Jousters

The Jousters, formally the Almighty Taylor Street Jousters, were a Chicago street gang that originally started on the Near West Side and then later branched out to the north side of the city as well. Their name is a reference to the medieval sport of jousting. They later became part of the People Nation multi-gang alliance.

Origins[]

The Jousters started in 1960, around the area of Ashland and Taylor streets in Little Italy, 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 ethnic makeup of the Taylor Street Dukes, and then later, the Taylor Street Jousters was primarily Italian.

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 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. Their main rivals were the Puerto Rican and Mexican immigrants moving into their territory. Starting in the mid 70s they became tightly allied with the Chicago Gaylords. They were also part of the "Stone 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 had disbanded, the Playboys and Jousters were still paying honorable homage to them by keeping them on the original title. The Jousters also continued their strong unity with the Gaylords, calling this unification GFJ. This stood for Gaylords, Jousters and Freaks. The Freaks were another predominately White street gang.

Decline[]

Jouster's helmet graffiti in Chicago.

The sets at Honore and Bloomingdale, and Sawyer and Altgeld were gone by 1985 due to immigration. Also adding to the damage of forfeiting these two important Jouster sets, the leader of the Honore 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 murders in their park brought police attention to their organization. Two members of a rival gang, the Simon City Royals who were formerly allies, were found dead in Hanson Park.

By 1986, due to heavy police attention and arrests, the Jousters were going extinct, and very few members were seen actively on the streets. A few years later, members Bear and Omen attempted to resurrect the gang and had some success. In 1987 a chapter just west of Hanson opened up, Riis Park. From 1987 to 1992 the Riis Park Jousters were an active set. What brought that set down was a massive police crackdown. Hanson Park at this time was their last set left. The rejuvenation of the Hanson Park Jousters started to fade as the ethnic and cultural make up of the neighborhood had changed. The Jousters would last up to around 1995, but after that their presence faded.

References[]

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• [2]

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