About the Author
Mychal Thompson is an ex-gang leader who serving a 50 year sentence for murder. He had changed his life around prior to his incarceration. He has developed youth programs while incarcerated and owns the title to his Non-Profit Organization titled “Young Peoples Success Foundation.” Since his incarceration he has obtained his Barber, Cosmetology and Commercial Custodial Maintenance certificates, graduating Summa Cum Laude in both Barber and Cosmetology, and Cum Laude in Commercial Custodial maintenance. Mychal is one credit short of graduating with an ALS degree, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Mychal has made education his priority during his incarceration, and he is a Christian man of God, who has written several youth and adult programs during his incarceration; Juvenile Initiative, Adult Reform and Autism Identity and Awareness are a few of the programs, the latter in honor of his son Laponce who has autism .
He plans to become a “public speaker” upon his release from prison, in order to reach out to our youth and young adults, who are wayward in their approach to life and their choices .
Preface
I’ve always heard stories about my Dad since I was a little Kitten, about his life in the streets from both my mother’s side of the family and my Dad’s side. I’ve always been intrigued by the man who vanished from my life at the young age of five years old. I’ve heard the streets talk, swagger, the money, cars , clothes, jewelry and women and I’ve often wondered why my Dad would preach to me as I got older to stay away from niggas in the game. I never knew this person who was described to me from both sides of the family and the streets. So I had a burning desire to get to know not only the man from yesterday, but the man I’ve grown to know and love as my father, friend and confidant. Over the years of visiting him in prison as I searched for the man who was described to me it’s as if he (that person) did not exist. The man I always encountered was educated, smart and reserved and I saw no evidence of his past life. I began asking my Dad questions about the things I’ve heard and was told by family friends and the streets of the stories of his escapades of his street life, thus the title of part one of his story. After numerous refusals by Daddy not to talk about his past life because he was not proud of his past taking him away from his children, I persuaded him to open up to me because I wanted to write his fascinating story. So readers, this is my Dad’s story from his mouth to my ears and I hope you will be as enthralled as I was while not only listening to, but writing this engrossing story about the man and the “myth” that is Mychal Thompson’s “Street Life.”
Back Cover ‘ AUTISM DOESN’T HOLD ME BACK’
“Autism Doesn’t Hold Me Back” chronicles the true life story of Laponce “Woo” Thompson, an autistic man-child of twenty-three years old, who fights against the odds of society while living with autism and gaining his independence while traveling throughout the “Notorious city of Chicago Illinois.”
The book records Laponce’s many accomplishments. For example, he became a three-time “National Honor Society recipient in high school beginning in his sophomore year into his senior year then graduating with National Honors while wearing the “National Honor Society stole” over his shoulders.
He is recognized for many accomplishments: as a director of the Best Buddies Foundation, a non-profit organization; his many accomplishments were featured in Chicago’s True Star Magazine; Laponce obtained his learner’s permit to drive and is currently taking driving lesson while attending his second year of college at Kennedy King College; and he is working part-time at Marshalls Department Store in shoe sales. The book also chronicles the early struggles of Laponce as he battled the symptoms of autism, along with his parent’s lack of knowledge about this disability.
This book is not only a unique story of one inspiring young man, it’s also filled with educational information on autism that can help unknowing parents of all races in early detection of this disability so that their child will have a chance for as normal a life as possible.
Back Cover Part-One “STREET LIFE”
Street Life chronicles the life of Mychal Thompson, from childhood into a young adult, and his life on the streets of Chicago while living in the Ida B. Wells Housing Development (CHA/Projects). He rose to one of the leaders of the Notorious Black Disciples street gang and his story focuses on the horrific views of gang life, gang wars and street corner drug dealing. It also includes an in-depth and close up look of a murder that shocked the nation, the murder of Robert “Lil Yummy” Sandifer, the eleven year old member of the Black Disciples street gang.
Thompson’s portrayal of the parties, cars, clothes and jewelry, along with personal insights of how the “blow up game” which he called street chemistry, allowed him to become “hood rich” is astounding. Street Life concludes with the betrayal of numerous members of the Black Disciples and the true story of his incarceration.
Also Included
The author’s original street poetry and excerpts that reveals Myke’s “Double Life.”
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