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Cracker Jacked
Cracker Jacked tells the story of a Baylor University graduate and Navy Veteran from East Oakland, California. Lawrence Sterling tells his story of how he fought to receive his honorable discharge, the negative adversity he received from top administration at Wyotech Automotive, racial profiling, racism, excessive force administered by the City of Hayward Police Department, and deceit from the attorney he employed to obtain justice from those very crooked cops. Take a daunting journey with Lawrence Sterling as he tries to explain the chaos that he had to endure from these events through his eyes.
Lawrence Sterling was born and raised in East Oakland, California. He attended Bishop O'Dowd High School and graduated with the class of 1995. Lawrence attended Baylor University afterwards and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from Baylor in 2001. While at Baylor University, Lawrence became a member of Union Seal Lodge #64, Prince Hall Masonry. Lawrence joined the United States Navy in 2003 and served honorably until he was discharged in 2009. Lawrence's parents are both from Texas, and are active members at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, California under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Guice.
Lawrence Sterling was born and raised in East Oakland, California. He attended Bishop O'Dowd High School and graduated with the class of 1995. Lawrence attended Baylor University afterwards and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from Baylor in 2001. While at Baylor University, Lawrence became a member of Union Seal Lodge #64, Prince Hall Masonry. Lawrence joined the United States Navy in 2003 and served honorably until he was discharged in 2009. Lawrence's parents are both from Texas, and are active members at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, California under the leadership of Rev. Herbert Guice.
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 8, 2024
Cracker JackedÌýis a non-fiction book written by Lawrence Sterling III. It consists of 15 chapters. Some of the themes present in the book were racism, injustice, murder, and police brutality.
Lawrence was a 32-year-old black American and an honourably discharged Navy veteran. We saw him heading to an expedition after a long night from where he was working. As he approached his truck, some officers from the Livermore Police Department apprehended him. They asked him about the Glock he always kept with him. He was surprised at how they knew. He was handcuffed and held at the back of the police van while they went ahead to search inside his truck. While in the van, he noticed the computer was left on. It showed the complainant and other details. He realised the complainant was his soon-to-be ex-wife. She called the police on him because of the conversation she had heard, which got her pissed. He called the police because he had gone AWOL from the navy. After this incident, he had a series of encounters with the police department, which led to a court case that lasted for three years. He fought so hard that the alleged charges against him would be dropped, and compensation for all his trouble would be given to him. I'll recommend this book to you if you'd like to get the full details of how he was able to scale through the case.
Cracker JackedÌýencompassed the extent of racism and police brutality meted out by police officers towards people of color. The injustice and discrimination they had to endure. Before going to trial, they were seen as guilty before being proven innocent, defying the standard statute, which said: "a person is innocent till proven otherwise."
I appreciated the author's writing style. It was simple and thus easy to understand without any confusing terms. At the beginning and in strategic places in some chapters, I appreciated that the author embedded bright images and titles under them. This piqued my interest and made me look forward to how it would relate to the chapter. The photos turned out to be effective because he used them as evidence to back up his claims. An example was the evaluation certificate from John George Psychiatric Hospital. He also added the location and time frame of each incident so the readers would know when the incident happened.
The book was professionally edited, as I noted some grammatical errors. Other than that, there wasn't anything I found displeasing. Because the book was well-written with a smooth flow of information and I enjoyed it, I'll award it an excellent rating ofÌý5 out of 5 stars.
I'll recommend this book to readers who love short reads about racism and how to come out stronger from it. Readers going through any form of discrimination will get the courage to fight it by reading this book.
Lawrence was a 32-year-old black American and an honourably discharged Navy veteran. We saw him heading to an expedition after a long night from where he was working. As he approached his truck, some officers from the Livermore Police Department apprehended him. They asked him about the Glock he always kept with him. He was surprised at how they knew. He was handcuffed and held at the back of the police van while they went ahead to search inside his truck. While in the van, he noticed the computer was left on. It showed the complainant and other details. He realised the complainant was his soon-to-be ex-wife. She called the police on him because of the conversation she had heard, which got her pissed. He called the police because he had gone AWOL from the navy. After this incident, he had a series of encounters with the police department, which led to a court case that lasted for three years. He fought so hard that the alleged charges against him would be dropped, and compensation for all his trouble would be given to him. I'll recommend this book to you if you'd like to get the full details of how he was able to scale through the case.
Cracker JackedÌýencompassed the extent of racism and police brutality meted out by police officers towards people of color. The injustice and discrimination they had to endure. Before going to trial, they were seen as guilty before being proven innocent, defying the standard statute, which said: "a person is innocent till proven otherwise."
I appreciated the author's writing style. It was simple and thus easy to understand without any confusing terms. At the beginning and in strategic places in some chapters, I appreciated that the author embedded bright images and titles under them. This piqued my interest and made me look forward to how it would relate to the chapter. The photos turned out to be effective because he used them as evidence to back up his claims. An example was the evaluation certificate from John George Psychiatric Hospital. He also added the location and time frame of each incident so the readers would know when the incident happened.
The book was professionally edited, as I noted some grammatical errors. Other than that, there wasn't anything I found displeasing. Because the book was well-written with a smooth flow of information and I enjoyed it, I'll award it an excellent rating ofÌý5 out of 5 stars.
I'll recommend this book to readers who love short reads about racism and how to come out stronger from it. Readers going through any form of discrimination will get the courage to fight it by reading this book.
April 29, 2024
"Cracker Jacked" by Lawrence Sterling III is a raw and compelling memoir that chronicles the author's uphill battle against injustice. Sterling's narrative is gripping from start to finish, offering readers a poignant insight into his struggles as a Baylor University graduate and Navy Veteran from East Oakland, California.
From the outset, Sterling's storytelling captivates with its unflinching honesty. The author fearlessly recounts his fight for an honorable discharge, shedding light on the systemic adversity he faced at Wyotech Automotive and the relentless racism and racial profiling that plagued his journey. His encounters with excessive force by the City of Hayward Police Department paint a stark picture of institutionalized injustice.
What makes "Cracker Jacked" truly stand out is Sterling's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the deceit from the attorney he trusted to seek justice, Sterling refuses to be silenced. His determination to share his truth shines through every page, inspiring readers to confront the injustices that pervade our society.
Sterling's narrative is not only a testament to his own strength but also a call to action for societal change. "Cracker Jacked" is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for what is right. Lawrence Sterling III's memoir is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the realities of systemic racism and the enduring power of resilience.
From the outset, Sterling's storytelling captivates with its unflinching honesty. The author fearlessly recounts his fight for an honorable discharge, shedding light on the systemic adversity he faced at Wyotech Automotive and the relentless racism and racial profiling that plagued his journey. His encounters with excessive force by the City of Hayward Police Department paint a stark picture of institutionalized injustice.
What makes "Cracker Jacked" truly stand out is Sterling's unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the deceit from the attorney he trusted to seek justice, Sterling refuses to be silenced. His determination to share his truth shines through every page, inspiring readers to confront the injustices that pervade our society.
Sterling's narrative is not only a testament to his own strength but also a call to action for societal change. "Cracker Jacked" is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up for what is right. Lawrence Sterling III's memoir is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the realities of systemic racism and the enduring power of resilience.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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