Parents' Guide to

American Gangster

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Smart series takes an in-depth look at crime.

TV BET Reality TV 2006
American Gangster Poster Image

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What's the Story?

The documentary series AMERICAN GANGSTER takes an in-depth look at the lives of contemporary African-American criminals and examines how their actions both reflected and corrupted the values of their communities. Viewers are introduced to infamous lawbreakers like Stanley "Tookie" Williams (co-founder of the Crips gang), crack dealer "Freeway Ricky" Ross, and former drug dealers Leroy Nicky Barnes, Lorenzo "Fat Cat" Nichols, and the Chambers Brothers. Each episode is narrated by actor Ving Rhames and features interviews with both the subjects and the people affected by their crimes. Interviews with prosecutors and defense attorneys involved in each case are also included, as is footage of historians putting each subject's crime into context.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

American Gangster is a departure for BET, which many have come to associate with music videos and shallow reality shows. This series does a good job of intelligently looking back at the complex lives of the featured criminals and showing how their actions affected not only their lives, but those of their families, friends, and neighbors. While the subject matter is grim and footage can sometimes be harsh, it's compelling viewing for audiences eager to learn about the past.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about crime. How does someone become a criminal? Is crime ever justified? How are race and crime tied together in the United States? What role do the media play in that relationship? What is racial profiling? Are the police tougher on some races than others? How can communities particularly plagued by crime fight back?

TV Details

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