David Barksdale, born Donise David Barksdale on May 24, 1947, in Sallis, Mississippi, was a complex figure in Chicago’s history, known for both his role in gang formation and his shift towards activism. Moving to Chicago in 1957, Barksdale’s life was a journey from a notorious gang leader to an activist trying to better his community.
Barksdale founded the Black Disciple Nation in 1960, a group primarily composed of teenagers, which later became known as the Black Disciples. Under his leadership, the gang grew in power, often clashing with rivals like the Black Stone Rangers. The Black Disciples, initially known as the Devil’s Disciples, were a force in Chicago’s gang landscape, engaging in violent conflicts to establish respect and fear.
However, Barksdale’s perspective on gang life began to change following a near-fatal shooting in 1968, which left him with wounds that never fully healed. This incident was a turning point for Barksdale, leading him to reassess the impact of gang violence on African American communities in Chicago. In an effort to reduce gang wars, he sought an alliance with the Black Gangster Nation’s Larry Hoover, leading to the formation of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation.