Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir

This is the life story of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the legendary founder of the Crips street gang turned America's foremost street peacemaker. This book greatly expands and clarifies the story told in "Redemption", the excellent cable movie starring Jamie Foxx "Blue Rage, Black Redemption" is an incredible piece of well-written literature in its own right---notwithstanding the ultimate fate of the author---and it is a damning indictment of a cold, callous society. It describes the unchecked poverty, violence and broken schools of South Central that spawned the Crip phenomenon. And it describes Tookie's Herculean efforts to redeem himself from within the walls of San Quentin. [The added material in this reprint by Tookie's friend Barbara Becnel is especially welcome in the context of today's ongoing debate over capital punishment in California.]

This book is seperated into two sections. The first half being, Blue Rage and the second, Black redemption. Their's different titled chapters compiled into each section. The first half of the book is about Stan's life from being a child in Lousiana until he gets arrested in South Central Los Angeles in 1979 for the four murders he was convicted of commiting. The second half is about his educational and spiritual transition in prison along with certain events and situations. Stanley's views are extremly intresting and worth thinking about with an open mind. Things like his views about what "dys-education" is, religeon, brotherhood, spirituality, drugs, cultural education and it's importance. His thoughts about his friend's Buddah, Evil and Treach are sad, and even uplifting at times. His educational studies on death row with Treach and Evil along with his exercising disiplines are very thought provoking also. We outside of prison seem to be getting a school-based education for the sake of financial success. Stan can't do that. His transition is based on studies we need to perform here in our daily lives along with our children. This book is not your typical urban-entertainment about being a gangster or a rap song compiled into book-form. This is a very articulated insight into the cycle of poverty, racism, violence, redemption, edification, transition and enlightenment. A must read for everyone. Rest in peace Stan. I miss you.

If you read this book with an open mind, you would learn that the Crips gang started out as just uniting other gangs around South Central. Stan was a mischivous little boy who I believe had potiental to do great things if only he was given the opprutunity. He says that living in South Central you had to have the mentality of "Survial of the fittest". And that's where the fights with other males really began, I believe. Much of the information about his case is left out but there are clues that connect someone else to the crimes. Hint: The people who let him keep his weights at their house after not having a permenant place to stay. Right before his grandmother died she said she had a feeling that Stan needed to get outta LA because something bad was going to happen. I'm going to stop there and hopefully this information has interested you enough to read this wonderful book that will hopefully open your eyes to a positive light.

Many people have a tendency to speak about things that they have no prior info about the subject. I see that is the case here. here are the facts. -For over 25 years, even to is death, Tookie denies killing those 4 people. -Tookie has apologiezed for creating the crips. -He has tried to undo what he helped create by writing books. [Why he should have been saved] Tookie didn't want clemecy because he thought it was a better punishment for him. He wanted it so he couls continue his work. I am a "At-Risk" teenager, and I personally would listen to the creator of the crips about gangs, rather than listen to some white guy in a tie. Even if he did do the crimes that he was charged with, who are we to say he deserves to die? Last time I checked, someone named God makes those decisions.

I went onto this review page hoping to read some genuine feedback about the book, not read personal judgements and opinions regarding the author. The law also states that people who witness a murder are equally responsible for the person who actually committed the crime. So those of you that have hate in your heart and wish death on Tookie Williams, better be prepared to answer for your actions/involvement as well. God has not given us authority to pass judgement on anyone. And there is no sin greater than the next, be it murder, lying , stealing, adultery....whatever. When you get to the pearly gates, God is not going to say...oh you just cheated on your wife no big deal...or you only told a little white lie. No each one of us will be judged the same. And more than our sins He will judge our hearts intent, and what we did with our time here on earth. By the looks of these "reviews", many of you are simply wasting your time on earth judging other people, and wishing death on another human being. I bet none of you can name one thing that you've done personally to make a difference in our society. Gimme a break! If there was no such thing as redemption we wouldn't be here as a human race. We are redeemed each day we wake up and get another chance at life. Stanley Tookie Williams died with integrity and at peace. He refused a special meal. He declined final words. And He maintained his innocence to his last breath as he should have. He knows and God knows what his involvement was, if any in those crimes for. And I really feel sorry for the individuals that orchestrated the execution, from the person that inserted the first needle, to the witnesses in the room...but especially Arnold....They all have Tookie's blood on their hands.