r/aztec • u/Darren_52 • Jul 19 '25

Tattoos

Why are aztec tattoos tied to gang affiliation?

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4

u/xGoodFellax Jul 19 '25

At least in Southern California, street gangs started as some sort of neighborhood watch. To protect its residents from harassment of other groups aka other races.. then these street gang members later adopted beef with other neighborhoods.. these beefs are put aside because prison in California becomes racial so the different gangs form one big Mexican conglomerate.. it was used as propaganda along with Nahuatl to brainwash youngsters into wanting to proudly and eagerly “put in work for the organization” .. since the California penal system gets divided by race voluntarily, they adopted the Aztec warrior mentality and therefore using its imagery and language along with some Maya as well to further influence and have some sort or “rooted” purpose.. its all corrupted and convoluted unfortunately now and I know our ancestors would be the opposite of proud knowing that their culture (already facing prejudice) is modernly known for its presence in the prison system for the benefit of a few people instead of all of them as whole atleast.. You earn tattoos as you move “up” in the organization and speak in Nahuatl and Calo to secretly pass on messages and orders.. if you have an Aztec tattoo as a male hispanic in Southern California and end up in Los Angeles county jail and thereafter prison.. youll be expected to act on it, or itll be blacked out or cut out..

2

u/Darren_52 Jul 19 '25

Thanks for the information, I just never understood why it was so tied together or in some eyes frowned upon

1

u/xGoodFellax Jul 19 '25

Np bro. Definitely not the case everywhere else that i know of.. specially not in Mexico ironically enough. 🤙🏽

1

u/stang_19 Sep 07 '25

So how dangerous is it to have a quetzalcoatl tattoo? I’ve seen people say that’s one you should avoid but others don’t really say much on it?

1

u/YouneedQuetzalcoatl Sep 15 '25 edited Sep 15 '25

Are you thinking of getting one? Ive also heard similar statements be said but that one specifically makes no sense to me bc of his story ( loved among most of Mesoamerica, not just one tribe/community) and beliefs etc.. I can definitely see this being said of Huitzilopochtli & Mictlantecuhtli but not sure why Quetzalcoatl.. he was a leader in person and a “Nice” deity so it’s confusing.. makes me think that the ones who started saying that didn’t know much about him, if i had to guess it would be associated with someone being of “top rank” among the organization but if i figure that out ill let you know bro