Inside the Crips: Life Inside L.A.'s Most Notorious Gang

by Colton Simpson and Ann Pearlman

Book Overview

Inside the Crips is a memoir of Colton Simpson's life as a Crip -- beginning at the tender age of ten in the mid 70s -- and his prison turnaround twenty-five years later. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031232930X
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Book!!

I hardly read book, because I lose interest. But this book was very interesting and it gives you background to why people do what they do....it all goes back to the parents!!!

Good Book About A Terrible Lifestyle!

Ice T sets the tone for "Inside the Crips," writing in the forward that "masculinity is at a premium in the 'hood; wealth is defined by violence, aggression, and strength. Gang wars are no stupider than other other war. Crips are even more powerful in penitentiaries - prison doesn't teach good citizenship. It teaches violence." Carlton Simpson, author and central figure, is the son of a former professional baseball player (7 years with L.A. Dodgers). Carlton's father left home when he was four, and he was abused by his mother; Carlton nonetheless received love and strong guidance living with his grandmother. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough - he left after a Little League game to be "jumped into" the Crips, and then shoot two bloods - all at the age of ten. Expelled from school for selling drugs, his grandmother tried sending him to two others, with no success. Carlton's education ended with the 8th grade. Numerous shootings and jewelry store robberies later he is caught, and sentenced to seven years in juvenile. Out in half the time at age 19, he continues his destructive behavior. Gang warfare is greatly intensified within prison confines - one wonders how anyone makes it out in one piece. Guard abuse and brutality adds to the danger. Regardless, upon release Carlton returns to his modis operandi. Six months after being released, Simpson is again arrested and sentenced to 24 years for robbery and attempted murder (shooting and seriously wounding a bystander who tried to stop him). At age 33 Simpson is again paroled, having supposedly gained insight on the pointlessness of ganbanging, while blaming White people for much/most of his problems. (Particularly disturbing is his wife's leaving him after he began reforming in prison - Carlton was sounding "too White.") "Inside the Crips" ends with Carlton working for Ice T (an acquaintance during his early years). Unfortunately, that is not the end of the story, however, Carlton has again been arrested for participating in a jewelry robbery and is awaiting trial. This would be his third strike, if convicted, and the end of what could have been a useful life. (One uncle was a lawyer, another an LA policeman.)

A must read

I thought this was the best book I have read this year! I could feel the intensity of Simpson's daily struggles of life and death. It really opened my eyes to what it is like to be "strong" in a neighborhood of violence and in a prison of even more violence. The fact that Simpson is still alive to tell us about his experience is amazing in and of itself. If you want a fast and thrilling read, you should get this book.

V.P. Inksmith & Rogers Inc.

I have to say I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it,I found it to be exciting,and it gave me a look into another type of life alot of people can't dream of living. This book inspired me to work with youth that need to learn another way of living. Ann Pearlman and Colton Simpson together have told a true life story that would make a wonderful movie. This book leaves you wanting to know more!

An insider's perspective

As an ex gangmember myself, my "review" is really a "critique" and is from an entirely different perspective. First off, when I consider/read this type of information, my first objective is to consider the source. In this case that would be "Li'l Cee". And he is well respected within the gang ranks and one of the few who has the street and prison rep(reputation) along with the literary skills to write such a powerful piece. Second objective, is his story credible or is it just a good piece of fiction? Well, I've personally walked the line (did time) with Li'L Cee and know and/or witnessed alot of the incidents he spoke about as well as did time with the individuals he spoke on and everything was as he wrote. There was a couple of exceptions & that was some names were changed to protect the guilty. From this insider's perspective, this books gets 5 stars.