Initiation Summary and Analysis

Kody Scott's story begins on June 15, 1975. He is graduating sixth grade but his pride in the day comes because it's the day he's to be initiated into a neighborhood gang, the Tray Eights, which is a branch of the Crips. He recalls that he'd been proud of himself just weeks prior to graduation because he'd flashed a gang sign in a school photo, prompting a suspension and a lecture on the fact that he was headed for "moral decay." On this day, Kody goes with Tray Ball, a gangbanger who agrees to be Kody's sponsor in his quest to gain admittance into the Crips.

On the night of Kody's initiation, he goes "to work" with G.C. who is the "expert" car thief among the members. Kody is given a gun while G.C. steals a Mustang. He says that he...