I have been studying gangs in the state of Oregon for the past few years, what led me to do this was many things. I have had a drug problem since the age of 9, many of my friends are active gang members and I myself have ran with gangs, my idol was my father but when i was 14 he got arrested for a drug related homicide out of Washington County, Oregon. At 14 I became addicted to pills and experimented with cocaine. Same year i got stabbed in the arm in a fight and had a gun fired at me in a dispute over money. I learned most of the meanings behind the graffiti from friends & peers. As i grew older I began to see things differently I recognized graffiti and could read it and decode it in a matter of seconds upon a glance. Oregon is overlooked in this nation and the gang activity here is ignored. In a state with some of the worst schools and highest drug addiction rates, there's going to be some gangs. I'm here for entertainment & interest. So please look upon the photo's i have uploaded and give me your opinions. Thanks!