Until age six Eric is raised by his grandmother. He is molested several times, then his mother and stepfather take him to Watts in L.A. where he goes to Bible Clubs. He stutters badly, is ridiculed and bullied so he forms a gang, then joins the Crips at 13. He defies his abusive stepfather who leaves home. Eric’s mother drinks too much. He meets his real father and goes back to Arkansas several times. He drops out of school. Many deaths on the streets and in the family leave Eric with fear and he seeks his Bible teacher who leads him to Christ as the first part ends.