Can a street gang transform itself into a community service organization? The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of New York City contend that they've done just that. The Latin Kings were organized in the 1940s in a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood to protect their community from violent outsiders, but the group had become an especially rough street gang by the 1960s, and in the 1980s they moved into organized crime, including drug dealing. But in the '90s, after several of the organization's leaders were arrested, ...
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Can a street gang transform itself into a community service organization? The Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation of New York City contend that they've done just that. The Latin Kings were organized in the 1940s in a predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhood to protect their community from violent outsiders, but the group had become an especially rough street gang by the 1960s, and in the 1980s they moved into organized crime, including drug dealing. But in the '90s, after several of the organization's leaders were arrested, the remaining Latin Kings (and their women's auxiliary, the Latin Queens) opted to go straight, restructuring themselves into a political and social activist group that operates day care centers, organizes Hispanic cultural education programs, spearheads voter registration drives, and educates children about the dangers of drugs and gang life. However, New York law enforcement authorities believe the group's new face is merely a front for continued illegal activity, while the group's leaders contend that these charges are based on racism rather than the facts. Black & Gold is a documentary that looks at the history of the Latin Kings organization, as well as their dramatic transformation, their current activities, and the political and philosophical motives behind their actions. Black & Gold was screened at the 2001 San Francisco Independent Film Festival. Mark Deming, Rovi
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