THERE HAVE BEEN gangs in St. Louis since the end of the nineteenth century. Indeed, Thrasher (1927) makes numerous references to gangs in St. Louis, their influence on Chicago gangs, and the nature of their activities. Similar to other cities, St. Louis had a “gang problem” during the 1960s. However, this does not account for the presence of gangs in St. Louis in the 1990s. No member of our sample claimed that their gang was an extension or outgrowth of a St. Louis gang from an earlier era. Thus we must explain the origins of contemporary gangs and, in doing so, focus on the role of cultural transmission – the process of communicating the values, images, symbols, and behaviors common to gang members across the country.

Gang Origins

We examine two views about the origins of St. Louis gangs in the 1990s. The first view, more instrumental in nature, argues that gangs reemerged in the city from the purposive efforts of gang members in other cities to bring their gang to new cities.