Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines

by Eddie B. Allen Jr.

Donald Goines was a pimp, a truck driver, a heroin addict, a factory worker, and a career criminal. He was also one of world's most popular Black contemporary writers. Having published 16 novels, including Whoreson , Dopefiend , and Daddy Cool , Goines's unique brand of "street narrative" and "ghetto realism" mark him as the original street writer.

Now, in the first in-depth biography of Goines's life, author Eddie B. Allen explores exactly how one man could make the transition from street hustler to bestselling author. With exclusive access to personal letters, treatments from unwritten books, photographs, and family members, Allen uncovers Goines's personal experiences with drugs, prostitutes, prison, and urban violence. Fans of Goines's novels will note a dramatic parallelism between his life and his fictional tales.

Genres: Biography

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2004

Reviews

[John Hood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines
By Eddie B. Allen, Jr.

WHEN EDDIE B. ALLEN, JR.'S new biography of Donald Goines was slipped under my cell door, I was stoked. When word got around the block, my fellow cons were stoked too, so much that they threatened to snatch the book away from me if I didn't read it at once. Ever considerate, I did as I was threatened. I read, and I read, and I read some more. Then I asked myself:

Where the fuck is Donald Goines, the American Gulag's number-one chronicler?

Really. In a book about Goines, Goines is barely there. Allen is there though, as are pages upon pages of irrelevant instruction. I don't read bios to find out about the biographer, and I don't need any lessons in the most elementary of civics. I may be locked up, but I'm not stupid—nor are the free folk that make up the rest of Donald Goines' fans.

Allen seems to think we are. Why else come at us with digressions on Scottsboro, Emmet Till and the Little Rock Nine? Why else define "jones" or "turning out" or "recidivist"? Just because Allen can't get a bead on his subject doesn't make his subject bad, just badass—apparently far too badass for Allen.

Pimp. Junkie. Gunman. Convict. Wordslinger. That's the Life of Donald Goines. There are a few formative details to the life behind the Life—middle-class kid looking for excitement hits the streets, flunks out of school, works his way into the Air Force, finds hookers and heroin in the Far East, comes back itchy—but these facts are not the Life. The Life is tricks, numbers, spikes, hammers. The bitchslap. The stable. Dope. Loot. Blood. Lies. Loyalty. The Life is the Wayne County Jail, the state pen at Jackson, the fed pen at Terre Haute. The Life is two to the head and three to the heart.

Few wrote the Life like Donald Goines.

Dopefiend hit first. A blood-soaked saga of a perverted pig of a dealer named Porky who reigns over his vomitous shooting gallery like some Caligula of the streets, it made dope about as glamorous as late-stage cancer. Next came Whoreson, an ode to bastards everywhere. Then, like a habit, titles such as Black Gangster, Daddy Cool, Eldorado Red, White Man's Justice, Black Man's Grief, written as the need required. And there was some need—Goines dropped an astonishing 16 books in four years. So much for the unproductive junkie.

Goines' books were meant to feed, full of stories urgent, desperate and cruel. This needs to be stolen, that needs to be copped, he needs to be taken off, she needs to be put in her place. Bad things need to get done now. And bad wills out with not a word wasted. In the posthumous Kenyatta's Last Hit, Goines kills his alter-ego: "[W]ith half his head shot away, Kenyatta tumbled forward and fell onto the superb shag rug." Superb. One can taste the syntax.

Which makes Eddie B. Allen's poor performance all the more puzzling. Given the Life, he too often chooses another. A chapter entitled "Publisher" begins with a few points on Sydney Poitier before bandying about blaxploitation (which he defines!) in characters like John Shaft. When at last Allen sees fit to hit on Holloway House, the pulp mill behind the pulpist, he mentions that "the young woman handler [who?] had briefly attended Tuskegee Institute at the same time as Ralph Ellison." So what?

Then our peripatetic pal gets to Goines with some of the most pitiful clichés unimaginable: women "flocked to him like sheep being herded"; "prison was an obvious place where the men inside had lots of time to reflect and consider the opinions about the world outside." Sometimes Allen gets just plain meaningless: "He became a fascinating figure, whose very presence was intriguing." And if "[t]he cultural aesthetic of L.A. had changed, of course, by the [time Goines got there]," why waste nearly six pages mentioning it?

In the end, though, Allen comes through. The final chapter "Prodigal Son" is the kind of exposition Goines deserves: a look at the life that ties the Life to the work. This is what we've been waiting for: an investigation into the composition of a con. Why it was saved for a summation is anyone's guess.

Despite the straight-to-video release of Crime Partners (with Snoop Dogg and Ja Rule), and the nearly similar fate of the DMX vehicle Never Die Alone, Goines' Hollywood day may yet come. Meantime, we have the texts—heavy-duty, action-packed pitch-black pulp. If you've got to take the Low Road to get there, take it. So long as you know what you're in for.

(Originally published on November 23, 2004 in NY Press. Now available here: http://therealjohnhood.com/bookem/low...)

[Jacqueline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible, thought I was going to get in depth on the writer Donald Goines instead a history lesson that has NOTHING to do with the author himself, a definite waste of my time.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Definitely should be read with the other Goines biography, DONALD WRITES NO MORE, for a more complete picture of the subject. This book had some interesting information but also had quite a bit of what might be considered filler material.

[Chad Montabon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read, 'Donald Writes No More' - the other biography that came out within a year of his death, but this seems like not the best that can be done with the material.

Most of the book is rehashing what was already known and the author plays up his personal aims with the book for a focus on social justice in the media, but it was an enjoyable read. With Goines increasing popularity, hopefully a more complete biography will be on the offing soon.

The demise of Donald Goines is barely touched on. There are a few rumors and some conjecture based on public documents, but the unsolved murder of him and his common law wife are little better known now. He did, apparently, get hold of the coroners report and some suppositions can be made from that, but a lot more could be done.

[Brian Stillman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This bio of Goines is the equivalent of complaints towards Batman movies.

That is, the movie is called Batman or Batman Returns or The Dark Knight Rises, but when you total up that onscreen time, the Caped Crusader is really only a supporting member of the cast rather than the lead.

An alternate title for this bio could've been A Selective Run Through American History by Eddie B. Allen Jr.

There's been two of 'em so far and so far no one has delivered a decent biography for Goines. One hell of a shame for a writer who deserves Jim Thompson-like plaudits, easily.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't shed a ton of light on the story of Donald Goines, but to be fair, Donnie's world was a very dark one, and he may have hidden many of the details of his private life by design. This book is certainly better than the rush-job bio that came out about Goines shortly after the author's death (with the publishers shamefully using a photo of the author in his coffin on the cover), and Allen Jr. writes well enough for those blank spaces and blind alleys in the saga of Goines to be forgiven.

Eddie B. Allen follows Goines from his childhood in "Black Bottom," an area of Detroit (wrongly labeled a "ghetto" in some journalistic accounts) where his parents ran a thriving dry-cleaning business. The bio then follows Goines to his stint in the Air Force in Korea (where his addiction to heroin only deepened) followed by his return to the States. After that, things get really rough for Donnie, as he goes to jail on a "baby bid" and then does a more serious stint in prison. In the end Goines "makes good" to the extent that he can, not besting the demon "Wong" as he called heroin, but managing to write something on the order of sixteen novels while managing his habit until the day he and his wife were shot to death in their home.

The mystery surrounding Goines' murder is addressed, and while it would be unreasonable to demand that Allen solve a stone-cold cast single-handed, he does a good job of offering several plausible theories for who was behind the author's death. All in all this is a short, but respectable attempt to chronicle the life of a man who is famous in certain circles and forgotten (or totally unknown) in others. Goines' footprint grows steadily by the day in the hip-hop community (and in the wider world of pop culture and white America's fascination with all facets of the black experience), which makes this book not only a solid account of Goines' life, but also a welcome curative to the thuggish appropriation of Goines' tragic world by people who glory in rather than learn from the author's mistakes. Recommended.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent biography of Goines, till the real thing comes along. Like Goines books, it's a quick read and doesn't feel pressed to be all that polished or artful. Each chapter tells us a section of Goines life (once he's born, of course) alongside great long passages of social history. Usually, it's even the case that chapters will be split between these two things, so a chapter on Goines army experience will also be about the war in Korea, integrating the armed services, etc, all these things that are in the world when Goines is but with which he is not very connected. The potted histories are ok; I think that for the audience who reads this book, they are probably just right. As engaging social history or something really surprising, they aren't quite that. But overall, it's good, got a lot of interesting details in place, etc, without quite peeling back where Goines is coming from or what really made him tick. Allen also, to me at least, undersells the artistry of what Goines is doing on the page, but then, he's better than me at finding the big picture pulleys and levers that make the books work as long form narratives, so there's that.

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of Donald Goines, who wrote a lot of sleazy ghetto fiction books. The only book of his that I have read is Dopefiend, which is good, but is also one of the most depressing books I have ever read. But anyway about Low Road, its not that its bad but this is very incomplete. I really didn't feel like I knew that much about Goines except he was a junkie, he was a convict, he was a criminal, he was murdered. There is a lot of filler in this book too where the author goes into general history of the times that Goines lived. I'd only recomend this to people who are really into Goines. If you only have a casual interest in Goines this book really isn't worth your time.

[Carlton Duff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently Goines never sat for an interview of any formal sort in his entire lifetime. Unbelievable really if you consider “by 2002, Holloway House had sold an estimated 5 million books written by Donald Goines”. Allen does an ok job on the parts of Goines life that he is able to cover under such conditions but spends way too much ink on the social conditions of the time, as if he was just filling pages.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointed. Barely touches on the actual life of Donald goines but talks about current events of the times instead. Boring read. I wanted to read about the gritty details of goines' seemingly interesting and rough life.

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot let Black History Month end without a spotlight on one of the best urban fiction authors to ever grace bookshelves around the world: Mr. Donald Goines.

In spite of growing up in a two-parent stable household, being heir to a legit family business and a Catholic school education, Donald Goines was pulled into the lure of the streets. Born in Detroit, he lived the life of a street hustler: pimping, boosting, drugs, stealing and gambling. It was during one of his prison stays that he began to draw on his own life experiences to write an impressive catalog of sixteen fiction novels in only three years, all while high on heroin at the typewriter.

In this updated biography, previously published 20 years ago, Eddie B. Allen Jr. intends to commemorate Donald Goines' life and lasting legacy. It begins with an extensive recount of The Great Migration to his high school dropout years, military service, smack (heroin) addiction, criminal stint, author status, family life and unexpected violent death. The book ends with Allen Jr.'s visit to Detroit Memorial Cemetery where Donald Goines is buried, speculation about the double murder, research used and contact with relatives. The Epilogue is the best part of the whole book.

Low Road is not what I expected. I wanted to read about Donald Goines' childhood, adulthood, addiction and journey to become a writer. Instead, the book is largely about American history, social justice, racism, war, a nod to Detroit and very little about what is not already publicly known about Donald Goines. I appreciate the author giving context about the state of affairs during pivotal points in Goines' life but it reads like an in-depth history lesson of the United States. Not what I'm here for!

Lastly, I cannot give an opinion on the Foreword by the late, great DMX because it was not included in my ARC. It is mentioned in the description and on the cover page so I was expecting and looking forward to what DMX had to say about Goines. Yet another letdown. Readers can gain a better sense of Donald Goines' by reading between the lines of his bestelling novels like Whoreson, Dopefiend, and Never Die Alone.

Happy Early Re-Pub Day, Eddie B. Allen Jr.! Low Road will be available Tuesday, March 25.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published 20 years ago, this vivid and multi-layered biography of urban writer Donald Goines is here updated, and presents a detailed account of the man and his work. A pioneer in the genre of gritty urban fiction, a genre that resonated with readers who recognised and had experienced life on the streets as Goines described it, dealing as it does with poverty, violence, addiction and prison, all of which just happen to be part of regular everyday life for so many, both now and then. This hard-hitting but non-judgmental biography chronicles Goines’ life in great detail and is based on meticulous research. Goines chronicled his own life through his writing in a series of best-selling novels that give an authentic picture of urban life. This biography places Goines in his historical era against a backdrop of social unrest and change, and the burgeoning civil rights movement. The biography also attempts to argue for Goines’ place as a literary writer, and does this convincingly. My only quibble with the book is that the author chooses to mimic the kind of street language that Goines and his contemporaries would have used but which sits uncomfortably in a literary biography. It jars and feels distasteful, and is I feel unnecessary adding nothing to the narrative. However, overall this is a fine biography of a fine writer who deserves the recognition accorded him here, and I suspect will gain him a renewed readership.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall mood of this book was undeniably dark. His childhood upbringing was dark. The city he grew up in was dark. Everything about his life seemed to be overshadowed by darkness.

Some readers may have been put off by the author's interjection of history lessons throughout the story, but I found the information helpful, informative, and enriching. It added necessary context to the narrative rather than detracting from it.

As someone who was introduced to Donald Goines’s books in my early twenties, I recall being captivated by the vivid detail in his writing about urban life and prison. His stories painted such a raw and unfiltered picture of that world that they made me reflect on my own path. In fact, his novels played a role in shaping my decisions—I knew I never wanted to go to prison, and I carried myself accordingly.

The author did a commendable job of capturing the tortured soul and creative genius of Donald Goines. Writing sixteen novels in just four years is an incredible feat. And the fact that the author couldn’t find Goines’s gravesite—because he didn’t even have a headstone—only underscores the overwhelming darkness that defined his life and legacy.

[Síle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Eddie B. Allen, Jr., RBmedia and NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

This book is a gripping exploration of crime, survival, and the harsh realities of life on the streets. Eddie B. Allen, Jr. crafts a raw and unflinching narrative that pulls readers into a world where choices are rarely black and white. Though I didn’t know much about the subject beforehand, this biography spoke to me on another level.

As someone who grew up in a country where Black history was barely taught, I’ve been teaching myself what was missing. Low Road offered an insightful perspective, shedding light on experiences I had little exposure to before. With vivid storytelling and complex characters, this book is not just a story of one man’s life—it’s a thought-provoking reflection on resilience, desperation, and the consequences of one’s path.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this audiobook; I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I am the whitest white lady who grew up in an area where there was one black kid in our school. I know all the failures of teaching about the Black experience in the U.S. and have been reading more and more about their history. I had no idea who Goines was except for the fact that he was a popular writer of novels featuring the Black experience.

What I got instead of a straight biography is a social history of what was going on with blacks during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Goines never gave an interview in his lifetime, so Allen had scant information to work with. I still don't think I got to know much about Goines, and if I had read some of his works, I'd be sorely disappointed in this book.

[Willie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eddie B. Allen Jr.'s book, 'Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines,' goes beyond the critique of his literary work; it is imperative to underscore the unsettling behaviors exhibited by this freelance journalist. While this book examines the literary legacy of Donald Goines, it's crucial to acknowledge that Eddie B. Allen Jr. has faced scrutiny for actions beyond the world of writing. There are troubling indications of unethical actions aimed at deceiving the public for personal financial gain on his part.

The book can be likened to a bait-and-switch scheme, where readers believe they are purchasing one thing but receive something entirely different—a pure scam.

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

In my quest for an authentic exploration of Donald Goines’ life, what I received instead was a jarring detour—pages filled with content far afield from the writer's true narrative. The disconnect between the book's marketing and its actual substance left me feeling more than just disappointed; it felt like a con, a shrewd extraction of money for insights that were never delivered. This wasn't the tribute to Goines I was hoping to invest in, but a costly diversion that failed to capture the essence of the man behind the pen.

[Caesar Warrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allen's Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines is a disappointment. The book reads more like an outline of the black American urban experience through the 50's, 60's and 70's than a biography.

[Dawn]

This is the 3rd time I've read this book. Hoping beyond hope for a different ending. Wishing we could have been blessed with morew of this man's talent. He died like he lived...REAL