Brief Summary:
Thomas grows up in Harlem and quickly becomes involved with drugs and
gangs. As he rises in the ranks, he also gets involved in violence and crime.
After being arrested, he pursues a calmer life in Florida, studying at school.
Though he moves back to New York and faces depression after the death of his
mother, Thomas finds gainful and satisfying employment in security and
entertainment. After a work-related accident, Thomas goes back to Florida,
where he pursues his interests in entertainment. He progressively gets involved
with various ministries and devotes himself to bettering himself and being a better
Christian.
Synopsis:
The narrator, THOMAS MARSHALL WILKERSON, is hit by two cars and is
severely injured. This close call with death is a wake-up call for him and
motivates him to be active in the ministry. He recounts his life.FREDDIE LEE
WILKERSON, Thomas’ mother, is a strong-willed Christian who is central to
Thomas’ life and Harlem experience. In the several hundred years since its 1658
founding by Dutch settlers and black slaves, Harlem has seen many significant religious,
cultural and political changes among its populations. Thomas grows up in
the1960s, a time when Harlem is a center of drugs, violence, and political and
cultural discourse, all of which influence him.Thomas starts fighting other
children in the second grade. He and his friend CLAYTON hang out with Clayton’s
older brother, CRAZY GEORGE, who has come back from prison and runs things on
the street. George is viciously beaten by gangsters but survives and is okay.
Thomas is moved to make money for his family, who live in poverty and squalor.
Thomas begins hustling, making money primarily through theft. Thomas makes a
lot of money and becomes less well behaved. He gets into trouble at school and
is chased and threatened by POLICE. After a CLASSMATE’S FATHER hits him, Thomas
spends more time with his GRANDFATHER, who stands up for him. His grandfather
is killed by a street gang, which robs, beats and throws him in front of an
oncoming train.Thomas joins the Harlem Bombers gang after several initiation
fights. He is involved in a gang war in which several people are hospitalized
and killed. Freddie suspects he is in a gang and prays for him. Thomas begins
to see SANDY, who is in an enemy gang’s turf.
When he goes to see her, he is beaten badly by the gang. He is involved
in several other fights, making a name for himself. His gang is watched by various
Black militant groups, including the Nation of Islam. Thomas and friends attend
some meetings and learn to defend themselves through various classes. Race riots
are frequent, and Thomas is present when a riot nearly erupts, involving the
Nation of Islam and POLICE – he sees MOHAMMAD ALI among the crowd.
Thomas is a gifted athlete and plays basketball and baseball. Thomas is
recruited into a Black Mafia group headed by LEROY NICK BARNS, and he makes a
great deal of money with drop offs and pick ups. Thomas shoots one of his older
workers in the leg to motivate him to pay up the money he owes Thomas. At 17,
he is recruited by BIG ZIGG, a violent Mafioso, and partakes in certain violent
crimes. At 19, Thomas beats a man who is assaulting his sister, and Thomas is
arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. Then, while out on bail, Thomas is
arrested for possession of a weapon. Thomas plays with many of Harlem’s best
basketball players and is recruited to play basketball for Norfolk State, but
his arrests interrupt his plans. His family comes to support him through his legal
proceedings. His mother tells him that she has found his guns, money and drugs,
and she tells him to take them out of the house. Thomas’ UNCLE and AUNT
confront him, and he is very upset with them. His mother talks him down from
doing anything to get even with them.
Thomas and his sisters go to church, even though Freddie does not force
them to accept Jesus as their savior. Thomas’ friend KEVIN is arrested by the
FBI and convicted on federal charges, and his friend RONALD BAKER is killed in
a car accident. Baker’s funeral is attended by many people, signifying his
stature. Thomas is held up and robbed by several gangsters, and he spends the
night trying to find and kill them. Freddie’s friend, MS. FLORENCE, is killed
by her SON while he is on drugs. All of this tumult has a strong impact on
Thomas’ life. Thomas discusses the history of Harlem’s mafia and drug dealers,
switching between Jewish, Italian and Black, leading to wealthy and interesting
mafia bosses, in particular Nicky Barnes.Thomas, Zigg and members of their gang
see “The Godfather” in a theatre and respond strongly to its depiction of drug
dealing and its implications of race relations – it comments strongly on the
deteriorating drug abuse situation within the Black community. Zigg gets into a
fight at a basketball game and one of the belligerents is shot and killed.Thomas
becomes interested in performing in dance and theatre, and even though his friends
do not understand it, he takes classes at C.C.N.Y. Thomas is asked to produce a
school play written by famed playwright CHARLIE RUSSELL. Thomas contacts Russel
and asks him to co-direct the play with him – the play is a success. Thomas
finds out one of his cousins is having money issues, and he has to threaten her
to get her to pay up.After pursuing theatre further and having more close calls
in his drug dealing, Thomas decides to leave Harlem and enroll at University of
Miami. Thomas spends time with his AUNT and UNCLE there. It’s in Miami that he
gets into a fight with his uncle for beating his aunt. Thomas’ uncle gets out a
shotgun and threatens Thomas, who runs. The fight simmers for a while, and the
police become involved. They put pressure on Thomas at first, though they eventually
also pressure his uncle. Thomas’ friend, RENEE, is shot and killed. Thomas and
his uncle are issued restraining orders by a Miami judge. Thomas learns that
his gang in Harlem is busted by the FBI for being part of a drug ring, and many
of his friends and associates receive long jail sentences. As New York
continues its war on drugs, Thomas decides to focus his energies on producing
shows. Thomas’ friend EVERETT takes out hits on several of the older members of
the gang, and they in turn try to beat him to death. Thomas intervenes to
protect Everett. Later, Everett betrays Thomas by taking Thomas’ idea for a
show and producing it himself.Thomas joins the US Army Reserves, while
continuing to produce shows. Thomas is sent to the challenging basic training
in Fort Knox, then to San Antonio, and then trains at West Point, after being
told that they will all ship out to the Middle East. Thomas changes jobs and
works in security at various places. Thomas’ mother has a serious asthma attack
and is rushed to the hospital. Before dying, she tells Thomas that he would make
a good father. There are two funerals for her, and Thomas begins to not care
about things.
Aside from the grounding effects of his work in the military and shows,
Thomas becomes increasingly self-destructive. He works with JESSE, an
accomplished show producer. Thomas’ friend MAGEE is arrested and given a harsh
sentence. Thomas shifts his drug use from heroine to a lot of cocaine. Thomas
becomes depressed, addicted to drugs, endsup in the hospital and then a
psychiatric ward. Thomas’ sister Theresa takes him to a church, where he hears
an ex-gang member testify about God. Thomas feels better and moves back to his
family in Miami, so as to avoid the toxic environment in New York. Things are
going well and he gets a security job, and he has a vision of a WHITE WOMAN.
Thomas starts working for the United States Justice Building in downtown Miami, and it is a very dangerous place. The work is demanding, but
Thomas does it well and is promoted. He has an incident with an OFFICER who is
racist. Thomas reflects on another incident with racist WHITE STUDENTS at the
school library. MARCUS, an officer that Thomas manages at work, does not follow
orders, and Thomas must confront him – Marcus is agitated and Thomas holds his
ground, even though it is a nerve racking experience. Thomas spots and
citizen-arrests a THIEF, and the Miami police congratulate him.
Thomas becomes homesick, and then works in security for the Boys Choir
of Harlem. Hemeets OFFICER DAVIS, who encourages Thomas and recommends that he
apply for a position as a New York City Hospital Police Officer. Thomas
applies, goes through training, and becomes an officer. Thomas is proud to work
in one of New York’s finest hospitals, and he runs into medical staff from his
army days as well as SONNY, a former gang friend, who has now become a
firefighter. Thomas’ training officer, POTTER, is killed in a confrontation
with a mentally ill patient. Thomas is attacked by a Karate expert patient but
is saved by his safety and backup officers. Thomas is moved when he sees a MOTHER
who has tried to commit suicide, as well as CHILDREN being cared for as a result
of their drug-abusing mother’s neglect.Thomas realizes how blessed he and his
sisters have been. He pursues his interests in entertainment, going to “The
Biggest Event in the History of Black America.” Thomas becomes involved with a
NURSE at the hospital and works with her SON, a talented rapper. Thomas has
altercations with patients and learns that his UNCLE LLOYD has had a stroke.
Thomas visits him in the hospital, and they have a bonding moment in which
Lloyd cries because of how he maligned Thomas in his youth.
Thomas meets with members of the Cotton Club, as well as the creator of
“Original Amateur Night at the Apollo.” Thomas gets his rapper friends onto the
show, and they win the competition, all while spreading a positive message.
Thomas is injured by a patient at the hospital and requires back surgery. His recovery
is long but he pushes himself and is able to organize the rap group’s show. Though
he is injured and cannot apprehend a fleeing SUSPECT himself, Thomas stops the
suspect with his dog, NINJA. Thomas gives up his work because of his back.Thomas
moves to Miami and lobbies the Dade County Commissioners to use the concept of
the “Original Amateur Night at the Apollo” as well as the Black Expo. Thomas
meets ERIN COSBY, Bill Cosby’s daughter. Thomas becomes friends with Erin and
RALPH COOPER II, and the three go out together. Thomas becomes active in the
Church and the community. He organizes his own version of Amateur Night and
deals with a group of performers associated with a Mafia group. He also organizes
the Black Expo. Thomas involves himself with a young talented STUDENT, trying
to get him away from the trouble of the streets. Another time, Thomas
intervenes when he sees a police officer, RODRIGUEZ, unfairly handling a
suspect. Rodriguez unfairly attacks and arrests Thomas, who pursues legal
measures to see that Rodriguez is stopped. Thomas reads later in a newspaper
that Rodriguez has unfairly killed a person. Thomas is inspired by MINISTER
FLOYD and enters the ministry, called by God. Thomas works with several
ministries. He is involved in a hit and run, and this helps solidify his faith
in and understanding of God. He decides to continue getting more involved and
strives to follow Christ in action and prayer.