The Autobiography Of An L. A Gang Member Sparknotes

Sonia Bola

Professor Gutierrez

CRJ 112

28 November 2016

Shakur Essay Assignment The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member (1993) describes the life of the author, Sanyika Shakur, also known as "Monster" Kody Scott, as a South Central, Los Angeles gang member of the Crip organization. During the book, the author exhibits his time as a formidable, combat soldier who earned a legendary gangster title for his committed acts of brutality and violence in the course of his Crip membership (Shakur, 1993). In addition, the novel gradually reveals how the author transformed from a Crip associate to a black nationalist and crusader for the new African independence movement, who fights against the causes of a gangster lifestyle (Shakur, 1993). Throughout

For instance, Howell and Griffiths (2016) found females are distinctly integrated into male gangs by their relationships with the members. Throughout Shakur's (1993) autobiography, he talks about many young female Crip gang members or affiliates who he had known or been with on missions. In particular, even after all his gang lifestyle choices and transformation into a black nationalist, Shakur's girlfriend, Tamu, stuck around him through all the challenges and hardships, thus showing her affiliation with the Crips because of her intimate relationship with Shakur. Tamu is one example, described by Shakur, Howell, and Griffiths, of how young women integrate into gangs through their relationships with the members, regardless of whether it is by a family, friend, or intimate partner

Utilizing research findings and realistic experiences, Shakur, Howell, and Griffiths disprove myths about gangs, justify the reasons for young people being recruited because of their desire to be understood by others similar to them, and girls integrating themselves into the groups from their relationships with members. Howell and Griffiths managed to explain the principles behind gangs and their members' lifestyles, while Shakur provided real gangster experiences as supporting evidence for the research findings. Theories to gangs may be existent, but without proper research leading to the findings, or experiences from subjects who lived the lifestyle, beliefs about the organizations merely become empty