Before you get to the article…
On February 23, 2018, my book on the Mau Maus and Sand Street Angels, who were two Brooklyn youth gangs from the 1950s, has been completed. It took 15 years of research and writing to complete Brooklyn Rumble: Mau Maus, Sand Street Angels, and the End of an Era. This book is roughly 6″x9″ and has 370 pages and includes a look at the characters in the Mau Maus and the details of a gang killing that happened in February 1959 in front of the iconic Brooklyn Paramount Theater (now Long Island University). If you want to buy a copy, click here and this link will take you to an online ordering page.
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There are many reasons for juvenile delinquency and the formation of youth gangs in New York City in the 1950s, and experts still talk about those reasons today. One of the aspects of juvenile delinquency that has always interested me is the relationship between individual gang members and their fathers. It is in my opinion that an engaged father or consistent, positive male role model is a very good prevention measure against boys’ joining gangs. Of course by no means is this a silver bullet to preventing boys from forming gangs, but just the same it is something that interests me personally.
Below is a list of 40 gang members from Manhattan and Brooklyn and their relationship with their fathers. Not all the boys had bad relationships with their Dads, but in this narrow sampling, many did. It is something I will continue to look out for as my research uncovers more data.
| Gang | Parents’ Relationship | Outcome | Relationship with Father |
| Seven Saints | Common-law | Breakup – father left home | No relationship |
| Dragons & Latin Aces | Married | Father deserted in infancy | No relationship |
| Viceroys | Married -mother died | Father remarried | Father disinterested |
| Viceroys | Common-law | Together | Unknown |
| Viceroys | Married | Together | Father was alcoholic and described as shiftless and abusive, relationship with defendant unknown |
| Python Knights | Married | Father left for another woman and died when defendant was 9 |
No relationship |
| Red Wings | Married | Father moved out when defendant was 15 |
Cruel to mother and not interested in his children |
| Red Wings | Married | Together | Father beat the children, was unfaithful to wife, drank excessively disappeared occasionally |
| Red Wings | Married | Together | Both parents inattentive to the needs of their family and were focused on their own needs, father had cancer |
| Chaplains | Married | Together | Unknown |
| Elko Vans | Common-law | Father deported, never heard from again, mother remarried |
Defendant did not get along with his step- father who he said was a “mean old devil.” |
| Mau Maus | Married | Divorced, remarried | No relationship |
| Mau Maus | Married | Together | Father severely abused children, molested daughters |
| Mau Maus | Married | Mother died, lived with father | Father interested somewhat in children |
| Mau Maus | Married | Father abandoned family, divorce | No relationship |
| Immortal Sinners | Married | Together | Father was rigid and over-demanding but was described as being concerned about his sons difficulties with the law |
| Musketeers | Married | Broke up, but got back together | Father had warm relationship with son |
| Jesters | Common-law | Together | Seemed to have good relationship, at the minimum, he helped his father with his business |
| Apaches | Married, husband died | New husband abandoned her | No relationship |
| Chaplains | Married | Divorced | No relationship |
| Phantom Lords | Married | Together | Father showed concern for his son |
| Hellburners | Married | Divorced, died, mother remarried | Stepfather had warm relationship with son |
| Hellburners | Married | Together | Seems to have had a good relationship |
| Frenchmen | Married | Together, but separated for 6 years | Relationship unknown, described as a heavy drinker |
| Forsyth Boys | Married | Together | Good relationship with father |
| Sand Street Angels | Married | Together | Devoted father, no marital issues |
| Chaplains | Married | Husband deserted | No relationship |
| Vagabonds | Married | Together | Unsure about relationship, father had mental illness and was an alcoholic |
| Fort Greene Chaplains | Married | Divorced, remarried | Had good relationship with both his father and step-father |
| Fort Greene Chaplains | Married | Divorced | No relationship |
| Fort Greene Chaplains | Married | Separated | No relationship |
| 4th Ave. Devils | Married | Divorced | Good relationship with father |
| El Quintos | Married | Together | Unknown |
| Hawks | Married | Father died when 16 | No relationship, prior to father’s death he was described as strict and whipped the kids |
| Elko Vans | Married | Together | Good relationship with father |
| Buccaneers | Married | Together | Described as good father, but would desert family occasionally because of the stress of providing for a large family |
| Jokers | Married | Father died when defendant was 8 | No Relationship |
| Bishops | Common-law | Separated | Beat mother, gambled, drank – no relationship |
| Bishops | Married | Husband died, mother remarried | Husband was alcoholic and irresponsible, but defendant got along with him well. Did not get along with step-father who beat his Mom |
| Seropians | Married | Together | Father was alcoholic, deserted the family numerous times, but expressed concern about his son’s trouble with the law. |
| Leonard Street Boys | Married | Together | Good relationship with father |