1972 SPECIAL REPORT: "COMPTON"

Downtown Compton started out as a thriving and safe environment throughout the early 1950s to the mid-1970s. When gang violence and robberies sparked in the 70s businesses began to move out and relocate leaving Downtown Compton a ghost town. It is now home to many businesses, two shopping centers, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center. The Metro A Line light rail now runs through Downtown Compton making travel to the city much easier.

[@BasementPepperoni]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This channel has the best music.

[@MCDonta3911]

Early 70s when gang banging was just hitting Compton wtf did u find this footage this is golden

[@Jason.cbr1000rr]

Tookie Williams!!

[@Jason.cbr1000rr]

And the start of qll gangs.. bishops, swans, family, gangsters, ebk hoovas.. etx..

[@trollMan1086]

@@Jason.cbr1000rr compton lords too

[@Jason.cbr1000rr]

@@trollMan1086 the gay lords?? Must be like a 1950a teenager gwngs first one in cpt

[@tylerstadt8719]

Y'know it's good somebody wrote that.

[@g6686not]

It's crazy that Compton had such problems and this was a good 10 years before crack.

[@harveythe1stsaghartfield143]

EVERYWHERE WAS FINE BEFORE CRACK

[@brotherchason]

@@harveythe1stsaghartfield143 false. Did u watch this??

[@harveythe1stsaghartfield143]

@@brotherchason Not All Yet

[@gerrinehill6992]

Crips and Bloods were formed in Compton before crack..

[@g6686not]

@@gerrinehill6992 we know that. But they weren't as brutal and ruthless until the crack era.

[@Jazzjasey]

Im a big fan from Australia... Although im not American or black.. its a fascinating non racist look into African American culture.. SUBSCRIBED❤

[@i.m.6758]

This all ties in to the great migration. At this time, nobody in Compton was from Compton. They migrated from the south.

[@kareemsupremet.v.5189]

Yep mostly Texas and Louisiana

[@s3hooligan]

@@kareemsupremet.v.5189 and Arkansas

[@martaviouspowell2953]

Compton was little Louisiana back in the 70s

[@i.m.6758]

@@martaviouspowell2953 my grandpa is living and he’s 94 years old, He joined the military from Louisiana and all his brothers went to Compton and Inglewood. His family from Mississippi went to Chicago. When he retired he came back to Louisiana. So it was either join the military for work or find work wherever it was.

[@aaronr.8321]

Content keeps getting better bro. You have a unique channel here.

[@XhrisSharp]

Facts! My favorite channel.

[@omalone1169]

@@XhrisSharp I follow it too

[@julianG1212]

Yeah it’s a cool channel

[@Duncan_McFly82]

Facts

[@countdown2xstacy]

16:22 The guy hits the nail on the head. No one in his neighborhood has 2 parents. The vast majority are raised by single parents. There lies the problem in the 1970’s and the problem in 2023.

[@jimbeam-ru1my]

no, the problem is that they are black. all that other stuff is just a result of being black.

[@robertbrown3515]

Born raise in 70s 80s 90s went Robert F Kennedy Walton jr An Compton high c/84 I remember going to the Compton parade 1974 Compton high band was the shit back then I love my city back then an now

[@seanlewis1148]

Me too. Went to Tibby/Caldwell Elementary, Walton jr. 84 and Compton High 87 marched in the Willowbrook/Watts, and Compton Christmas Parades in both Walton and Compton Marching Band

[@olijadu]

Compton didnt realize that 20 years later, a lil album called the Chronic would define it. Compton was once a thriving place

[@rafa7622]

Straight Outta Compton album, not The Chronic.

[@AnonymousC-lm6tc]

That was unfortunate….

[@vamseemk]

​@@rafa7622Here is some anecdotal proof for you in support of the OP. I was an Indian kid in India and I came to know about Compton in 1992 and because of Dre's Chronic and not NWA's SOC.

[@KOVIDGOON]

That's rap session is exactly why every voice shouldn't be allowed to speak. Smh that fool said "learn self" THIS IS A FINANCIAL CONVERSATION. these arguments are still occurring todate. 50 years of arguing. While we were arguing the other groups moved in bought up everything and now its over

[@HezakyaNewz]

Exactly....that's why I'm showing this....we still arguing for 60 70 years....my Grandparents done died and we still arguing what they was arguing. Madness

[@williamduren215]

True.

[@onceagain6184]

It's a wrap.

[@reggiekaz4147]

​@@HezakyaNewz did your grand-parents tell you about their own grand-parents living conditions ?

[@sionefifita5891]

Compton so beautiful back then

[@Carolina_Panthers145]

What happened?

[@showmestatefinest5412]

Still is

[@moorelance23]

We're having these very same conversations/ issues in 2021..history is showing us that we have potential but we lack unity can't agree on shit and we definitely don't stay the course

[@moorelance23]

@@TheBLACKMQQN depends on who YOU ask..I strongly believe it was actually more racist towards blacks at the hands of whites as depicted in the show them

[@dantedkingofficial]

Well....it's not up to Black people to change this at all.

[@kevindurand3237]

You said it mate,unity is the key.I thought the whites lacked it,I'm white by the way,our town's a rural market town,n.yorkshire it is 99.9% white,until we got flooded twice in 9 months in 2000.Everyone pulled together. Things are changing with the world now and there's a 365 day a year foodbank. We don't tolerate homelessness.A hand up not a handout.Everything you need to get back in work.Its rare that someone gets jailed round here but if they do they get a flat(apartment) when they get out.Money to furnish it,etc etc. It's better in the long run.We lag a little behind Norway but we're ok

[@asiadlafrance9734]

And the white people in the police is still behind the scenes creating it look at the Republicans Christianity and Trump trump supports

[@cumeshofmoab5338]

Just shows what every mass IQ test has shown...a certain group is dumb af

[@dondressel452]

In 1972 I was a young naive 15 year old going on 16 After watching this I’m still that young naive 15 year old going on 16

[@gerrinehill6992]

That Rass Kass is classic!

[@omalone1169]

I didnt even know about it.

[@TheGhettoLife]

a lot of the building shown in the video are either closed down or demolished due to the riots Compton has grown a lot over the years love seeing the rich history of Compton

[@never2much575]

50 years later and we’re still having these discussions…smh

[@countdown2xstacy]

Yup

[@dangerusscurvs4709]

My city!! Born and raised Rosecrans & Bradfield/ Leuders Park. Class of 1992 Dominguez High School whoop whoop!

[@Beatbyawhiteboy]

SBCC

[@uniqueorganicshaircare9880]

I went to Dominguez in 89 and 90 Centennial 91 and 92 Rosecrans and Central by Tams and McDonalds

[@kivabolton4448]

LUEDERS PARK is “ Headquarters “ to All Eastside P Phonk Ryders 💪🏾🩸

[@seanlewis1148]

Born on the West Side of the Hub city on Rosecrans and Tajauta, went to Tibby Elementary, moved to my aunt's house on Alondra and Central went to Caldwell Elementary and Walton jr. C/O 87. Moved back to Tajauta. Went to Compton High...C/O 90

[@kivabolton4448]

LUEDERS💪🏾🩸

[@marialeal3412]

Compton ca is 70 percent Hispanic now!

[@Galidorquest]

A lot of Hispanics are indigenous to the Americas, they're reclaiming their land.

[@danteelliott1]

Shout out for starting the video off wit that classic Ras Kass. I rocked that heavy in high school

[@omalone1169]

26:30 who does he mention ?

[@MichaelSellsDFW]

That old school hip hop joint at the beginning was 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@CrowdPleeza]

Something to think about in relation to the gang problem that developed. "Rasheen Peppers spent his career chasing down Newark’s most dangerous fugitives, groups of 20-somethings and teens who got caught up in the sprawling gang landscape of the state’s largest city. Week after week, the veteran Newark police officer would interview the prisoners, asking them about their family, friends, school and job history. There was a common link among many of the gang members Peppers arrested, one that went beyond their decision to enter a life that usually ends in a prison cell or a pine box - barely any of them could read." Source: Newark detective preaches literacy in new anti-gang program NJ

[@KeepinItRight]

Excellent historical document. Thanks for sharing it.

[@omalone1169]

24:30 already killing each other

[@LifestylewithAbby]

Compton has survived but it's on life support.

[@jukkas6807]

For some reason the wel manicured lawns look better now than they did in 50s

[@countdown2xstacy]

Better lawn fertilizers today

[@KOVIDGOON]

WELCOME TO THE HUB CITY 💪🏾🤞🏾👌🏾

[@geraldparker7392]

Dam i miss these times back then Compton was so fun

[@uniqueorganicshaircare9880]

Me too

[@EricOWilliam]

Sure was

[@uniqueorganicshaircare9880]

This my city y’all 1975-2007

[@larryoconnell1511]

Miami life? I thought this was about Compton?! 😂

[@HezakyaNewz]

Miami got a Compton too ..Ras Kass is from L.A....

[@energyasylum997]

My old neighbors moved across the street from my family in the mid 70s, probably close to 100 miles north of Compton. Majority, if not all of their kid’s graduated college . They never talked about Compton until their dad died and it came out in the obituary.

[@uniqueorganicshaircare9880]

Thank you for posting this I love and miss my city. I’ll never go back tho... and that’s so sad 😭

[@rodneyhodge892]

HELLO I'm black indigenous is it because of the gang's and violence THAT it is known for is it the Hispanic THAT have taken OVER a lot of predominantly black communities in the country..just curious we've known Compton for being known for gang's

[@lyotofan1]

Wow Compton was 70% black??! Compton and Cities in Cali look like Mexico today

[@hufair2215]

Nah west side of Compton mostly black east side more Latinos. Watts Inglewood Crenshaw Hyde Park still hella black folks my dude.

[@cgargoddess]

It use to be white in the 50s-60s

[@ameliaberg5647]

Compton had Negro' cowboys. It was mostly black from Louisiana.. watch km videos.. kev mac so informative

[@prosperitythegod8287]

It was white because it was a middle class neighborhood then we took it over and Latin people came in moved us out mostly every good in cali

[@megustalamota4208]

Compton is like 70% Hispanic now

[@456casino6]

Great channel and content old school videos my favorite thank you for your time and work

[@omalone1169]

07:10 funny looking black guy

[@marcopaganotto9125]

Once upon a time Hip Hop was skillful and ground breaking! What's happened?! A reflection of the social media generation?

[@mikehughes8023]

No, the industry took over instead of the artists so now we’re stuck with this bs of today.

[@Dubz9Ball]

I needed this thank you for this upload

[@toneill3818]

Tune, and another brilliant find, thank you.

[@bubz3t136]

One of the guys from the band Nirvana grew up in Compton.

[@TimezOfInfamy]

Seriously?

[@bubz3t136]

@@TimezOfInfamy Yeah. Google it. It's crazy, I was just thinking about my comment above, a couple of days ago. It's got to be almost 2 years old now.

[@dscott4465]

That mayor has got to be Louisiana creole

[@colossus112785]

I said the same thing he does have alot of European features

[@klewis564]

Lol I was like bro black .. for sure CreoleCreajuns

[@tevetteeducational5458]

Your videos should be on Hulu Netflix ect

[@sirpoppinchuck]

Wow he mentioned Baldwin Hills where I grew up. “The Hills” Fox hills wasn’t even developed yet that wasn’t til 75 . These old interviews n conversations are classic. Tony Browns Journal classic Black education of where we come from n where we’re going. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🤔

[@usrmtc1601]

Thanks man for this memory flash pack of where I grow up during that time

[@kitharrison8799]

Probably the best channel anywhere. Out of fuckin nowhere Hez keeps the quality rolling. Superb 👍

[@andreweaver8134]

Man That Brings Back memories i was in the 3rd Grade Atending mark twain Elemematary in Compton Back in 72 The Thing i Remember the most About 72 The Gang Banging Got heavey one of the original pirus is still around from the documentary the brother with the fro with the white Tshirt on i know him personally great Content keep it coming

[@goddaddykenfolk]

He goes by the Name Ayatolla Marv

[@BigPoppa-Dee]

Datsun! omg, I had one! Ah, the memories.

[@TLive-ji5wf]

THANK YOU FOR THESE FILMS! I GUESS SHARPTON, WATERS AND THE OTHERS HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT COMPTON.

[@Liquidator81]

Dollarhide could easily pass as someone from anywhere between the Italian alps and Libya, from Portugal to Western Turkey.

[@mrfreeze5524]

Definitely he was mixed with black inglewood Compton Carson all them cities were mostly white most blacks lived in watts over time migrated to Compton because it was near by this type of thing happened all over the u.s

[@mrfreeze5524]

@Keith Jo most of them cities were white Compton included until the 70s “ white flight “ bruh 😎

[@colossus112785]

He looks Creole

[@chrisholderc2378]

Bro, I KNOW you didn’t just put Ras Kass on this joint! Blown away, Deafly gonna shoot you a couple dollars to your channel on payday I appreciate what you’re doing brother, stay Black!🦾

[@HezakyaNewz]

Legend...song is dedicated to my best friend who lost his life 3 years ago...his favorite song

[@williamduren215]

I was raised in Compton in the 1970's, so I'll donate money & post this on social media so others can see it if I don't get blocced for asking why is a song, Miami Miami Miami Miami life on the intro about a city a thousand miles away? Much respect to your work, respect to Miami, and respect to the rapper, but I hope you can accept feedbacc without takin' it personal. I almost turned the channel thinking this was another irrelevant rap video that has nothing to do with my city, but then after a few minutes of being patient, I see that it's a real good documentary about Compton. Keep it comin'.

[@HezakyaNewz]

No other reason than that I like the song...tribute to my Dead Homie.. .Ras Kass is from L.A...so it was tribute to Ras Kass as well...one of my favorite 90s Rapper. Now I got my Homie song preserved and shouted out Ras Kass....so that's why I took it personal..of course you guys wouldn't have known that... maybe I had a bad day...and knowing me...I probably did. My artistic choices is not up for debate. No one tells any filmmakers what musical choices to use. Some will like it...some wont.. so what?? Dude called me a Dumb N word for my artistic choices..which was very disrespectful...I'm from and live in Baltimore City....we don't tolerate disrespect. He wasn't being critical...he was calling me out my name. So he had to go....and that's that. No offense taking... thanks for supporting.

[@williamduren215]

@@HezakyaNewz much love. Respect to Ras Kass. Respect to your work. I saw the other pieces and see that you stay busy on the deep content.

[@rasungod7257]

#MiamiLife - #RassKass #SoulOnIceAlbum #1996

[@malparillo5617]

DAMN ! THIS INTRO!

[@hafeezmohd3469]

Yo bro..been addicted to ur channel.. n im from malaysia..bravo...

[@TheAllianceEnt]

I was brought here by "Them". But also I'm from Compton.

[@jkl1672]

@Hezakya Newz & Films do you have any videos on Detroit?

[@HezakyaNewz]

I have a dozen of them...type Hezakya Detroit.... excellent work

[@solidito7450]

@@HezakyaNewz I’ve been trying to see footage from a 1990 November operation red rag indictment in San Diego, can not find it... any tips

[@SausageFaCerria]

Why that mayor look like a Black John F. Kennedy 😫🤣🤦🏾‍♂️

[@Yahwuda]

This was 72? It was crack and smack in the early 70s?? Damn 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@seanlewis1148]

Crack didnt hit the streets of Compton until the 80's in

[@JRTexx]

Wow! What happened to this city in such a short period of time? Im from Houston, so forgive me, but I didn't know there were sooo many educated, well spoken brothers and sisters in this city's rich history. Its a shame that all we know about Compton today is NWA, Bloods, and Crips.

[@ronaldwilliams3182]

sorry but sarcasm won't get you anywhere smdh!

[@JRTexx]

@@ronaldwilliams3182 no sarcasm here. I think you misinterpreted my comment. I enjoyed this piece. I was simply stating as someone from another state, (im black btw) that I had no idea Compton's origins were of good stock. This is not something mainstream media shows today.

[@AB-fm2zn]

@@JRTexx many blacks from the south migrated to the north, north east and west seeking work... Many hoods changed from white to black during the early 60s. "white flight" they call it.

[@s3hooligan]

@@AB-fm2zn that is 100% correct. When my relatives moved to Compton after WWII, Compton was mostly Jewish.

[@hereisayana8207]

They shut down factories for work, withdrew funds from the community, removed Father's from the home with welfare and brought crack in, leading to more prisons

[@hufair2215]

Cool beat

[@sirpoppinchuck]

So glad the young lady got her super market in Compton about like 5 years ago I wanted to go support but I live in Chicago. Goos for her we need black chains of supermarkets then we can hire our own n employ are own n help our own, black farmers, food products, cleaning products, etc… 💰💰💰💜🤔

[@jbone6993]

Price less Footage thank you

[@raskltube]

they just need more midnight basket ball, free stuff, and various other "programs"

[@SuperJuniorquintero]

Why play in the very beginning of the video Ras Kass's - Miami Life, if this is about Compton, California?

[@seanlewis1148]

Kass is from the turf....Carson

[@anthonypaige9455]

I wonder if the guy with the Afro and the white shirt is ayotollah marv

[@frankturcios6075]

Damn Rass Kass on the start of the video

[@samfry71]

Is that Ayatollah Marv in the discussion scene?

[@7MPhonemicEnglish]

The general takeaway from this video is that the drugs and broken family problems were severe even way back then. They say that blacks moved in, but from where and why? Was the housing cost lower? If most of the whites worked outside the city, why didn't the blacks? How did they buy houses or pay that first month's rent to begin with? Why were dads leaving? It seems that there were a number of unhelpful influences that worsened the problem or distracted blacks into fruitless pursuits.

[@johnniejackson9794]

Rass Kass was my shit salute

[@TransparencyandMerit]

Degeneracy seems to be the biggest problem with all Americans

[@BlaccHenry411]

It looks like in the 70s. People were very much aware of how society was gonna transpire at some point but they wasn't able to maintain it over time completely that's goes for america as a whole (MESSAGE) 💯👏🏾🎯

[@wa798]

This is right when the shit just started. Compton Crips were just starting off & heavy gunplay didn’t start for a few more years. It’s ill seeing this footage before it got real wild, I would love to see some Compton & Watts footage in the late 70s when things had really developed with both Crip & Piru

[@duke9430]

Hub City

[@slash4real872]

Me as a black Los Angelino thanks brother for this black history

[@yomuffin4202]

Unity: when i can find myself then i can help another bro/sis

[@Blade-ts9fr]

That community activist is a young Ayatola Marv.

[@GH-zg2wu]

Wonder why crime increased in the 70s

[@larryjenkins8526]

Because black's moved in

[@yushuahuesun9423]

@@larryjenkins8526 oppression and poverty. Put a two men in a cave with only one meal and see what happens.

[@LoveTruth86]

It increased all over the country as the economic conditions in the United States declined.

[@whyseman375]

Was that Ayotolla Marv?

[@anthonydorkins3362]

12:12 that’s ayatollah marv

[@AllStarLeague07]

Man WTF y'all know bout that Ras Kass Soul On Ice tho!!!!

[@chilltown11]

What are you gonna import some nose rings 😂😂😂😂😂

[@lilsonicdeucemacc52716]

Compton was nothing to play with bacc in the day you better know where from when you in that city frfr...

[@seanlewis1148]

Seen it all witnessed it all. Chased by Pirus cause I went to an all Crip school....chased by Crips cause I stayed in a Piru hood.

[@lilsonicdeucemacc52716]

@seanlewis1148 I believe it, cuh I can only imagine

[@willjackson1282]

Piru Marv that’s him

[@numberwon2734]

CLASSIC CPT Footage,But why "MIAMI LIFE" playing in the beginning???? there's way too many CPT CLASSICS that couldve/should've been played

[@josecarranza7555]

4:00 Making excuses for crime.

[@mrniceguy7168]

12:50 - that poor man arguing with children

[@TransparencyandMerit]

Lack of recreational activity being the cause of crime seems like a bunch of nonsense

[@34uzz78]

Why wouldn’t it be? When you have nothing other than 8 hours of school and no jobs what else will you do?

[@TransparencyandMerit]

@@34uzz78 I have worked with Youth, and I and many others can tell you bad behavior has an appeal all its own. I have found that most young males act badly because they think it's a turn-on for the chicks, and sometimes it is. No amount of programs can replace the family. The family is the greatest poverty and crime fighter out there. No program is a bigger deterrent than a father telling his son to stop being stupid

[@34uzz78]

@@TransparencyandMerit nobody is saying that programs can replace family obviously a combination of both is needed kids need to explore themselves in order to properly express themselves and find their way the best way to do that is by offering programs that include the arts, music, sports or physical activities etc while interacting with other kids in the community in a positive environment. What else will you do when you’re in a bad neighborhood and all you see is crime even if your family is there if they don’t have nickels to rub together or they’re not emotionally supporting them (or both) kids will leach to the streets

[@TransparencyandMerit]

@@34uzz78 Degeneracy has a strong appeal. In China, they blow drug addicts away, and the family pays for the bullet. Singapore has judicial canning. Besides, family punishment is the most effective way to deal with degenerate criminals who inflict pain on the innocent

[@Michael-fh6lw]

Even with " white flight" Compton ( and South Central LA) were CLEANER AND SAFER IN THE 70s. You had a city with it's OWN community College and public school district, light and medium industry , an airport , it's own police and fire dept. 70% of the residents OWNED their own homes- a higher percentage than must nearby cities. What happened? Yeah, white flight, Prop 13, decline of nearby aircraft industry and auto industry ( Downey, South Gate, Long Beach) and sadly the drug epidemic of the 80s, which financed the street gangs. When people focus on ( then predominantly black and now predominantly latino) Compton, they should also LOOK at what happened to predominantly working class small cities in Kentucky, Ohio , New Jersey and Pennsylvania which also suffered similar loss of social and economic support systems. Then a city of 78,000, Compton now has over 120,000 and very few new housing developments.....

[@tylerstadt8719]

Love that PBS jingle.

[@wakeupamericaandresist2413]

Man I love your channel, let’s all be real? I’m and old white dude that types with one finger 🥴😂 Anyway if anyone does not know what made America great ? Well let me educate you, it was because of great men and women with a different skin color that worked there ass off for 310 years for free. And it’s sad, and now all the the monies that made these white men rich on free labor, now corporate America has followed the game plan. It’s time for Americans to stand together and don’t let the money people divide us. I believe if all us working people that work all week just stop working for a week or two in unison 😂😂😂 that will wake up these punks in Washington

[@rloperfido3817]

Yes definitely right. Also need to stop using race as justification for committing crimes & violence. it doesn't help a race move forward actually set you back & saying cant get jobs as a black person but in the same city theres a black mayor also black police officers in the 70s but somehow it's a racist society & have to resort to crime & violence somehow that suppose to stop racism??

[@psa8420]

We were all together and started a revolution that they knew they would lose. They gave one group land, homes, money and businesses, they gave another group land, homes and a lil money, and another group land, homes, and guaranteed jobs, and another group small homes and jobs. The last group, they told them how every other group turned their back on them and wanted them as laborers. So sorry but never trust em.. Y'all lost a whole country for manager positions at the plantations. Sell outs

[@commanderstargazer8895]

Miami life Ras Kass and Coolio

[@erickellogg8532]

i dont care what color your skin is we are brothers and sisters.

[@showmestatefinest5412]

Nope only my kind are my brothers and sisters

[@dee6054]

Song @ 1:25??

[@Thollis1987]

Miami Life

[@PeruvianPotato]

​@@Thollis1987 Based subs

[@fredojames6135]

Why don’t you put the song in the description you know we gonna want to know🤨

[@HezakyaNewz]

Miami Life...Ras Kass

[@fredojames6135]

Thanks

[@damienwiley2312]

The whole album is called soul on ice, there is a joint called nature of the threat on that album that all people should hear. Check it out..

[@santonior2]

If you watched THEM this is your research.

[@omartalavera3989]

Old school shit! 👍

[@rothneygoodridge1415]

What is that track in the beginning

[@rothneygoodridge1415]

Rass kass. Got it

[@blacktacular503]

Yo, this is something else, get it

[@killbreastali3228]

Dope 👍

[@pbrown7142]

Compton was a model city.

[@sansee6840]

@2:30 I thought he was rapping in a music video...

[@jaleelmuhammad9659]

“What could we get from Africa but nose rings” 🤦🏾

[@qaze0338]

Hollywatts 108th & Wilmington keeping it real.

[@ArtisanWindchimes]

Them