[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

my only issue with this film is that it did not even touch on the black panther connections to the origin of the CRIPS (Community Revolution In Progress) which essentially was founded as a street gang arm of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Black Panther.

The LA panthers, under murdered Bunchy Carter in the late 1960s were implementing a combination of community outreach programs like Breakfast programs, food banks, after-school activities, neighborhood restoration, and also small-time crime like robbery, theft, civil disobedience, and gang rivalries. The Panthers were in a sense using the CRIPS as a street arm of the Panthers, to infiltrate and compete with the popular and growing street gangs, party crews and car clubs which had thoroughly saturated South and East Los Angeles. This whole gang culture evolved from the crucible of these neighborhoods, as weekend dances and car club rivalries escalated into gang violence and drug dealing, with a little help from various government agencies and other saboteours out to make a dollar of the misery of the poor..

The CRIPS devolved into a violent and aggressive street gang as A DIRECT RESULT of the persuction and forced removal of the Black Panther Party, through assassinations, arrests, police brutality and infilitration by the FBI and other agencies, both acting on the government's behalf and as rouge mercenaries...

these youth were provoked. From 1965-1970, the LAPD (who in fact coined the term 'gang') reported almost no criminal activity in black neighborhoods, they said all the youth were to damned busy working with outreach and political organizations! how far have we sunk...

Its a shame really what it became in the 1970s through today.. but the opportunity to use this gang infrastructure to reorganize under Black Panther ideals of community outreach and grass-roots organization is still possible, this was proven in 93-94 with all the temporary truces and peace treaties between LA Crips and Bloods, but since the city of Los Angeles failed to live up to its end to the bargains and in fact took advantage of the gangs kindness as weakness arresting many and increasing police brutality, the gangs picked up where they left off.

Well its time to pick up where the Panthers left off in 1969-1970. Los Angeles, we burnt down this city twice now and what have we rebuilt? The same bullshit!