How It Went Down discussion

Gangs, Guns, and Death
“People make mistakes. They look at the surface of things and see what they want to.” At least that’s what it seems like when a young black teenager, Tariq Johnson, is shot by an older white man, Jack Franklin. How it Went Down captivates the audience in a compelling homicide, leaving them to decide the moral question: “was it justified?” Tariq Johnson was shot whilst walking away from a store, a bystander, Jack Franklin, claimed he saw a firearm, and shot him two times, which resulted in Tariqs immediate death. Questions arise, “did he have a gun?” ,“why did Franklin get involved?”, and “how exactly did it go down?” The conflict of inner-city violence, specifically regarding race is tough, and real. Overcoming adversity of false witnesses, gangs, fake friends, and the hard fact that no one will listen is incredibly gut-wrenching and heart aching, which leaves the audience in shock, yet wanting more. This realistic fiction novel differs from others, by addressing a highly controversial and relevant topic through the most realistic and practical way. I knew right away that I had to read this book for myself, so I could decide how it went down. The mood is generally profound and heavy, as the topic is naturally not buoyant. Talking about a shooting, especially one so controversial and severe, brings the audience to a serious mindset, though some elements of sarcasm and humor are evident, they are often sparse.
If I remember anything from the book, it would be the extreme detail and vivid diction used to describe Tariqs shooting. The imagery within the text is so prevalent that it legitimately felt like I had just watched a young teenager die. Of course with this, it was extremely disheartening and upsetting, but incredibly memorable indeed. Nothing will hit you harder than the surreal descriptions of the most horrific scene one can imagine. This book brought to my attention how prevalent the topic of controversial shootings are. My involvement with law enforcement did give me a good background, however I was ignorant to what real inner-city crime is like, where law enforcement presence is low. This book increased my knowledge of such crime, whereas before, I would be unable to talk about it. Now, I can apply my new knowledge of gang violence, shootings, and relations to inner-city areas, which will ultimately benefit me and anyone else I encounter. This book is engaging, surreal, and educational. It combines and elaborate various ideas and perspectives on a topic that is extremely relevant, and will benefit anyone who reads it. Everyone, truly everyone, needs to know how it went down.