Random Rant: Documentary Film Review

Right now, I'm watching "Uprising: Hip-Hop And The LA Riots", a documentary exploring violence and unrest in that city.  In my review, I find it necessary to explain the background of the film.  

On April 29, 1992, Los Angeles exploded in violence.  African-American residents of the area, angered by the acquittal of policemen in an excessive force case, destroyed whole sections of Los Angeles in acts fueled by rage (see the Rodney King incident).  Things got so bad that, in addition to the California National Guard, the US Army had to be dispatched to quell the violence.  When it was all over five days later, two thousand three hundred and eighty three people had been injured, and another sixty-three people killed (in addition, estimates of property damage were over one billion dollars).  

"Uprising" is a very interesting film that explores the roots of the LA riots, and what role hip-hop music played in them.  With the caveat that I haven't yet watched the entire movie, here are my thoughts on said film.  

This movie suggests that in 1992, African-American citizens of Los Angeles were tired of talking to the police about "law and order".  Black Angelenos, feeling that they were the victims of injustice, wanted action.  This, the film implies, was the main reason behind the rioting, which is hinted at as being justified.  What the documentary fails to explore is the opposing "devil's advocate" argument; it presents the events as being a one-way street, so to speak.  

I believe that to truly understand an issue, you must look at it from all angles, not just one.  To this end, I find that "Uprising" implies that whites, and only whites, were responsible for the violence of 1992.  This is an argument that I disagree with.  Yes, whites were to blame for much of what happened in the streets of Los Angeles; that is a sickening fact.  However, African-Americans are not without fault in this case.  Indeed, many blacks set fires, committed brazen acts of violence, and destroyed property (ask Korean shopkeepers about this; they were forced to take up arms in defense of their businesses).  

Now, it stands to reason that African-Americans are as much at fault for the events of 1992 as whites are, or anyone else.  However, "Uprising" doesn't discuss this point of view at all.  This being the case, I cannot give the documentary a totally glowing review.  

On the "Boland Movie Scale" of one to five stars, "Uprising: Hip-Hop And The LA Riots" receives a "captivating" three and three-quarter stars (thanks to long-time movie critic Susan Granger for the inspiration behind said scale).  The film is an interesting perspective on history, and what can happen when anger gets out of control.