How did the gang norte get started?

The gang Norte, also known as the Norteños, originated in the late 1960s in California’s prison system as a response to the growing influence of the Sureños, who were affiliated with the Southern California gang culture. Norteños began as a way for Mexican-American inmates from Northern California to band together for protection and solidarity. Over time, they evolved into a more organized gang, with a distinct identity, symbols, and codes, often associated with the color red and the number 14. The gang's influence has since extended beyond prisons, impacting street-level gang dynamics in Northern California and beyond.