In 2005, the film “Animal” starring Ving Rhames as Animal and Terrence Howard as his son Darius was released. Darius fell into gang life while his father was incarcerated as if to carry on the family tradition.
This movie displayed how without proper guidance from the parent, or willingness to obtain an education, the cycle of poverty and social disenfranchisement will continue. The Black community is especially vulnerable to this generational cycle of dysfunction.
“You only do what you see,” said Darick Rhodes, a prominent 20-year veteran firefighter, chief and captain for the Bloomington Fire Department who recently retired.
The Minneapolis native, raised on Chicago and Franklin avenues, actually had another career in mind before becoming a firefighter. His first career choice was to join law enforcement like other members of his family.