Customer Reviews

The Most Dangerous Gang in America: NYPD

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This tale is told in one man's opinion of what he thinks of the NYPD. The book is so self-explanatory that it's kind of hard for me to say something regarding it. Mr. Jeanty hit on a lot of topics regarding police injustice, particularly towards the black male. However, the police don't seem to discriminate on who they gun down.

This is a story that you can read and have a variety of opinions regarding the context of it. Richard Jeanty allows you to see just how he feels regarding all illegal activity from both sides of the fence. Young black males that commit crimes as if they don't have any common sense to realize they could do much more with their lives. He talks about dirty cops as well as a few good cops. But overall, this story was just one man's opinion regarding police activity in not only New York, but in a few other cities as well.

I won't say I enjoyed reading this story because Mr. Jeanty was very adamant on how he felt regarding a lot of situations; however, a lot of his points were valid. Had he left out some of the repetitiveness in everything he had to say, it would have gone over a bit smoothly.

Reviewed by Angie
for Urban Reviews

This book does little more than point fingers in an attempt to sell copies. Yes the author points out many sad and shocking incidents, but he fails to explore the climates that lead to them in the first place. No one would deny that some cops join with prior prejudices. Still the problem is wider than just police out of control. By reflecting the blame completely away from the black community Jeanty fails to break any new ground or provide a solution.This is the type of read that will appeal to people who have already made up their narrow minds about the subject. People who would rather be victims than problem solvers. People who refuse to look at the multiple destructive influences at play in the black community. Jeanty has failed to address serious issues like the belief that ultimately a community should police itself and that a police force is supposed to reflect the people it serves so if blacks feel victimized they should make a point of becoming officers not pointing fingers.He also missed an opportunity to break down the vicious cycle where good officers get ground down in dead end neighborhoods and black youth in those neighborhoods get victimized by the same officers. Both contributing to a spiral of pain and violence

251Pgs


This book is Intriguing, interesting, high-quality, valuable, compelling and sad. It is also an eye opener to both men and women of the minority that is in search of knowledge into what really goes on in the "JUST-US" system.

I had no idea of the extent black men "go" through in the hands of not only the NYPD but also in many other cities in the USA. Sure I read the New York Times and CNN online and occassionally listen to local headline news on the radio while in traffic, but Jeanty pulls you in exposing in-depth information you wouldn't ordinarily find. He takes a step-by-step approach in uncovering the roots of specific past news briefings of minorities, blacks in particular.

His research must have been extremely time consuming!

------------------Long Review Short--------------

He starts out by stating that this book is the voice of his personal frustrations and/or Opinions so, readers and or reviewers by no means should you get upset. He states his claim up front!!! He wants people to know, feel, recieve and to show us that unfair treatment among minorities is clear and evident TODAY!

To say that this story needed to be told is an understatement! As a NYC resident I knew that the names of victims like Sean Bell, Amadou Diallo and Abner Louima garnered national attention. But what about names like Alberta Spruill, Patrick Dorismond or Anthony Baez who also died at the hands of those who are sworn to serve and protect? Those victims of the NYPD's over zealousness have been seared into my brain and there stories will be seared into the brains of the readers of Richard Jeanty's non-fiction debut The Most Dangerous Gang in America: The NYPD.

Alberta Spruil was a 57 year old Harlem resident who was readying herself to go to her city job of over 27 years, when an unsubstantiated tip from a confidential informant caused NYC's finest to kick in her door while utilizing a concussion grenade. The loud noise and flash from which caused her to go into cardiac arrest and die.

Patrick Dorismond was a 26 year old security guard unwinding after work in a Manhattan bar. Upon exiting he was approached by an undercover officer who asked him to sell him some marijuana. Rightfully offended by the request the NYPD version is that Dorismond took at swing at the undercover officer who had yet to identify himself and for that he received a fatal bullet to his chest.

But what was more disturbing then Dorismond's untimely death is that then Mayor Rudolph Guiliani not only released a statement in defense of his overaggressive police department stating that Dorismond was "no altar boy" he also released Dorismond's sealed juvenile record. These are the actions that are rightfully highlighted in Richard Jeanty's book. It's not just the unjustified killings by NYPD of innocent people it is the extensive cover-ups or defamations of the victim's characters that take place. Sean Bell's friends were harassed while Patrick Dorismond's home was searched all with the hopes of finding information that would make their deaths' justifiable.

At times throughout the book Jeanty does becomes passionate and tends to ramble but with subject matter so harrowing and it's effects upon himself and any person of color his passion and rambling are understandable. An understanding that I'm sure readers will be rambling about at the end of their read.

I just got through reading this book and I feel it's a much needed book in the African American community. Jeanty expounds on the fact that police officers are especially brutal when dealing with black people, while also raising our awareness to our contribution of the problem. White people will have a hard time unerstanding this book because their prejudice minds won't allow them to see the injustice in America. This book is very objective as it relates to the subject. There's no scapegoating or blames on either side. It's straight facts and truth!

This book tells of something most African-Americans are already aware of from experience. But Jeanty goes in depth, especially with all the murders that dirty cops commit on a regular. As Jeanty stated NY is not the only place where this is taking place, it's everywhere. What do we as a people do????????

THIS WAS ONE POWERFUL BOOK....IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES CAUSE I REMEMBER THESE CASES....IT'S REAL OUT HERE. HE INFORMING YOU THAT THIS IS REAL NOT A JOKE.HE'S NOT TELLING YOU TO JUDGE. JUST TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE BAD COPS OUT THERE. INFORMATION THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE. THESE SENSELESS KILLING HAS TO STOP. WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH. THESE COPS HAS GOT TO DO BETTER.

I HIGHLY RECOMMED THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE....INCLUDING THE GANGS OF NY

This was a pretty interesting read that made some pretty valid points. In response to the previous post, especially since he didn't even bother to READ the book before commenting, this book states clear facts on previous police cases were the NYPD made a boo-boo then came back and tried to put a band-aid on it. The thing is, this happens all the time nationwide. One man just chose to state his opinion on it. I enjoyed the read, and I found it very informative. I guess the next time I watch the news and a man is gunned down a hundred times and no gun was found on him I'll know how to feel. This goes back to that movie Set It Off when the guy that played Jada Pinkett's brother was killed because he had a gang sign shaved into his head. They opened fire on him and all he had was a liquor bottle. He didn't have any prior convictions and was on his way to college. Yeah, that was a movie, but it happens in real life every single day. Richard, this was a job well done. Keep putting it out there for those of us that really want to know what's going on. And just like the previous post was written with a hidden identity, corrupt officers of the law that are supposed to protect and serve will continue to hide behind the badge.