We beat the street : how a friendship pact helped us succeed / by The Three Doctors (Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt) ; with Sharon M. Draper.
You don't have to cut my foot off, do you? : hanging tough -- Oh, man, you're in trouble again! : school problems -- Isn't that school in the ghetto? : influential teachers -- We're gonna jack us some icees from Jack's! : temptation and its consequences -- How much do you need? : dreams and missed opportunities -- Are you Godzilla or King Kong? : the beginnings of a dream -- Yeah, man. They say the driver's dead : living and dying on the streets -- I don't even know anybody who went to college : entering seventh grade ; making good grades -- You kids are gonna get yourself killed : the call of the streets -- What's up with that? You think you better than us? : so easy to fall into the drug scene -- A sticky web of bright pink silly string across the astonished teacher's face : foolishness and understanding -- I think we could all do this--the three of us--together! : the beginning of the Pact -- If he dies, you get charged with attempted murder : Thanksgiving in jail -- How do you plead? the judge asked. Guilty, your honor : never again -- Not only had their sons survived, but they were heading to college : strengthening the Pact -- It feels good, man. It's like doing push-ups with my brain! : the possibility of success -- The boy's neck bent in an odd way, and his body fell limp : the end of violence and the start of giving back -- Yo, yo, yo! Check it out! Check it out! : rap stars? -- For the first time since high school, the three of us won't be together : hanging in there -- Driving while Black : the possibility of losing the dream -- Sometimes you gotta fail in order to succeed : going back to where it all began -- To friends -- Shout-outs!
Summary:
Making a pact to stick together through the rough times in their impoverished Newark neighborhood, three boys found the strength and determination to work through their difficulties in order to complete high school, get through college, and attend medical school together. Sampson, George, and Rameck could easily have followed their childhood friends into drug dealing, gangs, and prison. When they met in high school, they recognized in each other the desire and ability to "beat the street." Along the way they made mistakes, faced disappointments, and nearly failed, but by working hard, finding positive role models, resisting negative influences, and supporting each other at every turn, they achieved their goals, and more. Today they call themselves the Three Doctors, and work in the same community where they grew up--where they run The Three Doctors Foundation, creating opportunities for inner-city communities through education, mentoring, and health awareness.--From publisher description.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.