Homies
Homies are a series of 2-inch figurines based upon Chicano (Mexican American) characters in the life of artist David Gonzales. They were first created in 1997, coming from a comic strip that David Gonzales created; these plastic figurines initially sold in vending machines mainly located in supermarkets. Homies have become a highly collectible item among fans. Many imitation toys have hit the market following the success of Homies. The figures caused controversy after their initial release as members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), argued that the figures glorified gang life. Many stores stopped selling the toys after the LAPD complained. Gonzales then created a story for each of the Homies' characters, each of which portrayed a positive view of the characters. For example, some of them became former jail mates who went on to educate children about how to avoid jail. Homies also came around to helping adolescents with identifying who they are.
Read more about Homies.