Book
Reviews
Monster by
Sanyika Shakur
(383 pgs)
This is the autobiography of a former Crip.
Most of the book explains and describes the mindset, culture,
and activities of gang members in an anecdotal fashion. It
also describes Shakur's departure from gangsterism and his
thoughts on black nationalism and the factors behind gangs.
It's a pretty interesting book but I'd recommend Malcolm X's
autobiography way over this book.
some excerpts
Today, of course, Crips are the number-one killer
of Crips. In fact, Crips have killed more Crips in the last
twelve years than the Bloods have killed in the entire twenty-two-year
conflict. (19-20)
This was before the influx of narcotics, primarily
crack. We were all the same economic status - broke. Now,
with so many "ghetto rich" homeboys from every set,
no place is beyond the grasp of bangers. (46)
With each new generation of Crip and Blood
bangers comes a more complex system, which is now reaching
institutional proportions. It is precisely because of this
type of participation in the development and expansion of
these groups' mores, customs, and philosophies that gangbanging
will never be stopped from without. The notion of the "war
on gangs" being successful is as realistic as the People's
Republic of China telling Americans to stop being American.
When gang members stop their wars and find that there is no
longer a need for their sets to exist, banging will cease.
But until then, all attempts by law enforcement to seriously
curtail its forward motion will be in vain. (79)
For a youth with no other hope in a system
that excludes them, the gang becomes their corporation, college,
religion, and life. It is in this reality that gang members
go to the extreme with tattoos. I now have "Eight Trays"
written across my neck and "Crips" on my chest.
Ever see George Bush with "Republican" on his chest
or "Capitalist" on his neck? (118)
In January of 1991, I was captured by the
L.A.P.D. for assault and grand theft auto. These charges stemmed
form a healthy beating I had given to a stubborn crack dealer
who had refused to stop selling his product on my corner.
His van was confiscated because of his stubborn insistence,
which led to the GTA charge. I make no excuses for this, and
I have no regrets. When the police and other government agencies
don't seem to care about what is going on in our communities,
then those of us who live in them must take personal responsibility
for their protection and maintenance. As it turned out, this
specific dealer was also a paid police informant. (379)
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