| Ethnicity | European-American, Hispanic |
| Allies | Gaylords, other white gangs |
| Rivals | Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings |
The Jousters were a Chicago street gang that originaly started on the South side of Chicago and then later branched out to the north side of Chicago as well. Their name is of course a reference to the medieval sport of jousting. They later became part of an allience known as the People Nation.
The Jousters most likely started in the early 1960s, around the area of Ashland and Taylor streets, calling themselves the Taylor Street Jousters. The Taylor Street Jousters were an offshoot to a gang that previously controlled the area, that gang was known as The Taylor Street Dukes.
The ethic makeup of the Taylor Street Dukes, and then later, the Taylor Street Jousters was primarily Italian. That changed by the eatly1970s when the gang, located on Taylor and Oakley, now was predominatley Mexican American.
By the mid 1960s, the Jouster's main symbols of representation, were a medieval knight's helmet, and a simple cross, that was used in their graffiti, murals, gang business cards and on gang sweaters. Their official colors were a light blue, and a Navy blue sported together, and red, white, and blue to represent their American heritage.
In the early 1970s, the Taylor Street Jousters battled with other gangs over turf. They also began to form branches on Fullerton and St. Louis and North Ave and Damen. The main battle for them of course, was the Puerto Rican and Mexican immigration moving into their territory. Starting in the mid 70s they became tightly allied with the Gaylords, and a main figure in the UFO alliance through the mid to late 1970s. In defiance of the Puerto Rican and Mexican gangs, the Jousters also adopted the American flag as an additional symbol, and like the Gaylords; took a White Pride stance. They were also part of the "Stoned Greasers" association, which basically meant that they prided themselves on being a gang that originated from the greaser gangs of the 1950s and 1960s.
By the early 1980s, the Jousters had firmly established additional sets on the street corners of Honor and Bloomingdale, Sawyer and Altgeld, Hanson Park and other spots. All these sets or branches used a "T-J" in their graffiti, and murals as a reference to the fact that were honored to have originated from the Taylor Street Jousters. One of their slogans that could be heard around this time period was, "Blue on blue, will always be proud and true."
At this time, the Hanson Park Jousters were allied with a neighboring White gang known as Cragin Park Playboys, through an alliance called, PVJs. PVJ stood for Playboys, Ventures, and Jousters. Even though the Ventures were extinct, the Playboys and Jousters were still paying honorable homage to them by keeping them on the original title. The Jousters also had a strong unity with the Gaylords, Their unification was called , GFJ. This stood for Gaylords , Jousters and Freaks. The Freaks were another predominately White street gang.
Unfortunately for the Jousters, the sets at Honor and Bloomingdale, and Sawyer and Altgeld were gone by 1985 do to immigration. Also adding to the damage of forfieting these two important Jouster sets, the leader of the Honor and Bloomingdale set, Lil' Man committed suicide. By this time the Jousters were fully gone from the Taylor Street area.
There was also turmoil for them at their set in Hanson Park. The Jousters were strongly in control of this area, until two mysterious murders in their park brought police attention to their organization. Apparently, two members of a rival gang, that were former allies; the Simon City Royals were found dead in Hanson Park. The two deceased Royals were G-Man and Rotten, both Royals from a nearby Simon City Royal set.
By 1986, the Jousters looked to be going extinct, and very few members were seen actively on the streets. This was all up until a few years later, when they were seemingly brought back to life, by the rejuvenation skills of members Bear and Omen. Hanson Park at this time was their last set left.
The rejuvenation however came to a stop, as the ethnic, and cultural make up of the neighborhood was changing. The Jousters would last up to around 1995, but after that their presence faded out from Hanson Park because of more hispanic immigration.
