What It Means to Be Strong

In “Nothing Cool About Going to Prison,” Sean “Dino” Johnson explains why people join gangs, and why he got out of one. Watch the video that accompanies this story.

Prompts for discussion and/or writing:

• Name one person you look up to and explain why. What do you admire and respect about the person? How has the person changed you?

• What are some of your own traits and actions that you’re proud of? What would you like to model for younger people who look up to you?

• Read Johnson’s answer to the question “Why are gangs so appealing to young men of color?” What do you think he means by “We put on this exterior like we’re so big and bad, but that is not realistic for a human being.” (Possible answers: “Big and bad” is not the truth of what they’re feeling; nobody is just those things.)

• What made Dino change from bad-ass to full human being? (Possible answers: Prison was scary and sad; he saw that boys looked up to him and he wanted them to have a future; he saw a boy get shot in the face and call for his mother; he wanted a meaningful life).