Tension Creates Successful CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America Event in Nashville

L to R: Rodney Britton from Galaxy Star Drug Awareness; Moderator Jonathan Martin from WSMV-TV; and Clemmie Greenlee from Galaxy Star Drug Awareness

Nashville’s to-capacity screening of CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, was our most rewarding and interesting event. The film examines conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Police pressured us to cancel the event out of fear of violence. That’s not the response we envisioned for an event about peace, change and solutions. Of the nationwide events––where the local police were involved––Nashville’s police had the most serious reservations about holding the event.

Nashville has been making the “10 most violent” cities list [external link Forbes Magazine] and gang violence is a serious problem in the metro area, so I know police were just being cautious. The screening made people nervous and added a bit of tension to the night. Middle schoolers from Nashville’s All the Kings Men leadership program [external link] attended the event.

After the screening, panel member Clemmie Greenlee of Galaxy Star Drug Awareness –– a nonprofit that encourages youth to avoid violence [external link]–– introduced two former gang members she recruited to be peacemakers with her organization. They visit the streets with Clemmie, talking to young people about making positive choices.

Both young men discussed poverty and family instability that led them to gang life. Craig’s father is serving a life sentence, and Rodney’s father was killed when he was five. When an audience member asked Rodney how he got out of the gang, he carefully explained, “I’m not really out of the gang. I just changed my thinking and my behavior.”

Clemmie talked of life as an addict and mother by age 13 and decades in the cycle of poverty, violence and self destruction. Her only son was murdered by a rival gang member in 2003. Now Clemmie does all her work on the street and seems to know from experience that the solution is encouragement. She said  when she approaches kids on the corner, they expect criticism or a lecture. Instead, she tells them she loves them and believes in them, and she sees change beginning to happen.

Craig expressed concern that poor people are often isolated without access to events and activities. As a result, a martial arts teacher spoke to Clemmie afterward, offering to do free Tae Kwon Do workshops in North Nashville.

Clemmie addressed the police in the crowd and said the only way a discussion will have a real impact is if active gang members are allowed to attend without fear of arrest or harassment. She said she feels solutions can only come when their input is factored into the discussion.

We hope to hold a second, less formal screening open to active gang members. Clemmie is building a youth hangout in North Nashville where young people can take GED classes, meet with tutors and learn job skills. My dream screening for CRIPS & BLOODS: Made in America would be to invite the young people from the hangout to put an event together and lead a discussion with their peers.

Allison Inman
ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator Southern Region
Volunteer at Nashville Public Television

Tags: community, crips and bloods made in america, discussion, documentary, events, films, free, Independent Lens, itvs, nashville, pbs