Product: Gangland: The Complete Season Three (2009)
Rating: 3.0
A brave and fearless series, at times gruesome on the streets.
Gangland: Season Three, brings to light street conflicts im Americancities that is beyond the comprehension of anyone, in a brave andfearless manner that is unmatched elsewhere, beyond the gruesome ofwhat is seen even, in the final moments of Taxi Driver, for example.This series, in no shape, way or form glorifies conflict. Rather, itbuilds on interviews with key individuals who decided that thelifestyle wasn't for them after experiencing it first-hand for alength of time and concerned about it potential as a livelihood inthe medium to long term.In the case of LA GRAN FAMILIA (LGF), based in Atlanta, GA, thefounding of the group was noble at first, opposing variousinjustices and humiliation from school bullies. At some point, thisgoal changed to the pursuit of status, gold chains, glamorous rims,Mercedes Benz cars, hotties, money and the exhilaration ofinstilling fear in others generally, and competing with anddefeating local rival gangs specifically.About 5 years before the opening of the Atlanta Olympics andafterwards - a time during when the demand for manual labor inpublic works projects was high, as well as the remuneration - amassive influx of aliens from Mexico and Central America occurred,increasing it 10 fold locally, and the general population ofeveryone in metro Atlanta doubling as well.Along with a much higher number of wealthy laborers came a muchhigher demand for narcotics and underground services, includingcocaine, meth, ecstasy, marijuana. It also opened the door toextortion and manipulation of those migrants, who by necessityrequired fake ID and a means in escaping from the ICE (Immigrationand Customs Enforcement), such as changing living address regularlyremain untraceable by detectives.With LGT, there are the rivals North Side 14, La Raza and theSurenos. Through a well defined structure, LGT is made up ofMaltides 13, Latin Kings, Brownside Locos, Pachucos 21 andRiverside Locos, all of those present to some degree in Atlanta,Dikalb, Cobb, Gwinett and Hall counties, The only difference is theabsence of clearly defined territories, unlike LA.For those the inhabitants in the vicinity, living in fear is atoken, as residents decline in identifying members to not beingshown as complainants to the law. For those on the outside, tagsseen on the street suggest the presence of various gangs, and an Xan opposition to it, hinting at animosity and imminent conflict.The gang culture is present in other ways as well, through thewearing of tattoos, a large number of drive-by shootings, calledcliquing, (men, women, children), hiring lookouts, pushers, handsignals, kick doors (home invasions, burglaries), car thefts,weapons use (shotgun, pistol, machine guns), luxury cars with bulletproofed windows. All of this increasingly catching the public'sattention, as the ends justify the means, with an increasing greedand viciousness and frequency.The RICO statutes and the FBI are deployed to reign in thoseoperations, bringing members into the fish tank (detention), havingmembers roll over, and sentences decided.