Angalia Bianca - In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter
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- Book:In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter
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In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become a Chicago Violence Interrupter: summary, description and annotation
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Bianca was once a gang member; now she puts her life on the line to interrupt gang violence. For thirty-six years she was a heroin addict; now she mentors people in recovery. She was homeless; now she appears as an invited guest to speak at events across the country and around the world. Bianca crawled out of the deepest hole imaginable; now through her work with the renowned violence prevention group Cure Violence, she climbs back down to change lives.
In Deep is a blunt, honest look at Biancas life. Her mind-blowing stories take readers deep into a world of grit and gang violence that seems inescapable. Her story is at once fascinating, terrifying, and ultimately full of hope. Readers will be inspired by Biancas escape from the depths of depravity, and by her commitment to those facing the worst that the city of Chicago has to offer.
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Copyright 2019 by Angalia Bianca and Linda Beckstrom
Foreword copyright 2019 by Kevin Gates and Dreka Gates
All rights reserved
Published by Chicago Review Press Incorporated
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
ISBN 978-1-64160-044-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bianca, Angalia, 1958 author. | Beckstrom, Linda, 1954 author.
Title: In deep : how I survived gangs, heroin, and prison to become a
Chicago violence interrupter / Angalia Bianca, with Linda Beckstrom.
Description: Chicago, Illinois : Chicago Review Press, [2019]
Identifiers: LCCN 2018027635 (print) | LCCN 2018029207 (ebook) | ISBN 9781641600422 (PDF edition) | ISBN 9781641600446 (EPUB edition) | ISBN 9781641600439 (Kindle edition) | ISBN 9781641600415 (cloth edition)
Subjects: LCSH: Bianca, Angalia, 1958 | Female
offendersRehabilitationIllinoisChicagoBiography. | Female gan membersRehabilitationIllinoisChicagoBiography. | Community leadersIllinoisChicagoBiography.
Classification: LCC HV6248.B496 (ebook) | LCC HV6248.B496 A3 2019 (print) | DDC 364.106/6092 [B] dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018027635
Unless otherwise indicated, all images are from the authors collection
Typesetter: Nord Compo
Printed in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
This digital document has been produced by Nord Compo.
Angalia Bianca
To my grandma, whose prayers kept me alive,
Aunt Louise, who never gave up on me,
My son Sean, who never stopped loving me,
And to every addict who is still suffering.
Linda Beckstrom
To Blake, for keeping my feet on the ground.
To Lane, for making my heart soar.
The first revolution is when you change your mind.
Gil Scott-Heron
WE WERE INTRODUCED TO BIANCA through a brother when we found ourselves in a difficult situation with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Kevin had been released from prison but still wasnt being allowed to travel for work in order to provide for our family and furnish employment to those who depend on us. Bianca worked relentlessly and tirelessly, contacting anyone and everyone she knew who could possibly help. She went to bat for us, and we knew from our first follow-up phone call that she was either going to fix the situation or come pretty close to fixing it! Unfortunately, Kevin wasnt granted travel for work, but we would soon find out why Allah (God) had placed us in each others lives.
After many conversations with Bianca, we learned a little bit about her past and the work she does with Cure Violence. It was absolutely mind blowing to hear about her commitment to helping at-risk youth change their lives. We know from our own experience through our foundation that it takes a special person to get through to the youth, and Bianca is definitely one of them. She told us countless stories of her fearless encounters with at-risk youth, many of which are described in this bookstories about how she literally saved lives. From that point on, we knew our purpose in meeting her, and we soon joined forces to continue our mission to save the youth.
In Deep is a book that you will not be able to put down. I opened the first page of the book and was still reading at 3:00 AM when Kevin walked into the house. I was sitting at the table, then looked up like a deer in headlights, and he asked, Dreka, whats wrong? I had spent the past few hours reading 197 pages of the book, and had he not walked in, I probably would have finished the entire book in that one sitting! I was in absolute disbelief and shock over her story.
This book needs to be read by everyone! It doesnt matter what type of background you come from. It is a real eye opener to see the many different aspects of addiction and/or unexpectedly ending up in a life of crime and violence. Those who are lost and need to be scared straight will see that its only so long before your chances run out. But Biancas story will also show you the persistence and endurance that it takes to come out of these situations. Youll learn that the world is yours and that anything is possible. Your past does not have to dictate your future!
Much love to Bianca for sharing her story with us and the world! She has become a lifelong friend and sister to us. She deserves all of the success in the world!
Love,
KEVIN GATES AND DREKA GATES
I WAKE UP TO MY PHONE ringing at seven in the morning on a Sunday. Although it is an unknown number, I answer anyway. Something could be happening on the street that I need to know about, and if I can help, I will. The young womans voice on the other end has a touch of urgency mixed with the special brand of resignation that comes with finding oneself in unwanted but familiar territory.
Hey, is this Bianca? she asks.
Yeah. Whos this?
Im Lil Ds girlfriend. He told me to call you. Hes in Cook County again.
Oh, shit, I sigh. What for?
They got him on possession of a gun last night. But hes on the visiting list for today from nine to three. He needs to see you so you can help him get his shit straight with this. Can you come?
I hesitate for just a second. It is a typical January morning in Chicago, a brutally cold thirteen degrees, with a subzero windchill. I am exhausted, having spent the entire night before out on the streets working with my Cure Violence team, moving from one potential shooting to another, talking kids out of killing one another, trying to change their minds about violence. Today is my day off and I was planning to spend most of it staying warm and cozy under the covers.
I pause for the briefest of moments, but I cant say no. OK, baby. I got you. Ill be there. Ill see whats going on. Of course I go. I always go. Give me his full last name and his ID number, no nicknames.
She gives me the information, and then says, Can you put some money on your phone account at the jail so he can call you himself?
No, honey, Im sorry. I cant do that. If I did that for everybody who asked me, I couldnt pay my rent, you feel me? I dont have that kind of money. But I will come and see him today. When you talk to him, tell him Ill be there for sure.
I force myself out of bed, shower, bundle up, and am in my car by eight oclock, heading from the far north side of Chicago to Cook County Jail on the Southwest Side, about a thirty-minute drive on this deserted Sunday morning. I try to find parking on the street as close as I can get to the entrance for the division where Lil D is being held. It is crowded as usual, and I end up three blocks away, an excruciating distance in the biting wind. Im no stranger to Cook County Jail, but it has been a while since the last time I visited. Lately, I have been seeing my guys in the penitentiary, where I can stay for several hours and have a real conversation across a table. It is a longer drive, but the visits are always more meaningful. No matter how well you get to know the ropes at Cook County, the jail is notorious for changing the rules almost weekly when it comes to who gets in, when and how you have to enter, and what is allowed inside. I know I have to leave my phone, my keys and large key chain in the car, but I tuck my rubber Cure Violencebranded key chain with my car key on it into my pocket, leaving my purse in the car, too. When I get inside, Im told I cant bring the key chain in, so I walk those three grueling blocks back to my car, slip the key off, and head back to the jail entrance. I cant help smiling to myself thinking about how many times I tried so hard to get out of Cook County, and here I am working my ass off to get back in.
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