Hannah Pursley

Word in the halls is that a gang is fermenting havoc in Hereford…a pink bandana gang. Primary members include Justin Slade (11), Isaiah Holland (11), and Julian Turner (11).

In a rather dark corner by a set of stairs, the three young men explained that the group is not a gang; it was inspired by Lil’ B, a rapper they are very fond of.

“Look him up. Base God. Swag. Legendary. Swag. Whoop whoop!” Julian said.

“Swerve,” Isaiah said.

“He is the Base God,” Julian said.

“The epitome of the entire universe,” Isaiah said.

The members said the name is not “Pink Bandana Gang,” but “B**ch Mob,” which was also inspired by Lil’ B. Besides wearing pink bandanas, the members perform abstruse and somewhat inappropriate dances, one of which Isaiah demonstrated.

Julian, Justin, and Isaiah are very shocked and offended that people are calling “B**ch Mob” a gang because “it’s not really a gang, it’s a clan and an organization,” Isaiah said.

“It’s a way of life,” said Julian.

“They see a bunch of black people with pink bandanas on and they call it a gang,” said Justin.

“A gang, really?” said Julian, incredulous.

The members all agree with each other that these opinions and assumptions are a problem. Isaiah also didn’t understand this “gang” assumption because “B**ch Mob” has Caucasian members and he didn’t think that they would be perceived negatively.

Despite being the founder of this clan/organization, Julian explained that he was hesitant to wear his bandana to school because he knew certain adults “would have a problem with it.” Not long after the members decided to flaunt their bandanas at school, they were told that they weren’t allowed to do so anymore.

Agreeing with Julian’s feelings towards the school, Justin said, “This school is extremely racist,” to which Isaiah responded, “Swerve,” almost as if completely forgetting the entire conversation, Julian and Isaiah then began talking among themselves about going to the vending machines.

Many students aren’t familiar with the so-called gang. “I never even knew about them,” Amanda Rae (12) said.

“I thought it was for breast cancer awareness,” Annie Rus (12) said.

Rachel Guthall (12) poked fun at the group, while admitting she is friends with its members. She said, “It’s like every black guy at Hereford and the ‘cool’ white guys.”

“It seems kinda silly and a little weird,” Sam Pudiak (11) said.

Mr. Jira doesn’t take the group too seriously. “They were trying to start, copy,

the group too seriously. “They were trying to start, copy, or be like a gang,” he said. Having been a former administrator at Randallstown High School and other west-side schools, he is very familiar with gang activity. “[The Pink Bandana Gang was] told they could not wear the headbands anymore and could not present their colors,” sais Mr. Jira. He extended an invitation to the three boys to go on a field trip to Randallstown to witness real gangs. “I told them I could introduce them to the Bloods and the Crips,” he said. “However, Julian, Justin, and Isaiah declined the invitation. That was the last time I ever saw them wearing their bandanas.”

Since his interview, Isaiah Holland no longer attends Hereford High School.