BAC Magazine Ball Bro Issue!

Changing
lanes
EX
Crips & Bloods
BY DANIELLE BROCKMAN PHOTOS BY JARETT ARNETT
“I don’t have regrets, there are only
lessons. You learn from them, and you
become a better person.” Nicole Polizzi
In this week’s article for BAC, we dive
deep with Gerald, a 41-year-old past
Crip, who turned his
life around for the
sake of his family.
Denver local who
was born in Denver
General, and
raised in Colorado.
Growing up, Gerald
played basketball
just about every day
until 9th grade for
the Red Shield Salvation
Army on the
East Side. He grew
up in Park Hill and
went to Thomas Jefferson
High School.
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BAC Magazine
We have the honor of interviewing
Gerald, a Crip turned into a good community
member. Everything changed
for Gerald in 1990 when he entered
high school. That is when Gerald got
jumped into the Crips gang in Denver.
His past scars are deep life lessons
learned. He as actually been shot
at pierced with a bullet 4 separate
times and has walked away to tell the
tale. Before being in the gang, he had
a good life, good grades, and happy
relationships.
“They were silly
choices.” -- Gerald
In 1999, Gerald was
behind bars in the
penitentiary at Denver’s
Department of
Corrections facility.
He was charged with
possessing crack
cocaine. He had a
deferred judgment,
and then about 2 - 3
years he had kept
out of trouble. With
a place to live, and a
nice yard.