Isis Sapp-Grant and Rosemarie Robotham

About the author: Isis Sapp-Grant is a former member of the Deceptinettes, a girl gang in New York City. She is now a social worker who works with children who are at risk of joining gangs. Rosemarie Robotham is an editor for Essence.

A former gang member tells her story of how she became involved in a gang in New York City. She initially welcomed the friendship the gang offered because she believed no one else—including her mother—cared about her. While in the gang she committed many acts of violence and robberies against both the gang's enemies and total strangers. For awhile she felt a great sense of power because people feared her. However, with the help of supportive...