^^^This must be repeated! Living in Chicago which has a long history with gangs and has the second most chronic Gang Problem (LA is number 1), I knew I would have to be weary of where I wear my letter and where I throw up my sign (I think calls are very easy to designate a setting).
I really don't wear my letters or colors anywhere other than on campus, being that I have to travel through the gang dominated hoods and many gangs moving into my neighborhood...I remember waiting for the bus in this neighborhood called Oakland here on the South Side, wearing my letters and colors (I was a happy neo), and having dudes come up to me asking 'What you be about?', I'm learned on gangs but dunno why if didn't hit me that hey 'I shouldn't be wearing this stuff'.
I think we need to let folks know who may not be familiar with the gang lifestyle or who think people are willing to differentiate from a gang/fraternity that we must use discretion with out insignia, I really don't like having out of town folks from NYC or FL come here wearing their para which can be confused for gang gear laughing or dismissing advice Chicago natives give of "please put something over that" or "don't be throwing up that stuff here!"
Hell, my folks are just registering the fact that it's not a college gang!
Some crossover gang examples:
Alphas' "Phi" sign=Blood's "neighborhood" sign
Sigma Lambda Upsilon's "Sigma Lambda" sign (index fingers connected to one another with thumbs sticking out=Blood's 'Avenue" sign
Black and Gold=Gang Colors
Brown and Gold=Gang Colors
Black and Blue=Gang Colors
Red & White=Gang Colors (in my old neighborhood which houses a lot of mini gangs)
I'm sticking to pins from here on out
Threaded Mode
