The Folks Nation is an alliance of street gangs originating in Chicago, established in 1978.  The alliance has since spread throughout the United States, particularly the Midwest region of the United States. They are rivals of the People Nation.

Formation
The Folks Nation was formed on November 11, 1978, within the confines of the Stateville Correctional Center. Larry Hoover, the chairman of the Gangster Disciple Nation, created the idea for the alliance and persuaded many leaders of large black, white, and Latino gangs from Chicago to join. Soon after its formation, the People Nation was formed to counter the Folks alliance.

Symbols 
Folks Nation symbols include the Star of David, horns, a die with 6 dots facing forward, the digit 6, a devil's tail, a pitchfork, a heart with horns, a heart with wings, the digit 3, three dots, a symbol representing the power, unity and ubiquity of the third world proletariat (digit 3 within a circle with a horizontal curved line through it), the digit 2 (used by the Insane Deuce Nation), the digit 4 (used by Insane Two-Two Nation and the Almighty Harrison Gent Nation), the digit 7 (used by the Almighty Imperial Gangster Nation), the digit 8 (used by the Insane Ashland Viking Nation), the number 13 (used by the Milwaukee King Nation), the Playboy bunny (used by all Gangster Familia nations excluding the Gangster Disciple Nation), a cane (used by the Almighty Stoned Freak Nation, Almighty Vice Lord Nation, Almighty Harrison Gent Nation and the Latin Jiver Nation), a top hat (used by the Almighty Harrison Gent Nation and the Latin Jiver Nation), a crown with seven rounded steps (used by Almighty Imperial Gangster Nation, sometimes the Gangster Disciple Nation), a six point crown (represents entire Folks Nation though modern use is typically by the Insane Gangster Satan Disciple Nation), various cross variants, and the number 360, "360°" or phrase "360 degrees", usually used to refer to their international presence (360 degrees around the globe) though it has other meanings within Folks literature.

Folks gangs also disrespect People Nation gangs by inverting or "cracking" (adding crack marks to or removing half of a gang symbol) their symbols.

Affiliated gangs

Almighty Familia
Almighty Ambrose Nation
Almighty Brazer Nation
Almighty Harrison Gent Nation
Almighty Imperial Gangster Nation
Almighty Insane Pope Nation
Almighty Krazy Getdown Boy Nation
Almighty Latin Eagle Nation
Almighty Simon City Royal Nation

Gangster Familia
Black Gangster Disciples (historic)
Gangster Disciple Nation
Gangster Party People Nation
Gangster Sin City Boy Nation
Gangster Two-Six Nation

Insane Familia
Insane Ashland Viking Nation
Insane Campbell Boy Nation
Insane C-Note Nation
Insane Deuce Nation
Insane Dragon Nation
Insane Guess Boy Nation (renegade Insane)
Insane King Cobra Nation
Insane Majestic Nation (renegade Insane)
Insane Orquesta Albany Nation
Insane Outlaw Gangster Nation
Insane Racine Boy Nation (renegade Insane)
Insane Spanish Cobra Nation
Insane Two-Two Boy Nation (renegade Insane)
Insane Young Latino Organization Cobra Nation
Insane Latin Outlaws Nation
Insane Warriors Nation

Maniac Familia
Maniac Latin Disciple Nation
Maniac Campbell Boy Nation
Maniac Young Latino Organization Disciple Nation

No Familia
Allport Lover Nation (defunct)
Aztec Soul Nation
Black Disciple Nation
Black King Cobra Nation
Boss Pimp Nation
Hoodlum Nation
Insane Gangster Satan Disciple Nation
Insane Gangster City Knight Nation
Insane Latin Jiver Nation (used prefix before establishment of Insane Familia)
La Raza Nation
Latin Dragon Nation
Universal Latin Lover Nation
Latin Soul Nation
Latin Styler Nation
Milwaukee King Nation
Morgan Boy Nation
Ridgeway Lord Nation
Spanish Gangster Disciple Nation
Crips
Black Gangsters Nation
Black Mafia Family (detroit gang)

References

 
Organizations established in 1978
1978 establishments in Illinois
Street gangs
Gangs in Chicago
Coalitions