Prisoner to the Streets

by Robyn Travis (Contributor)

It started as a Tottenham/Hackney beef. A decade later it s claimed over one hundred young lives from knives and guns.

Hackney boys had no respect for Islington boys. It wasn t like they were going to argue about whose endz it was. They weren t on our level. The only surrounding area we had respect for was Tottenham. We didn t have much ratings for Leyton, Walthamstow or Stratford. We were full of ourselves. We had to keep up this bad boy image. Maintain the hype.(from PRISONER TO THE STREETS)

Written by the boy who was there when it started, Robyn Travis, this is the real story of the postcode wars. Robyn grew up right on the borders when it kicked off in Hackney, E8. For the first time ever he tells his story and his part in it - the fights, the stabbings, the shootings. The story that has never been told.

I aint no gangsta. YOU might think so. That's not WHO I WAS on road. I more saw myself as a 'BAD BWOY'. A teenager who AIN T HAVING IT FROM NO ONE, going on like a RUDE BWOY to stop YOU f***ing with me. This kid spent nuff TIME ON ROAD. Raised on the border of HACKNEY and TOTTY. Caught in the crossfire. I ain t trying to be NO HERO, I just want to stop YOU from making as many BAD CHOICES as I did when I was a YUTE MAN. So be not offended. WHATEVER S SAID IN THIS BOOK STAYS IN THIS BOOK. This was me back in the day. I'm a couple years older now. I don't feel that way no more. NOW DAYS I RESPECT LIFE AND DEATH. I got love for all you brothers and sisters affected by this POSTCODE STRUGGLE. So journey with me into my past. NO FRONTING. Just honesty. See HOW THE POSTCODE WAR STARTED in Hackney, Holly Street and Fields. LIVICATED TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WANT TO BE FREE FROM OUR STREETS.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Robyn is author of Prisoner to the Streets which had a huge impact on publication and garnered much interest across a wide readership. The book launched to a packed out Hackney Empire and quickly sold out. Robyn is a passionate speaker and advocate for young people and regularly uses his own life experiences to try and teach, educate, and inspire younger generations.

Reviews

[Shalisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Travis took me on a journey through the eyes and the mind of a youngster. A cautionary tale without being preachy or disconnected. Robyn seemed to tell the raw uncensored truth and did not shy away from putting his mistakes on front street. He humansied these so called "gang members" and highlighted the fact that life is a series of circumstances and choices.

I loved the way he Incorporated the views of others throughout in their own voice. And the end.... baybeee, it left me feeling a range of emotions sad, frustrated, hopeful, proud and wanting to do something to make a difference. I sat there for 5 mins after I read the last word contemplating life lol. Im an avid reader so my bar is high saying this book is 10/10 is not an exaggeration!! Get it you won't regret it.

[Julian Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a good breakdown of Robyn’s life, his mindset and how he became a product of his environment. His story does not glamourise violence, but what it does do is shows you how small situations between young misguided adolescents can escalate, resulting in prison, death or trauma. His story is not unique, but it is documented. Robyn throughly articulates the start of the first post code war in his borough and the role in which he played.

I would definitely recommend this book to people from all walks of life, Robyn’s story is similar to many troubled young youth all across England and his story could help you get a insight of young black men.

[Mrs J A Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an insight!

As a mum and nanny, I knew next to nothing about the so called gang culture only 15 miles or so from where I live. I had no idea of the struggles faced by so many young black men and was maybe too quick to condemn them without any knowledge. This book was a real eye opener and I thank the author for this brief snapshot of real life near the area I was born in.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing book to read. A great insight into the postcode gangs on London. A sad but heartwarming story. Great read.

[Colin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blimey, well what to say about this? I think it's an intersting insight into a world that's going on just a few miles from here, and I'm glad I read it for that reason. And yet it is just that: another world. Not in terms of geography of course, but in terms of mentality: there's a sort of warped sense of respect and duty that lead the writer to do the most unbelievably moronic things. Of course, there's a certain inevitability about it, surrounded as he is by a street culture in which people share that same set of warped values, don't value education, don't value family life beyond lashing out at anyone who mentions their mum, blame anyone but themselves, never think about consequences. But blaming society will only get you so far, so, I'm glad he acknowledges his shortcomings and I'm glad in the end that he makes some halting steps towards redeeming himself and trying to help others and I hope it works out well for him, but to be in the presence of his younger self, shallow as a puddle and boiling with inchoate fury, for page after page after page was exhausting.

[izzy scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

should be compulsory reading

[Emine Esperanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this

[Tray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, couldn't put the book down. The author style of writing was amazing .... Kept me hooked till the end.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I lived and worked with inner city gangs for many years.... I passsed the sympathy phase a long time ago. This is indicative of the 'dont blame me' soceity and the atrocious parenting that happens in some (not all) urban areas. Many of these parents need to learn humility compassion and how to parent well.Some of these parents need to learn to control their behaviour and understand the principles of delayed gratification and cause and effect. The 'rep and respect' vibe needs to go........it's naive, crude and destructive. It takes a lot more courage to walk away from a fight than to engage in one. I have no sympathy for the author because i am not convinced that he has got off his groove yet. He does appear to ever so slightly mature emotionally by replacing his lack of belonging (to a gang)to belonging to God.Whether this works for him only time will tell. The author also seems to have an idealistic view of justice......****happens and the sooner he acknowledges this the better his life will be. There are believe it or not still many peaceful communities in the world....check them out on google (though not many in Europe), it makes very interesting reading.

[Nooreaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing book on UK 'Road life'. Very intimate portrait on how life is like for people who essentially grow up in poverty. I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't make any excuses for his past life.

This book also highlights the bad parenting that takes place in inner city London, Social services and teachers that are under paid and the overall hopelessness that has engulfed certain members of society.

[Rare Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the thruth about life on the streets of London. It does not hold back and gives a realistic protrayal of how a young man battles to maintain loyalty to friends in 'a war' of post codes. Its gripping page turning narrative keeps the reader hooked until the end. To learn about real life on the streets-this is the book.

[Russ Dent · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. Couldn't put it down