Customer Reviews

Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir

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Tookie Williams seeks to set the record straight as to the origins of the Crips and the true founders of the gang. Williams spends a considerable amount of time detailing the fictional accounts of the gang which have emerged over the years. Some of which have been offered up to improve the credibility or support some project the authors of such stories were involved with. As should be expected of a man in his position, the stories are muted in concern to the violence committed by Tookie himself and he takes it to the limit declaring he had a strong dislike of guns and refused to have them around him. His telling of his relationship with Curtis Morrow 'Mr. Buddha' was excellent and at times strangely touching. Much remains to be said of the legacy Mr. Williams will foster out of his professed redemption, but this is a much better telling than any of the previous works offered on the formation of the crips.

This book is seperated into two sections. The first half being, Blue Rage and the second, Black redemption. Their's different titled chapters compiled into each section. The first half of the book is about Stan's life from being a child in Lousiana until he gets arrested in South Central Los Angeles in 1979 for the four murders he was convicted of commiting. The second half is about his educational and spiritual transition in prison along with certain events and situations.

Stanley's views are extremly intresting and worth thinking about with an open mind. Things like his views about what "dys-education" is, religeon, brotherhood, spirituality, drugs, cultural education and it's importance.

His thoughts about his friend's Buddah, Evil and Treach are sad, and even uplifting at times. His educational studies on death row with Treach and Evil along with his exercising disiplines are very thought provoking also.

We outside of prison seem to be getting a school-based education for the sake of financial success. Stan can't do that. His transition is based on studies we need to perform here in our daily lives along with our children.

This book is not your typical urban-entertainment about being a gangster or a rap song compiled into book-form. This is a very articulated insight into the cycle of poverty, racism, violence, redemption, edification, transition and enlightenment.

A must read for everyone.

Rest in peace Stan. I miss you.

I went onto this review page hoping to read some genuine feedback about the book, not read personal judgements and opinions regarding the author.

The law also states that people who witness a murder are equally responsible for the person who actually committed the crime. So those of you that have hate in your heart and wish death on Tookie Williams, better be prepared to answer for your actions/involvement as well.

God has not given us authority to pass judgement on anyone. And there is no sin greater than the next, be it murder, lying , stealing, adultery....whatever. When you get to the pearly gates, God is not going to say...oh you just cheated on your wife no big deal...or you only told a little white lie. No each one of us will be judged the same. And more than our sins He will judge our hearts intent, and what we did with our time here on earth.

By the looks of these "reviews", many of you are simply wasting your time on earth judging other people, and wishing death on another human being. I bet none of you can name one thing that you've done personally to make a difference in our society. Gimme a break! If there was no such thing as redemption we wouldn't be here as a human race. We are redeemed each day we wake up and get another chance at life.

Stanley Tookie Williams died with integrity and at peace. He refused a special meal. He declined final words. And He maintained his innocence to his last breath as he should have. He knows and God knows what his involvement was, if any in those crimes for. And I really feel sorry for the individuals that orchestrated the execution, from the person that inserted the first needle, to the witnesses in the room...but especially Arnold....They all have Tookie's blood on their hands.

Many people have a tendency to speak about things that they have no prior info about the subject. I see that is the case here. here are the facts.

-For over 25 years, even to is death, Tookie denies killing those 4 people.

-Tookie has apologiezed for creating the crips.

-He has tried to undo what he helped create by writing books.

[Why he should have been saved]

Tookie didn't want clemecy because he thought it was a better punishment for him. He wanted it so he couls continue his work. I am a "At-Risk" teenager, and I personally would listen to the creator of the crips about gangs, rather than listen to some white guy in a tie. Even if he did do the crimes that he was charged with, who are we to say he deserves to die? Last time I checked, someone named God makes those decisions.

This is the life story of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the legendary founder of the Crips street gang turned America's foremost street peacemaker. This book greatly expands and clarifies the story told in "Redemption", the excellent cable movie starring Jamie Foxx

"Blue Rage, Black Redemption" is an incredible piece of well-written literature in its own right---notwithstanding the ultimate fate of the author---and it is a damning indictment of a cold, callous society. It describes the unchecked poverty, violence and broken schools of South Central that spawned the Crip phenomenon. And it describes Tookie's Herculean efforts to redeem himself from within the walls of San Quentin.

[The added material in this reprint by Tookie's friend Barbara Becnel is especially welcome in the context of today's ongoing debate over capital punishment in California.]

If you read this book with an open mind, you would learn that the Crips gang started out as just uniting other gangs around South Central. Stan was a mischivous little boy who I believe had potiental to do great things if only he was given the opprutunity. He says that living in South Central you had to have the mentality of "Survial of the fittest". And that's where the fights with other males really began, I believe. Much of the information about his case is left out but there are clues that connect someone else to the crimes. Hint: The people who let him keep his weights at their house after not having a permenant place to stay. Right before his grandmother died she said she had a feeling that Stan needed to get outta LA because something bad was going to happen.
I'm going to stop there and hopefully this information has interested you enough to read this wonderful book that will hopefully open your eyes to a positive light.

This is a powerful book. I think any hood person or those that judge the hood or Tookie should read this book. I will most def order the other Tookie Williams books.

Tookie was a man who believed in the greater good of his people. He was misunderstood and a strong force to be reckin' with. Tookie was able to change his life behind bars and wrote several books as well. Tookie was put to death shortly after the first edition was put out. This is the 2nd edition with some add ons. A great book for anyone who needs some inspiration in their lives! a must read. Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir

I read this book for my African American Men History class and I found this man work both profound and interesting. Everyone in life should not be limited redemption in lieu of their mistakes and choices. No one really knows if he committed the crime or not.

The only person he has to answer to is God not the media, politicians, and preeminent leaders in society. Everyone in prison is not a criminal. People have to measure a person right before making harsh jugments among them.

Thank you Tookie for writing such a powerful memoir that many people can relate to. Maybe one day the nay-sayers will understand the missive behind forgiveness and redemption.

This book is an incredible inside look into the life of a natural born leader. Sadly, he was born into an environment of violence and crime, and expressed his leadership through creating the most powerful gang in LA.

This enlightened memoir weaves autobiographical stories with sociological commentaries. He is a great writer, and I was really pulled in to the story.

He does fall short in not recognizing that his mom beating him also had an influence on his violent tendancies. He pedestalizes her and will not place any responsibility on her aggressive parenting style as a contributor in his miseducation. It is a forgivable offense, as this book achieves what it was meant to do - tell the story and dispel the myths of how and why gangs form. It's so inspiring it's compelling me into action to support efforts to revitalize the inner city and provide opportunities where there are few. It's brought me a much greater sense of compassion for those drawn into the 'thug life.'