During the 1970s, there were two Latin gangs in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood vying for control of the streets. They were the Latin Kings and Latin Eagles. You could see the graffiti of each gang wherever you looked. Sometimes they would paint elaborate murals on the sides of buildings as a way of marking their territory. When gang members would pass each other on the street they would salute each other with a special gesture as a form of recognition. This practice was called “signifying.” You could tell whether the person you were encountering was friend or foe based on the gesture. The Latin Kings would hold their forearms across their chests and point their fists downward as this man is demonstrating.