HBO: Bastards of the Party

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I just got back from a screening of a new documentary that will begin airing on HBO beginning next Tuesday. A very good friend (and neighbor) put over 10 years into this passion project and the results were very powerful.

The documentary chronicles the creation of Los Angeles gangs beginning in the 1940's and includes the formation of the Crips and Bloods in the early 1970's. It also shows how gang violence grew to excess in South Central during the 1980's. This is all documented and seen through the eyes of Cleo "Bone" Sloan, a former member of the Bloods.

The Q&A after the film with Bone was very inspiring and there are many, many people working hard to educate the young "'bangers" in hopes of changing the gang culture.

I highly recommend it. It's very educational, especially to a white kid from Kansas.

I saw a teaser for this on HBO a few days ago...I should probably set the Tivo for it. It sounds like an important program....

One question, how much did they discuss the "War on Drugs" and its impact on the gang violence of the 80's?