Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Colton Simpson (Author), Ann Pearlman (Author), Ice T (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2005

A memoir of the author's life as a Crip-beginning at the tender age of ten in the mid-seventies-and his prison turnaround nearly twenty-five years later

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After being physically and emotionally abused by his mother and her live-in boyfriend, Colton Simpson moved in with his grandmother. She took care of him and brought him to church, but Simpson still became Li'l Cee. This was his name among the Crips, and on the night he was initiated into the gang-the same day that he hit a home run in Little League-he shot two men at a gas station. He was ten years old. In this often enthralling and emotional memoir, Simpson takes readers inside his life with the gang, from the time he joined through his 16-month prison sentence and to his leaving the Crips. Some passages are quite graphic and can drag on a bit too long, and some of Simpson's turns of phrase can seem a bit awkward or overdramatic. ("The tumbling dominoes of my life events lose their velocity.") But the world Simpson evokes with Pearlman's help is fascinating, and his narrative is clearly heartfelt. For those readers willing to look, the book provides a window into an often misunderstood way of life.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The Crips, one of two notorious L.A. street gangs that have attained national prominence, is a famously difficult organization from which to retire alive. Colton "C-Loc" Simpson did, however, and now provides an insider's perspective on day-to-day life in the Crips, the gang's history (including quite a bit about its rival, the Bloods), and the plight of growing up in the 'hood while wanting a better life. To free himself from poverty and constant physical danger, Simpson made some changes. His former wife Gina once accused him of "acting White." He replied, "You think I'm some bourgeoisie Negro? My changes aren't negative and White. They're positive and pro-Black"--which reveals both changed attitude and just how wide the racial-cultural gulf has become. Though gritty, Simpson's story is by no means hopeless. "Life is something to live and do, not to verbalize," he says shortly before signing off with "In Struggle, Little Cee (Loc, no more)." This unvarnished portrayal of gang life is enlightening and even inspiring about a subject badly in need of illumination. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (July 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312329296
• ASIN: B0012LUMQ8
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,309,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I thought it was a good book, June 4, 2006

By 

J. Massie "J Mass" (Fresno, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang (Hardcover)

Before I read this book, I came and read these reviews, and I wondered why are people talkin about monster's book, when this is about Colton's book. Now after I have read this book I see why, this book is very similar, just replace killing crips with killing bloods, I could have even sworn I remeber some passages that are the same,(EX. How the prisoners treated the busters in jail), and there are some people mentioned in both books, besides that, I thought it was an intresting book, it gives very detalied descripsions about what goes on in the life of a crip. A lot of people don't realize that growing up in gang neiborhoods, being in a gang isn't so much by choice, my father grew up in San deigo, he had been around some of the gang members, lil brothers and cousins. When he was old enough, he was asked to join the bloods, when he said he'd think about it, they chased him home, everyday until he decided that he would join. These books give a lil insite to their world and lets people see what's it really like, in these streets, and gives knowledge to the young ones hoping they would choose a different path. Although I thinks Mosters book is a better read, this book is also very good, if intresed, you should definetly read one of these books.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book About A Terrible Lifestyle!, April 26, 2006

By 

Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang (Hardcover)

Ice T sets the tone for "Inside the Crips," writing in the forward that "masculinity is at a premium in the 'hood; wealth is defined by violence, aggression, and strength. Gang wars are no stupider than other other war. Crips are even more powerful in penitentiaries - prison doesn't teach good citizenship. It teaches violence."

Carlton Simpson, author and central figure, is the son of a former professional baseball player (7 years with L.A. Dodgers). Carlton's father left home when he was four, and he was abused by his mother; Carlton nonetheless received love and strong guidance living with his grandmother. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough - he left after a Little League game to be "jumped into" the Crips, and then shoot two bloods - all at the age of ten.

Expelled from school for selling drugs, his grandmother tried sending him to two others, with no success. Carlton's education ended with the 8th grade. Numerous shootings and jewelry store robberies later he is caught, and sentenced to seven years in juvenile. Out in half the time at age 19, he continues his destructive behavior.

Gang warfare is greatly intensified within prison confines - one wonders how anyone makes it out in one piece. Guard abuse and brutality adds to the danger. Regardless, upon release Carlton returns to his modis operandi.

Six months after being released, Simpson is again arrested and sentenced to 24 years for robbery and attempted murder (shooting and seriously wounding a bystander who tried to stop him). At age 33 Simpson is again paroled, having supposedly gained insight on the pointlessness of ganbanging, while blaming White people for much/most of his problems. (Particularly disturbing is his wife's leaving him after he began reforming in prison - Carlton was sounding "too White.")

"Inside the Crips" ends with Carlton working for Ice T (an acquaintance during his early years). Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story, however, Carlton has again been arrested for participating in a jewelry robbery and is awaiting trial. This would be his third strike, if convicted, and the end of what could have been a useful life. (One uncle was a lawyer, another an LA policeman.)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars V.P. Inksmith & Rogers Inc., September 27, 2005

By 

Beverly "Beverly Bradner" (Mora,New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang (Hardcover)

I have to say I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it,I found it to be exciting,and it gave me a look into another type of life alot of people can't dream of living. This book inspired me to work with youth that need to learn another way of living. Ann Pearlman and Colton Simpson together have told a true life story that would make a wonderful movie. This book leaves you wanting to know more!