Most of what the world envisions of the period of westward expansion in America has been crafted through Hollywood cinema. The myths of the West are so ingrained in America's culture that they have taken on a truth all their own. In a series of recent films, which began with the release of "Boyz N the Hood," Hollywood is at it again, presenting what it calls a "realistic" view of life in America's black ghettos. In Hollywood's creation of "the hood," black youth are prone to acts of heinous violence. Black males seem unaware of the cycle of violence they create, and violence against other than black males is not only accepted, it is encouraged. How can violence against black males be stopped when they are constantly portrayed as instigators and perpetrators of their own condition? The films of "the hood" construct the black male as being synonymous with violence. The longer this trend continues, the greater the danger of it becoming an internalized part of culture. The "reality" Hollywood is creating must be questioned. Hollywood cannot be allowed to hide behind black film makers and terms like "gritty" and "realistic" to market this product. The notion that the "Hood" films reflect reality is the most troubling convention of the genre. (Contains 41 references.) (Author/SLD)