Guest:
Kevon Gulley, author of Just Like Compton
Dr. Ikaweba Bunting, Professor, Compton College
A fictional novel where the names have been changed to protect the guilty, ‘Just Like Compton’ has been billed as having the grit of Monster Kody’s Monster, the intrigue and mystery of a James Patterson novel, complete with the kind of Black romance that rivals acclaimed author Zane.
Written by Kevon Gulley, a Compton native, who spent the majority of his in life in and out of one system or another, for those who have ever wondered about what goes on in the head in those who bang or what it’s like to do time in a California prison as a Black man today, Just Like Compton does an incredible job of breaking down the inexplicable violence, revenge, betrayal, racism, drugs, love and loyalty to a color, neighborhood block, and gang family that many have a hard time understanding. ‘Just Like Compton’ is the perfect blend of real life-straight up with no chaser complete with baby mama drama, a chick on the side drama, hood drama, and the drama behind the walls.
The novel gives readers a strikingly real portrayal of gang life in Los Angeles. Nothing is off limits or too graphic when it comes to telling it like it is for this first time author who admits that for his first novel he drew a lot from his personal life.
“I love Compton,” Kevon says. “I didn’t always do right and I paid the price for it. I’ve seen a lot in these streets and today I just think that if there’s anything that I can do to help make a difference, then I’m going to do it. No one wants to be locked up. Prison is no joke, believe me.”
Just Like Compton is currently available online at Amazon.com, local bookstores, including Eso Won in Leimert Park, Smiley’s in Carson, Zahra’s Books N Things in Inglewood, Shades of Afrika in Long Beach and can also be ordered directly through his website at www.justlikecompton.com.
April 23, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I heard the author of this book on the radio this morning, good for him that he has a book out. Additionally, the professor’s words were VERY powerful – I would love to hear him speak more.
However, this isn’t the 19th century. So, the front cover makes me cringe and here’s why…
The front cover of the book specifically depicts the woman standing behind the man, why couldn’t she have been standing beside her man? Are they not equals?
Seems to perpetuate the viewpoint that women are seen as less equal than their African-American male counterparts.
Real women stand beside their men, not behind a man. A man who genuinely respects and appreciates his woman fully, wants her to stand beside him since he sees her as his other/better half, and a woman who knows her worth would have it no other way.
April 24, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Whats wrong with a woman standing behind her man. Thats the problem. People look at everything from a power perspective. Women need to stand behind their men and when the time comes for men to stand behind their women they will do the same. With that statement WE ARE EQUALS.
April 28, 2012 at 5:11 am
Johnny,
Stop with the ridiculousness and the shenanigans.
So, you are basically saying that you want and expect a woman to have your back at all times and yet you don’t have her back in return? This seems to be the point you are making here. Sounds like a double standard.
If you and she are equals like you say, then then the power between you is shared. Is this not correct?
Now the question becomes, why are you so afraid to share the power and have your woman by your side and have her back?
The answer is so glaringly obvious. No real man who fully has his woman’s back would let her (nor expect her) to take the rap for him and have her sitting in jail for something she didn’t do. He mans up and takes full responsibility for his own actions.
April 23, 2012 at 8:15 pm
@ Average Gal. This is a street novel. Most street novels show their women holding them down, when everyone else is against them. It is not unusual for a woman to be standing “behind” her man in the streets. Lying and saying that he was with her when the murder was committed. Hiding drugs in the baby pamper when she goes to visit her man in jail. Taking the rap for a crime, because she’ll receive a slap on the wrist, whereas her man would do hard time. This is what happens in the streets! A woman standing “behind” her man!
This book is no kid story! You’d have to know the streets, to know this book
April 23, 2012 at 8:29 pm
avg girl i think your’re over analyzing my dear. i don’t want a woman to stand beside me, walk beside me, march beside me yes but i can’t protect her in that way. the phrase “i have your back” is popular for a reason… i believe women are smarter, and stronger than men please don’t confuse the cover with my personal thoughts… Now if you’re just a negative person well that’s something different altogether.
the author..
April 24, 2012 at 4:02 am
So, you’re saying that a woman taking the rap for her boyfriend’s illegal activities which leads to her own incarceration or death is something to be glorified? This is what you call standing “behind” her man?
This sounds like buying into the media’s glorification of the black male as a street thug, wouldn’t you agree?
Sounds more like street-level activities that lead to the woman’s downfall and to the demise of the African-American community.
Additionally, the above type of mindset is probably why Zimmerman felt justified in shooting Trayvon Martin (even though it wasn’t right), because in Zimmerman’s mind Martin was nothing more than a stereotypical black street thug.
April 27, 2012 at 2:14 am
First off, any woman that loves her man takes the “rap” in one way or another. I took the “rap” for my ex-husband when he deserted the military and left me to raise his two children. My mother also “took the rap” when she became the help to support me . I do not dare to consider what caused Zimmerman to shoot an innocent youth. The problem was that he was not a thug nor did he warrant losing his life for wearing a hoodie. If you ever truly loved a Black Man, in some way or another you took the “rap”. If you haven’t yet you will. I would have stood in front of my son to take the bullet and I am standing in front of my grandson whose is no thug! Girl, come on, now, Hillary Clinton, stood by his man, no was he a thug?
April 28, 2012 at 4:19 am
Jurline,
You call that love? I bet your man wouldn’t do the same for you if the roles were reversed. Stop kidding yourself. You would be sitting right there in jail and then you’d get ditched by him for another woman.
April 24, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Well said.
April 24, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Just Like Compton IS a real street novel. My book is Men and Women: Yin and Yang Love circle.
April 24, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Mr. Gulley, great book my brotha. I appreciate the things you do for the children in our neighborhoods. Keep up the good work.
April 25, 2012 at 2:19 am
This comment is for Average Gal, I feel as if you are receiving the message of the cover all wrong. As a black women, that is independent and is strong enough to stand behind her man. Doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m beneath him, but more of him being my protector. In life, in the streets you would not want the situation to happen, but if your life is being threatened and your man stand in front of you to prevent something from happining to you, would you want to stand besides him then. All I’m saying is that its nothing wrong with wanting to be treated as a equal, but sometimes you have to stand behind your man. I feel if more women stood behind there men, then we would have a lot more of strong black men. Kevin I wish you nothing but success, I commend you on what you have accomplished. Keep it up
April 28, 2012 at 5:49 am
Latrice,
Are you kidding me? Stop with the excuses.
A woman can’t teach a man how to be a man. It is the father who teaches a boy how to develop into a man and how to support and feed his family. A boy learns how to be a man from his father, not a woman (although she may try to teach him as bet as she knows how).
What is the man’s role in all of this? Did you know that over 70 percent of black fathers are missing from African-American homes? These men need to have their children’s backs, their woman’s back, and stand up as men and support their children and families. It works both ways.
April 25, 2012 at 2:22 am
I mean Kevon, I wish you success, error on my touch screen with your name.
April 27, 2012 at 2:06 am
Kevon is telling this story from his prospective which is real. I am a retired Supervising Children’s Social Worker and spent much of my career working in South Central Los Angeles. I retired from the Compton Office. I know first hand about the foster care system how it sets up Black and Brown Youth to fail. I AM PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I am from Chicago and lost many relatives to gang violence. As far as the women standing behind her man, I do not feel as it is demeaning in any way. It is educational in the sense that many of the people working the “systems” have no clue about our community, our culture, our sense of pride! Consequently, they hold on the the negative mainstream images that are played out nightly on the news! I am supporting Kevon as his story will provide foster youths still trapped into into an unfair heartless system. I am a community activist and belief that the only way things are going to change is telling it like it really is. Tonight there is a rally at West Angeles
Church for the two youth gunned down !!!!!!! We are taking to the streets. Kevon novel is coming out at a critical time in our country. I just returned from Sacramento lobbying for a new bill AB1611 which addresses racial disparity among African American and Latino Youth in foster care!!!!!! Watch and support!