Documentary Analysis: Gangs In America

Made in America
The Movie, Crips and Bloods: Made in America, is a documentary that informs people outside of the projects of LA, just what life looks like from an insider’s perspective. Many people don’t understand gangs and what it is that started the huge uprising of them. Growing up in the projects and being turned away from many youth groups took a large psychological toll on many of the kids growing up in LA in the 60’s. Instead of Boy Scouts, and other youth groups, the youth turned to making groups that eventually resulted in gangs. Not only were they turned away from youth groups but also unfairly treated by authority, which triggered African Americans to search for more of a sense of belonging. Gangs started small and seemingly
In an article comprised of many different sources called “The Cycle of Violence: Intergenerational Violence,” Lila Stansup discusses how cycles of violence are created. In her article she quotes Fagan who said, “Various types of violence…even witnessing violence: may influence the growing child, to believe that that violence is normal (Stansup 2007). This just goes to show that when introduced to violence it is easier for children to accept and engage in violent acts of their own. This also makes gangs seem normal and more appealing to the youth especially when it is all they have ever known and seen. The movie talks about how when someone is paying for your meals and taking you under their wing you basically have to do whatever they ask of you. Often times what older gang members would ask of you was to do something that members of the gang would commit. Children are almost pushed into these violent acts because they have no other choice. If they were to say no then they may risk the food that is put on their table or the roof they live under. So not only witnessing these acts of violence but engaging in the violent acts themselves even if they had no desire to forces the youth into a cycle that has been extremely hard to break away from. This phenomenon is further discussed in an online source called “Why Do Youth Join Gangs?” compiled by Shay Bilchik. Bilchik quoted many other people in his piece such as Johnstone and Moore. “In some communities, youth are intensively recruited or coerced into gangs (Johnstone, 1983). They seemingly have no choice. A few are virtually born into gangs as a result of neighborhood traditions and their parents ' earlier gang participation or involvement in criminal activity” (Moore, 1978). This goes to show that what Peralta discussed in his movie is