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I am so sorry for your loss. Truly.
I grew up in the 80s where the movie "Colors" came out. I went with three (white) friends and we were probably four out of ten white people in the entire theater. I was 15 years old. It was an eye opener for me. I lived in what I thought was a diverse community but our largest non- white population was Asian. The issue of gangs has always fascinated me for a variety of reasons.
I recently watched "Crips and Bloods: Made in America 2008." It was eye opening. It essentially explains how systematic racism works itself into the community and becomes the norm. Yes there is some blame but it also does a pretty good job being objective. There are studies quoted and professors who are experts in the subjects discussed. I found it well done (if a little long at times) and enlightening.
The documentary explains how post Jim Crow blacks move to California and feel blessed that lynching and public beatings are no longer tolerated. There are jobs available and many families own their own houses.
The children of these couples see it differently however when they aren't allowed in the boy scouts (and other community activities) and form groups (pre-gangs) to feel like they matter and can hang out together since white America won't let them do anything organized including sports. Moreover, unless their parents own a business they are excluded from getting most jobs. There becomes a generational gap within the black community in addition to the growing cultural gap (inequality) in the white community. The majority of black adults at this time have amazing work ethics and feel fortunate to be able to put food on the table. They are law abiding citizens -- but their kids have no outlets.
The documentary talks about how much time is needed for a revolution and that forming gangs was really one of the only ways to "hurt the system" while being denied equal education, equal human rights and equal ability to move up in the world through jobs and finances. Ironically when the groups of young black men evolved into what we define now as "gangs" the increased violence brought the housing values down and businesses moved if they could. The neighborhoods started as middle class. They are now dangerous "ghettos" largely a result of institutionalized racism. The police force is discussed but only as one part of a very complicated problem.
What caused violent gangs that terrorize certain neighborhoods across our country.....we did! Our systems helped create them much like we create programs to feed the elderly who can't leave their houses.
We are sick as a nation when it comes to systematic racism. We are not born suspicious or hateful of other races. We are taught.
When we as a country are afraid we oversimplify things as a defense mechanism. It's sad -- pathetic actually. It's an "us vs. them" mentality. It's ignorance that's tolerated and even celebrated.
"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck." Frederick Douglass
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln
"AIDS isn't the heaviest burden I've had to bear...being black is the greatest burden I've had to bear. No question about it, race has always been my biggest burden, having to live as a minority in America." Arthur Ashe
I grew up in the 80s where the movie "Colors" came out. I went with three (white) friends and we were probably four out of ten white people in the entire theater. I was 15 years old. It was an eye opener for me. I lived in what I thought was a diverse community but our largest non- white population was Asian. The issue of gangs has always fascinated me for a variety of reasons.
I recently watched "Crips and Bloods: Made in America 2008." It was eye opening. It essentially explains how systematic racism works itself into the community and becomes the norm. Yes there is some blame but it also does a pretty good job being objective. There are studies quoted and professors who are experts in the subjects discussed. I found it well done (if a little long at times) and enlightening.
The documentary explains how post Jim Crow blacks move to California and feel blessed that lynching and public beatings are no longer tolerated. There are jobs available and many families own their own houses.
The children of these couples see it differently however when they aren't allowed in the boy scouts (and other community activities) and form groups (pre-gangs) to feel like they matter and can hang out together since white America won't let them do anything organized including sports. Moreover, unless their parents own a business they are excluded from getting most jobs. There becomes a generational gap within the black community in addition to the growing cultural gap (inequality) in the white community. The majority of black adults at this time have amazing work ethics and feel fortunate to be able to put food on the table. They are law abiding citizens -- but their kids have no outlets.
The documentary talks about how much time is needed for a revolution and that forming gangs was really one of the only ways to "hurt the system" while being denied equal education, equal human rights and equal ability to move up in the world through jobs and finances. Ironically when the groups of young black men evolved into what we define now as "gangs" the increased violence brought the housing values down and businesses moved if they could. The neighborhoods started as middle class. They are now dangerous "ghettos" largely a result of institutionalized racism. The police force is discussed but only as one part of a very complicated problem.
What caused violent gangs that terrorize certain neighborhoods across our country.....we did! Our systems helped create them much like we create programs to feed the elderly who can't leave their houses.
We are sick as a nation when it comes to systematic racism. We are not born suspicious or hateful of other races. We are taught.
When we as a country are afraid we oversimplify things as a defense mechanism. It's sad -- pathetic actually. It's an "us vs. them" mentality. It's ignorance that's tolerated and even celebrated.
"No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck." Frederick Douglass
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln
"AIDS isn't the heaviest burden I've had to bear...being black is the greatest burden I've had to bear. No question about it, race has always been my biggest burden, having to live as a minority in America." Arthur Ashe
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