S Street Rising: Crack, Murder, and Redemption in D.C.

by Rubén Castañeda

During the height of the crack epidemic that decimated the streets of D.C., Ruben Castaneda covered the crime beat for the Washington Post. The first in his family to graduate from college, he had landed a job at one of the country's premier newspapers. But his apparent success masked a devastating secret: he was a crack addict. Even as he covered the drug-fueled violence that was destroying the city, he was prowling S Street, a 24/7 open-air crack market, during his off hours, looking for his next fix.

S Street Rising is more than a memoir; it's a portrait of a city in crisis. It's the adrenalin-infused story of the street where Castaneda quickly became a regular, and where a fledgling church led by a charismatic and streetwise pastor was protected by the local drug kingpin, a dangerous man who followed an old-school code of honor. It's the story of Castaneda's friendship with an exceptional police homicide commander whose career was derailed when he ran afoul of Mayor Marion Barry and his political cronies. And it's a study of the city itself as it tried to rise above the bloody crack epidemic and the corrosive politics of the Barry era. S Street Rising is The Wire meets the Oscar-winning movie Crash. And it's all true.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club, Memoir, History, True Crime, Dc Comics, Journalism

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, here's the thing. I genuinely liked this book. I grew up in the D.C. suburbs and call D.C. home today. I remember much of the drug epidemic and clearly recall Marion Barry and the bitch setting him up. It was great to read about what happened from someone who was experiencing everything and living amidst it all.

But, man, and I mean man, were there no developed females in this book. None of the prostitutes he visits and has relationships with have any depth whatsoever. The one female editor is written as vindictive (although I'm not sure she was so off-base) and the author just mentions, off hand, a girlfriend or two every once in a while.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the homicide cop, Lou and the pastor, Jim. They are, great, interesting, well-written humans, who I'm glad to be on the planet with, and I'm pleased I was introduced to them in the book. Even the drug king pin, Baldie, was written as a full, and nuanced character.

But I disliked the way the author treated women in his book and I couldn't really get past that. Regardless, I'm glad he wrote the book, I'm glad he's sober and I'm glad we were able to learn from his experiences.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

One mans journey through the crack ridden streets of Washington DC. Ruben Castaneda was a journalist, assigned to a violent crime police beat. Ruben Castaneda was a crack addict.

This is an autobiography of how bad it can get when you are addicted to a drug. It takes place in the 80's and 90's when crack was prevalent and easy to get. It details the violence surrounding the drug industry and the death of the people addicted. The record breaking violence of the crack era disappeared along with the drug, as it began to dissipate in the early 2000's. Castaneda relates his life - both as a crack addict and as a journalist. Living two lives, as different as night and day, and hoping that he was not recognized as that other person in either world.

This book gives an honest look at the life of an addict - an addict that works everyday and tries to maintain a life away from the drug, while wallowing in the self despising life of an addict. I found this book to be propulsive, compelling and raw. It is not for the easily offended.

[Olivia Podber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ shoutout to book club for picking this book because I never would’ve chosen to read it by myself but am so happy I had the chance. It was so fascinating reading about my neighborhood as it was <20 years ago plagued by the crack epidemic. And it was even more powerful to read about this from the perspective of someone whose job it was to report on DC as a city in crisis while actively contributing to said crisis. Can’t wait to discuss more with the club but think this book is a must-read for DC residents looking to better understand the nuanced history and context that’s shaped our city.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My book group was honored by the presence of the author. While sometimes this could be intimidating, Castaneda is a searingly honest and open person, characteristics that likely make him such a great journalist. This is not always an easy book to read as Castaneda describes in depth his descent into crack and alcohol addiction. He arrived in Washington DC from LA at the height of the DC crack epidemic. Not only was crack endemic, but so was murder. For several years running, murder totals close to 500 deaths. Most of the victims were young African American men, and east of 16th St., one of the main streets that runs the total length of the District, and divided the wealthy mostly white part of the capital from the poorer, majority black section of the city. I use the past tense because runaway gentrification has changed the racial profile of DC. I work in a university immediately adjacent to the Trinidad neighborhood. This is a neighborhood that has experienced spikes of crime so violent that at times the police have barricaded the area, only admitting residents. Kitty corner to Trinidad, the neighborhood facing my university is now labeled by some realtors as Capitol Hill despite the fact that it lies 15 blocks north of the center of what is traditionally considered "the hill".

S Street Rising also tells stories that reveal the depth of the corruption of some parts of the DC government. At the center of these stories is the late Marion Barry, dubbed "mayor for life" in the 90's. Barry is infamous as the mayor caught smoking crack -the first but then followed by others, most recently Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The book doesn't mention that Barry rose to prominence in part because of his history as a Civil Rights leader. It is hard at times to reconcile the two Marion Barrys, but it is clear in this book that he also commanded a huge political machine, fueled by financial malfeasance, and corruption.

There are heroes in this story including the police captain, Leo Hennessy, and Pastor Jim who establishes a church on S Street, in the middle of a crack zone. Hennessy has enemies, and some with political power go after him. Pastor Jim sets up Manna, an organization that helps working class residents buy homes. Manna was enormously successful. It still exists but is struggling to survive in the face of escalating property values.

Anyone interested in urban America, and specifically in Washington DC will find this a fascinating read.

[Pat Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was fiction when I first put it on my to read list. It was another recommendation by Goodreads. It is actually a memoir by a newspaper writer. It is his personal story of being a working newswriter in LA and becoming a crack addict. He tells the simple story of how he got his drugs and how he took them, the secret rituals involving the drug and sex that came with it. The story moves to Washington DC with him when he moves there and involves other people he comes in contact with. Police, his bosses and co workers, the dealers and other addicts, a minister, a drug gang leader who has a bit of a kind heart. He wrote the story so he obviously freed himself of the drug through rehab. It is a rewarding story in this regard. It isn't an easy text to read. The life is bare knuckle hard knocks and bad decisions, extending to his recovery, and some rewarding work he does, as well as an episode spent with a minister and his church which has a happy conclusion. But it is a satisfying read in the sense that it is real and gives you a good look at the life of the writer during these hard times.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

book clubbbbb 📖 would have never read something like this but so glad i did!!

[David Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read throughout, Castaneda has recounted a life lived that reads like fiction, but packs punch behind it, as well. His tracking the routes of DC and the surrounding areas is especially interesting to a local; someone who worked not far from one of his buying zones and lives in another. A great story overall and a quintessential DC read.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A note on the former Wonder Bread factory on S Street, in front of which, in the 1990's, was the unconcealed drug market where the author went on page 35 (and other times after) to buy. On page 242, Castaneda says of the building: “Eventually, the lower floors would be home to restaurants and boutiques. The upper floors would become loft offices.”

The building now (2016) houses a tech incubator and shared working space, no restaurants or boutiques on site as of this writing, probably none soon. This is a quibble over a very minor error of fact.

I wrote a blog about that neighborhood (then my home) in 2015, including a post about this property here. The nature of police problems had changed considerably for the better: the building was now being visited by law enforcement because the tech incubator was providing beer free of charge to the tenants as a part of their leases, an activity which, in the opinion of the DC government, required a liquor license. These licenses generate income for the city, so, like parking tickets, the enforcement is vigorous.

The book is actually several interlocking stories, of which the author's is the most prominent and dramatic, so it has been pushed (understandably) to the front by those who wish to get the attention of the book-buying public. But the other stories are well-told and worth attention, especially the one about the honest and effective cop who is pushed aside by city and police department politicking. There has been some attempts of late to gloss over the ugly facts of DC politics in the wake of the death of Marion Barry, and it's good to see a book push back against that. The politics was ugly and as a result people died and their murderers went scot-free. To some extent, that will happen always and everywhere, so it's easy to become indifferent. Don't become indifferent. Buy and read the books, magazines, and newspapers of those trying to make it right.

I also liked this book because it used the serial comma in its subtitle, and was a Christmas gift from my Long-Suffering Wife.

March 2016 update about the Wonder Bread Factory:

http://www.washingtonian.com/2016/03/...

[fire_on_the_mountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up solely on the strengths of the author, and my general thirst for Washington, DC local history. Now I can recommend it on the strength of the writing, and the universality of the text. This memoir weaves various strands together-- the author's own story of ambition and crack addiction, the exploding crime rate, the police working to combat it, and the pastor face-to-face with it. Exciting enough as it is, but Castaneda's style moves the action at a brisk face, and his unflinching honesty keeps you riveted.
More than anything, it's essential reading for Washingtonians with an investment in the city's past and future. You have to know where we have come from in order to get where we are going. More than that, it's an intensely personal story that takes a ton of guts to tell, and that honesty makes this story relatable. Whether you're dealing with crack addiction or not.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read, particularly if you are familiar with DC neighborhoods. Castaneda seems to hold nothing back in his recount of his addiction, and I'm so happy he chose to speak his truth and share it with readers.

[Lacy Broemel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, clear and sharp writing with fantastic "characters." Really enjoyed this book. I would say anyone who lives in DC should read it. Intriguing from start to finish.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my recent binge of history about DC, I've found the city of 30-40 years ago to be the most fascinating. Growing up, DC was the murder capital of the nation, full of addicts and thugs. The reputation stuck around for a long time. Castañeda does not shy away from his addiction or the underbelly of the city where rival crews slung crack in broad daylight to strawberries (women who exchanges sex for crack) before finding help. He also discusses MPD and their battle against drugs and murderers as well as a preacher who tried to reach out to the community. Overall, I was hooked on his story

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anyone who lives in or loves DC!

[Charles Michael Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book, but this is required reading if you have any connection to DC whatsoever. Where to start? How about with one of Castaneda’s juiciest stories.

Castaneda, a Washington Post crime reporter, randomly stumbles upon The Vista Hotel when Marion Barry goes down. Castaneda rushes to a payphone to call his editor, who, at first, thinks he’s bullshitting. The editor tells Castaneda to get a room on the paper’s dime to gather as much info as possible. Castaneda comes up dry after interviewing hotel staff. No big deal, right? He returns to his room, orders lobster, and calls his connect, a prostitute who buys his crack in return for a rock of her own and oral sex. Castaneda’s fetish is smoking while getting head. Picture this: twenty minutes later, Castaneda watches the Barry news break while smoking crack and getting oral from a prostitute in the same hotel Barry was just busted in. As Castaneda and the prostitute finish, the screen flashes to a black SUV dipping into a J. Edgar Hoover parking garage. Unbelievably brazen. The next time you see the infamous “bitch set me up” clip, imagine Castaneda doing the same thing less than an hour later in the same damn hotel.

Despite its entrancing street tales, “S Street Rising” doesn’t glamorize DC’s crack era, when DC was dubbed “the Murder Capital” (400-500 annual homicides in a city of 600,000 between the late 80s and early to mid 90s). Castaneda weaves several threads into a cohesive, powerful narrative. Castaneda lives a double-life by covering neighborhoods, like 6th and S NW, on his crime beat where--hours later after work--he scores drugs.

We meet Jim, a pastor from Arkansas, who facilitates Castaneda’s spiritual journey. Jim, a white man, erects a church in an open-air drug market on S Street, and eventually earns the respect of the neighborhood boss, “Baldie,” and his corner slingers. Baldie sends his children to the church’s youth programs. The corner boys donate profits and offer protection. While Jim doesn’t condone the drug game, he doesn’t talk to the police. He navigates the situation masterfully. Most importantly, Baldie and his crew sense Jim’s genuine care for the neighborhood and its people.

We meet several prostitutes, or “strawberries,” like Champagne and Carrie. One of the more touching moments is when Castaneda confides his shame to both for relapsing. We meet a MPD Homicide commander embroiled in toxic Barry-era politics--who's also at the center of the 1994 MPD Headquarters shooting--and several others who play a part in Castaneda’s redemptive journey.

The book is well-written. The sentences are clean, tight, and crisp. Some of DC’s most legendary neighborhoods (mostly uptown) and crews are featured, like Potomac Gardens, 5th and O, 6th and 7th and S in Shaw (near Howard Theater, north of Rhode Island Ave), 1st and Bates NW, 14th and E. Capital SE (near RFK), and the Kennedy Street Crew ("KDY") responsible for the MPD Headquarters shooting. 4/5 stars.

[Ricardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine examination of how insidiously the crack epidemic dug into the social, political and economic life in DC. But also a detailed look at the life of a reporter and his struggles with, not only addiction, but the ruthless bureaucracy of newsroom politics. And that might be what's keeping me from loving this memoir. It's a little too jumbled and doesn't quite know what it wants to be. A thorough history of DC can be found in the landmark Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital, but I did find the reporter's life compelling. Unfortunately, the addiction narrative grew repetitive and a bit too cinematic. Did every sex worker Castañeda hooked up with had to be gorgeous and endlessly described as such? The saga of the New Community Church deserved it's own book and once again, I bump up against how these disparate stories, intriguing on their own, didn't gel together in a satisfying way.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent book. I actually had moments where I didn't want to put the book down and wanted to continue reading, which is usually not the case for me when I am reading a nonfiction book. The book seamlessly ties together the lives of a crime reporter addicted to crack, a police officer, and a pastor. It offers a unique perspective of how the crack epidemic effected different people, while tying together their lives and showing how they were able to coexist, and even form friendships. I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for something good to read. I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

[Erika Pont · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable must-read for any Washingtonian.

[Marykay Pogar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting view of the drug trade in D.C., but he's no David Simon.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is hard to put down. Anyone who is interested in the history of Washington DC during the 1980s and 1990s will love it. Any one who is interested in addiction will also love it.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story written by the one who lived it,Ruben Castaneda. I can remember some of the incidents described in the book and found it fascinating. A fast and enjoyable read.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentrification reeeally changed DC

[Courtney Sieloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for DC residents. Really honest and powerful.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure/name drop: my husband worked with the author (not a the Washington Post) around when this was published.

Overall, Castañeda's time at the Post covered a fascinating inflection point for DC and as a local who arrived in 2007 I appreciated the deep dive into DC's not too distant past.

I raced through the first part of the book and found myself slowing down right around the middle. Castañeda's addiction peaks fairly early for a book that heavily promotes the duel life of an addict and crime reporter. The arc is less about him struggling to push past the peak of his addiction and more about his addiction, the shadow it cast on his later years, and the redemption of him going public about his history with crack. The addiction storyline becomes very subtle, even dropping off about halfway through the book before coming full circle in the final chapter. That might be why I lost momentum during the interesting-in-a-different-way focus on his personal involvement in a mayoral/police scandal. I lost the thread and wasn't sure where we were going.

There were some scenarios that I just didn't get as someone not in journalism or law enforcement. I think there were some stories about workplace politics and ethics that didn't really land with me. In one of them Castañeda even says something like "this could jeopardize the Post's reputation and my career because x, y, z" which I needed to understand but still felt very inside baseball. I don't know how else he could have built the drama or conveyed the intensity to an outsider, so I can't be more specific or constructive, unfortunately.

I would have loved to read reprints of some of the most significant articles of his that he referenced, too.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book shortly after moving to DC in 2014, and lived just blocks away from where a lot of the story takes place. I finally read it, years after purchasing it, and I wonder how my opinion would have differed had I read it when it first came out.

What worked: Castenada's honest recounting of his descent into crack addiction was illuminating. I'd never actually heard a story where I could understand how one becomes a crack addict, and I'm glad I read it.

What didn't: This is a book about the drug war and crack epidemic in DC - Chocolate City - during the late 80s/early 90s. Castenada's racial and class analysis was completely lacking, and essentially nonexistent. After reading books like Darnell L Moore's NO ASHES IN THE FIRE that clearly and explicitly lay out how racist economic policies led to the inner city turmoil Castenada writes about, I couldn't get past this failure. I almost DNFed the book but it was readable enough to keep going. His mentioning of race was inconsistent and I couldn't help but feel like this book contributes to pathology and victim blaming of Black people stuck in crack addiction or selling drugs. He fails to look at why he had the resources to get out of his crack addiction but so many in the S Street Neighborhood and throughout DC (i.e., the poor and Black) failed to. In contrast to this, his profiles of the white pastor and white cop feels almost white saviory.

Several reviewers have highlighted his complete lack of development of the women in this book but I was so distracted by his lack of race analysis that I didn't notice that until the end.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, I think. Highly readable, and an interesting corollary to Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C., lots of overlapping content in terms of early-90s drug problems in DC. The sub-plot with a police commander who runs afoul of Marion Barry is fascinating. But a few things really bothered me:
* treatment of women: there are lots of references to the 'strawberries' Castaneda used for drug purchases and sex, but they're completely flat depictions, with no apparent thought given to them except as related to his receipt of drugs and sex. and despite covering many years of his life, the only other woman who shows up in any detail is a female editor at the Post who is portrayed as vindictive and bearing a personal grudge against him. That could all be true, but it left a really negative taste for me.
* lack of introspection : the events this book portrays are crazy, convincing, and well-told. They are story enough on their own. But it really read more like investigative journalism than a memoir, in that there was a surprisingly small amount of personal reflection.
* This is perhaps not a fair complain per se, as it doesn't necessarily belong in a memoir, but i learned so much more about the nature of drug trade in DC from Dream City, and I think this book would have benefitted from a bit more in the way of facts / context about the rise of crack in DC

[Yenta Knows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three related stories, each strong on narrative (what happened) but weak on analysis (why did it happen, what does it mean). There were so many questions left unprobed and unanswered. What, for example, happened to the strawberries Ruben used and disposed of? What made Baldie tick?

But if you are a Washingtonian (Guilty. Born in the now defunct Columbia Hospital) you can't help but be fascinated. Ruben gets so much right. I especially liked his describing the PG county police as having a culture of brutality (I experienced a small, dilute drop at the University of Maryland), contrasted with Montgomery County's prosperous and refined environment. Yup.

The stories don't quite meld together and the last 50 pages, in particular, have a hurried, slapdash feel, with careless sentences and misspellings (example: "ledes" for "leads").

But I can only thank Ruben for being willing to venture into those rough neighborhoods and reporting what he saw. I would never have dared. It's not where you're likely to find a nice Jewish girl from Montgomery County.

[Megan Geissler · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - I kind of had a hard time getting through this because of the uninspired writing style. It's at times very elementary and overly explanatory, while at others, unfamiliar idioms are used, making it less accessible. The author seems to want to reach people outside of 1980-90s DC crack-murder world but then tries to lend himself street cred so he seems more authentic as the narrator, but it comes off as overly earnest and like he's trying too hard. What I liked about it was relating the places and names to contemporary DC and being able to actually walk through the locations that used to be drug dealing territory. I found the details of his personal grievances with local media and law enforcement politics to be a bit tedious and overwrought, but it's his story so I can't fault his reactions to what was going on at that time. I'll look for other works on this era but it was an okay introduction.

[Mackenzie Seward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished the damn book club book like a month late! With my comp exam coming up I have not been reading as much as I like.
I liked this book a lot! I have a lot of respect for people who can share their shades of grey, things that make them less than perfect. Ruben Castaneda had a lot of grey areas in his life as he struggled with his addiction. I found the DC history to be fascinating as well, as I live so close to what was open air drug market on S street. You can still see reminders of how addiction and drugs decimated the community across Shaw today, no matter how many high rises are built. I think this is a fascinating book for those who live in DC and want to learn more about how their area came to be, and how addiction can affect not just the user but their family and community. It was also a great book if you are interested in the history of cross jurisdictional crime across DC MD and VA! (Like me)

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a Washington Post journalist, this book shed light on the impact of the crack epidemic in DC. It provided context and history for the things we observed when we moved to Thomas Circle in the immediate aftermath of the epidemic described in this book (1998/2001). The blend of personal memoir, in-depth portrayal of key players working for good, and investigative reporting made this a compelling read.

As I read, I could see the faces of my needle exchange clients and was wishing I had had all this information back when I was working in harm reduction. In addition to providing perspective on the past, I feel it also has provided a lens through which I can regard our neighborhood today.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended for a bookclub at church and I can't wait to talk about it with people who share a deep love of this city and community. To learn more about the history of streets that I lived on, grocery stores that I frequented that were touched by violence, drugs and unrest, left me feeling humbled. I've been ignorant of the pain this community experienced during the late 80s and early 90s in DC. The author brings his own story and the community back to life to capture a turbulent time in DC's history.