The Crips are a primarily African-American alliance of street gangs that are based in the coastal regions of Southern California.
Crips, street gang based in Los Angeles that is involved in various illegal activities, notably drug dealing, theft, extortion, and murder. The group, which is largely African American, is traditionally associated with the color blue. The Crips gained national attention for their bitter rivalry with the Bloods. The gang’s origins are disputed.
The continued list of Crips street gangs encompasses a wide variety of different identities which are the result of decades of internal conflict between its subsets or "sets". The history of the Crips family of identities can be traced back to the original Crips gang founded at John C. Fremont High School in Florence.
Crips gang members are implicated in murders, robberies, drug dealing, sex trafficking, and other serious crimes. This article summarizes the history of the gang, its symbology, and its evolution over time, especially in relation to rivalry with the Bloods and reference to popular culture.
Despite the fact that these gangs embraced the Crip name, they often remained independent and continued to have their own leadership and members. Many of these Crip subsets were in conflict with one another due to the independent nature of several of these gangs.
Originating in Los Angeles during the late 1960s and early 1970s, these rival gangs have profoundly shaped the social fabric of American cities. Their presence extends far beyond street corners, influencing music, fashion, language, and public policy in ways both visible and invisible.
It's forbidden for a Crip to wear red — the color traditionally associated with the Bloods — and after being initiated into the Crips and becoming a full member, one of the most widely respected ways to prove loyalty is by "drinking milk."
Crip* is a practice-based, experimental collaboration that draws upon points of connection between artistic practice and critical thought—understanding the need to address both how cripistemologies are shaped pedagogically and how they are disseminated publicly.