How Long Will I Cry?

by Miles Harvey (Editor)

In 2011 and 2012, while more than 900 people were being murdered on the streets of Chicago, creative writing students from DePaul University fanned out all over the city to interview people whose lives have been changed forever by the bloodshed. The result is this extraordinary and eye-opening book. Told by real people in their own words, the stories inside are at turns harrowing, heartbreaking, and full of hope.

You can have a copy of this book, for free, by visiting www.bigshouldersbooks.com.

Genres: Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Miles Harvey's new book is The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets, and the Murder of an American Monarch, which National Book Award-winner Nathaniel Philbrick calls a "masterpiece" and Pulitzer Prize finalist Dave Eggers describes as a "ludicrously enjoyable, unputdownable read." It will be published by Little, Brown & Co. in July 2020.

Harvey's previous work includes The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime, a bestseller USA Today named one of the ten best books of 2000, and Painter in a Savage Land: The Strange Saga of the First European Artist in North America, awarded an Editors’ Choice honor from Booklist, and a best-books citation from The Chicago Tribune. A former Knight-Wallace journalism fellow at the University of Michigan, Harvey teaches creative writing at DePaul University, where he is a founding editor of Big Shoulders Books.

Reviews

[nimrodiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a companion to the play How Long Will I cry? that was produced by the Steppenwolf Theater in 2013.

The final version of this book was a collaborative effort by the creative writing students at DePaul University located in Chicago, IL. It uses collaborative story-telling methods to collect the real stories of people in Chicago whose lives have been touched by violence.

Chicago is still extremely racially divided. recent information given by the country France to it's tourists coming to visit the city tells it's citizens to avoid whole sections on the South and West sides of the city due to the mortality and crime rates.

This book takes stories of many types of people from many areas of the city to talk about the impacts of violence caused by and to the youth of the city of Chicago. Story types range from those of families who have lost children, community member in neighborhoods affected by violence who are working to change the neighborhoods in positive ways, stories told by both current gang members and ex-gang members, and youth who have been affected by the violence in many different types of ways. The stories while mainly focused on the South and West sides of the city also show how ares on the North and Northwest sides of the city are being affected by gang related violence.

As a resident of Chicago my entire life I was spared the effects of neighborhood gang violence until my late teens. I grew up in a neighborhood on the Northwest side that was predominantly white, with a strong Irish and Polish element to the families living in it. when I was in High school I attended a magnet school which drew students from all parts of the city, and was very racially diverse. I made friends from outside of my own neighborhood and sadly lost one to gang related violence right after graduation. There were times going out when I knew I had to either go home before a certain time or call for a ride home because it wasn't safe to wait for the CTA where we were.

This book impacted me in ways that I wasn't expecting. The stories, while predominantly sad, and filled with rage and hopelessness also had hope sprinkled through it's pages. Stories were shared by people who were trying to make a difference after loosing their own loved ones to violence. At the end of the book there is a list of organizations who are trying to work against youth violence in the city and while one could be disheartened by the length of the list, it is amazing to see how many people care about changing the city that I live in.

This book is being given to readers for free through various events to promote awareness of the issue and by request to Big Shoulders Books which is a very big thing. By making the book free it will help get it into the hands of people who might not be able to buy a book, and the publishers encourage readers to pass their copy along to another reader when they finish. I was 1/4th of the way through the copy I was reading before I passed it onto a sociology student at NEIU That I had just met after it sparked a conversation between she and I. I plan on passing this copy on through one of the little free libraries that have popped up on the North/Northwest side of the city to hopefully find a new reader to touch.

[Wonderwoman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so heartbreaking. I took off one star for the inclusion of Colleen Sheehan's stomach-churning, white privilege-heavy story and I would've liked to see stories from people still actively involved-and determined to stay-in gangs as well as an economist/historian's explanation for how environments like this come to be. Without examining the history that leads to these neighborhoods, it can reinforce stereotypes that blacks and Latinx are simply lazy and worthless, which many of these people interviewed seem to have internalized.

[Michael Van Kerckhove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm proud to be a part of this collection and of all the work my classmates and I accomplished. Even though it's not really about us. Cheers.

[Sara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Before my review, just an fyi if any of you are interested in reading this book you can get it completely free at www.bigshouldersbooks.com. in order to help spread awareness!**

This book is so heartbreaking and eye opening. It focuses on the youth violence in Chicago and it's effects on their community. I thought it was powerful how they incorporated the perspectives of all different angles: victims themselves, perpetrators, community leaders, police, etc. and the families of loved ones who never made it out.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compilation of transcribed interviews by DePaul University writing students, the reality of the depths of human violence not 20 miles from my home is indelible. While I sleep relatively comfortably under the same moon as these people, echoes of gunshots outside my window are silent. Walks around the neighborhood are done in unfettered steps of safety. The children of violence become of what they are given to see. Many, unfortunately, have no hope. Without hope, why should life be valued? These stories were profoundly depressing, and even more so when the contact info of anti-violence organizations are listed at the end of the book. There are many to choose from. Why then, do young lives keep evaporating in the city of Chicago? Feels so much like a losing battle. First-hand accounts from former gang members, loved ones of homicide victims, adult figures who have dedicated their lives to rectifying the ongoing crime, community members who have risen above; they have all given their testimonials to provide an inkling, a glimpse into a world that most of us never come in contact with. Their stories hold a hard truth to them, like Kotlowitz's "There Are No Children Here", of urban survival and its invisible consequences to the outside world. Excellent read for high school age kids of all types on up, especially at-risk youth, as the language can be authentically harsh.

[MsAmanda Kensington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives much needed perspective to the lives of others

[Sarah Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Big Shoulder Books for sending me a copy of How Long Will I Cry? Voices of Youth Violence edited by Miles Harvey.

How Long Will I Cry? is a profoundly powerful anthology of experiences and reflections on violence in Chicago. Over two years a group of Creative-Writing students from DePaul University interviewed various Chicagoans, ranging in age, gender, and cultural backgrounds. The collection the Chicagoan's stories of crime, bloodshed, dreams and heartbreak, are told in their own words.
Each person contributed something different to this book. All of the contributors are credited by name.

I enjoyed reading these eye opening, sometimes stunning stories. The described violence is tragic. The victims in these stories are real people. They are dealing with the consequences of youth violence and often grieving great loss. It is an ambitious book everyone should read. I have passed this book on to a friend who I know will also appreciate reading it.

#bigshoulderbooks #HowLongWillICry #goodreadschallenge2024

[Rosa E. Martínez Colón · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad account of gang violence in Chicago. A bit old, but still relevant. Points out to the lack of resources in communities of color. Disliked very much the way some of the accounts blame victims and even romanticize the situation. I agree in mutual responsibilities but the problem is that we are not playing at the same level. We are still at a severe disadvantage.

Would love to read an update on the participants. I’d love to know how The Ju-Ju Man is doing; that poor kid was scared all the time. 🥺 Certainly moving accounts of the impact of violence in families and communities.

[Erie Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm unable to speak with authority on the accuracy of this book, but I will say that if you (like me) are a white person wanting to understand more about the issues of racism and division that exist in Chicago, I highly recommend.

[Kate Pfeifer Burstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intense, powerful book depicting first-hand accounts of gun violence. I highly recommend reading this collection of interviews; it’s very eye-opening, certainly hard to read at times, and very informative.

[J Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional read, I highly recommend if you live anywhere near or around Chicago!! It's eye-opening.

[Molly Koeneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking true stories from the Chicago Southside

[Maribeth Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Real. Yet, can't be fully understood my many. Grateful for those willing to share their stories. Eye-opening.

[Suprad Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

[Abigail Nowicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super good and insightful. The varying stories opened up my view of gangs in Chicago and will def help me better understand gang dynamics in my future role.

[Sophia Bote · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty goddamn powerful stuff. makes u wanna weep but also makes u wanna do better for your city and the people
who call chicago home.

[Emily Koopmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of short stories

[Sarah Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chicago has always been a magical yet scary place to me. My family members live there, my dad grew up there and it's where I spent most of my summers. But I was never allowed to go anywhere on my own for fear I might "wind up in the wrong neighborhood." Often we have these perceived thoughts of what parts of the city are like based on a news story we saw or that one time we drove through. It's unfair.

This book challenges the reader to be quite frank about their preconceived notions about others and where they came from. The reflections and stories from those who have lost someone, ground us and put us on the same level. It's only after hearing someone's story that you feel differently about that person and can truly empathize.

The reader takes what he or she has just read into their daily lives to be able to support one another. Wonderfully inspiring read.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily, one of the best books I've read in a while. It discusses stories of youth violence with an emphasis on gang culture and gun violence. The short stories are told so intricately, with all of the detail and emotion that comes with pain. This was a difficult read emotionally, however, it's one that needs people's time and attention. I was surprised by the depth of each individual's story and felt as if I could truly feel their fear, pride, frustration, happiness, pain, and love. This book draws readers in and refuses to let them go, which is really a necessary wake up call. I heavily recommend this book to all readers. Very inspirational and gave me a call to action.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, moving experience. This book is an oral history of people who have been affected by the escalation of violence in Chicago in the last couple of years.
I'd recommend reading this in small pieces. Some of these stories are just heartbreaking--the mom who's lost her child, the boy who can't get his older brother back, the girl who carries around a knife just to get to school.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of oral histories from many different Chicagoans about violence in the community. Many voices are represented here, and provides the reader w/a multifaceted study of how violent crime directly affects the community. Very well done.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading.

[Mills College Library]

362.88 H8472 2013

[Colette · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are the future. How will you make it better? How will you be remembered? - Frankie Valencia