From MyraMyra
About 30 young people gathered at Rainier Beach Community Center last Saturday night for a free community screening of Crips and Bloods: Made in America.
Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator Jeron Gates explained how the problems with gang violence in Seattle can be traced back to the Bloods and Crips in California – two of the most deadliest gangs in America’ s history.
The film detailed how African-Americans moved from the Southern United States to California in order to escape Jim Crow laws and find economic opportunity.
Later, the collapse of industry-based jobs and increased tensions with the Los Angeles Police Department helped fuel violent riots that led to further segregation among African-Americans and whites. To defend themselves against the increasingly aggressive Los Angeles Police Department and in response to the often deadly force used by the department, African-Americans formed the Black Panther party.
By the late 70’s, most of the members of the Black Panther party were either murdered or incarcerated. With racial profiling and police brutality reaching astronomical numbers, African-Americans formed the infamous bloods and crips gangs.
Mohammed Sheik, a freshman at Rainier Beach High School had this to say about the film:
I know plenty of people in gangs; some of them are close friends of mine. While I understand why they do what they do, I want something better for my life.
Adrienne Lewis, another freshman at Rainier Beach High School, kept his answers simple as to why he wouldn’t join a gang:
I love the ladies and the ladies don’t like gangbangers.
After the movie, Jeron Gates gave insight to what people can do to stop gang violence:
The best way to stop violence in your community is to build community. When you step outside of your comfort zone and reach out to your neighbors, you are making an effort to stop violence. The act of meeting your neighbors means that you are committed to making sure that everyone looks out for one another.
About 30 young people gathered for last Saturday’s screening of Crips and Bloods: Made in America. Photo/MyraMyra
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 10 comments }
Another reason not to join a gang is the pay is TERRIBLE- read “Freakonomics” and learn that most hoppers live with their grandmas because they can’t afford a place of their own. Many work at McDonalds to make ends meet.
Another reason not join a gang is that gangs are resp0nsible for more murders of black people than the KKK ever was.
” Tuskegee Institute records of lynchings between the years 1880 and 1951 show 3,437 African-American victims, as well as 1,293 white victims” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching)
What is the death toll of the Crips and Bloods feud in LA? About 15,000 according to the film mentioned in this article. The Klan does not need to terrorize black people anymore.
One of the narrators in the film said that all he wanted to do was join the Boy Scouts of America, to be involved in a civic minded group, but, the Boy Scouts would not allow African-Americans to join, thus the reason, young men in California started their own “group”. However, after the continuing police brutality, young men were not willing to tolerate the abuse their parents went through and began to fight back, which resulted in gangs. During the 60′s, Blacks began to protest, tired of the abuse and racism. However, drugs were pumped into the community, which destroyed a lot of families. It is not true that all”black” men live with their grandmothers because they cannot afford to pay rent, that is racist comment. The indignities suffered by the African American male throughout history shows they have been murdered and tortured. Today, even though sheet wearing citizens are not visible, the hatred remains, especially against African American males. The vicious cycle, that expected Africans’ to leave their country, under protest, to live and work as “slaves” in a foreign country; where they were treated poorly and disrespected; now fill the prisons. It is systematic. It is a miracle how an African-American continues to succeed and deal with racism, not being treated equal, as a man, even with decent wages, has to be one of the most consuming dilemma’s our country refuses to acknowledge. African American men have been disrespected and forced to live in a hostile environment throughout history. The education system understands that African American males become uninterested in sitting in class, learning about a society that has nothing positive to say about their culture. It is only through positive programs and family support that allows a link between education and potential for the African American male, which has produced successful African Americans, but for those without strong family ties, as early as preschool, African American males are disciplined at a higher rate than white males. By the time they reach high school, many drop out and find themselves with little job skills. Working at McDonald’s may be an option for students, but a grown man cannot support his family working at McDonalds. The solution is to support our African American youth to stay in school, map out a plan for entrepreneurship and not allow racism to wear you down; and to look beyond ignorance and racial slurs. The film, while graphic at times, was an attempt to teach African American youth, that while gangs have been around, it is not the solution.
Read Daniel Estulin’s “The True Story of the Bilderberg Group” and also Cleon Skousen’s “The Naked Capitalist.” All well sourced and documented.
Specific ethnic or other roups can easily be made to fight internally with help from the media. Govt has massive budgets devoted to psychological operations (psyops). Denying it makes the results even more predictable.
@Shana
“It is not true that all”black” men live with their grandmothers because they cannot afford to pay rent, that is racist comment.”
A hopper is someone who sells drugs not “a black man” you changed what he said to make it “a racist statement”
“Jimmy Twilight” was citing reasons NOT to join a gang (the pay is lousy and most hoppers-live with their grandmothers cause they could not afford to pay rent” —but he did not exclude hoppers from being part of a gang. Instead, the statement makes it seem as though “hoppers” were part of gangs. However, Mark B, since the film was about gang members –where do you think a “hopper” fit in with regards to gang members? So, if hoppers sells drugs, why would they stay with their grandmothers?. No one wants to live with their grandmother-including drug dealers. Twilight made the connection between gang members and boppers as the same; and a reason not join a gang was the pay was low; as most “boppers” live with grandma because they couldn’t afford to pay rent. Connect the film with Afro-American youths, or watch it –you’ll see that “statements” claiming African Americans cannot afford to pay rent is “racist”.
A hopper is not a race and he did not say “African American” or “Black man” in his statement if you took from the movie that all gang members are “Afro-American” then you need to take that up with the film maker.
The film maker did a fantastic job providing a description of African-American gangs (The Crips & Bloods”)—in California. Maybe Mr. Twilight was making comments that didn’t refer to the film. Did you see the film? If so, did they mention “hopper’s”—as being part of gangs? Maybe you can explain why hoppers’ live with their grandmother’s and how Twilight’s comments were relevant to the film. Based on your comments, maybe “hopper’s” should have been attached to a different post, but if “hopper’s” are related to gangs in LA, was there a “connection” to gangs or any mention of them in the film?
Hoppers is just a word for drug dealers and maybe should have been in a different post, I was just stating that he did not use the term “African American” or “Black man” in his statement about Hoppers and therefore I did not find it to be a racist statement.
No problem Mark B, if you had watched the film, you would have seen the issues surrounding gang members–and comments made would be about “being a gang member”. Take care, nice “conversating” with you!!
No problem Shana, I was not trying to be an ass. You are obviously very passionate about the subject and that is a beautiful thing as there is far to much racism in our society,perceived or not. I would have said something myself if I felt he was making a racist statement.
Until next time, stay safe.
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