Young Nomads Vest

This Young Nomads vest represents the regalia of the late 1960s and early 1970s Bronx gangs. This vest belonged to a “junior” member of the Savage Nomads. Gangs created colors for these kids, usually younger siblings, to show that the official gangs protected them. Other junior groups that existed included the Junior Reapers (Bronx Reapers) and the Baby Spades (Black Spades.) These gangs decorated jeans jackets with their insignia, or “colors,” to identify themselves because leather jackets were too expensive. 

The Savage Nomads were a mostly Puerto Rican and African-American street gang started in the South Bronx during the late 1960s, gaining popularity in the 1970s. The Savage Nomads were alleged to be involved in numerous small crime activities in the New York City area.

Afrika Bambaataa (Lance Taylor, b. 1957) belonged to the Black Spades and became one of its most influential leaders. Bambaataa grew tired of the local gang violence and established the Zulu Nation as a kind of musical Hip-Hop collective to provide positivity and unity in the Bronx community. He accepted donations of gang members’ colors as a symbol of their commitment to his Hip-Hop movement. Under his influence, fighting once carried out by fists, guns, and physical violence was accomplished with microphones and turntables, and it was carried out by Hip-Hop “crews,” not gangs.