Gangs and Self-Esteem

by Stanley Tookie Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel (Editor)

Many kids join gangs to feel better about themselves. In this book, Tookie tells his young audience about more effective ways they can feel valued and worthwhile.

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Stanley Tookie Williams III was a leader of the Crips, a notorious American street gang which had its roots in South Central Los Angeles in 1969.
In 1979 he was convicted of four murders committed in the course of robberies, sentenced to death, and eventually executed. Once incarcerated, he authored several books, including anti-gang and anti-violence literature and children's books.

Reviews

[Rosie Mcclendon]

Does one thing lead to another?

Yes, certain things people decide to do in this book lead to even worse doings. For example, Stanley Williams or "Tookie" cared about his rep which led him to start fighting people making others scared of him and talk about him, making himself more known. Because of his name being thrown around and everyone saying he was a good fighter, a group of people heard about him and asked him to join their gang leading him to say yes. They all got a rep for being very violent, at first they were ganging up on other kids and beating them up, but then this feeling of power led them to sell drugs and rob people and stores. This all stared just because one guy wanted people to talk about him and become known leading to many bad things (one after another) causing pain and trouble for everyone.

Would a scene work better from another character's viewpoint?

I personally don't think this book would work better from someones else's view. I say this because, the story would be completely different, the author "Stanley "Tookie" Williams" puts himself in this story making it an autobiography about himself. For example, he stated "I believe if people are afraid of me then they would respect me." This is just one quote from him personally, but not everyone feels this way. Therefore, if someone else started telling their personal experience it would make it about them and how they feel and what they went through instead of his own, throwing off the whole book.

[Agustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the topics of the book. One topic would be "My Big Mistake".
I like this book because I live in a neighborhood in gangs and drugs.