‘Crips and Bloods: Made in America’, directed by Stacy Peralta, is a documentary that delves into the development and longevity of two of the most prominent gangs in the United States, the Crips and the Bloods. The documentary is a visual representation of the oppression and racism Black communities, particularly in the Los Angeles area, faced. It examines several external institutions in our society and how those institutions helped create the long-lasting internal hatred that exists in these communities. Several sociological concepts and terms can help us to further analyze and understand why these gangs had such impact in these communities. The Crip’s organization, short for Community Resources for Independent People, was founded in response …show more content…
In the documentary, Kumasi talks about a moment where a police officer asks him numerous questions that he knows the officer would only ask to a person of color. He states, “What do you think that does to me psychologically? What message am I being fed, every day? Every day, he is feeding me a spoonful of hatred!” This moment of inferiority and dehumanization caused by the officer towards Kumasi, and many men of color, is a clear representation of the damage that has been caused in these communities. In return from all the prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes, these men are led to question their positions in their society and can even go on to feeling hatred towards both themselves and members in their communities. Kumasi asks “Am I gonna attack myself, am I gonnna attack my brotha, am I gonna attack my own image in the mirror, or am I gonna to attach the cause of my anger and my frustration?” This statement touches upon both the reflection of self and how symbolic interactionism affects Kumasi’s understanding of his own self. Symbolic interactionism states that all social interactions are symbolic. This interaction between Kumasi and the police officer make it clear that there is a sense of disrespect between the two through the language that is being