the Black Guerrilla Family (also known as the Black Family or the Black Vanguard) was founded in 1966 by George Jackson while he was in San Quentin. The gang is mostly a politically oriented gang established as an African-American Marxist revolutionary organization. It was founded with the goals of eradicating racism, maintaining dignity in prison and overthrowing the United States government. Mainly because of the last goal, the group is extremely antigovernment and anti-official.

The Black Guerrilla Family has a very active working relationship with La Nuestra Familia. Some members of the gang have had ties with the Black Liberation Army, Symbionese Liberation Army, and the Weather Underground organization.

Symbols

Symbols of the gang can be found in the members tattoos. Crossed sabers, machetes, rifles and shotgun are common tattoos. Also the depiction of a black dragon overtaking a prison, a prison tower or prisoner guard.