Attempt to rescue legacy of Cornell Benjamin, whose death paved way for peace treaty between notorious gangs
Cornell Benjamin was beaten to death with a metal pipe while trying to stop rival street gangs from brawling outside a high school. It was December 1971, and Cornell, known as “Black Benjie”, was a top-ranking member of the Ghetto Brothers, one of the oldest street gangs in the South Bronx.
Back then, hundreds, possibly thousands, of mostly African American and Puerto Rican youngsters swore allegiance to neighbourhood gangs, knowns as “clubs”, distinguished by striking patches.
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