In the early 1940s Skeiks and Shebas had migrated to the Maxwell Street Market area of the Near West Side neighborhood to assist newly arrived black southerners facing terrible discrimination as they settled along Halsted Street.īeginning in the very early 1940s, a new surge of black migration came to Chicago as the war industry opened up several jobs for Americans.

These two gangs often acted as syndicates and fought against other black gangs or even white gangs. The oldest significant black street gangs in Chicago were the “Dirty Sheiks” and the “Wailing Shebas” that date back to deep into the early 20 th century before the year 1927 on the south side of Chicago. Many say the Vice Lords have origins that date all the way back to the 1940s, however, this does not mean any part of the nation was founded back in the 40s, it just means that members of older gangs ended up flipping to Vice Lords in later years and that many of the goals of the older gangs intertwined with the development of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation. What needs to be understood is there was barely any opportunity for black youths on the west side of Chicago and there was often only one way to go. The Vice Lords were positive for the North Lawndale community and had a very positive impact on the youth during this time period. There was a time in history where our country had faith in the Vice Lords and even offered assistance as a result, something positive and marvelous developed from it that helped west side youths live better lives. Many think it is all about drugs and money but the real cause for the nation is not about drugs and money or not even about violence, but this is the behavior that often results from membership but the nation itself does not condone violence and criminal activity. The Vice Lord nation has grown so powerful because of the goals the nation has tried to accomplish over time.

The Vice Lord nation is one of the largest gangs in the United States with chapters in every state in the nation and almost every city and town in this country. Playboy Bunny, Cane, Top Hat, Martini Glass, and Pyramid

By Edwin Marion Perry, Toehold, Bobby Bonds, Ernest Wren, and Leonard Callowayīlack and gold 1958-present Black and red 1978-present

Vice lord hand sign