Prison Tattoos
The most common Aryan Brotherhood tattoos include combinations of three-leaf clovers, a swastika, the letters A and B and three 6s. View more tattoos and their meanings. In order to hide gang affiliations from prison guards, many gang members hide these tattoos under other elaborate tattoos. Prison officials require at least one more indication of gang involvement besides tattoos.
In an article that appeared in the Houston Chronicle, Sammy Buentello, the chief expert on prison gangs for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, says that there are 10 major gangs operating inside the Texas prison system, including the Aryan Brotherhood, with about 425 members; the Mexican Mafia, the largest with an estimated membership of more than 1,400; the Texas Syndicate, another Hispanic group whose membership is estimated at 800; and the predominantly black Bloods, with about 170 members, and Crips, with about 660 members."
Not all white power tattoos advocate violence against African Americans. Some tattoos are a celebration of white heritage and signify white pride. (see Celtic cross at left.)
Find out more about prison gangs and hate groups in America on the following websites.
Anti-Defamation League Racist Groups in Prison Report
Learn more about tattoos and their meanings at this website.
Online Newshour Transcript: Prison Gangs
Betty Ann Bowser interviews two members of the Aryan Brotherhood and investigates prison gangs in Texas after the murder of James Byrd, Jr. -- November 19, 1998
Hate on Display
The Anti-Defamation League has pulled together this visual database of extremist symbols, logos and tattoos. Click on the image to find out what the symbol means.
Tolerance.org's US Map of Hate Groups
The Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project counted 676 active hate groups in the United States in 2001. All hate groups have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. Click on a state to find out how many hate groups exist there. Interesting Fact: Only Maine has no hate-based groups identified within its borders.
Deciphering Hidden Meanings
Face Tattoos
"SWP" stands for Supreme White Power. Facial tattoos show a strong commitment to a philosophy.
Maltese Cross
Hitler added a Nazi Swastika to the center of the Maltese Cross and adopted it as a symbol of the Third Reich. Today, the cross with or without Swastika is used to show allegiance to Hitler.
Earning One's Bolts
Bolts are earned by committing a violent act on a minority. Colored bolts can symbolize a murder. This tattoo is filled with six skulls, perhaps to represent the number of years spent in prison.
The Eighth Letter
A skinhead warrior and Confederate flag states racial philosophy. H is the eighth letter in the alphabet, and "88" is code among Neo-Nazis for "Heil Hitler".
Peckerwood
"Peckerwood" was first used by Civil War slaves to describe lower class whites. Today, it is a common white tattoo used to show racial pride. "Featherwood" is used by women.
A Composition of Tattoos
This inmate adorns his back with several tattoos: "SWP" for "Supreme White Power"; the words "Down" and "Wood, both white pride symbols; double lightning bolts; and in the center, a Swastika.
SWP Variation
This inmate punctuates his "SWP" or "Supreme White Power" tattoo with Swastikas to reinforce his racial philosophy.
88
"88" is used by Neo-Nazis as shorthand for "Heil Hitler" because H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
War Birds
War Birds are earned by participating in a racial riot.
Hidden Tattoos
Not all tattoos are meant to be seen. This inmate has scrawled Swastikas and "Insane" inside his lower lip.
Pictures and text courtesy of Ken Whitley, copyright © 2002