No Gang War in '74

By Samuel C. Say

Representative Chaka Fattah and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. went
through the House of Umoja and were witnesses to the transformational
process of young people who identified with individual
gangs. Many of these gangs were started in the fifties and expanded
throughout the sixties. However in 1968 gang warfare became much
more deadly.
Once the body counts went up gangs wanted to even the score. It
took two dedicated parents who were not only concerned about
their own children but their community as well, to set in motion
a transformational process which started with their own house and
in five years ripped across the city. Through these well organized
gangs young people had seen the mean things they could do to each
other. David and Falaka Fattah showed them the beautiful things
they could do, the importance of community and civic duty. They
connected them with both family and African tradition. This is a
story that must be told and cannot be forgotten.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483600963

Samuel C. Say

Samuel Say has written one of the most delicious and sensual books on the market. Yvonne and her husband travel to Jamaica for a long over due vacation where they have a great time in an exotic country. On her trip Yvonne encounters either an enchanting fantasy or an unexpected experience that keeps her on edge and she takes home with her. Yvonne is a rich deep person and enjoys a loving relationship with her husband. One thing is missing. You will be constantly surprised, entertained and aroused as you read this unique book about this beautiful woman who is

Book preview

No Gang War in ’74

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Stephen C. Satell

Copyright © 2013 by Stephen C. Satell.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book is based on actual events in the period between 1968 and 1975. The stories and characters in the book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

The two exceptions to this are David and Falaka Fattah, and this information is based on both newspaper accounts and tape-recorded conversations with Falaka Fattah in preparation for the book.

The white picture on the cover is a picture that was all over the city for months. Governor Shapp ordered that it be placed in every liquor store in the state.

James Baldwin said the only important success is success that lasts. Both David and Falaka Fattah have created success for many that has multiplied and certainly lasted. This book is dedicated to their work. Also to the late Fat Rob, who made such a contribution to the House of Umoja.

Rev. date: 02/27/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

124783

Contents

Foreword

1968

Part 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Part 2

1968

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Afterword

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Foreword

W hen Stephen Satell, whom I have known for two years, asked me to read a draft of his book No Gang War in ’ 74 and write a foreword, I didn’t hesitate to say yes because this is personal! I lived No Gang War in ’ 74 . I survived the gang wars. What is more important, I witnessed two people, a husband and a wife, create a transformation in this city through sheer will, determination, and most importantly, their genuine belief in the goodness of people. My life was changed!

The author of this book, Stephen Satell, had nothing to do with gangs or the miracle of the elimination of gang killings in this city for almost three years and the end to territorial gang war in this city, period. I told you I have only known Mr. Satell for two years. However, the first time I met him, I could see in his face where he had been, that we shared many experiences. I trusted him. He’s persistent, patient, and unflappable. That’s what it takes to deal with youths who many times have tunnel vision.

I like Steve’s book because it shows that small things can have massive consequences both for good and bad, giving young people a chance to see those consequences before they live them. One may have the intention of one thing, and something very different can happen. The book values each of its characters and pays important tribute to the only two characters in the book who are not composites of many people, the architects of No Gang War in ’74, David and Falaka Fattah.

Gang warfare taught me that stupid endeavors that reaped terrible consequences could also have embedded in them strong core values that have been essential to my life, such as friendship, loyalty, passion, and keeping your word, which I call progressive values. These values translated into making me a better councilman, father, and husband. The things I call regressive—revenge, rejoicing in someone else’s pain, drinking to excess—were values I left behind.

Ironically, some of the lessons learned from the gang wars of the sixties and seventies are the same lessons we need to learn from the misguided actions that lead to the financial crisis we face today. Those consequences that were not felt by many for a while are being felt by most today because of the selfish decisions made by others yesterday.

In the territorial gang war era, it became clear that young people unsupervised is no way for a society to function. Young people need guidance. They do not raise themselves and cannot be left to create their own destructive structures. Still we want to encourage their passion and creativity. The same is true of financial markets.

They cannot function without regulation and supervision, yet we don’t want to stifle innovation. David Fattah, one of the important figures in this book, studied economics and taught me the importance of economic understanding on many levels.

We learn in algebra class that what you do to one side, you must do to the other. If a country’s taxpayers are going to insure financial institutions, they must be allowed to supervise those institutions to make sure they are operating effectively with good core financial values. Just as I would never out of hand dismiss many of the values of gang life, I would never want to disregard our whole economic system. What we are after is constructive rather than destructive efforts. This well-written book will be an important tool to help us learn from the past and build a better future.

In the end, only the successful people who came across David and Falaka and were influenced by them can give adequate tribute. If each person did that by standing up and saluting, it would take years. One such person who was indirectly affected is Barack Obama, who said it was when he heard a congressman’s funny-sounding name, Fattah, that he realized he might be able to be elected. David Fattah’s decision to change his name to give his children a better sense of their past and a solid center inside themselves might have made all the difference for the person whom we now call president.

I encourage young people to read this book and apply the fundamental values from it in their own lives and for older people to tell their own stories of growing up, reflect on their journey, and help younger people in theirs.

Curtis Jones

Councilman

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1968

From part 2 of the book

A s gang violence continued to escalate, Falaka asked Dave to put his ear to the street, where he used to be a gang member and had a reputation as a good fighter, and try to get to the bottom of what was going on and why gangs were killing each other now.

Dave was a networker ever since his gang days. Even though he himself could be fiery, he was most of all a plotter, moving toward his target and never allowing himself to be deterred. He acquired skills and gained a reputation for being able to deal with unreasonable people. Dave was now a trusted man on the streets, so information was given to him freely.

Once Dave returned to the house, the information he was about to give to his wife, Falaka Fattah, was going to rattle the core of her being. Her second son was not only in a gang—he was the heart, which meant he was the target of a number of other gangs.

When Falaka asked what Dave meant by target, Dave did not hesitate to answer. They want him dead.

Part 1

The Stories of Derek Rush, Josh Williams, and Tray Thomas

How and Why Were So Many Guns Coming into Philadelphia in 1968?

The Structure of Philadelphia Gangs

Politics of 1968

Moments in Time

Days of Reckoning

Chapter 1

Derek Rush Stubbed his Toe

O n April 4, 1968, Derek Rush had been eighteen years old for two and a half months. Derek had been a 57th Street gang member since he was fourteen years old. He was an only child and had always been loyal to his mother, doing chores and, when he was able to make money, giving her some.

Derek woke up late and needed some scratch and knew how to get it. Derek was a stickup man and had been successful for over a year. When he went out to do a deed, he wanted a month’s worth of money to put on the street a buyer and seller of green, green grass.

Derek had a routine; it always worked, and he never made much of a splash. A man goes into the bank for one reason or another, wants some cash and a good amount to hold him over until the next time he wants to go to the bank. Perhaps he’s taking his wife and family on vacation. Maybe he has to do something for his wife and his mistress. He goes into the bank and wants money in his pocket.

He puts the cash in his wallet and places it in his back pocket, then buttons the button. It’s as secure in his pants as putting his privates in his underwear on that very same day, and he expects to take it home the same way.

Derek couldn’t wait until the weekend because he was short on cash. If he ended up needing more, he would simply go to the shore over the weekend, and whoever had taken money out of the bank would have to give it up for someone who simply needed it more. You see that money there, that money mine. That’s what Derek would say.

Derek had determined small brown eyes, and even his laughter could be bitter. Fog had lifted in the early morning and now it was a clear day. Derek cased a man about fifty-five years old who was balding and with shiny white hair and the bluest of blue eyes. The teller asked him how he wanted it, and he responded hundreds, several hundreds in fifties and two hundred in twenties. Derek was happy knowing the generous man had gone to the bank for him.

So when the man turned the corner to retrieve his car from the parking lot, Derek was ready with a shiny silver gun.

It’s in your back pocket, and I want it all, Derek said.

The successful white man quickly unbuttoned his back pocket and handed over his wallet. As he did, Derek had an uncontrollable itch on the inside of his left ear. His hand drew back to scratch it, and to Derek’s surprise, he pulled the trigger with his right hand.

The noise scared him, and he felt himself jump back. The