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ried to say that “it [his crime] was just a prank” and this entertained the group of inmates because they knew he was just saying this to save himself rather than truly believe it. This is what he means by “selective racism,” because the white floor sleeper really was racist, and wasn’t only when it was convenient for him because he wanted something.

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A snitch is someone who p
A snitch is someone who participates in the life Howards discusses, but rats on someone. An informant is like a long-term snitch, who infiltrates a gang for a longer period of time. A witness is someone who sees a gang crime happen, but isn’t involved with that life. The exception is that anyone can testify against people who hold office, or serve the people.

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Group 2 Questions
Group 2 Questions
18. What is the difference between a snitch, informant, witness and exception? (Ch. 5)
Informants aid the law enforcement and provide information over time. Informants are typically criminals, while witnesses are “law-abiding” members of society. Informants and snitches are typically affiliated with the crime lifestyle. A 

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A snitch is someone who participates in the life Howards discusses, but rats on someone. An informant is like a long-term snitch, who infiltrates a gang for a longer period of time. A witness is someone who sees a gang crime happen, but isn’t involved with that life. The exception is that anyone can testify against people who hold office, or serve the people.

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18. What is the difference between a snitch, informant, witness and exception? (Ch. 5)

Informants aid the law enforcement and provide information over time. Informants are typically criminals, while witnesses are “law-abiding” members of society. Informants and snitches are typically affiliated with the crime lifestyle. A snitch is someone who rats out another criminal in exchange for shorter jail time, etc

19. What is the "shoe"? (78-79)

The shoe is solitary confinement.

20. What is Black August and how is it observed? (85-87)

Black August is a type of black history month, and it is to honer fallen heroes such as Malcolm X and Harriett Tubman, It is observed by wearing a black band around one's bicep.

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30. Howard isn't upset at other races. What upsets him about the racial issues? (189-91)

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30. Howard isn't upset at other races. What upsets him about the racial issues? (189-91)

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It upsets him that people are so ignorant.

31. In Curt's mind, who are the real heroes?

He says the most boldest in courageous are those who have never been in jail.

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8. When Curt first went to jail, what types of people ran the jails?

He says that “older dope fiend convicts ran it.”

9. What are “floor sleepers”?

These were the inmates who did not have a bed because all the beds in the cells were full, so they were given a mattress and blanket and told to find a place to sleep.

10. Why does Howard suggest the white floor sleeper was a “selective racist”?

Howard says that he knew “his kind” and that the white floor sleeper was likely disappointed to find out that there was no racial hierarchy in the prison where he would have the advantage. He was imprisoned for burning a cross on the lawn of a Black family, and the other cellmates attacked him in his sleep for this -- he tried to say that “it [his crime] was just a prank” and this entertained the group of inmates because they knew he was just saying this to save himself rather than truly believe it. This is what he means by “selective racism,” because the white floor sleeper really was racist, and wasn’t only when it was convenient for him because he wanted something.

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5. Howard has held rank in groups like the Vanguards, the United Blood Nation, the Consolidated Crip Organization, the San Diego Mob, the Fruit of Islam, the Bay Area Blacks, and the Black Guerilla Family

6. Howard was beat up by a person nicknamed Pit Bull from the Five Nine Brims blood gang

7. Getting beat up taught him to “never be light in the ass, and always be in the best physical condition as possible."

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29. Why does anti-black racism from Mexicans in prison surprise Curt? (185-88)

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29. Why does anti-black racism from Mexicans in prison surprise Curt? (185-88)

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It surprises him because there was no real reason for Mexicans to support the racism towards black. He came up with the theory that it was a survival stragetd for Mexicans since they could survive with White better in jail.

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28. Who does Curt explain the "White Man" is? (181-82)

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28. Who does Curt explain the "White Man" is? (181-82)

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He says the "white man" are those who are racist and are able to make the lives of minorities worse.For example, white policemen, white judges, and white politicians. He says the guy in jail with him is not a "White man" but "white trash"

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21. C Strong is a smaller Crip faction that rivaled the much larger and powerful Consolidated Crip Organization.
22. Politicians intentionally mislead the public into thinking that some killer may be getting out just because he has a parole boards hearing coming up. Politicians also use parole board hearings to enact new laws by scaring the public into thinking that convicted murderers and child molesters may be set free if they don't vote the new law in.
23. Some misconceptions Howard addresses about prison life are: theres no smoking allowed in California prisons, it is unlikely that an inmate is forcibly raped in prison, there is no weight lifting in prison.
24. When police see men with big muscles, they think they gained that muscle in prison.
25. The roll call is intended to send physical and psychological messages to the general population. It says that "we are united and high in numbers". And it is also intended to have a psychological impact by being the first and last message that you hear everyday.
26. Everything in prison is racially divided and managed.
27. The most hardcore racists in prison were broke, homeless; jobless dope fiends on the streets who failed life on the outside.

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11. The Terror Dome was "the most violent and chaotic" cellblock in the Downtown San Diego Jail.
12. Crips and Bloods don't kill each other over colors. The idea of them feuding over colors was devised by media.
13. Black Freddie was "the most feared and resented convict in the entire jail." He baited other inmates into fights by threatening to sexually abuse them or their loved ones.He was appointed as the TC (Tank Captain) for the cellblock. Black Freddie was a debt collector and hired hand for white drug dealers and motorcycle gangs. He was put in prison for a contract murder.

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1. Bryan Maurice Jones is six foot five, 310 pound suspected serial killer of women who was Curtis's cellmate in San Diego County Jail.
2.  Howard describes the cells as small rooms with no privacy and very little space to move around.
3. He was locked up for 25 years and spent time in more than 11 jails or prisons in California.
4. He talks about the Sureno's, EME, the Paisas, Nuestea Familia, Norteno's, the Aryan Brotherhood, the Nazi Low Riders, and the Skinheads.

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1. Who is Bryan Maurice Jones? (i-iii)
2. How does Howard describe jail cells? (v)
3. How long has Howard spent behind bars? Where has he been locked up at? (vii)
4. What are some prison gangs he talks about?
5. What groups has he held rank in? (viii-ix)
6. During his first rip to county jail, who beat up Howard? (8)
7. What lessons did this teach him? (8)
8. When Curt first went to jail, what types of people ran the jails? (10)
9. What are "floor sleepers" ? (13)
10. Why does Howard suggest the white floor sleeper was a "selective racist"" (15-19)

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11. What was the Terror Dome? (ch. 3)
12. Do Crips and Bloods kill each other over colors? (26)
13. Who was Black Freddie? (28-33)
14. What is a Tank Captain? (31)
15. What is the Consolidated Crips Organization? What was its structure and rules? (35-38)
16. What position did Curt hold in the CCO? (35-38)
17. Explain what the Black Guerilla Family is and their history.
18. What is the difference between a snitch, informant, witness and exception? (Ch. 5)
19. What is the "shoe"? (78-79)
20. What is Black August and how is it observed? (85-87)

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21. What is C Strong? (99)
22. How do politicians manipulate the fear of the public at parole hearings? (118 and 121)
23. What are some misconceptions Howard addresses about prison life in Chapter 9?
24. How do officers use muscular build to profile the formerly incarcerated? (131-33)
25. Why do gangs do roll call in prison? (179-80)
26. What is the racial climate in prison?
27. In Curt's mind, what types of people make the most virulent racists? (180)
28. Who does Curt explain the "White Man" is? (181-82)
29. Why does anti-black racism from Mexicans in prison surprise Curt? (185-88)
30. Howard isn't upset at other races. What upsets him about the racial issues? (189-91)
31. In Curt's mind, who are the real heroes?