Jess Doll - "Boyz 'N The Hood"
As evident in the Rodney King beating that occurred in 1991 in Los Angeles, racism is still alive in today's society. The brutalities of at least four Los Angeles police officers lead to massive street riots, which resulted in 54 deaths, 2,383 injuries, and devastation to about 3,100 businesses.
As a result, many, especially in the inner city, resent the L.A.P.D, who represents authority. If the police in the film "Boyz 'N The Hood" signify the demeanor of any current Los Angeles police officer, it is not a surprise that police officers are hated in the inner city.
However, the city of Los Angeles has more problems to deal with, aside from the poor relationship the police officers have with LA residents. These issues range from poor transit systems and poor education, to lack of jobs, housing, and food for those especially residing in inner city LA. The effects of these poor living conditions can be observed in the film "Boyz 'N The Hood," which tells the story of an African American boy who grows up in inner city Los Angeles. The film does a great job depicting the hardships of inner city life and how hard it is for an individual to make something of himself in such ruthless surroundings.
For example, author of "Young, Don't Give a Fuck, and Black" Bakari Kitwana (who reviews the film "Boyz N The Hood" in his article) states, " Despite his middle class status, Tre is caught up in the same drama faced by his less fortunate peers" (125). Again showing how hard it is to not be sucked in by the violent patterns of inner city living. As doughboy said at the end of the film, "This shit just goes on and on" referring to the cycle of killing that will not decrease until mass improvements in LA take place.