BC STUDENT REJECTS GANGS

In and out of prison, a former Crip embraces the straight life and a
future

Bakersfield College student James White, 38, wants to combine his
personal experience and a good education to help kids stay away from
drugs and gangs.

"I know what is to be out there, and I want kids to know the truth
about the whole thing," said White.

In 1984, at age 14, White joined one of the biggest gangs in the Los
Angeles area: Crips. At the boom of cocaine use, he decided to sell
drugs to make money. "Everyone in the neighborhood was doing it," said
White.

He admitted that it was not poverty or the lack of guidance that led
him into gangs. "I lived with both parents and they both had good
jobs," said White. "It was the peer pressure that got me involved.
"

When he was 16 years old, he moved to Louisiana and then to Colorado
where he continued selling drugs, and in 1988 he moved back to
California. White said he was making lots of money from drugs.

"When I moved back to California, I sold drugs until 1993 when I got
arrested and was convicted for attempted murder. During my 23rd
birthday party, my friend got into a fight, and I shot the other guy,"
said White.

White served six years in prison and after his release, he stayed out
for 45 days just to be sent to prison again.

"After I got out, I was arrested three more times for probation
violations and for selling dope," said White.

White explained that it was the money that kept him in the gang world.
"I sold drugs just for the money. I never did any kind of drug, not
even marijuana," said White.

As White said, everyone needs a motivation to change direction in
life.

"In 2001, I was arrested by the FBI. Luckily, they got me before I got
the drugs," said White. This time in prison after a physical
examination, White discovered he was suffering renal failure. "I found
out about my kidney failure, and also that I was going to be a
father," White said. "Then I had to think about my treatment and
raising my daughter."

After he got out this time, White tried to make some changes to his
way of living.

"I got enrolled in BC in 2002, but, to be honest, I was just thinking
about the check from financial aid," said White. "I was not ready to
make a significant change."

During 2002, he was put in dialysis and suffered depression for the
next couple of years. "At this time I was watching the news, watching
how the younger generation was on the wrong track. I got calls from
friends that were in prison. They told me to try to help kids to avoid
that kind of life," White said.

In 2007, White had to be hospitalized. "The time I spent at the
hospital made me think about my life, and, after talking to my
girlfriend Yolanda, I decided to take school seriously. She has been a
very important part of my life," said White.

White intended to major in business, but after a student development
class, he changed his mind. "I wanted to make a lot of money, but an
exercise in a class I'm taking made me realize that I want to be in
the counseling field," said White.

Bakersfield College counselor Sue Granger-Dickson instructs the
student development class that White is currently taking. She is
convinced that White will accomplish his goal as a student. "He is
focused on succeeding in his education primarily because he wants to
encourage others to make different choices in their lives so that they
do not suffer like he has," said Granger-Dickson.

"James would be a great counselor because of his effective
communication skills and sense of humor. He is an effective listener,
speaker and writer. He bonds quickly and well with almost everyone he
meets," Granger-Dickson said.

White is changing his major to sociology and hopes that he can help
kids to prevent them from living the kind of life he lived.

"I want to get my A.A. in sociology and then transfer to CSUB to get
my bachelor's degree. I'm not trying to be a role model, but if I can
help one person, then I'll feel that my time is not wasted," said White.

White finished last semester with a 3.4 GPA and is currently passing
all his classes this semester.

"I sat in prison for years doing nothing. Going to college, and doing
something is easy. The hard part of my life is over," White said.

He admitted it is still tempting to go back to selling drugs, but his
daughter, his girlfriend, school and his condition help him focus on
what he wants.

"Of course I'm tempted to sell drugs especially when I see all the
bills piling up, but that is not going to happen," said White. "I feel
less stressful. After every class, I feel accomplished, and it feels
good."

White's dream is to open a group home to help gang members straighten
out their lives. Also he wants to start a non-profit organization to
help at-risk youth.

"I can't tell a person what to do, but I can tell a kid what not to
do," said White.

White has been in dialysis for almost six years. He is on the
transplant list waiting for a kidney.

"My kidney failure is a blessing that gave me time to think and turn
my life around," he said.