Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs of East L.A. - Hardcover

Fremon, Celeste

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786860898 ISBN 13: 9780786860890

Publisher: Hyperion, 1995

Synopsis

Recounts the efforts and achievements of a crusading priest who was assigned to a volatile East Los Angeles neighborhood, detailing his efforts to revitalize this urban war zone and how he became a pivotal role model to many young men in the area.

About this title

From Library Journal:

Fremon, a writer for the Los Angeles Times, presents a beautifully composed exposition of the work that Father Greg Boyle, S.J., has done with young Latino gang members of East Los Angeles. Boyle has received national recognition for his dedicated efforts to redirect lives: finding jobs and decent alternative schooling and offering unqualified support and love for kids whose homes are so emotionally impoverished or destructive that gang affiliation is a surrogate family tie. Boyle couldn't save all the "homies" from the results of gang-banging, gun attacks, alcohol, dope, and prison, but they knew he was there, and many have made it to responsible adulthood. Interspersed with the descriptive narrative are first-person vignettes from some of the young people. In her three years of involved research, Fremon developed a strong respect for the kids, the problems, and especially "G's" work. Highly recommended for public, academic, and professional audiences.?Suzanne W. Wood, SUNY Coll. of Technology, Alfred
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Father Greg Boyle, one of the few people who don't write off homies as unredeemable souls, attracted intense media attention in 1992 for his perseverance in turning gangbangers around. Fremon was a reporter entirely captivated by Boyle's charisma and commitment, and she decided to immerse herself in Boyle's barrio parish, where the nihilistic credo of kill or be killed holds sway, though it was somewhat restrained by Boyle's hands-on intervention. In her chronicle of Boyle's zealous efforts at fundraising and organizing to find jobs for the homeboys, Fremon inserts about ten of their autobiographies. Subsequently, one of the homies was murdered in gang vengeance. The consequent brokenness of the text, punctuated by Father Boyle's empathic heroism, suitably reflects the jagged violence it depicts. This is a heartfelt study of the gangland culture and a tribute to a man who has had a measure of success redeeming some of its members. Gilbert Taylor

About this edition

• Publisher: Hyperion
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0786860898
• ISBN 13: 9780786860890
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320