The title refers to the two primary gang groups in Los Angeles. However, this movie is less about the two gangs, but rather more on the history and the role of African Americans in LA/Southern California. Or to quote Helen Lovejoy: Would somebody please think of the Children??!The movie does bring up the fascinating aspect of African Americans in southern California. It's a history of post-World War II migration, economic boom, and social decline after the heavy industries closed shops gradually. They were well-to-do, but are susceptible to economic downturns due to "having jobs instead of careers," quipped one neighborhood volunteer. Both the Watts (South Central) and the Rodney King riots were discussed in great details. The fact that the youth had nothing to cling to, both career and ideology wise, was attributed as a cause. It's at this point that the movie lost me. It switched from an exploration of historic role of African Americans to exclusively a humanist story. I understand the reason, and why make a movie about gangs without trying to uproot the causes? Still, I would have preferred a more subtle approach, and a little less Helen-Lovejoyness.
