 This helped to put a positive spotlight on Harlem, which at the time was ravaged with crime.Seeing that the film would be shot in Harlem, featuring large crowd scenes, such as riots and rallies, John Shabazz and the Black Citizens Patrol volunteered to control the scenes with their experience in keeping out unwanted spectators and policing traffic.The Black Citizens Patrol’s purpose was to protect the black community from itself, so they made themselves available at all times, even operating as an escort service.