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REDEMPTION

REDEMPTION. The story of Stanley “Tookie” Williams Self-proclaimed Founder of the Crips Convicted of 4 Murders Blue Rage , Black Redemption Children’s Author 2-Time Nobel Prize Nominee Anti-Gang Advocate?. Redemption. Los Angeles, CA late 1960’s early 1970’s Racial violence is raging

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REDEMPTION

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  1. REDEMPTION The story of Stanley “Tookie” Williams Self-proclaimed Founder of the Crips Convicted of 4 Murders Blue Rage, Black Redemption Children’s Author 2-Time Nobel Prize Nominee Anti-Gang Advocate?

  2. Redemption • Los Angeles, CA late 1960’s early 1970’s • Racial violence is raging • Peaceful protest turns to violent resistance with the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr • Riots in multiple cities • Unemployment rate and dropout rate are skyrocketing • Severe inequalities in wealth, education, government assistance, police protection

  3. Redemption • LAPD historically white dominated • History of police brutality • Minorities feel they can’t turn to the Police for help so they look elsewhere • When the norm of society does not serve the needs of the people an alternative means must be implemented

  4. Redemption • Urban communities of LA County (South Central, Watts, Compton) suffer extremely high rates of: • poverty, illiteracy, illegitimate births • Development of a violent “street” culture • Survival of the fittest • Combination of “opportunity / strain theory” • Youth with little direction/opportunity find ways to entertain/provide for themselves

  5. Redemption • East side Crips “founded” in 1969 by Raymond “Truck” Washington • Piru Street Boys • West side Crips “founded” in 1971 by Stanley “Tookie” Williams • Avalon Garden Boys • “We merged as a means of keeping the streets safe, reducing violence and police brutality” Tookie

  6. Redemption • Majority had been thrown out of multiple schools and spent time in detention centers • 14-17 years old • Neighborhood civic organization??? • Aligned themselves to fight other neighborhood gangs • Pride, belonging, self-worth • “We were the baddest of the bad!” Tookie • Khaki pants, t-shirts, suspenders, wide brim hats • Blue bandana was a tribute to “Buddha” • Canes were carried to display “pimp” status – Tookie • People called them “Cripples”

  7. The Name • It’s not an acronym for anything • Has nothing to do with the word “Crib” • Raymond’s brother had severely bowed legs causing problems with his ankles • Kids wrote “crip” (short for cripple) on his shoes • Others took to walking with a cane and exaggerating a limp to make him feel more comfortable • It Stuck

  8. Tookie • Thrown out of three high schools in 2 years • Took up bodybuilding while in juvenile detention • Assault / drug distribution • Entered bodybuilding competitions • Disqualified for drug use • Got a job as a youth counselor • Fired for robbery and drug use • He was not part of the norm so he needed to find an alternate means of survival

  9. Redemption • “we started out – at least my intent was to, in a sense – address all of the so-called neighboring gangs in the area and to put, in a sense – I thought I can cleanse the neighborhood of all these, you know, marauding gangs. But I was totally wrong. And eventually, we morphed into the monster we were addressing” • Stanley Williams, • prison interview with Barbara Becnel

  10. Stanley Williams

  11. Redemption

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