Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang

Transcription

1 Okada 1 Sophia Okada 04/18/2015 English 2030 Professor Beatty Final Project Analysis: Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang Watching the series Gangland really inspired me to use their unique community discourse to analyze how a group challenges social norms through symbolic language. The reason for this abrupt change in topic happened because, though I had imagined my original idea working for the assignment, it became immediately clear that it was just not going to. I struggled to find a discourse community in which I was really curious and interested in researching, until I started watching a series of Gangland shows about the Hells Angels. They are, Americas only crime group that started in the states, and has now spread internationally to over 250 head clubs around the world, and growing. These American badboys have become a house-hold name, and are even considered to be patriotic; rebel outlaws, fighting the establishment. The Hells Angels (a.k.a. HA) even donate money to charities all over the country, making a positive public image by giving back to their communities. All of these things make this specific group powerful, and it is interesting how symbolic language is used to both exert that power inside and outside dominant and marginalized groups.

2 Okada 2 The symbolic language the HA use is very significant, because it communicates certain ideals about group identification, in and out-grouping politics, and codification. The symbols that the HA have are one of the most important aspects of their gang, which the American public recognizes, giving both cultural and symbolic capital to a deviant culture. The public image and American culture is the outside of the HA. The inside is exceedingly vicious; historically this group has been marked for violence, drug trafficking and involvement in prostitution, murder, rape and many other forms of terrorism that have haunted, yet even strengthened their community. The most prominent of the HA s symbolic language can be found on their leather vests or jackets, the leather jacket being an important display case for the gangs notorious patches. Figure 1 HA Death Head Patches are the coveted insignia that most HA members long for. Without the patches, they cannot claim belonging to the gang, and are the lowest person in a patriarchal hierarchy. These potential members with no patches are labeled as the hang-arounds and this position carry s the least amount of power. Hangarounds are the gang-pawns who are to do as their told by the other patched-in members of the gang (HA members with the patch). If the hang-around impresses a more prestigious member of the gang then they may have a chance at acquiring the original patch, symbol of the Hells Angels; The Death Head.

3 Okada 3 The most important patch on a HA members jacket is the Death Head. The patches are called rockers and it symbolizes the membership to the HA. Underneath the Death head is the bottom-rocker which shows where the member is from. A full-fledged member jacket carries several important rockers that communicate the member s power status and membership to the group; The Death Head, the bottom-rocker and the 1%er are all patches imperative to have when joining the group, and each rocker communicates something important to the gang. The most notorious patches are the filthy-few ; signifying a wearer of this rocker as an HA who has committed a murder, and the Dequiallo patch; a rocker communicating that the member has fought police. The 1%er is another example of a symbol worn to deviate from social views about HA riders. The American Motorcyclists Association separated itself from the gang by pointing out that 99% of motorcyclists were law abiding citizens, unlike their obvious counterparts, the HA. The gang quickly adopted the symbol and has been known ever since as the 1%ers who are not law abiding. Figure 2 Jacket insignia

4 Okada 4 Even the U.S. Department of Justice considers this particular group as an organized crime syndicate due to the overall violent history of the HA. But how does their language represent their ideals, how do their symbols communicate their violent nature? A few idioms may answer that question. Communication and language use between members is both coded and specific to different power relationships inside the group, and the activities they are a part of. Certain isms are used as code for something unique to this community such as; gonna get wet meaning, they are going to get bloody. Another would be to go to church which means they are going to a meeting at their chapter or clubhouse. To Get Cut means that a member has just received the biker s sleeveless leather vest and patches that symbolizes ultimate recognition from the gang. The last and most standardized of these sayings is represented by the acronym, Figure 3 1%er rocker TCB (Taking Care of Business). For most Hells Angels TCB is not just a saying but a way of life, and the business of the HA is very demanding. The gang is marked by a hierarchy of ruthless killers who are known for their weapon of choice (the ball-pin hammer) which itself represents deviance from standardized laws prohibiting certain concealed weapons, and the hammer happens to be perfectly legal to carry around; HA s nod to their American rebelliousness. The highest label to be given is President who has power over all chapters around the world. The next in

5 Okada 5 power would be the vice president who oversees the other elite member of the gang. Next in line are the Sergeant at Arms, the Intel officer and the Road Captain who each oversees; club members, prospects and hang-arounds. The gang is highly organized in a standard grading that is represented through different types of symbols and labels. These representations communicate the gang s ideologies and social status both in the larger American culture, as well as its own. One major example of how elite members communicate with prospects and hang-arounds was recorded by an undercover agent trying to infiltrate the gang on the show being analyzed; (Phone call in the middle of the night to undercover prospect): Chapter President- Get your stuff and come to the clubhouse. Undercover Prospect- Why? Chapter President- Don t ask no fucking questions and get to the clubhouse. A few minutes later, the undercover prospect shows up to the clubhouse, and like many other prospects, was ordered to go to Vegas and kill rival gang members. This led to the 2002 River Run Riot where HA members attacked a rival gang in the middle of a casino. Other examples of their viciousness include a bombing that killed a child, and countless acts of violent hate toward woman and other minorities. Even after all of the violence and murder, HA continues to be a popular sub-culture of the U.S. that has spread internationally. Although the Hells Angels are considered a motorcycle club, situations such as the aforementioned are fierce reminders that the insignia of the Death Head is not just some American relic; instead it represents, and communicates serious, violent discourse.