Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peacemaker

by Julian Voloj

An engrossing and counter view of one of the most dangerous elements of American urban history, this graphic novel tells the true story of Benjy Melendez, a Bronx legend, son of Puerto-Rican immigrants, who founded, at the end of the 1960s, the notorious Ghetto Brothers gang. From the seemingly bombed-out ravages of his neighborhood, wracked by drugs, poverty, and violence, he managed to extract an incredibly positive energy from this riot ridden his multiracial gang promoted peace rather than violence. After initiating a gang truce, the Ghetto Brothers held weekly concerts on the streets or in abandoned buildings, which fostered the emergence of hip-hop. Melendez also began to reclaim his Jewish roots after learning about his family's dramatic crypto-Jewish background.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Adult, Memoir

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2015

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black and white pencil drawings of a story of the transformation of the Bronx for a time in the sixties and seventies, as rival Puerto Rican and black gangs made a truce (we get to read the actual written document) and came together to save their community. Short, but at times powerful, inspirational. The artwork, which is pretty accomplished, also gets in the way as the smaller size of the volume makes it difficult to make things out sometimes, sort of smudgy. This artwork is consistent with the diy nature of the story; it shouldn't be glossy and polished.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history related in this book is fascinating, and the bits about religion had some totally new information for me. But while I liked the style of the art, the book's format was small enough that I felt like I couldn't make out the detail very well. I'm definitely planning to watch some of the documentaries mentioned, and I really appreciated the extra resources listed at the end. Definitely worth a read, just not my favorite layout.

[Christina]

This was a concise telling of a little known piece of Hip Hop history told through the lense of Benjy Menendez - a founding member of the NYC gang Ghetto Brother. To read the rest of this review, see an interview with the authors and original members of Ghetto Brother gang, get a discussion guide, and to get some links for further reading and watching: click here

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

why is nobody talking about this?

this graphic novel gave me many new insights into puerto rican life in new york and especially the bronxs & I would absolutely recommend reading this.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history in here! Stories I had never heard. From the Spanish Jews to the peace of the gangs in the Bronx and it's impact on the creation of Hip-Hop. The story of Puerto Rican immigrants - and more. This was an amazing graphic novel. The art was also wonderful.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read on the gang truce in 70s NYC and the man behind it.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating graphic biography of Bronx legend Benjy Melendez who founded the Ghetto Brothers, a multiracial gang that promoted peace rather than violence. Great black-and-white art work.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peacemaker is a biographical graphic novel written by Julian Voloj and illustrated by Claudia Ahlering. The memoir chronicles the life of Benjy Melendez, a Bronx legend, son of Puerto-Rican immigrants, who founded the notorious Ghetto Brothers gang.

Benjamin Melendez was best known for brokering the gang truce in the Bronx and Harlem, New York City in 1971. At that time, he was President of the Ghetto Brothers, a mainly ethnically Puerto Rican South Bronx gang, and lead vocalist of a musical group also known as the Ghetto Brothers.

Melendez led his gang to a nonviolent resolution to the conflict arising from the death of another gang member named Black Benjie in 1971. Black Benjie was killed while acting as a mediator between rival gangs, and this volume describes the events leading up to his death. The graphic novel follows Melendez's life from his move to the Bronx as a child to the present day.

Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peacemaker is written and constructed somewhat well. The writing is matter-of-fact and informative, but the narrative is poorly structured as some scenes are repetitive while others skip too far ahead, obliterating any tension. Additionally, despite the clear passion of the creative team, the art and writing are not harmonious, with too many things crowded into panels, leaving little room for captions.

All in all, Ghetto Brother: Warrior to Peacemaker is an informative biographical graphic novel – it just needed to be executed a tad better.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic.

More to come

[Kareem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really showed interested in this book because it's takes ti place in the bronx in the 1900 something where drugs and killing was a problem. Also when he created a new gang and raised to the top, not only scary but smart.

[Juan Fuentes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Documentalmente es interesante, pero la historia está contada con un tono demasiado amable. El protagonista es jefe de una banda pero parece san Francisco de Asís.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't a book I sought out. My partner brought it home from the library and she told me all about it when she was done. She explained it as a story about gang culture from New York in the 70's and how a truce between the gangs helped create creative space for the birth of hip hop.

As she talked about the book and made references to the classic b-cinema flick, The Warriors, and documentaries like 'Style Wars'. I knew this was something I wanted to read before she brought it back to the library.

I found the story fascinating. Gang culture was so much more overt and visible in those days, and the story managed to neither glorify it nor damn it. It gave a brief explanation of why it existed and went into the story showing both benefit and tragedy in measured amounts, though most of the benefit was in a cultural context and not for the characters themselves. It's not a happy ending sort of tale.

I read it in 4 sittings, a 20 page run, two 50 page runs, and then the prolog before I handed it over to go back to the library. I wasn't particularly into the art style, though there are a few frames I really enjoyed. The illustrations of the New York Public Library were instantly recognizable, so as far as the art goes they were a highlight. Still, the art is gritty and has sort of a smudgy style that fit in a way, like fading memories with lots of indistinct details like how the mind struggles to fill in the blanks of a memory from 40 years ago.

This is recommended reading if you're into The Warriors, the history of hip hop or New York gang culture, or you just want a peek into the lives of others.

[tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short compelling history of Puerto Ricans, blacks and gangs in 1960s & 70s Bronx, the politics which transformed Bronx's glory days to violent and drug-infested ghetto, the beginning of hip-hop, and one man's self-discovery as Nuyorican* Morrano**.
*Portmanteau of "New York" + "Puerto Rican".
**Spanish Jews forced to convert to Christianity

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminating about the gang movement in the 20th century. Although I didn't particularly enjoy the process of reading this, I think I learned a lot.

Extra star because of the primary source elements.

[Barbaraleah · Rating 2 out of 5]

EH.

[Benjamin Fasching-Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yellow Benjy was such a forthright, open and friendly person, and his story is a crucial part of Bronx and hip hop history, so it gets told in a lot of places... til now probably the best was the documentary "Flying Cut Sleeves." I really enjoyed this graphic novel, by two Germans actually. Unlike hipster crap like that netflix documentary, this book does not try to make the gangs look cool or fun. It also doesn't end with the peace treaty but continues with the Ghetto Brothers' political and social work and Benjy's 'return' to Judaism. The art is detailed and carries the story as much as the text. Rest in Power, Benjy!

[JessicaChurch]

This book goes through the history of Hip Hop with a member of the NYC gang from the Ghetto Brother. Having a multiracial gang that promoted peace rather than violence. Taking place in the Bronx having include gang violence and drugs in the book. I would probably suggest this to readers around the age of 10. I thought the Black and white ink drawings art detail was good but felt cramped in places in the book. In the end, the drawing showed a great detail of the life story kept throughout the book.

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this -- despite "Peacemaker" being in the title, I didn't expect this to have a happy ending. I've seen "The Warriors" and started watching "The Get Down," and this graphic novel helped put those works and the historical events into perspective. It's incredible and inspiring that so many groups could get together and police/improve their neighborhoods, which were widely ignored.

[Marian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Intriguing snapshot of the Bronx in the 1970s, and a somewhat interesting, though brief, history of crypto-Jews from Spain. But the writing was simplistic, and the art was just not good, or at least not good enough for this medium ... characters' heads change size from panel to panel, and some images are so blurry or poorly drawn that I couldn't even figure out what exactly they were supposed to be depicting.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black and white ink drawings tell the real-life story of Benjy Melendez, gang leader in 1971 Bronx, who led the groundbreaking Hoe Ave. peace meeting of all the local gangs, ended gang warfare, and led to the development of hip hop (which is a very simplified summary of it). He later discovered his hidden Jewish roots, having only known his parents were Puerto Rican. Includes black and white photos of the real Benjy, and an author's note with more information.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the subject matter of this graphic novel is incredibly interesting, but this particular book wasn’t for me. I would hand this to a 10-18 year old who may be dealing with issues of anger, identity, or gang violence.

I personally found the story too choppy, a tad shallow, and the characters to be one dimensional (until the last few pages).

The art was decent, but I’m not sure if it added anything to the story stylistically.

Overall just an “ok” book.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for the 2020s. It offers a people’s history the gangs (also see the film Rubble Kings) and the inception of hip hop culture. But more importantly, it speaks to the issues we once again have to address today. Systematic racism, prejudice within communities, lack of public support systems, gentrification...but it is inspiring to see so many change their tune from war to peace and have hope for the future despite the powers that be.

[C.W. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was very interesting. It was a subject I was not aware of. I grew up on the west coast of the United States so I really didn't know the issues that caused the Bronx to go the way that it did as well as how many different gangs there were at one time in New York. The art was nicely done throughout the book. I am actually going to buy a copy of this book to send to my cousin to learn what the Warriors movie was kind of based on.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason this is only getting a 4 instead of a 5 is that the text itself was written in a way that was hard to read at times which I don't love. Otherwise, I loved this historical memoir and learned so much from this era in the Bronx. I think this is a story that most people should read. Funny enough, I was thinking about the movie The Warriors the whole time, and realized at the end that the movie was based on this interaction! So good. Please read.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the book delved more into the Bronx and hip hop before breaking off into Benjy's Jewish journey, but otherwise it's a nice insight into the gang truce that paved the way. The drawings are a little too cloudy for my taste. And the writing is almost too sophomoric, even for a graphic novel. "Arab of the Future" and "Persepolis" do a better job of delving into history with this medium.

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was....kind of a comic book? More of an illustrated, brief, personal tale. Felt more personally than socially necessary? Sort of muddy in general? Not terrible, but not great, for a thing that had real potential to connect personal experience to a wide audience, it kind of obfuscated its intent.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fascinating story of one gang leader and how he made peace in The Bronx.

4 stars for the crazy story, NYC history, and surprise Jewish roots.
2 stars for the art, which I really had a hard time with.

[Josef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little graphic novel and hats off to the people responsible for this project bringing some much needed knowledge about the South Bronx to the forefront. The black/white graphics work excellently as well.

[10thumbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, unknown (to me) history of gangs in the Bronx circa late 1970s and the peace summit Benjy Melendez helped organize that arguably led to — or at the very least cleared a path — the development of rap and hip-hop.

[Marisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and a quick read. My only note is that the art would've been better in silver combination of colors. A lot of the time, I wasn't getting the impact of the story when the shadowing was so dark to the point it took away from the story.