At first, it had no name, only a symbol. X's are applied on the back of hands by a magic maker. Straight Edge youths say they ‘X up' for a show. ‘X' became a symbol for Straight Edge participation in the 1980s in Washington, D.C. ‘hardcore' scene after bouncers marked underage concertgoers. Straight Edge youth marked themselves to signify they would not drink and were drug free. The ‘X'often appears as a part of the elaborate tattoos sported by Straight Edge youths.
