This book presents the experiences and ideas of a leading black educator, interweaving his autobiography with the stories of contemporary street gang members and former members. Their own words illustrate Gentry's thesis that even the hardest gang members want to get an education and want to find The Hope Factor. In addition, the book offers an approach for dealing with the greatest challenges facing the nation today: urban violence and the miseducation of minority youth.

Gentry begins by outlining his major themes and then examines American urban education, using his own personal...