hbo create this show for purpose of make u see the most realistic view of prison possible and they do a hell of a job . oz be create by the creator of homicide who want to show a raw version of prison . this show be what launch the idea of every other hbo original program such a the soprano and sex and the city and the wire and arliss and deadwood and and six foot under amongst others . oz be the nickname for the oswald state penetentiary and a fictional prison in some u state which be never state ( though with the accent and crime scene and and racial distribution ny be assume ) . the main prison unit look at on the show be emerald city and a seemingly ideal prison unit with more privlages than others think out by a liberal unit manager name tim mcmanus . overall this show show u what it be really like if one wish to survive in prison . there be about 10 gang show on oz . first we have the muslim and a group of black who wish to destroy the injustice of the criminal justice system and help improve living condition for black everywhere . they be lead by kareem say a black militant minister who wish to destroy everything racist about the judicial system . a a group they be not so much anti white but rather anti injustice . our second group of black be the homeboy who be essentially the street black who wish to keep all the bad ghetto behavior up and run the drug trade . their leadership varies mainly because they be always lose member due to violence . in this group and one character who be act terrifically be simon adebisi . adebisi be an african inmate who be essentially the most frighteningly evil character alive . this gang a a whole get side help from the irish at time and be always in conflict with the latino and sicilian for drug distribution purpose . be that oz be mostly black and the homeboy have the most soldier of any gang inside . the latino and sicilian and like the homeboy have vary leadership due to violent death that occur throughout the show . the sicilian pretty much have the most substantial say in how any illegal activity get conduct in oz . the latino make their presence know so that they can at least be coast well if they be not in control . unlike the homeboy however and these gang do not have as much internal battle for power and be usually more stable when it come to drug usage . the irish who be mention above be a small gang lead by a manipulative and snakelike ryan oreily . oreily always manage to stay in good grace with all the drug power and manages to manipulate thing in his way whenever he want . they be in no illegal control but they be at least on good term with all those who be . amongst the whiter inmate and we have the bikers and aryan . the bikers be merely a bunch of tattooed drug user who help the aryan out most of the time . the aryan be the most hated and hateful gang to most any viewer of oz . they be lead by vern schillinger who be amongst the most racist and sick and and sadistic character one will ever see . both gang control nothing illegal and they just merely let the darker skin inmate see that they be a substantial threat to anyone who think all white inmate be soft . we also have the others . the others be a gang of outsider prisoner who be not necessarily a problem to any other inmate . in this group we see tobias beecher and a lawyer who accidentally kill a young girl whose life be forever alter by prison . we also see augustus hill and a black man bound to a wheelchair for kill a police officer who narrate the show and introduce the audience to every inmate . the character crime be show a they be introduce and augustus let u know how long they will be in prison . finally amongst gang and there be the christian and gay . the christian merely stay religious to keep from go mental and the gay be a bunch of cross dresser who be often rap by other inmate . this show get in depth on a lot of issue deal with the criminal justice system and be more explicit than any movie about prison . since language be unedited and we here more racial epithet and cuss word than we would on any other tv show . augustus hill commentary provide a good way for u to truly understand each and every issue involve with oz . this show as good a it be be not at all for the light to medium hearted . it explicitly show drug use and distribution by any mean possible and prison rape and murder and fatal stabbings and and general gore than anything anyone else have see . in my opinion it be the most influential and great show ever create but i can see at the same time why other people would be disturb by this show . if you be at all interested by show and movie about prison and oz be a must see .