Coercive Power In The Movie Juice Movie

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The major motion picture film Juice is set in New York City in the 1980’s the film follows a group of four friends by the names of Q played by Omar Epps, Bishop played by Tupac Shakur, Steel played by Jermaine Hopkins, and Raheem played by Khalil Kain, as they navigate the rough and tough streets of Harlem. This film tells the story of how innocent mischief among teenage boys always has the potential to become something much more serious. Tired of being harassed by a local Puerto Rican gang the group of friends decide to purchase a gun, at the suggestion of Bishop. Power hungry and desperate for respect Bishop decides that the group must do even more to gain their respect, or “juice” and they decide to rob a neighborhood convenient store. The …show more content…

After the group of friends rob a convenient store, and Bishop kills the owner for no reason, the group runs to a nearby abandon building. Bishops coercive power stems from the fact that he’s the one with control and possession of the gun, while the rest of the group is without a gun. During a physical struggle between Bishop and Raheem, over why Bishop killed the store owner, Bishop kills his friend Raheem in cold blood. Bishop killing Raheem instantly solidified his ability to wield his coercive power over the two other remaining friends, Q and Steel. After Bishop kills Raheem the three remaining friends run to another abandoned building while sirens wale in the background. It is here where Bishop first puts his new found coercive power to the test. Bishop, gun in hand explains to his friends that they’re going to do things his way from now on, and if either of them have a problem with it they can handle it here and now. Bishop also gives Q and Steel an alibi to go by if, or when they are questioned by the police. Q and Steel both timidly agree to all of Bishops demands for fear of being punished, the punishment in this case being shot, and possibly death. Also, the fact that Q and Steel have physically witnessed the lengths Bishop is willing to go to when they witnessed him murder their friend Raheem only strengthens the coercive power Bishop

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