Video Feature: Tavis Smiley Show Looks at CRIPS AND BLOODS

On Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 PM (check local listings), Independent Lens will present CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have lead to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Following the broadcast, be sure to watch the Tavis Smiley Show with CRIPS AND BLOODS Producer Baron Davis, Director Stacy Peralta and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Learn more about the film as well as the latest efforts to stop gang violence in Los Angeles and around the country.

Get a preview of next week’s Tavis Smiley Show and watch the special excerpt below:

Tags: African American, Baron Davis, gangs, Los Angeles

ITVS and WHYY Present CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America

CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles, played to a full house at The Rotunda, an arts and culture space in West Philadelphia. The event was co-presented by ITVS and WHYY, in partnership with the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network, Scribe Video Center and the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Following the film, Cliff Akiyama, a former deputy sheriff and currently a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing, led a panel discussion. Akiyama opened the Q&A with an impassioned plea to the audience––to look at the issue of gang violence with “open hearts and minds” and consider multiple approaches to a solution, beyond just law enforcement.

Other panelists included Darryl Coates, executive director of the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network; Everett Gillison, deputy mayor of public safety; Dorothy Johnson-Speight, executive director of Mothers In Charge; and Jack Stollsteimer, Pennsylvania Safe Schools advocate and former federal prosecutor of drug gangs in Philadelphia.

Each of the panelists discussed the impact of violence in Philadelphia and in their personal lives. They stressed the importance the film played for being a tool to bridge a serious conversation about prevention and alternatives.

Questions came from teachers, who had been assaulted by students and wanted practical information about how to identify gang signs and symbols, and youth involved in community service on school grounds, probing suggestions about more ways to fully engage others.

Statistics were presented about the number of gangs in the United States, the number of weapons that enter Philadelphia’s public schools on a daily basis and the fact that the issue of gangs exists in many ethnic groups and a far-reaching problem. One parent became emotional when sharing her frustration about the personal challenges she faces when sending her children to school every day.

There was much more to discuss after the formal program ended, and many lingered afterward to talk with panelists and each other about resources and information. The turnout and level of seriousness during the Q&A showed the widespread concern and the number of people interested in getting involved to address this problem.

The film was certainly a powerful catalyst for bringing the Philadelphia community together around a common and heartfelt concern.

Want to find upcoming screenings in your area? Community Cinema selections are screened in more than 50 locations throughout the United States. Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Check out clips from the event below:

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, WHYY

Video Discussion from the Community Cinema Screening of CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America

On Tuesday, April 14, Community Cinema, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, screened CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Afterwards, Val Zavala, anchor and reporter of SoCal Connected, led a panel discussion with filmmaker Stacy Peralta, Deputy Mayor of Gang Reduction and Youth Development Rev. Jeff Carr and community organizer Skipp Townsend. This event was broadcast live on Beyond the Box Blog where visitors asked questions to the panelists via live chat and Twitter in addition to questions fielded from the audience.

Missed the live video feed from Los Angeles? Check out the recording from the event below:

Community Cinema selections are screened in over 50 locations throughout the United States. Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles

CRIPS AND BLOODS Community Cinema Screenings Recaps

Join the live webcast discussion of the upcoming Community Cinema screening of CRIPS AND BLOODS on the ITVS Blog at 8:15 PM PDT (11:15 PM EDT), Tuesday, April 14. More details below.

Community Cinema selections are screened in over 50 locations throughout the United States. This month, Community Cinema presents CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, a film that examines two of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America. Read some of the highlights from this month’s screenings and learn more about the live webcast discussion.

St. Louis, IL

A large and diverse audience of 425 gathered at the Missouri History Museum to view and discuss CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America. A common theme that ran through the discussion was “communities need to come together to fight this problem.” The discussion turned to local programs that exist to take kids off the streets and get them involved in useful projects or into athletic programs, often run by volunteer police. The audience discussed the need to focus on educating young people to help them make informed choices.

One audience member noted, “We need a holistic approach to gangs. Bring many agencies and individuals together in a community to learn to care for these kids. We need to do this despite funding so the programs don’t go away when the money dries up. We need to reach out as a community to stop this problem. When a group of people feel they don’t matter (second class citizens) gangs grow. We need to reach across economic and racial lines and come together to solve this problem. Have honest conversations like the one tonight. Then we will slow the growth of gangs.”

The discussion concluded with a former gang member sharing his experiences raising his children and developing a program aimed at helping young people empower themselves with skills and values to avoid gang life.

Grand Rapids, MI

With the largest audience of the year, CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America screened at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts to a full house. After the screening, panelists Jim Houston, criminal justice professor at Grand Valley State University (GVSU); Oliver Wilson, former dean of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; and Derrick Philips, a GVSU student and former gangster disciple from Chicago talked with the audience about gang-related topics, including personal experiences and the long-term sociological effects gang culture has on communities. Many audience members responded by voicing their desires to volunteer and mentor young people faced with gang violence.

Saratoga Springs, NY

Community members at the Saratoga Springs Public Library acknowledged the long-standing racism, economic hardship and blame cast upon gang members after viewing the film. Audience members discussed the filmmaker’s skill in showing the raw facts behind gangs in the United States and appreciated the idea of “treating gang members like criminals and committing them to prison merely makes them the scapegoat and doesn’t get to the heart of the problem.” Panelist Ron Barrett, gang prevention coordinator for the Capital Region of New York, explained that drugs are connected to gangs because they are the only feasible source of income and how gang life is sensationalized in popular media.

Interested in taking part of the discussion? Join us live on the ITVS Blog at 8:15 PM PDT (11:15 PM EDT), Tuesday, April 14. Find out more information about the live discussion >>

Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles

CRIPS AND BLOODS Live Webcast Panel Discussion April 14

It’s a civil war that’s lasted 40 years. Passed down from son to son. Fought eye for an eye. Over 15,000 dead and counting, while the world stands by. Welcome to South Central Los Angeles. But what’s at the root of this long-standing battle? In CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, filmmaker Stacy Peralta hits the streets of LA and speaks with former and current members of the Bloods and the Crips, two of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America.

On Tuesday, April 14, a live video discussion took place from the Community Cinema event in partnership with the City of Los Angeles. Val Zavala, anchor and reporter of SoCal Connected, led a panel discussion with filmmaker Stacy Peralta, Deputy Mayor of Gang Reduction and Youth Development Rev. Jeff Carr and community organizer Skipp Townsend.

Visit the blog later this week for a video recording of this event.

Tags: gangs, Los Angeles