Fists and feet are flying at William James Adams Jr.’s teenage face and body. He’s from one of the few Black families living in Boyle Heights’ infamous Estrada Courts housing projects. It’s the mid-80s, cholos run the block and William thinks it’s a good idea to get jumped in.
Too bad his mom is the real gangster.
“I got jumped in, jumped out, and then my mom jumped me,” he tells me. “That one was the real one. The other one was just ... playing with your friends and getting initiated. But my mom? My mom kicked my ass.”