Customer Reviews

UPRISING: Crips and Bloods Tell the Story of America's Youth In The Crossfire

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This book taught me more about the inner workings of gangs than any newspaper article or magazine piece I have ever read. Finally I have begun to grasp what is truly going on in the hearts and minds of gang members. It is a mind opening book and I encourage all people to read it especially educators.

This book promises much and delivers so little. The stories told by some very notable names are all to often filled with fabrication aimed at building up their street legend or neighborhood. Most prominently the account of the crips as told by Jimel Barnes falls into this category. Big Jimel weaves a tale which is so transparently false that it left me wondering if the man was suffering from signs of dementia. In retrospect I suspect it is merely an advanced case of meglomania.

The remainder of the book brings little to the table in terms of substance and meaningful anserws to the problems facing the mutltitude of young men engaged in senseless acts of violence against their own. If you are a thrill seeker or gang groupy looking for alittle direction how real L.A. gang members act and dress then this one is for you. For those seeking true depth and anserws, unfortunately you won't find them here.