The Children of Wasafa: A Message to Gang Bangers - Paperback

by Jacqueline Pitts (Author)

The Children of Wasafa: A Message to Gang Bangers, addresses the problem of gang violence in the African American community by using historical facts, archaeology and fiction to illustrate commonality. That is, who we think is our enemy or inconsequential to us, may be our relative. An embellished Chokwe symbol created by an Angolan man named Wasafa during the 17th Century reunites his diasporic descendants who happen to be members of rival street gangs in the year 2010 on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New York.

Author Biography

Jacqueline Pitts is a retired New York City Department of Correction, Assistant Deputy Warden. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, York College, New York and a Master of Arts Degree in Historical Archaeology, University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Since retiring Ms. Pitts has taught anthropology, intercultural communications; race, class and gender and global studies at Berkeley College in New Jersey and participated in several archaeological excavations. She grew up and has lived in several neighborhoods on the Rockaway Peninsula and currently resides in the neighborhood of Far Rockaway, New York. Author Contact: JacquelinePitts1@aol.com