About

The Black Spades is a story of Adaptation, Survival and Redemption.  The Black Spades started in 1968 by a few young teens who simply wanted to organize and protect their neighborhood from the growing crime, drugs, and violence that began to takeover.  That neighborhood was located in the South Bronx, NY… Bronxdale Projects.

The Bronx, New York is one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation. To the world it is known as “The Slum of New York,” however, to the people who live here its home.  There are multiple factors that contributed to the destruction and deterioration of the South Bronx.  Arson, landlord abandonment, disinvestment in the community, unemployment, white flight and the Construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway.  These young teens did not know that the South Bronx was sentenced to a slow death.  A “drainage of resources & essential services” which included, sanitation, fire departments and police to “make way for something better.”  In addition, they soon discovered not only would they be fighting the drugs & crime that plague their neighborhood but they would also be fighting racism, discrimination and bigotry in the Soundview, Throgs Neck, Clason Point, Parkchester, Castle Hill neighborhoods against the white youth gangs and their families who didn’t want them in their neighborhoods or schools.

The Black Spades quickly grew & spread to nearby housing projects in the South Bronx area (Mott Haven, Paterson, Monroe, Soundview, and Bronx River Houses) establishing multiple divisions and chapters throughout the Bronx—expanding to  Mount Vernon, other boroughs, and states.   At its peak they had over 100,000 members. They were considered one the largest, most feared gangs in the Bronx.  They’ve essentially became products of that environment.

TBS New Direction.   The Black Spades have com full circle-establishing a non-profit program that mentors young people to stomp out guns, gang violence,  and crime.  This is a Black Spades Story…