A bandana is nothing more than a piece of cloth you wear as an accessory, don’t you think? Well, you would be surprised by how much there is to know about the history of bandanas!
If you’re interested in donning a bandana and blue is your go-to color, you might want to take a step back before you go ahead and proudly don one. In fact, I’ll take you through a series of the meaning of blue bandana. This way, you can decipher whether it’s safe for you to wear a blue bandana or not. Keep reading!
Meaning Of Blue Bandana- Should You Wear It?
While a blue bandana can be an excellent choice for the outfit you have in mind, the question you really need to be asking here is- does any gang wear blue bandanas?
Indeed, a blue bandana has associations with the Crips gang, which was founded in 1969 in Los Angeles. And yes, the gang is still very much active, with gang members located in as many as 41 states in the US and in Canada. So, you might want to think twice about wearing a blue bandana, especially in most parts of LA.
Of course, this doesn’t entail that you need to avoid wearing blue bandana completely. In fact, it’ll depend on how well-versed you are with its history. Not only that, but avoiding the areas of a state where the gang is prominent will allow you to wear that blue bandana of yours safely!
| Bandana Color | Significance |
|---|---|
| Blue | Worn by Crips gangs |
| Yellow | Worn by Latin Kings gangs |
| Red | Worn by the Bloods gangs |
| Purple | Worn commonly by Grape Street Crips gangs |
| Grey | Worn by Asian gangs |
| White | Sign of peace and neutrality |
| Black | Neutral |
| Green | Worn by Bay Area Crips gangs |
Now, it’s a given that you might already have an inkling of how bandanas are associated with the LGBT community. And when it comes to a blue bandana, there are even more reasons for you to understand whether it’s safe to wear one or not. Let me discuss this in details below.
Blue Bandana & LGBT
Often called the bandana code, hanky code, or flagging, the LGBT community has been identifying with this code since the ‘70s. Of course, the hanky code is not as prominent as it used to be during its heyday.
However, you can never be too sure about what a person is trying to portray when sporting a blue bandana, can you? This holds true, especially in cases when you find yourself at a gay bar or have strong affiliations with the gay community.
To answer the question of the meaning of blue bandana in the LGBT community, it is nothing more than an indicator of the person’s interest in anal sex. In fact, wearing a blue bandana in the back pocket was an indicator of the person’s sexual preference for being the one to insert.
Does It Matter Where You Where a Bandana?
Now, let’s quickly take a look at what a blue bandana around the neck and on the head means.
Blue Bandana Around Neck
When you wear a blue bandana around the neck, you might simply be trying to protect it from sunburn. But did you know? A few decades ago, wearing a blue bandana around this part of your body was an indication of your sexual orientation.
In fact, a blue bandana around the neck was simply an indicator that you’re taking on the role of the male- if you know what it means.
Then again, you shouldn’t worry too much about it. In fact, with the development of apps and the LGBT community being legalized in most states, wearing a blue bandana around your neck could mean nothing more than a fashion statement!
Blue Bandana On The Head
You might want to avoid donning a blue bandana on your head. I know, I’m being blunt here. But given the fact that the Crips gang has a large network in many states, especially in LA, the last thing you want is to be caught in a case of mistaken identity!
Of course, you can’t entirely stop yourself from donning this attractive piece of clothing in blue. In fact, doing a background check of the city (if you’re visiting) before you head out with the blue bandana will do you good.
Blue Bandana with Red Accents
In the table above, I’ve mentioned that a red bandana is associated with the Bloods gang. And if you don’t already know, the Crips and Bloods are arch rivals. So, imagine yourself sporting a blue bandana with red or vice versa. How safe do you think you’re going to be in the gang’s hood?
So, in short, avoid wearing a blue bandana with red unless you’re sure that it’s actually safe to wear it.
And if you think that a light blue bandana has a different meaning altogether than a regular blue bandana, you’ve got another think coming! Whether it’s dark or light, this bandana is exactly what it is: a blue bandana. So, before you start justifying yourself on the shade of the color, you might want to take precautions.
Recap
Overall, as disappointing as it may sound, choosing not to wear a blue bandana might do you good. Again, it totally depends on where you reside or which state you’re visiting. So, ensuring that you do background research will allow you to safely don your blue bandana and head out confidently with your friends!
References
Photo by Iwona Baran on Unsplash