In 1998; at the very moment that a publisher had approached Bruce Davidson about a book of his 1959 Brooklyn Gang photographs; former gang leader Bobby Powers unexpectedly telephoned the Davidsons. Over the next decade; Emily Davidson maintained an ongoing conversation with Powers in order to bring to light his struggle to overcome his drug-ridden and violent past and to inspire others with his example.Through the words and reflections of the former drug addict and petty criminal; this book relates the long; agonizing journey from youthful urban violence and despair to the life of a committed and generous professional. Beginning in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood in the mid 1950s where alcohol abuse and poverty were rampant; Bobby Powers went from being an illiterate gang leader and notorious drug dealer to a destroyed individual who had lost everything; including family members; close friends; and himself; all presented in his own words and in grim detail in this book. At a critical turning point in his life; recognizing the threat of his behaviors to survival; he entered detox and embarked on the arduous path to recovery and self-understanding. This process involved not only acknowledging and coming to terms with the injuries he had inflicted on his children and others; but also asking for their forgiveness.Having achieved a new way of life as a responsible and caring adult; Bobby Powers is today; at 69; a nationally respected drug addiction counselor who has aided a wide spectrum of people; including former gang members. His story represents a brutal and inspiring lesson in human frailty; degradation; and transformation.
#4189766 in eBooks 2008-10-07 2008-10-07File Name: B007O9BJA0
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