If I say words like “Gangster Disciples” or “Vice Lords” together in a sentence, a certain image pops in your mind doesn’t it? A certain word: gangs. And then, the rest of the stereotypes creep in: guns, drugs, violence.

There’s no denying those activities happen. But Kedran “TNT” Franklin wants to change the focus and hopefully, the narrative.

The focus, he says, should be on the conditions that leave poor youth few options other than crime. And the narrative? That “street-level organizations” — the groups commonly called “gangs” — can’t be a force for positive change in the hood.

It all culminates on Monday’s Community Unity March on Memphis, Franklin, himself a liaison and advocate among street orgs, invited various “gang members” to put down their differences and weapons and join up for a march on Martin Luther King Day. The march is set to start at 9 a.m. at the Shelby County Jail, chosen for it’s obvious symbolism.

The Community Unity March will feature speakers and eventually link up with other marches before arriving at the National Civil Rights Museum, where Franklin has been invited to make remarks on behalf of the groups.

I sat down with Franklin for a sprawling conversation about these issues. From the socioeconomic challenges that fuel cycles of violence to the ways street organizations can become forces for good, Franklin holds nothing back.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did this march come together? What’s the story behind it?

Franklin: It’s been a long time coming, man. I’ve been organizing on the street level for years. Just showing up in the community, trying to understand what people are going through, and figuring out how to help. A lot of what I do is about pulling people together—getting the Vice Lords, the GDs [Gangster Disciples], whoever, to sit down at the same table and figure out what’s good for all of us.

You see, people like to label us as gangs. They look at us like we’re just out here causing chaos, but they don’t ever stop to ask why. Why are people out here hustling? Why are they doing what they do? When you strip down all the noise, the truth is we’ve been left out. We’re from neighborhoods that’ve been disinvested in, food deserts, places where there ain’t no real jobs. So, people fend for themselves. And when all you got are scraps, you go after whatever crumbs you can find.

This march is about showing folks we’re not just what the news says we are. We’re fathers, brothers, organizers, leaders. We’ve been doing the work—cleaning up streets, handing out coats, squashing beefs between cliques. But people don’t see that. This is about making them see.

Q: What’s the purpose of the march? What do you want it to accomplish?

Franklin: A big part of this is visibility. Like, when people think “gangs,” they think violence, drugs, pimping—whatever negative stereotype you can throw in there. And yeah, let’s keep it real: some of that’s there. But they don’t see the other side. They don’t see the men and women who want to do something better.

We’re trying to expand how people think about street organizations. We’ve got sharp minds in these groups—people who want to build businesses, create opportunities, and invest in their communities. This march is about showing the city—and the world—that we’re here, we’re united, and we’ve got ideas. We’re not asking for handouts. We’re saying, “Let us in the room.” Give us the same opportunities to compete as anybody else, and we’ll show you what we can do.

Q: What’s been the response to the march so far? It sounds like it’s gotten bigger than you expected.

Franklin: Way bigger. I knew there’d be interest, but I didn’t expect it to blow up like this. We’ve got folks coming from all over—Chicago, Virginia, Mississippi. You’ve got street organizations, elders, activists, and even the Civil Rights Museum stepping up. At first, I wasn’t sure they’d even want to be involved, but they reached out, like, “We want in.” That was big.

People are talking about this march in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not just local—it’s national. And that tells me something. It tells me this ain’t just about Memphis. What we’re talking about—the empowerment of street organizations and changing how we’re seen—that’s something people everywhere can relate to.

Q: You mentioned “street organizations” a lot. What’s the difference between a street organization and a gang?

Franklin: That’s a big question. The easiest way I can explain it is this: A gang is what people see when they don’t understand the roots of what we’re about. A street organization, on the other hand, is a collective—it’s a community.

Look, the Vice Lords didn’t start out as a gang. The GDs didn’t start out as a gang. These groups were built on ideas, principles, and a mission to uplift the community. Over time, things changed. Poverty, lack of opportunity, systemic racism—it all pushed people into survival mode. And that’s where you get the violence and other stuff people associate with gangs.

But at the core, we’re still a community. We still have structure, ideologies, and leaders who want to see things get better. That’s what this march is about—reminding people that we’re still here, we’re still organized, and we’re not just going to let you keep writing us off.

Q: It sounds like a big part of this is about creating opportunities. What does that look like in practice?

Franklin: Opportunity is everything, man. It’s what people are missing. Like, what if we gave street organizations tree-trimming contracts or construction gigs? You remember when all those power outages happened because nobody trimmed the trees? That’s work we could be doing. Give us that contract.

Or what about apprenticeships in carpentry, electrical work, or steel? Those are good-paying jobs, but systemic racism keeps a lot of our people locked out of those spaces. So what do they do? They go after the crumbs—stealing cars, hustling whatever they can, because they’ve got to survive. But what if you gave them a real option? I promise you most people would take it.

It’s about showing the city and the business leaders that investing in us isn’t charity—it’s smart business. You’ve got a market of people who are locked out of the system. Let us in, and you’ll see we’re ready to work.

Q: Looking ahead, what’s your vision? If this march is a success, what’s the next step?

Franklin: Man, the vision is huge. First off, we want to keep the momentum going. This march isn’t a one-time thing. We’re already talking about making it an annual event—something that brings people from all over to focus on unity, empowerment, and solutions.

But beyond that, it’s about creating a blueprint. Like I said, we want to get street organizations into spaces where they can be part of the solution. Contracts, apprenticeships, leadership roles—whatever it takes to show that we’re not just out here causing problems.

And there’s an accountability piece, too. Once you’re recognized as a leader—whether you’re GD, Vice Lord, whatever—you’ve got to step up. You’ve got to speak out on issues that matter. You’ve got to show the younger generation what it means to lead.

When street organizations are empowered, Memphis changes. Crime goes down. Communities get stronger. People stop looking at us as the problem and start seeing us as part of the solution. That’s the future I’m fighting for.

Q: Anything else you want people to know about the march?

Franklin: Just that this is bigger than us. When we start the march at 201 [Poplar], it’s not just about the people out here—it’s about the brothers and sisters inside, too. When they see us out there, together, it’s going to send a message.

We’re telling them: “We’ve got your back. We’re out here doing the work, and we want y’all to get on the same page inside.” It’s about building unity—inside and out.

And to everybody who’s never thought about street organizations as anything but gangs: Come see us. Come talk to us. You’ll see that we’re more than what you’ve been told.

  • At a Glance
    • What: Memphis March led by street organizations
    • When: Monday, January 20, 2025
    • Where: Starting at 201 Poplar, ending at the National Civil Rights Museum
    • Purpose: To challenge stereotypes about street organizations, build unity, and advocate for economic opportunities and social empowerment
    • Momentum: Support from local and national street organizers, civil rights leaders, and community advocates