HBO's Bastards of the Party documents the conditions and events that fueled the rise of South Central's black gang culture. The documentary is the work of “retired” gangster Cle “Bone” Sloan, from the notorious Athens Park Bloods, and Training Day director Antoine Fuqua. Bone is handsome and eloquent in his narration, almost disarming. But as a notorious veteran Blood, he still finds himself conflicted when recounting the death of a close homeboy and his desire (almost) to exact some hood justice.

The film traces the rise of black gangs as protection from mobs of racist white youths in post-war (World War II, that is) Los Angeles, as well as a negative result of the dismantling of the Black Panthers and other black empowerment organizations. It's essential viewing if only for the historical context …