Documentary Unit Analysis
The Interruptors
Synopsis
The purpose of the movie is to rally citizens against racially targeted violence, particularly in one of the USA's biggest cities.
Thesis
The main focus is to portray a fierce battle against general hostility between African Americans in poor communities.
Exhibit 1
The film sheds more light on gang violence in ghetto communities, and aggression between blacks in general. It's a fresher take on a disease long overdue for a cure, always, without fail, overshadowed by lingering racism from white people.
Under more intense scrutiny, this also shows that you can in fact be racist towards members of your own race, whether internalized from oppression or not.
Exhibit 2
Violence is also seen as a must to keep up one's dignity... or what's left of it. Those who don't stand up for themselves are seen as cowardly regardless if the victim is in a gang or not. It's akin to tradition after decades of getting the short end of the stick simply for having dark skin.
Exhibit 3
A deeply ingrained mistrust towards the police merely makes matters worse as the people who could help alleviate tension are shut out. It's more difficult to help a community that refuses to change out of complacency. In addition, this creates a legion of corrupted kids that grow up to continue the cycle of dysfunctional families and dangerous living conditions.
T.I. Feat. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone (Official Music Video)
Conclusion
The film delivers it's purpose quite well. The toxic cycle of violence is a lingering effect of systematic oppression and endorses a bitter attitude toward their community from outsiders. Backing down or getting help is seen as weak, they can't trust the police not to abuse them, and kids growing up exposed to such an environment are taught to adapt or die.