Customer Reviews

War of the Bloods in My Veins: A Street Soldier's March Toward Redemption

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

His mother's absence made him utterly miserable. The age of nine can be a critical one for a young boy. It's make or break time and for Dashuan, who already felt like no one could or would ever love him, it was break time. Dashuan, later dubbed "Jiwe," was ready to join the real world, the world of the violent, the world of the Bloods . . . a world that would fully embrace him as a brother. It was love at first sight and for many young men like Jiwe, it was until death do us part . . . literally

The chrome Saturday night special with black electrical tape around the handle felt smooth in his ten-year-old hand, yet if he could harness his fear with a bit of electrical tape Jiwe might have gone for it. Soul and Q-Tip urged him on as he emptied the gun. Bodies of the Crips began to litter the ground. Later that night, as Dashuan "Jiwe" Morris related in his stunning memoir, WAR OF THE BLOODS IN MY VEINS: A Street Soldier's March Toward Redemption, something snapped in him. "The confusion of regret and acceptance gives me a throbbing headache. In time, I realize this night marks my first recorded separation from self." Jiwe was growing up, growing up hard. By the end of the fourth grade his best friend, eleven-year-old Tray, was killed in a drive-by shooting. Blood is thicker than water and Jiwe would go on to avenge this death and any other slight a thousand times over. It was war.

Jiwe was a full-fledged Blood gangbanger. Nobody could call him a pussy or even dare to, but the lifestyle took its toll. Lives were torn apart by his fists, his gun and his anger and he knew it. His chances of getting a college education and a chance a berth in the NFL became nil once that gun and anger reared its ugly head on campus. Bloods weren't welcome in Delaware or much of anywhere else for that matter. "There are the moments when I am reminded that I'm trapped in a living nightmare." It was one he might never escape from and he knew that too.

Perhaps there was redemption for Jiwe somewhere. "What are you doing? You hurting her?," he anxiously questioned the doctor. A little baby girl was entering the world and no one would ever, ever hurt her. It was baby Da-Shana, Dashuan "Jiwe" Morris now had a chance with the birth of his own child. It was his time to redeem himself. Could he, can he?

I was heavily drawn into this book emotionally, empathetic for Jiwe's life circumstances and also for the people who were impacted by his lifestyle. Although unspoken, I feel that by writing this book Jiwe was trying to make amends with the world, while continuing to embrace his peers. Gangbanging is a lifestyle that is chosen for many simply by fate. Few would choose to live in fear every day of their young life, nor embrace the accompanying depression and suicidal ideation that often comes with it. I loved the feel of the book, the writing and its message. Kudos to Jiwe who poured his heart out to tell us his story . . . let's hope he makes an impact. Peace.

Deb Fowler (Roundtable Reviews)

A well written, fast reading book that chronicles a young man's heart beaking story of going from a happy loving child to street soldier and gang member. Fortunately for him and those he seeks to reach it's also a tale of finding love and his climb back to being a feeling, caring husband,father and now mentor. A real look into a life that thankfully many of us will never know and about a man that is doing his best to keep others from having to experience what nearly destroyed him.

Just finished reading "War of the Bloods in My Veins." I almost tossed it aside before finishing the first chapter, which read as a disjointed and hallucinatory babbling mess that was obviously fictional . . . but then Deshawn woke up and we find that it was a dream sequence, so I continued reading.

The rest of the book wasn't bad. Refreshingly honest, and a revealing look at contemporary streetgang culture that you're not gonna find in Sociology texts like "Do or Die" by Leon Bing (which is considered the best book on the Crips & Bloods). Unlike some journalist who mingles with gangbangers for a month and takes down their stories, Deshawn has lived it from the time he participated in his first driveby at age 10.

One thing that annoyed me about this book was the blurb on the dustjacket, in which Deshawn seeks to portray himself as a victim unfairly expelled from college and barred from consideration for a career with the NFL. Buddy, not only did you do this to yourself, but you got off with a slap on the wrist. After threatening some frat guys with an illegal gun, Deshawn is given a second chance by the University's administration and permitted to remain in college . . . but then he commits an unprovoked attack on an unarmed individual with a machete, and gets expelled from school and sent to jail for less than a year. Now he is a published author who is offering speaking engagements about the folly of gang membership . . . yet, in his book, he seems to glory in his gangland achievements (including multiple homicides), and at the conclusion shouts out to a long list of his homies with what appears to be a pledge of continued loyalty.

Way to go Deshawn. Way to thumb yer nose at the Establishment and piss off the Feds. I'd strongly advise against carrying your illegal gun or partying with your "former" homies for the next few years, as I can pretty much guarantee they're keeping a real close eye on you. Fo' reals, yo.

As for the book, I recommend it to any sociologists or criminologists seeking a deeper understanding of the culture of Black street gangs. But honestly, I still don't understand them. Unlike intergenerational Asian and Hispanic gangs who are highly organized and networked within a community which openly supports them, Black gangs like the Crips & Bloods prey on their communities, each other, and even themselves (i.e., "set vs set" violence), while doing their best to perpetuate negative stereotypes and act like they're starring in a gangsta rap video. It seems pointless, and rather than learning from their mistakes, the crime and violence continues to spiral out of control.

This book provides a rare, raw, and highly credible glimpse of the gangsta lifestyle and mindset . . . and it ain't glamourous at all.

I've been so inspired by this book. I have daughters and sons and for someone to reveal his lifestory with the hope of inspiring and motivating others is very admirable. I commend Jiwe in all that he has done by putting this book or shall I say "DIARY" out there for others to gain from. The book was very well written. It was soooooo hard to put down. I was almost mad that I had to work and that my lunch wasn't long enough.

I was had to be the first person at my job to get this book. I have close relatives that are so called gang members. I wanted to find out for someone's point of view WHY. This book is a definite wake up call to all in gangs that you can get out if you choose to. Not that its easy. But maybe adults or teens should buy this book for a son, nephew ,neice or daughter so they can see what really GOES DOWN. The videos and movies are not real. This book is real.mTake heed. Buy the book.

This was a challenging read for me as I had various emotions from start to finish. I recommend all parents and youth leaders to read. Brother Morris was very descriptive and passionate as he shared his testimony. Thank you Bro. Dashaun and God bless you on your quest. I believe you are destined for greatness as you continue to share your story.

Judith

What happens when a young man lacks the amount of love that can elevate him to greatness? He starts looking for it in all the wrong places, starting in the street. When that love comes in the form of feeling the power surge behind pulling a gun when he should be watching cartoons, he becomes an addict. Nothing else can give him the surge that he feels when he's getting the respect of the boys in his crew from putting in work. The only thing is blood shed causes more blood shed, and it seems that the cycle will never cease as a carnage of his friends are left behind.

This book was inspiring, empowering and awakening. This isn't your average, I grew up in a gang and got redeemed book. This is an honest exposé exploring the thought process, the environment, the challenges, the inner turmoil that caused a young man's heart to harden. The honesty in this book was simply astounding. It isn't often that you see a hardened street thug show that he was often scared, vulnerable and even depressed. This book really had us thinking about the choices we make as parents and their impact on our children. Who would have thought that something simple as moving would cause a child to feel unwanted, unloved, unneeded? The author did a wonderful job of making sure that the reader could easily understand what was going on in his very complicated life. In it all, he was able to show that he was just human, capable of making mistakes, and ultimately just trying to survive.

Reviewed by:
Readers With Attitude Bookclub
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Mr. Morris gives us a gripping account of his life as a member of the Bloods gang. He takes us through the trenches that all adolescence and teens can easily fall prey to. He began his gang life at the age of ten, and it ended with his incarceration. Mr. Morris had an excellent chance of making it into the NFL, but ganglife interrupted academia. This book definitely acheives the author's goal of "educating children and parents about the reality of gang/street lifestyle. The War of the Bloods in My Veins is a must read for parents and children alike.

5 Pink Diamonds
Sistah Deniece of the SistahFriend Book Club

I read this book a couple of months ago. It was by far one of the best books I have read in years. Yes this book is a tale of the streets and what they can do to our African American men but it is so much more. This book is a story about African American men needing guidance, love, patience and yes a mother. It is a book about how the world put so much effort into to turning these men into monsters. Yes, a lot of wrong choices were made, that is what you get when a young boy has to make grown man decisions. I feel you can remove the gang and input any self destructing action and it would still tell the basic story of men needing a strong foundation from the start. This book helped gain understanding of many men in my life and not all involved in gangs. Yes the gang is large part of the book, but it is so much underneath all of that if you focus on the gang activity you will really miss a lot. African American men have to do a lot to just survive and Jiwe survival was the gang. Yes it saddens me that others lost their lives and I grieve for them and their families. Yet I know that if they didn't we would probably be grieving for him.(JIWE) Big ups to you Jiwe you have a life fan not matter what you will always sell 1,

Coco still holding it down!

"War of the Bloods in My Veins" chronicles the life of DaShaun Morris. His story starts with him being 9 years old and having to move to Phoenix and live with his aunt to going to school and feeling as if he has no choice but to join a gang because of the war between the gangs on the streets. It explains how he is initiated into a gang, the feeling the gang represents to him, the feeling of belonging and family, how he gets caught up in gang activities from gunning down anyone in affiliation with a rival gang, and the friends he loses. This is the story of one man's pain and personal hell.

This was a difficult story for me to read, considering that this is a true story. It is so sad to see or hear of a child involved in so much violence and self destruction. In some ways I felt bad for young DaShaun, but then I began to get angry because of all the lives that were taken and it seems as if legally and on the streets he has gotten away with it. This is a bold book to have written considering he is writing about accounts of his life that are illegal and the murders he has committed. It's nice to know that he has changed his life, but what about the ones that were killed in cold blood because they wore the wrong color? They will never have the chance to change their lives. I guess the lesson to be learned in reading this book is for young kids to avoid getting involved in a gang.

Reviewed by: LeonaR