The Almighty Black P Stone Nation The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of an American Gang

This exposé investigates the evolution of the Almighty Black P Stone Nation, a motley group of poverty-stricken teens transformed into a dominant gang accused of terrorist intentions. Interwoven into the narrative is the dynamic influence of leader Jeff Fort, who -- despite his flamboyance and high visibility -- instilled a rigid structure and discipline that afforded the young men a refuge and a sense of purpose in an often hopeless community. Details of how the Nation procured government funding for gang-related projects during the War on Poverty era and fuelled bonuses and job security for law enforcement, and how Fort, in particular, masterminded a deal for $2.5 million to commit acts of terrorism in the United States on behalf of Libya are also revealed.

Natalie Y. Moore reports on issues of race for Chicago Public Radio. Her work has appeared in Essence, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Chicago Tribune. She is coauthor of Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation. The son of a former Vice Lords gang member, Lance Williams is an assistant professor at Northeastern Illinois University, the assistant director of the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, and a youth advocate and activist.