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readermeginco's review
5.0
This was such an intensely sad -true- story of a life wasted and lost that I cannot say I "loved" it, but is was brilliantly told.
When Danielle Allen's "baby" cousin, Michael, was arrested at 15 for an attempted carjacking, he was tried as an adult and sentenced to 13 years. Michael served 11. Three years after his release, he was shot and killed. Why?
Why did he end up dead? Why did he waste away in prison? And why at 15 did he threaten someone with a gun and attempt to steal his car in the first place?
Danielle Allen searches for answers to these question and for the keys to his real story. Why is the question. Read "Cuz" to find the answers.
When Danielle Allen's "baby" cousin, Michael, was arrested at 15 for an attempted carjacking, he was tried as an adult and sentenced to 13 years. Michael served 11. Three years after his release, he was shot and killed. Why?
Why did he end up dead? Why did he waste away in prison? And why at 15 did he threaten someone with a gun and attempt to steal his car in the first place?
Danielle Allen searches for answers to these question and for the keys to his real story. Why is the question. Read "Cuz" to find the answers.
juliana_aldous's review
4.0
In Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A., Danielle Allen, political scientist and Harvard professor, tells the personal story of her cousin Michael’s incarceration, brief life and murder. She describes his upbringing in Southern California and being sentenced for carjacking at fifteen just as the State had instituted its Three Strikes Law, his time in jail—taking college courses, working as a firefighter, and then his eventual release. How the family worked together for his homecoming, housing and jobs, but Michael didn’t make it, fell back in with his transgender girlfriend from prison, who shot Michael and left him for dead.
There is plenty of heartache in this book. Allen goes back and forth in the book from Michael’s homecoming and attempts to right his life, to the story of his childhood. In addition, Allen gives a run-down of what created the societal conditions in Los Angeles in the nineties—the drug and gang culture, the increasing incarceration, and the poverty of the region. Also—this book does a good job of covering how difficult the prison system is for the families—the endless waiting, tight rules, and little to no communication by the prison.
For me, the saddest was the chapter written by Michael himself. It is an essay describing his work as a firefighter for the prison. You read that essay, and you begin to think of a different future that Michael might have had.
This book was very much in the vein of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. And unfortunately, we need more voices to tell these stories. The millions gone that Allen writes about.
If you are still not convinced to read the full book, then at least read Allen’s article for the New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/the-life-of-a-south-central-statistic
Another plug here…I actually read the acknowledgments and was delighted to see Allen thanks Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for inviting her to give a series of lectures which then became this book. I watch Dr. Gates show on PBS, Finding Your Roots. If you haven’t seen it—check it out. Talk about some fascinating history and family stories…
There is plenty of heartache in this book. Allen goes back and forth in the book from Michael’s homecoming and attempts to right his life, to the story of his childhood. In addition, Allen gives a run-down of what created the societal conditions in Los Angeles in the nineties—the drug and gang culture, the increasing incarceration, and the poverty of the region. Also—this book does a good job of covering how difficult the prison system is for the families—the endless waiting, tight rules, and little to no communication by the prison.
For me, the saddest was the chapter written by Michael himself. It is an essay describing his work as a firefighter for the prison. You read that essay, and you begin to think of a different future that Michael might have had.
This book was very much in the vein of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace. And unfortunately, we need more voices to tell these stories. The millions gone that Allen writes about.
If you are still not convinced to read the full book, then at least read Allen’s article for the New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/the-life-of-a-south-central-statistic
Another plug here…I actually read the acknowledgments and was delighted to see Allen thanks Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for inviting her to give a series of lectures which then became this book. I watch Dr. Gates show on PBS, Finding Your Roots. If you haven’t seen it—check it out. Talk about some fascinating history and family stories…
shannanh's review
3.0
An interesting read about a young black man's life, his release from prison, and life after prison. It seemed to drag at times, but it was good.
nehirsch's review
5.0
One of the best and most important books I’ve read in a long time. Allen’s clear story about her cousin’s and her own upbringing was a window into a world that I have not entered. But, I also found that the more I learn, the more I was drawn in to Michael’s story. It makes one pay attention to the criminal justice system, which can so easily be hidden away from regular society, from those whose family members are not directly affected by this.
rtwilliams16's review
3.0
A good case study on the effects of mass incarceration. Reminded me a little bit of [b:The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League|18775365|The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League|Jeff Hobbs|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420938377s/18775365.jpg|26680498] which I highly recommend.
martha_schwalbe's review against another edition
5.0
I wish this book were required reading for anyone running for public office, for all business owners regardless of income, for all judges and law enforcement officers. I think it contains useful information for educators too, however, as an educator I think we're more in tune with some of the dangers kids face growing up.
I wish that the CEOs and business owners make their money of those of us who purchase their products. Without us, they are absolute NOBODIES. Allen makes an excellent example of how messed up the legal system is when it is about drug trafficking and I think the same case can be made for the very wealthy and the rest of us.
Once again I have to say that the fearful, wealthy, white men look only at themselves and how to protect what they have. When can the tables be turned?
Allen addresses so much in her book, the legal system, the War on Drugs, poverty, abuse, that I have lots of different thoughts. I don't know what to do about the sense of frustration I feel. I thank her for writing this book.
I wish that the CEOs and business owners make their money of those of us who purchase their products. Without us, they are absolute NOBODIES. Allen makes an excellent example of how messed up the legal system is when it is about drug trafficking and I think the same case can be made for the very wealthy and the rest of us.
Once again I have to say that the fearful, wealthy, white men look only at themselves and how to protect what they have. When can the tables be turned?
Allen addresses so much in her book, the legal system, the War on Drugs, poverty, abuse, that I have lots of different thoughts. I don't know what to do about the sense of frustration I feel. I thank her for writing this book.
britakate's review
Allen's memoir about her cousin Michael tells a far too familiar story - as she writes again and again, he is "one of so many millions gone." I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for her to turn the analytical gaze of her academic training to the life of a dear family member. The ethicist's perspective is illuminating, but in the end, her personal connection to the story - to the *person* - shines stronger. I was particularly struck by the first section, in which the narrative alternates between Michael's release from prison and his murder. It's an intentionally jarring contrast that illustrates the injustice of his experience in the criminal "justice" system as well as anything.
rwill88's review
5.0
This book is amazing! A searing tale of our unjust criminal system that kills both physically and mentally, young boys and men at astonishing rates. I read this book in a day and a half, and will reread it soon. A must have.