Born In The Streets But Raised In Prison
Tra Verdejo
ISBN: 978160467450
Street Scriptures Publishing
Reviewed By Daria Miles
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
"In
jail, you picked up every trick in the book. It was like a university
for criminals. I heard everyone's story, and I learned what not to do."
Victor Davila learns the ins and outs of street living
at an age when most boys think only of dirty magazines and video games.
Having lost both his father and mother to the drug world, he, his
brother, Carlos, and their sisters soon move in with their grandmother.
Unbeknownst to her, the children are abused and molested by a
churchmate she employs to look after them while she's away at work. As
if that isn't bad enough, Carlos is soon killed in a random act of
senseless violence, and the state soon invades the household,
separating the remaining siblings by shipping them off to different
foster care homes.
Fed up with the control that everyone else
has over his life, Victor soon ditches his group home, returning to his
grandmother's house and beginning his initiation to street life. Joined
by a select cadre of trusted companions, he launches the Young
Kingpins, a murderous gang hell-bent on controlling the New York dope
game. It is then that Victor becomes "Jefe," the fearless leader of the
crew - at the ripe, tender age of thirteen.
Determined to
protect the family he almost lost, Jefe prizes loyalty above all else
in all his dealings, meting out swift, deadly punishment to anyone that
dares cross him or his crew. As a result, he begins serving repeated
bids in prison, where he gradually comes to a higher awareness of the
true consequences of his activities, ultimately committing himself to
changing the game and making things better.
Unfortunately, the real lessons he needs to learn come too late.
Born In The Streets But Raised In Prison
is not the typical urban fiction tale of violence, violence, and more
violence. While it has its fair share of graphic, disturbing
depictions, the real focus of the narrative is the aftereffects of such
violence, distinguishing it from other, more shallow offerings. The
title alone highlights Verdejo's efforts to shift the usual mien of
sensational storytelling to a more insightful look into the underlying
problems of urban decay. Also, given the disturbing revelation that
confronts Jefe at the end, it's nearly impossible to miss the irony
surrounding his attempts to break a generational curse while at the
same time serving as its chief vehicle.
Verdejo has crafted an
engaging tale perfectly suited for workshops, lectures, and good
old-fashioned father-son talks. His well-rounded characters and
compelling plotlines make Born In The Streets a rewarding read and leaves one wanting more from this exciting new voice in urban fiction.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Tra Verdejo (Born In The Streets But Raised In Prison)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Tra. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book.
What inspired the title for the book?
Tra Verdejo: My community inspired the title of "Born in the Streets but Raised in Prison." Criminals in my neighborhood are considered role models. They don't look up to Michael Jordan anymore because the chances of becoming another MJ are slim. These kids today are out of control, and we need to be more proactive in our intervention. If our young generation feels as if there is no hope or they feel trapped in their environment, then it is less likelythey will change on their own. "Born in the Street but Raised in Prison" is a state of mind our kids are living and dying by. I thought the title was perfect for my message. I call it the circle of destruction. It's all one big cycle that only seems to be getting worse.
AR: At the height of their success, the Young Kingpins were bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. Is the drug game really that profitable?
TV: You wouldn't believe it, but it can be, especially when crack hit the scene. Why do you think so many become drug dealers and are attracted to the game? It's the fast money. If you could buy the finest things and drive the newest car, hit the club, spend a few thousands, wake up the next day laugh about it, hit the block and double your losses. C'mon, who wouldn't want that life? Profitable, YES but is it worth it, HELL NO.
AR: In light of that fact, how can we ever truly dissuade youngsters from aspiring to be drug dealers?
TV: By teaching them the truth and giving them a strong dose of reality. We need a greater threat then jail. Kids are not scared of going to prison. They actually can't wait for that moment. We need to restore order back in our homes. Parents need to be held accountable for their kids' actions as well. We need to be more involved in our communities and provide more options. We need more people to step up and be leaders. We need leaders who have been through hell and survived. Those are the individuals who will help our kids. Real people with real stories.
AR: How does Jefe manage to keep it together amidst all the chaos that ensues when things fall apart?
TV: The streets prepared him. The streets showed him at an early age that there was no love in the game. Jefe knew his destiny before it began, he just didn't care. He was willing to take chances and risk it all.
AR: You describe the book as "the autobiography of our young generation." Please explain that concept in more detail for our readers.
TV: I called it "the autobiography of our young generation" because many of us could relate with Jefe's life story. "Born in the streets but raised in prison" is a book that will make you feel like you are apart of the story. We all know friends or even family members that are on that same path of destruction. I covered many issues on this book like drug-addicted parents, child abuse, ignorance, police brutality, government negligence and the list goes on and on. Hopefully this book will help wake up the system or at least bring more attention to the increased levels of violence in our communities. Our young generation is in need of help and our whole future depends on it.
AR: What's your take on the current state of urban fiction?
TV: I think we are showing the Book World we mean business. I'm starting to see better books on the market. There was a time when everything seemed the same and there was not enough variety in the topics. I will like to see more unity among Black and Hispanic authors. I think we have a powerful voice; hopefully we could transcend that into moreteaching and less propaganda.
AR: What are your goals for Street Scriptures Publishing?
TV: I want to build my company into a powerhouse in this game. I'm always looking for talent and developing great ideas. Street Scriptures will provide opportunities for those who are serious about their talent. S.S.P. will be releasing poetry, plays, movies and even books gear towards teenagers. I'm in it for the long run, that's for sure.
AR: What's next for you?
TV: I want to push this book to the next level. I'm working on my next one, which will be called F.A.T.H.E.R.S. This will spark a lot of conversation. I'm basically tired of these fathers not handling their responsibility. This book should be out hopefully by the summer. I'm also working with a poetry artist and two other authors. SSP will also release a short story book about AIDS. For those that are interested in working on this project can get more information by visiting my website www.streetscriptures.com. I got my hands full but I love every minute of it.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
TV: Don't let fear stand in the way of your dreams. That door labeled "Opportunity" didn't come with just one key, in other words if you don't step up someone else will. Don't make excuses, make it happen.
AR: Thanks again, Rob, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!