[omega4179]

To me its:

“Dudes”=white punks or young guys
“Dude,” a term of endearment
“A Dude” Its a Dude, not a chick.

[SeekAndFind]

Evander Berry Wall, a New York socialite, was dubbed "King of the Dudes." He is pictured (1888) in the New York American at the time of the "battle of the Dudes".