Watch History Channel Documentaries online: Episode 4 Street Gangs: A Secret History

For millions of people around the world, street gangs are a way of life. And for some, they hold the keys to survival itself. STREET GANGS: A SECRET HISTORY examines the history, psychology and role of these groups in America throughout the years, from their first appearances in urban immigrant communities to the sophisticated operations that are expanding the influence of gangs like the Crips and Bloods deep into the heartland today. Current and former gang members reveal what attracted them in the first place, and offer an unflinching look at gang life. Much of what is revealed may come as a surprise to people whose idea of gangs has been shaped in equal parts by the often-sensational press coverage and the romanticized visions presented in films like West Side Story. At the heart of America's street gangs is a love of family, a sense of belonging, and, for the less fortunate, the knowledge that the gang is always waiting with open arms.

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