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Black Guerilla Family

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The Black Guerilla Family or BGF (also known as the Black Family or the Black Vanguard) is an African-American prison and street gang founded in 1966 by George Jackson, George “Big Jake” Lewis, and W. L. Nolen while they were incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California.

Philosophy and goals

Inspired by Marcus Garvey, the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) was characterized as an ideological African-American Marxist–Leninist revolutionary organization composed of prisoners. It was founded with the stated goals of promoting black supremacy, maintaining dignity in prison, and overthrowing the United States government.

History

The Black Guerrilla Family was started by the charismatic George Jackson in 1966 at San Quentin State Prison in northern California. Its identifying tattoos and symbols are the letters "B-G-F," the corresponding numbers 2-7-6, a crossed machete and rifle, or a black dragon climbing a San Quentin prison tower. It's the most political of the four major prison gangs in the California system, and has set a goal to the overthrow the U.S. government. Because of its espoused revolutionary ideals, the gang has an unusual mix of allies and supporters.

The gang was founded by George Jackson, a former Black Panther and excellent orator who rallied inmates by speaking about the system's injustice to prisoners, especially black inmates. He believed thst the Black Panthers were not radical enough and didn't represent imprisoned black men well. He vowed to form an organization that would support his imprisoned people like a family and become a vanguard in the coming revolution against the U.S. government.

The group was originally called the Family or the Black Family. It also went by the Black Vanguard and the Black Foco. Lawyers and paralegals from the National Lawyers Guild helped write the constitution for the B.G.F., which is structured on a paramilitary ranking system and Marxist-Maoist politics. Many of the communication systems utilized by B.G.F. involve the Swahili language, and all the leaders have Swahili names in addition to their true names and gang monikers. The B.G.F. oath (see below) was required to be memorized and recited upon initiation into the prison gang.

On Aug. 21, 1971, Jackson was shot by a prison guard while attempting to escape San Quentin. A lawyer was suspected of bringing in the weapons used by Jackson and Mexican Mafia members Louie Lopez and Luis Talamantes, who killed prison guards during this incident. Bob Dylan wrote and recorded "George Jackson," a song glorifying the BGF founder and his murderous attempted escape.

Huey P. Newton murder

On August 22, 1989, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, Huey P. Newton was fatally shot outside 1456 9th St in West Oakland by 25-year-old Black Guerilla Family member, Tyrone Robinson. Relations between Newton and factions within the Black Guerilla Family had been strained for nearly two decades. Former Black Panther Party members who became BGF members in jail had become disenchanted with Newton for his perceived abandonment of imprisoned Black Panther members and allegations of Newton's fratricide within the party. In his book, Shadow of the Panther, Hugh Pearson alleges that Newton was addicted to crack cocaine, and his extortion of local BGF drug dealers to obtain free drugs added to their animosity.

Robinson was convicted of the murder in August 1991 and sentenced to 32 years for the crime.

Fay Stender attempted murder

In 1979, former BGF lawyer Fay Stender was shot five times by recently paroled Black Guerilla Family member Edward Glenn Brooks, for what Brooks said was Stender’s betrayal of George Jackson. Brooks forced Stender to state: "I, Fay Stender, admit I betrayed George Jackson and the prison movement when they needed me most" just before he shot her. Stender was left paralyzed below the waist and in constant pain by the assault and committed suicide in Hong Kong shortly after she testified against Brooks.

Baltimore unrest

Main article: 2015 Baltimore protests

In 2015 Baltimore police stated that the Black Guerrilla Family, the Bloods, and the Crips were "teaming up" to target police officers. Later, however, leaders of both the Bloods and the Crips denied the allegations, released a video statement asking for calm and peaceful protest in the area, and joined with police and clergy to enforce the curfew. At one occasion, gang members helped to prevent a riot at the Security Square Mall by dispersing attempted rioters. On other occasions, rival gang members helped each other to protect black-owned businesses, black children, and reporters, diverting rioters to Chinese and Arab owned businesses instead.

Symbol

Crossed sabers, machetes, rifles, shotguns with the letters (B G F) or (2 7 6)
A black dragon.

Territory – Most US prisons

Ethnicity – African Americans

Membership – 100 to 300 full members with 50,000 associates in and out of prison

Criminal activities – Drug trafficking, auto theft, robbery, and homicide

Allies – American Indian Movement, Symbionese Liberation Army, Nuestra Familia, Black Disciples, Bloods, Crips, Black Liberation Army, Weather Underground, Latin Kings, Dead Man Inc., Gangster Disciples, Tribal Thumb, Red Guerrilla Family, Chicano Liberation Front, United Prisoners Union, Venceremos Organization, National Lawyers Guild, and Prison Law Collective

Rivals – American Mafia; Aryan Brotherhood; Mexican Mafia; Texas Syndicate; Mexikanemi; Gulf Cartel; Serbian Mafia

Black Guerrilla Family Oath:

If I should ever break my stride, and falter at my comrades side,

This oath will kill me.

If ever my world should prove untrue, should I betray this chosen few,

This oath will kill me.

Should I be slow to take a stand, should I show fear to any man,

This oath will kill me.

Should I grow lax in discipline, or in time of strife, refuse my hand,

This oath will kill me.

Long live comrade George Jackson!

Long live the Black Guerrilla Family!