Crips and Bloods: Made In America DVD Review

This is a documentary written and directed by Stacy Peralta, the filmaker behing "Dog Town and Z Boys"/"Lords Of Dogtown", original Team Zephyr skater, and co- founder of the Powell- Peralta skateboard company. Though his background is obviously deeply rooted in the Southern California skatebaording community, this film takes a look at a much daker legacy which was forged in Los Angeles- the infamous Bloods and Crips gangs.

Starting with what Peralta views as the roots of hard- core gang violence in South L.A., "Crips and Bloods" tells the story of early neighborhood "clubs," such as the Slausons and how some members of these early Los Angeles gangs were politicized after the Watts rebellion of the 1960's. It goes on to explain how African American political organizations such as the Black Panthers were actively surpressed by the F.B.I. under Hoover's COINTEL- PRO (Counter Intelligence Program) and how in many ways this eliminated alternatives to crime for young African Americans males while also putting many of their fathers in jail. Peralta and his interviewees explain what they see as a vicious cycle where many African American males are born into gangs and then eventually end up in jail or prison before being released back into their communities with little help in finding alternatives to the gang lifestyle.

Stylistically "Crips and Bloods" is similar to "Dog Town and Z Boys" in its fast pace. It also uses some of "Z Boys'" same editing techniques with obvious fast motion sequences. There are some added 3-D graphics that are generally affective but do get borderline cheesy at times, particularly when there are computer generated images of red and blue bandanas waving in the breeze. The interviews range from current Blood and Crip members to former senator and 1960's anti- war/anti- poverty organized Tom Hayden, as well as interviews with former gang members, social workers, parents of gang violence victims, and members of the Nation Of Islam. Perhaps the most articulate and moving of all of the interviewees is Kumasi, a former member of the Slausons Club, who became a political and community organizer. He mastefully articulates the social and economic conditions that gang members grow up in and how desperately they need alternatives to violence.

While the film is expectedly disturbing at several points, Peralta artfully shows meaningful insight into why Bloods and Crips continue to exist, while also telling the inspiring stories of a few people who were able to move beyond a violent lifestyle and use their experiences to make meaningful changes in their communities. While "Crips and "Bloods" does take an idealistic look at the problems and how they can be solved, nothing in the film is sugar coated. The overwhelming severity of gang violence is talked about thoroughly and no one is made out to be a superhero or without faults. Peralta has managed to make a serious political documentary which exposes an issue that Americans all too often ignore.

www.cripsandbloodsmovie.com



-Ditch-