Compliments of Chicagohoodz: Chicago Street Gang Art & Culture

by James "Jinx" O'Connor, Damen "Mr. C" Corrado

Based on the original Chicago gang research website, Compliments of Chicagohoodz analyzes the unique visual language and graphics of the city's street gangs, drawing upon decades of research, interviews, documentation and collecting of memorabilia, and featuring commentary from gang members (including artists Robert N. Taylor and Jack Walls). The now bygone practice of creating and distributing gang business (“compliment”) cards was popular in Chicago for over 50 years. These displayed the organization and branch; its active and fallen members; and rivalries. This collection deciphers their hieroglyphics (ranging from early stock images to elaborate hand-drawn designs), touches upon the gang's history, their neighborhoods, and era in which the card was made. It tells the stories behind the names, bringing the reader closer to the individuals who created, owned and added their personal touches to the card as it passed from hand to hand. “Jinx's” photographic documentation of gang graffiti and members captures a lost era of large scale full color promotional murals, and an extraordinary style distinct within street art. The book explores other forms of representation including modified varsity-style sweaters, patches and drawings. Through these images, Chicagohoodz traces the development and consolidation of the neighborhood street from doo wop to hip hop, from greasers to gangster rap; from dances, bands and softball teams, to racketeering, narcotics trafficking and domestic terror. This story of ethnic warfare, multi-racial coalitions and shifting alliances has been ignored by many who wish the culture didn’t exist, but is a history of the city nonetheless.

Genres: Design

375 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2019

Reviews

[Miriam Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

My grandson and his girlfriend just about freaked out when I showed them the copy of Compliments of Chicagohoodz that I had received from the publisher. As products of the Chicago Public Schools, they knew kids who had grown up in the Chicago gangs, and they both had stories to tell. First, I had them look at the book, and then they told their stories.

Compliments of Chicagohoodz tells the story of the Chicago street gangs, their art, and their culture from the 1950s until the early 1990s. The book is the product of the 25-year history project of James O'Connor who collected pictures and conducted interviews, photographed street art, and sorting memorabilia of the P Stones, the Vice Lords, the Gangster Disciples, the Latin Kings, as well as a host of other gangs around the city.

Something neither young adult nor I knew about was the creation and distribution of gang business, or compliment, cards. The practice of creating and distributing street gang business (“compliment”) cards was popular in Chicago for over fifty years. These displayed the organization and branch, its active and fallen members, and rivalries. Compliments of Chicagohoodz tells the stories behind the names, bringing the reader closer to the individuals who created, owned, and added their personal touches to the card as it passed from hand to hand. Over 675 cards are shown with accompanying explanations.

After reading the book, my grandson remarked that he was surprised to note that Chicago gangs in the past were so Medieval in scope and behavior. He said that reading the book was much like watching Game of Thrones: the rivalries, the conflicts, the posturing.

One of the stories my grandson told me was about his high school friend, Joseph. Joseph joined the Latin Kings as a 14-year-old, even though he was attending one of the select high schools in the city. He was hanging around with a friend one evening, when the kid pulled out a gun and started shooting at some kids from a rival gang. Joseph ran; my grandson didn't see him for a couple of years. It turned out that his parents put him in a car and drove him to a sister's house in Iowa City, Iowa the very night of the shooting.

I believe that while the audience for Compliments of Chicagohoodz is fairly limited, it certainly will be welcomed by anyone who grew up in Chicago. One reviewer summed it up: "Thick as a bible and going to blow minds." It certainly blew Max and Brianna's minds. The book is going home with them.

[Jerry Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a fascinating visual history of Chicago gangs, showcasing items like compliment cards, sweaters, and graffiti. While the stories of the gangs and their incidents could have been more in-depth, the visuals alone made a strong impact, offering a glimpse into a bygone era. I appreciated the insights into how these groups evolved from social athletic clubs to greaser gangs and eventually into criminal drug networks. The one thing I felt was missing was a glossary of symbols, similar to the one they created for gang abbreviations.

[Robert Square · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There has never been anything written about Chicago Gangs that has ever been so gripping as this compilation of true stories, revealing fascinating facts about real acts of criminal intrigue. Put together with a vast collection of gang memorabilia dating back decades makes this book a must-read. No matter how much we may deplore crime, this book makes for compelling reading for sure. I look forward to Volume II."

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed history and guide to ‘70s & ‘80s white Chicago street gangs. Beautiful book. :)

[David Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of Chicago gang history, lore, and art.