By Felicia PrideWhile spending time in prison, former gang member Dashuan "Jiwe" Morris, wrote a letter to publicist, activist and author of Black Pain, Terrie M. Williams. They began corresponding back and forth and she eventually brought his writing to her publisher, Scribner, who published his memoir seven months later.
The finished product, War of the Bloods in My Veins: A Street Soldier's March Toward Redemption, is a raw narrative about Morris's life as a member of the Bloods street gang, which he joined at a very young age. He writes, "In the darkness of the streets, my childhood is murdered....I am reborn--a gangster."
The book is not an easy read. Morris, who was involved in his first drive-by at age 11, doesn't hold back in telling his story, including those parts which make your heart cringe.Beyond his harsh story, the book tries to offer renewed insight into gangs like:
- Depression is the root of the gang problem. With young people thrust into adult roles prematurely, they become overwhelmed by responsibility. Thus, they often crave the comfort of a tight-knit, family-like structure.
- Gang culture is a war. It is a subculture of America which exists everywhere, under various guises, but always with the same objective. It is not, as often believed, an issue of religion, race, or class.
- Like many gang members, Morris lived a double life; all-American jock by day, violent offender and drug dealer by night. This duality means that gang members are not, as once believed, easily identified by clothing, colors and signs. Rather, they are becoming part of the larger culture--no longer simply the product of dangerous, though contained, inner cities.
In the afterword, Terrie M. Williams writes, "I've never believed that people are born evil. And though I know it may be close to impossible for some of you to believe, the fact is that the majority of the young people who have taken those lives are remorseful. They are damaged beyond imagination, unable to feel joy--waiting their turn to die. To quote a soldier who recently returned from the war who said, 'The killings in Iraq were legal--but it doesn't make it right in your soul.' Death and violence, no matter if it's sanctioned by the government or desperate criminal street-gang activity, carry the same mental scars."
Morris's raw memoir is an attempt at healing some of those scars and helping others realize that gang life is mental illness.
Now that Morris has seen the light, he's on a mission to reform the concept of "gang culture" into one that protects and supports the community through positive measures.
But can gang culture be reformed?
Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.
1. Gangsta's are involved in ant-life and devil worshipping cults..I'm pretty sure that if you were to ask a blood thugs who beelzebul is many don't even have a clue..here's the answer the name is given to the evil one meaning the cheif of evil spirits...that's exactly why they are involved in heartless ruthless anti-live destructive behavior....
HERU ASET MAAT at 3:49PM on Apr 17th 2008