Damn! No one ask The History Channel or A&E what's the purpose of profiling Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, but they do it anyway. Why? America is fascinated with outlaw culture. I know that the media has a poor track record in their portrayal of blacks, but America Gangster is more than that. It wasn't made to instill pride in Black Youth or glorify the crimes of these Gangsters. It's purpose is to tell the stories of these criminals and the circumstances that led to their lifestyle choices as well as the people and community they impacted and the outcome surrounding their actions.
So far American Gangster has accomplished that purpose on all fronts. It doesn't glorify nor offer an apology. It is what is.
Myself, I'm glad BET decided to do a show profiling black gangsters because that's a hidden history most Americans in the mainstream are unaware of, and some members of the black community are ashamed of acknowledging.