Run Baby run. Review on Run Baby Run - Nicki Cruz

I saw this man, Nicky Cruz, on television. A weather beaten tanned face, the look of wisdom in his tired yet enthusiastic eyes, could fool you into believing that he is a man who grew up and studied in a good school and studied up to masters in Harvards, probably the next contender for the mayors office. You may think perhaps he is a lawyer.But then, he is just a minister. Please note that the minister in North America is not a politician. He is a man who preaches about God. Nicki Cruz Worked along side the famous minister David Wilkinson , the author of The The Cross and the Switchblade Nicky Cruz has a past that tells a different tale. A true contradiction to his character of the past and now. This man, as a teenager, was a suspect in several counts of robbery, theft, rumbles ( gang fight) ,and perhaps a few murder cases. He was the most feared Ganglord of his time. If you thought I was talking of a fictious character you could never have been wrong than you are now. He is real and so was his past.

Nicky Cruz has himself admitted to 16 instances of his involvement in stabbing and getting beaten up by the rival gangs. Run Baby run is a biography, of Nicky Cruz, where he narrates, of his own transition from a Gangster on the streets of New York to a minister who has taken up the battle of fighting drugs and alcohol. Nicki Cruz, belongs to a family of a vodoo magician in Puerto Rico, was sent to New York city to stay with his brother's family. Since things dont go well between him and his brother he runs with the gang calling themselves Mau Maus. Eventually becomes the leader of the Mau Maus. As you go through the stories of the life on the streets of Brooklyn, One is exposed to the harsh ways of the streets and the gangs work and their initiation (selection) to the gang structure (read as corporate orgasizational Heirarchy). The rumbles, drugs, girls and running away from or fighting the police becomes their daily supplication.

So what brought about this change in Nicki Cruz ? Simple answer, Christ. David Wilkerson a minister from Pittsburg, reads in the newspaper about two teenage boys being held in trial for murder. Somehow he feels the urge to go to New York and bumps into Nicki Cruz. He tells Nicki Cruz about Christ and the love of Christ. Nicki Cruz , though did not take to this new concept but then he changes into what you know of Nicki Cruz today. He joins a Bible college and graduates in flying colors. During his tenure in the bible college, He meets Gloria , whom he pops the question and marries later on. David Wilkerson in his own Journal - The Cross and the SwitchBlade says '' God alone knows how proud I was, seeing Nicki with his arms wrapped around a girl''.

Run baby Run, isnt a fiction , I cant say it is a biography either. It is a witness of a transformation from a feared New York Harlem gangster into a man of God. You find Nicki Cruz fighting battles where he was on the wrong side once. He sets up a teenage Help center to help the teens off the streets, getting them away from drugs, prostitution, gangs and the wrong end of the Police bullets. Nicki Cruz happily does all he could for the love that had been missing in his life all the years. The Love of Christ. Like a friend of mine says There is no love than the love of christ. ( no points for guessing who that friend is)

Recommended reading for teenagers, to chose between the right and the wrong. Nicki cruz, made a huge difference in the New York gangster community, made them leave the streets and pursue a dream. Read this book and surely it may make a difference in your life too. May be this book has more emphasis on Gospel and Christ , but that was what has influenced Nicki's transition anyway. There is a motion picture based on this book.

Comments most welcome

DavieBoy

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