The Resurrection of Stanley "Tookie" Williams

By focusing on the notorious co-founder of the Los Angeles street gang, The Crips, F/X's Redemption, an original film, asks us if we believe that a death row inmate can be redeemed.

By Ronda Racha Penrice
Africana.com

As Christians everywhere gather for Easter this weekend to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a death row inmate and co-founder of the notorious Crips street gang, will sit in his cell. His agenda for the day, like every other day, will be atonement.

Anyone who tunes into Redemption, the F/X original film starring Jamie Foxx and based on Williams's life, renunciation of gang violence and his fervent dedication to deterring children away from gang life, will more than likely take it for granted that they're exercising a privilege that Williams lost twenty-three years ago. This reality of prison life and, more specifically, life on death row, doesn't get much play in the hip hop music that has glorified, be it intentional or unintentional, the gangster lifestyle Williams helped create.

"First and foremost, I always tell people that I never experienced an epiphany or anything like that. I had to undergo years and years of soul-searching and edification to battle my inner demons."
Prison is not supposed to be luxurious. Crime should not pay. There is little to debate here. But when the question of whether a person who has walked a path of evil for nearly half of his life can really change arises, the debate gets heated. It is the primary thesis of Redemption and the ongoing life story of Williams' battle against execution. The irony of his increasingly probable day of reckoning is his claim that he is not guilty of the four murders of which he has been sentenced. Now, of course, as the saying goes, everyone in jail is innocent. But Williams isn't claiming sainthood. He is simply saying that he did not commit these four crimes.

According to the January 11, 2004 Los Angeles Times article "Made-for-TV Atonement" by Bob Baker, in 1979 Williams was arrested for two robbery-murder incidents. He was accused of murdering Albert Owens, a 7-Eleven clerk in Whittier, California, as well as Los Angeles motel clerk Yen-I Yang, his wife and their adult daughter. "Lacking eyewitnesses," writes Baker, "prosecutors relied on the testimony of several people who said Williams told them about the crimes — in one case, laughingly describing Owens' last breaths."

The sketchiness of Williams' conviction is not why F/X made this film. It is what Williams has done during his time on death row that is most compelling. Since 1996 he has penned nine books against gang violence. Titles such as Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence, Gangs and Wanting to Belong and Life in Prison are the backbone of the curriculum of the Internet Project for Street Peace, which Williams conceived. He also has his own web site, Tookie's Corner. According to some people who work closely with children, Williams' work has stirred countless youths across the globe away from gang violence. His message has been so powerful that he has been nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times — four times for the Peace prize and three times for the Literature prize.

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Comments

[Nara Moraes]

ACHO MARAVILHOSO QUE O SER HUMANO POSSA SER TRATADO COMO TAL, ASSIM PELO PRINCÍPIO DA DIGNIDADE DA PESSOA HUMANA PRINCÍPIO BASILAR ALCANÇAREMOS UMA SOCIEDADE MAIS JUSTA. PARABENS.

[Demonie]

you really inspire me. You have my prayers

[TNP]

I think they should release Mr. Williams. He has already served enough time in the worst prison there will ever be. He has found peace with God so I think they need to reconsider. The man is a changed person and if they can't see that, then something is wrong with the system. Not saying the things Tookie did was good but because it wasn't, but with the help of God Almighty he can be forgiven for all the crimes he did. Hopefully one day they will let free so that he can put the knowledge which he has obtained over these long hard years to use in the community.

[TNP]

I think they should release Mr. Williams. He has already served enough time in the worst prison there will ever be. He has found peace with God so I think they need to reconsider. The man is a changed person and if they can't see that, then something is wrong with the system. Not saying the things Tookie did was good but because it wasn't, but with the help of God Almighty he can be forgiven for all the crimes he did. Hopefully one day they will let free so that he can put the knowledge which he has obtained over these long hard years to use in the community.

[warnice]

I Pray that they find it in their hearts to release Tookie from that cage. He will always be locked-up in his mind because of the life he lived. But now he has put up the windows and he is free mentally, so let's now free him physically. He would do the youths of today a great service in getting on the right track. There is no better teacher than one with experience.

[chris]

sup man this is youngloc i feel what tookie is saying but shit every nigga from the hood can't go to prison and get out of their life style but he gives me hope and peace when i think i can get out peace out two cc's up

[devon]

I think tookie has done a wonderful job with the books and inspiring young people not to get involved in gand related activities. I think has repented and it is really in his heart. I think god has forgave him and it is by time yall let him free. If was to lie about all of this thats him he has to see god for himself.

[Latasha]

I hope they let stanly williams out of prison he has been in there for along time. Put him on parole for life that would be better . I hope he gets off death row and be a free man.

[TAMMIE]

U KNOW THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT JUSTICE.IT'S REVENGE AND THE GOD THAT I SERVE TELLS ME VENGENCE IS MINE. THE MAN HAS PAID HIS DUES! GOOD LORD !FREE THE MAN. NOT BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. NOT BECAUSE HE WROTE GREAT BOOKS, BUT BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR GOD TO FORGIVE US, WE MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE.I TRUELY BELIEVE GOD IS IN HIS HEART NOW,ALTHOUGH WE MUST REAP WHAT WE SOW, HE HAS REAPED IT IN THAT CAGE.THE DEATH PENALTY IS JUST LEGALIZED MURDER

[treva]

i think what stanley has done with tryign to stop the cryps is a very thoughtful and good thing and hopefully he gets the right thing for everythign yes he has done some wrong but he is trying to turn his life around and gettin the work out that gangs are bad to kids which is really good of him

[chris morton]

mr williams is the creator of the gang and he made cripts and bloodz come to a peace agrement if he has that much respect then he can stop the gang violence cant any body see that i was a cryp gang member for 5 yrs until i read tookies book then that inspired me to do the same in my hood and yes it works so let the man free so he can do the same

[Colin Smith]

Stan Williams has now become a role model for thousand of children. It is a tragety for the families of the dead that forced his imprisonment. Mr.Williams has turned his thoughts, feelings and spiritually bankrupt soul to help others that have followed in his footsteps. It gives hope to all the gang bangers that think there is no way out.

[Ayad Gadalla]

Hey man I hope that they let you out of prison because you can make and be another co-founder for another GANG