Bastards of the Party

Bastards of the Party, released in 2005, is a captivating and powerful documentary that inspects the sociopolitical narrative that paved the way for street gangs in America, specifically focusing on the west coast. The film primarily revolves around Daryl Gates, Fred Hampton, and Joe Hicks, describing their historical roles and perceived influence on the development of street gangs in Los Angeles. However, the spotlight is location rather than the individual characters, facilitating a greater understanding of the creation and progression of street gangs in LA.

The film is directed by Cle 'Bone' Sloan and produced by Antoine Fuqua best known for his directorial work on Training Day. Sloan, a former Bloods member from Athens Park neighborhood, Los Angeles, utilizes his personal experiences to bring an authentic voice to the documentary, providing viewers a first-hand account of the inner workings of gang culture.

Bastards of the Party explores the genesis of gang culture from the mid-20th century into the 21st century. The unravelling of this complex web of socio-political circumstances starts with the great migration of Black Americans from the south to major cities in the north, mid-west, and west coast such as Los Angeles.

In focusing on Los Angeles, LaBastards of the Party investigates the large and complicated history of racial tension in the city. Daryl Gates, the controversial police chief of the LAPD from the late 70s to the 90s, is one of the pivotal figures in the documentary. Gates' "war on gangs," his establishment of the infamous CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums) units, and his aggressive, militarized approach to policing are discussed in-depth.

Infuriation, frustration, and rebellion formed as a direct penalty of police repression and violence, socio-economic distress, and racial discrimination. This harsh environment saw the rise of the gangs as a form of protection against racial injustice, circumstantial adversity, and aggressive law enforcement techniques notably employed during Gates' tenure.

Still, the documentary doesn't acquit the gangs from their contribution to societal chaos. Rather, it inculcates how the gangs transitioned from self-protection organizations to reactors of aggressive violence and criminality of their own, influenced by cultural, social, and territorial prompts.

Parallelly, Bastards of the Party provides insights on Fred Hampton, the iconic activist and revolutionary who led the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party. While existing in a different city and context, Hampton's story helps elucidate the civil rights struggle and resistance movements that similarly influenced the formation of LA street gangs. Hampton's legacy as a symbol of positive resistance starkly contrasts the eventual downfall of LA gang culture into oppressive violence and criminality.

Joe Hicks, a former civil rights activist who later became a conservative critic of such movements, is also featured. Hicks provides an essential perspective, encapsulating the multi-faceted outlooks of the Black community towards social upheaval and the responses.

Though the primary focus of Bastards of the Party is specific to the creation and evolution of LA street gangs, the film's larger statements on systemic racism, socio-economic disparities and cycles of violence, and the political manipulation of these elements are national, if not global, in scope. This gives the documentary a universal appeal, making it a must-watch not only for those interested in learning about the circumstances that led to the formation of LA’s street gangs, but also for those interested in understanding the broader systemic issues that perpetuate racial and economic inequality.

Thus, Bastards of the Party is a worthwhile watch for its robust exploration of the socio-political instincts influencing the formation of LA street gangs and a direct investigation of the circumstances that incited many African-American youth to take up arms. The documentary maintains an air of profound dignity, illuminating a controversial and complex part of American history and stimulating thought for the improvement of such circumstances.