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Inner City Miracle
Millions have seen him on his nationwide TV show, dispensing justice in his own charismatic style. But Judge Greg Mathis’s own rise to success has been a trial by fire. In this truly candid memoir, his harrowing life on both sides of the law is revealed for the first time.
It starts in Detroit—but far from the court where Greg would one day preside. Raised in the hell of the Herman Garden Projects, he grows to become a “bad-ass, cool-dressing, do-anything gangsta.” His father gone, his mother juggling two jobs, he falls in with the Errol Flynns—“funkified English gentlemen” in three-piece suits and Borsalino hats, urban Robin Hoods who are truly stylish as they steal from everyone and give to themselves.
Considered bright but incorrigible, Greg is sent to stay in his middle-class cousin’s mixed neighborhood, where he enlists the local white youth in wrongdoing. Even jail can’t keep him from going bad again once he gets out. Then a threat to his beloved mother causes a shaken Greg to make a promise in a prayer to save my mother and I will straighten up.
To his and everyone else’s surprise, he keeps his side of the bargain. Inspired by The Autobiography of Malcolm X , working at McDonald’s by day and attending classes by night, Greg pulls himself through high school and college and then law school, using in positive ways the innate intelligence that made him a master at crime. Soon he becomes the youngest judge in Michigan history, a District Court judge and, at last, undaunted by the odds and propelled by his personal story, a sought-after and highly paid TV star.
In its blunt, bold, and sometimes hair-raising honesty, Inner City Miracle is both a cautionary and an inspiring story, one sure to stun all those who come to Judge Mathis’s TV courtroom every day.
It starts in Detroit—but far from the court where Greg would one day preside. Raised in the hell of the Herman Garden Projects, he grows to become a “bad-ass, cool-dressing, do-anything gangsta.” His father gone, his mother juggling two jobs, he falls in with the Errol Flynns—“funkified English gentlemen” in three-piece suits and Borsalino hats, urban Robin Hoods who are truly stylish as they steal from everyone and give to themselves.
Considered bright but incorrigible, Greg is sent to stay in his middle-class cousin’s mixed neighborhood, where he enlists the local white youth in wrongdoing. Even jail can’t keep him from going bad again once he gets out. Then a threat to his beloved mother causes a shaken Greg to make a promise in a prayer to save my mother and I will straighten up.
To his and everyone else’s surprise, he keeps his side of the bargain. Inspired by The Autobiography of Malcolm X , working at McDonald’s by day and attending classes by night, Greg pulls himself through high school and college and then law school, using in positive ways the innate intelligence that made him a master at crime. Soon he becomes the youngest judge in Michigan history, a District Court judge and, at last, undaunted by the odds and propelled by his personal story, a sought-after and highly paid TV star.
In its blunt, bold, and sometimes hair-raising honesty, Inner City Miracle is both a cautionary and an inspiring story, one sure to stun all those who come to Judge Mathis’s TV courtroom every day.
- GenresMemoir
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2002
5 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 22, 2021
Excellent story of a Detroit youth, struggling to do the right thing, traumatized by the illness of his mother, Judge Mathis pushed to excel beyond his wildest dreams. Motivational and heartbreaking. A story for all struggling to achieve the utmost in themselves.
January 7, 2023
An autobiography told by the Judge himself. From his humble beginnings as a teenager growing up Detroit Michigan, marriage, becoming a lawyer and then a Judge. A true story of keeping an eye on the prize.
May 18, 2020
Never heard of him before getting the book. Great story!
May 20, 2023
Wow. I liked and appreciated this book written by Judge Mathis. In my opinion he would be an example of an American success story. Real talk.
February 2, 2019
Very good book. I found so much motivation, while reading this book.
October 30, 2013
This is a surreal-life experience of Judge Greg Mathis. Not only does he have a phenomenal judge TV syndicate show, but now we are able to tap into his life, when he was a hustler to a legal-lawyer-judge wonder. He keeps it real, unbelievable, on some of the things he shares in this book. I was like, whoa! See for yourself---you be the judge.
*I am laughing at when he shares his experience in the backseat of his brother's car with a young girl, needing to take care of her personal hygiene like rolling on some deodorant.
I am a fan of the Judge Mathis show! He keeps it real on there as well. He encourages me to become an attorney in the near future, judge is out of my league but not necessarily out of my future.
*Re-reading 10/30/2013, first read in February 23, 2009.
*I am laughing at when he shares his experience in the backseat of his brother's car with a young girl, needing to take care of her personal hygiene like rolling on some deodorant.
I am a fan of the Judge Mathis show! He keeps it real on there as well. He encourages me to become an attorney in the near future, judge is out of my league but not necessarily out of my future.
*Re-reading 10/30/2013, first read in February 23, 2009.
October 1, 2010
While not without his flaws, Judge Mathis is rightfully due credit as an inspiration to those who feel their options in life are limited by their social or economic status
March 22, 2015
I love judge Mathis's wit and personal struggles, this was a great memoir
September 14, 2015
It was an amazing experience to be able to follow the Judge's journey from an Errol Flynn naughty kid to an amazing and fair judge!
February 1, 2017
Judge Mathis is my favorite judge and I enjoy watching his show. This book is amazing, Judge Mathis kept it real.. A great read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews