The BGDN has in the past made several attempts to clean its name and image. Some of the Gangster Disciples members have taken out ‘B’ from the gang’s name, and go simply by Gangster Disciples (GDs). The GDs spent some time in the political world working with other gangs such as the Vice Lords, Young Lords, Black Disciples, and Latin King through the ‘Growth and Development Movement”. Many GDs gang members not located in Chicago often go by the original name Black Gangster Disciples (BGDN). BGDN is also part of a phenomenon taking place in the army, where gang members are joining the army. The GDs are said to be found in the U.S. and American bases oversea. The gang often leaves their graffiti in bases.
Gangster Disciples Info:
| Gang Name | Gangster Disciples |
| Territory | US NationWide |
| Years Active | 1960s-Present |
| Ethnicity | Predominantly Black |
| Symbols | 6 Point Star, Pitchforks, Heart with wings, Tails and horns |
| Aliases | GDs, GDN, 7-4, 7-4-14 |
| Colors | Black, Blue, & Gray |
| Members | 40-50,000+ |
| Phrases | GD till the world blow |
| Criminal Activities | Drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, murder, prostitution, Boosting (d-queens) |
| Allies | Folk Nation, Crips, Zoe Pound, Black Guerilla Family, and Black Mafia Family, Some Black Disciple sets, Some People Nation sets |
| Enemies | People Nation, Black P.Stones, Vice Lords, Four Corner Hustlers, Bloods, Latin Kings, Nortenos, Surenos, White Supremacist gangs, & Black Disciples |
Gangster Disciples History
The Gangster Disciples’ history can be traced back to the 1960s. Larry Hoover, often regarded as the founder of the Gangster Disciples, was born in November 30, 1950 in Jackson, Mississippi. Larry Hoover moved with his family to Chicago when he was 4, when he turned 13, he joined a gang called the Supreme Gangsters which was located in his neighborhood. While a sophomore in high school, Larry Hoover was gunned down by a rival gang member on his first day of school and got kicked out as a result. While out of school, and with no job, he turned to a life of crime, ranging from prostitutes, gamblers, and drug dealers. Larry Hoover eventually became the leader of the Supreme Gangsters, and in 1966 Hoover and the gang overpowered the King Cobras , which forced the remaining cobras to ally themselves with the Black Disciples Nation which was under David Barksdale’s control. Larry Hoover would later merge the Gangster Disciples with numerous other gangs to form the Gangster Nation. Gangster Nation was a merge between the Supreme Gangsters, African Sniper Gangsters, Raven Gangsters, High Supreme Gangsters, Maniac Gangsters,Russian Gangsters, Mafia Gangsters, 75th Street Syndicate Gangsters, Gent town Gangsters, Outlaw Gangsters, 95th Street Supreme Gangsters, the Dells Gangsters, East side Syndicate Gangsters, West Side Supreme Gangsters, Racketeer Gangsters, Imperial Gangsters, and the Black Pimp Gangsters of the West Side.
The Gangster Nation’s size was increasing; however, they were still trailing the Black Disciples and the Black P. Stone Rangers. David Barksdale was the leader of the Black Disciples, and Jeff Fort was the leader of the Black P. Stones. Jeff Fort wanted to join forces with Larry Hoover and promised a high leadership in the new, realizing that his new position would be lower than his current, Larry Hoover declined. In 1969, instead of joining forces with the Black P. Stone, Larry Hoover formed an alliance with the Black Disciples which caused them to adapt a new name “Black Gangster Disciples”(BGDN). The BGDN alliance ended the war that was going on between the Gangster Nation and the Black Disciples in the 60s.
The BGDN started turning their ways around after the formation of the new alliance and participated in numerous community programs. The gang opened restaurants and gas stations and even went as far as to steer young kids in school toward the right direction. On the surface, it looked as if the BGDN was moving toward