THE COLORS red and blue are the symbols of street gangs, especially the Bloods and Crips. And as this quote from a leader of the “Thundercats” illustrates, colors can have lethal consequences. These gangs, and others like them, have captured the public imagination in the United States, fueling concerns about violence and drug sales. Much of this awareness is generated by the media; movies, television, radio, and newspaper stories are the primary sources of knowledge about gangs for most Americans. However, the picture of gangs and gang members painted by these images misses much that is of central importance to understanding gangs. Without such understanding, our ability to respond effectively to the threats gangs create or the criminality their members engage in will be severely limited.