Cha Cha: I mentioned that around 8 years old I was kind of forced to join that little gang by Franklin
school. And around that time also there was a I guess my cousin was already in a group called the
Scorpians and that was by Holy Name Cathedral. So that was back in La Clark and I would go and
kind of hang out with them and you know but it was more like a just a hanging out group but they did
have a name you know. Then in Lincoln Park you had all these groups like the Black Eagles or the
Paragons, the Continentals, the Trojans

...he asked me to join a gang and I told him no. I don't want to do that I'm not into that. So I
go to school and it's all black and a few Puerto Ricans. It's called Franklin school it's by
Cabrini over there. Like go behind. So I go to school and then you know I'm eyeing this girl...
All I know is that when I got out of school I got chased home all the way. This whole gang
chasing me. So the next day, so then I go there and I got chased two or three times. But...
the next day after I got chased that first time I went to Minio and said I'm joining. I'll join your
gang or whatever it is. I don't even remember what it was or whatever it was called. I just,
those Puerto Ricans I.m with you. ___ you join quickly. And that was the first gang that I
guess we were involved...

You know then cause they didn.t mess with us. Not for any fear it was at least we were
organized  and plus I'm light skinned so they probably said this is a wusses way of doing
over here.. I always had that complex in my life because being light skinned or something but...
I joined quickly. <laugh> 'Cause then I remember another time I got chased but I had a little
knife. And it was just little and my mother threw it out and said don't you ever do that and
then I says what do you mean look out there there's a whole gang waiting, waiting for me
outside. But she says she gonna throw the knife, she doesn't want me to be there. <laugh>
I said look out there you be with a machete...