Herbert C. Covey is a Field Instructor for the Colorado Department of Human Services, and a part-time Instructor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has authored or co-authored seven earlier books, including Street Gangs Throughout the World (2003) and Images of Older People in Western Art and Society (Praeger, 1991). His current research focuses on methamphetamine addiction, production, treatment and the resulting threats to family and child welfare.

Provides a comprehensive glossary of street literacy terms

This book provides a concise and engaging examination of the subculture of the Crips and Bloods-the notorious street gangs that started in Los Angeles, but have now spread throughout the United States.Despite the dangers and harsh realities intrinsic to street life and criminal activity, the no-holds-barred lifestyle of gangs continues to interest mainstream America. This provocative book provides an insider's look into the subculture of two of the most notorious street gangs-the Crips and the Bloods.Crips and Bloods: A Guide to an American Subculture traces the evolution of the two gangs, covering their origins in South Central Los Angeles to the organizations' current presence throughout the United States. The author analyzes the ways in which the gang subculture is created, promoted, and perpetuated; shows how the groups currently recruit their members; and explores the ways Crip and Blood culture has expanded beyond the gangs into the larger mainstream society.