Author- Dashaun "Jiwe" Morris
Publisher- Simon & Schuster
Copyright 2008
Pages- 222
Copyright 2008
Pages- 222
ISBN- 978-1-4165-4846-1
War of the Bloods in My Veins is a gripping, tell-all, book by a true member of the Bloods. Dashaun “Jiwe” Morris was a gang member who served time in prison for his misguided acts although he was nearly a shoe-in with the NFL.
Jiwe’s book reads as a diary that shares his inner most feelings while going through a whirlwind of violence, anger, tragedy, and desire. As he tells his story he begins to analyze himself and realizes that it is he, and only he, who stands in the way of making a difference for himself and his daughter.
Jiwe was exposed to the violent life when he was very young and he was sent off by his mother to his Uncle and Aunt’s home in Phoenix, Arizona from New Jersey. While living with his extended family, he is exposed to the strict life of Islam and his aunt, a very devout woman, is not the one to play with because she is a disciplinarian that shows no mercy. Jiwe is not use to this type of order, not even from his mother, so he rebels and wishes for his mother’s arrival.
How does a young man cope when he feels alone? Well, most boys turn to the ones that show the attention that they so yearn for-- even if it is in a gang. Jiwe knew that something was not right when he first encountered a Blood member whose brother (another Blood) came out to defend his brother with a baseball bat and they both beat the crap out of the boy. Although it seemed wrong to beat someone nearly to death, the fact that a loved one would do that for his own was astounding.
After his encounter with his friend and his brother, he realizes that he is looking to belong and he finds that belonging with the Bloods. He is later asked to do the ultimate in order to prove that he is down with the red flags. Does he do it? What do they ask him to do? One would only imagine if they don’t read the book.
When he later moves back to New Jersey with his mother and brother, he meets up with a friend and they form a Blood click in Orange, New Jersey. It is here that he vows that to be a brother means to die for a brother, and no man or woman can come between them. They Rob, steal and terrorize the community. They think that the only people that they are hurting are their sworn enemies the Crips, but DaShaun soon realizes that he is hurting his people.
Dashaun also encountered his father who he had never seen until he was well in his teens. He also found out that he had a brother who was in fact a cop. How ironic. Needless to say, Dashaun questions where his father had been for most of his life because of course, he was a very big piece to the puzzle that would help complete his life but seeing him only made the picture seem more unclear.
Dashaun has finally gotten his break and is in college but he takes his gang mentality with him and it is not as easy as it seems to leave his past behind him. His reputation travels throughout the campus, not to mention he still wears the colors. People are drawn to him; people fear him, and some people are willing to test him and because of these compelling reasons, he finds himself in prison.
While serving time he promises himself that he will do better especially for his newborn little girl and that is what this book is about—change.
What makes War of the Bloods in My Veins such an excellent read is that you get it! I mean, the brother is not bragging about his gun-toting lifestyle; he is not giving us colorful drama that makes us believe that we are reading the usual urban fiction; we are not even talking about sex. He is giving every parent the opportunity to understand what our youth are thinking when they are being neglected. It is important to read this book with the understanding that parents should be very concerned about what they say and do around their children and in many cases when they are not around, and be sure that you listen. Listening to our children and helping them to our best abilities is what will keep them alive.
It is great that he took responsibility for his actions because it would have been too easy to blame his parents. It is great to read that Dashaun took a serious look at his life and dedicated it to making a change for himself and his community. Now the only thing left is to continue to make others aware that they too can do the same.
Jiwe’s book reads as a diary that shares his inner most feelings while going through a whirlwind of violence, anger, tragedy, and desire. As he tells his story he begins to analyze himself and realizes that it is he, and only he, who stands in the way of making a difference for himself and his daughter.
Jiwe was exposed to the violent life when he was very young and he was sent off by his mother to his Uncle and Aunt’s home in Phoenix, Arizona from New Jersey. While living with his extended family, he is exposed to the strict life of Islam and his aunt, a very devout woman, is not the one to play with because she is a disciplinarian that shows no mercy. Jiwe is not use to this type of order, not even from his mother, so he rebels and wishes for his mother’s arrival.
How does a young man cope when he feels alone? Well, most boys turn to the ones that show the attention that they so yearn for-- even if it is in a gang. Jiwe knew that something was not right when he first encountered a Blood member whose brother (another Blood) came out to defend his brother with a baseball bat and they both beat the crap out of the boy. Although it seemed wrong to beat someone nearly to death, the fact that a loved one would do that for his own was astounding.
After his encounter with his friend and his brother, he realizes that he is looking to belong and he finds that belonging with the Bloods. He is later asked to do the ultimate in order to prove that he is down with the red flags. Does he do it? What do they ask him to do? One would only imagine if they don’t read the book.
When he later moves back to New Jersey with his mother and brother, he meets up with a friend and they form a Blood click in Orange, New Jersey. It is here that he vows that to be a brother means to die for a brother, and no man or woman can come between them. They Rob, steal and terrorize the community. They think that the only people that they are hurting are their sworn enemies the Crips, but DaShaun soon realizes that he is hurting his people.
Dashaun also encountered his father who he had never seen until he was well in his teens. He also found out that he had a brother who was in fact a cop. How ironic. Needless to say, Dashaun questions where his father had been for most of his life because of course, he was a very big piece to the puzzle that would help complete his life but seeing him only made the picture seem more unclear.
Dashaun has finally gotten his break and is in college but he takes his gang mentality with him and it is not as easy as it seems to leave his past behind him. His reputation travels throughout the campus, not to mention he still wears the colors. People are drawn to him; people fear him, and some people are willing to test him and because of these compelling reasons, he finds himself in prison.
While serving time he promises himself that he will do better especially for his newborn little girl and that is what this book is about—change.
What makes War of the Bloods in My Veins such an excellent read is that you get it! I mean, the brother is not bragging about his gun-toting lifestyle; he is not giving us colorful drama that makes us believe that we are reading the usual urban fiction; we are not even talking about sex. He is giving every parent the opportunity to understand what our youth are thinking when they are being neglected. It is important to read this book with the understanding that parents should be very concerned about what they say and do around their children and in many cases when they are not around, and be sure that you listen. Listening to our children and helping them to our best abilities is what will keep them alive.
It is great that he took responsibility for his actions because it would have been too easy to blame his parents. It is great to read that Dashaun took a serious look at his life and dedicated it to making a change for himself and his community. Now the only thing left is to continue to make others aware that they too can do the same.
Reviewer- Heather Elitou
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