Rios, Victor M

The author discusses his background as a former gang member and juvenile delinquent in Oakland, California, during the 1980s and 1990s, details his efforts to study the lives of young men from his neighborhood after earning a PhD in sociology at Berkeley, and emphasizes the importance of understanding in order to develop solutions for young men who live in a culture of punishment.

The author discusses the adversity he encountered growing up poor, fatherless, in a gang, incarcerated, dropped-out, and without hope. He reflects on his own personal transformation and discusses how his success of returning to school and acquiring a Ph. D. can be replicated by young people with the support of teachers, mentors, and parents.