Bloodtype Online

    

      Stanley “Tookie” Williams story is unbelievable. The man grew up idolizing Al Capone while bullying his childhood peers. Eventually he went on to join the crips and he was in the original gang that is now spread throughout America. Through this story shows his obsession with his physique, his addiction to sherm (PCP laced in weed) and his eventual downfall for four murders he never admitted to. While a Nobel Peace Prize nominee he was on death row and Governer Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn’t pardon him. I feel the episode throws a subtle jab at the former Terminator. There is a man during this story that shows up to express his anger toward Tookie. He simply is glad “Tookie” was put to death because he looked at Tookie as a childhood bully who lived a no good life. The anger this man expresses shows the side of the victims. This man was only abused as a youth by a young Tookie who went on to become much meaner. Very powerful stuff during this guy's interview. When it came to Tookie, this man was pro death penalty to say the least. While incarcerated Tookie tried to help gangbangers form truces as well as get out of the life. Still the episode shows how big of a monster and drug addict he was. Prison may have changed him for the better but on the outside he was a drug addicted monster that caused lots of death. On the other hand his real life experience may have prevented some crime or steered some minds towards a brighter future 

      Leroy “Nicky” Barnes doesn’t have as much respect as Tookie. While Tookie went out honorably trying to save people leading a destructive life, Barnes tried to take each and every one of his cohorts down with him. He went from Heroin King to government snitch. His reasoning for informing seemed like bitterness but in all honesty a certain member of his organization tested Barnes loyalty. Seem Barnes got upset after his crew stopped paying loyal fees. Also one of his boys was banging his wife. Being behind a cage made Nicky Barnes spill the beans on each member of his crew. He is now probably looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. He was a cocky gangster that fucked with police in the open. He embodies what a lot of gangsters would like to be and that is untouchable. Being flashy will only lead you to the penitentiary and eventually the flashy types crack. 

      I really enjoyed Lorenzo “Fat Cat” Nichols stories as it involved a lot of his sons and his regret for being a heavy hitter in the drug game. He came up with many criminals such as Pappy Mason and a few others. While being a part of the rap game he rubbed shoulders with many rappers in the 80’s. Once policemen started getting knocked off the shit hit the fan. George Bush even campaigned with a deceased cops badge. He was part of a group that made 100,000 bones a day. 

      Besides the three standout episodes there’s three other shows that include the illiterate potential tennis super star “Freeway” Ricky Ross who went on to have a successful career in selling crack and him playing the fall guy in the Iran-Contras scandal. Troy and Dino smith were the jewel thieves instead of drug lords but the cops were just as hungry to catch them. They were considered heist masters and sophisticates by every day folks. The Chambers Brothers episode is amazing and shows what poverty can do. Bill Clinton even shows up in this episode in some stock footage. They went from a poverty stricken town in Arkansas to the booming auto city Detroit. They went on to be some of the most successful Country Bumpkins but eventually they got stupid. The four brothers used to make home videos down south and did the same thing up north. They had family cookouts on tape and then the next segment of there home videos would have gun toting bravado and money all over the place. The Chambers Brothers along with some other real life gangsters went on to inspire “New Jack City”. This episode was incredible! 

      Any fan of true crime should buy this show as it is informative and the stories are accompanied with family members of the criminals, judicial figures, policemen, screenwriters, gang historians and ex gang members. I can watch these in a row all day and the new season is just as good. Can’t wait until the next box set! 

      Some of these folks are idolized but anyone with sense should not want to lead their lives. Still I think people are blind if they think that the world gives a fair shake to inner city folks. People resort to crime for a reason. A lot of the subjects on “American Gangster” are filled with greed, self hatred and other things that turn them into dangerous and iconic figures. The episodes are put together well and I hope people learn about these street legends. Street legends die but I can sympathize with their upbringing. Also one has to truly analyze what the entire problem is. Crack became a bigger problem than cocaine and this series explains why. Without jobs and leaders crime will always exist and therefore the young will want to go the road a lot of these criminals went. 

*** ½  

-Russ Rutter