A Story of Transformation and Hope for Future Generations –Interview With Julius Clark Jones
- Brainz Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Julius Clark Jones was giving his first start in January 2018, speaking publicly at East High School, Newark, NJ. Facilitated two classes on gang awareness for the social & emotional resilience group. Taught the intrinsic knowledge on gang culture, ideology, outreach, prevention, and intervention. Incorporated a variety of techniques, including personal stories and inspirational messages, into the presentations to captivate students.
Julius Clark Jones, Credible Advocate, Author, Public Speaker
Tell us a bit about your story. How did you build your career until this point?
Growing up in a broken one-bedroom apartment with my mama and brother at the tender age of 10, I would overhear my mama breaking down in tears at night while speaking on the phone to my big mama. I felt the need to help, so I dove deep into the streets to sell drugs and help out with the rent and bills. To get even more involved, I turned to gang culture. I got put on to the West Side 30's Fruit Town Brim 36St set, which was brought to New Jersey from South Central L.A. in 1992.
Through losing homies from gang banging, I was rearrested for two hot ones (187 murders). During my time in Northern State Prison, I was introduced to a book called What They Never Told You in History Class. There, I discovered that George Washington wasn't the first president of the United States; John Hanson was, and he was a Black African Moor. That was the beginning of my unlearning and relearning to break the cycle of a genocide mentality.
U.S. Marshals came and transferred me from state to federal prison. In Otisville Federal Prison, I took business management classes and found my passion. Once I got out of prison, I no longer sold drugs, but I still had one foot in and one foot out. I would retaliate when one of the homies got killed. Being betrayed again was the moment I allowed the Heavenly Father to make my crooked path straight. I was guided to write my first biography/autobiography memoir, Da Rep Ute Able Vol. 3: Tears Still Invincible, which tells the story of how an individual from L.A. brought the set to New Jersey and later snitched on the whole state. People were excited when the U.S. Marshals and gang task force locked me up.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
On February 6, 2021, the Heavenly Father saved me from multiple life sentences. I was on my way to commit multiple murders that night. On February 7, 2021, I decided to kill my flesh, pick up, and carry my cross. Ever since then, I’ve been walking by faith and not by sight with YAHWEH.
What is your purpose, mission, and driving force for all the work you do?
To give neutral at-risk youths and active gang members an alternative to gang life and change the direction of the gangs. I want to make communities safe havens for women, children, and families. I strive to ensure that community members gain emotional intelligence because, without security, you are broken. Having knowledge of self means understanding who the Heavenly Father created you to be.
What is your next goal or project?
I just became the featured cover of the June/July issue of Stardom101 magazine. I’m also featured in the upcoming documentary World Wide Woopin Part 1 by OYG Kre Kre from Athens Park Bloods in L.A., which is about how Bloods spread outside of California. Lira Ndifron and I co-authored Not of This World: Our Journey to Spiritual Enlightenment. I shared my first testimony in this spiritual book. I was also a guest on the 1250 Podcast out of L.A., hosted by UVG Trey, where I spoke about the documentary and the book. Check out the podcast and tap the link at the bottom.
What key advice do you have for achieving success?
Before achieving success, you have to see it. That vision starts with self-confidence. Success comes in many forms. Not giving up on yourself is success in itself. True achievement is not about how you start, but about enduring the storm. Your success doesn’t come from you; it flows through you from the Most High, who allows you to achieve it before you become successful.
What inspired you to create your company name?
With my walk with the Heavenly Father, I was guided to Virginia Beach, VA. At the end of June 2021, I decided to start my own publishing company to launch a Women of Empowerment Movement Through Books. While educating myself in federal prison, I discovered that 85% of women had been raped, and of those, 55% were Black. As a man, presenting books that hold us accountable shows how cowardly we have been. In March 2022, while in L.A., the Heavenly Father blessed me with a distribution deal, and I launched Victory Publishing, just three months after starting as a self-publisher. No matter the obstacles I faced and overcame, Victory was mine.
How does your company differentiate itself from competitors in the industry?
Life experience is the greatest teacher. My walk is my talk. Everything I’ve done up to this point came from my own pocket. Every speaking event except one I’ve done for free. Anyone can donate money, but the Heavenly Father judges our hearts, not just our actions. I’ve had countless doors slammed in my face because I wouldn’t compromise. I turned down major deals because I didn’t want to be controlled. People see money, I see changing and saving lives. Anything you have to chance isn’t worth having. My story shows that I didn’t let prison, gang banging, or betrayal define me. If you can’t stand in your truth, you are a false image.
What services or products does your company offer?
As a youth advocate, I’m passionate about guiding trauma-impacted youth away from gang environments and mentoring them toward independence. I’m experienced in credible messenger mentoring, gang exiting, group facilitation, public speaking, advocacy, campaign work, and providing services for incarcerated individuals. My mission includes ending gang violence, promoting responsible fatherhood, encouraging men to support women, raising AIDS awareness, respecting elders, and improving male-female relationships.
You can order Da Rep Ute Able Vol. 3: Tears Still Invincible, my biography/autobiography memoir, through Adlibris (Stockholm, Sweden bookstore online), The Nile, Indigo, Saxo, Kyobo Book, Coupang, Waterstones, Bookshop.com (connected to 1,700+ independent bookstores via IngramSpark), Walmart, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, and over 70 other platforms.
In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about your industry?
People assume that you'll sign your life away for the first offer. They think you’re desperate for money, have no self-respect, and aren’t willing to take the long route to face your flaws and fears. But not everyone has a price. I pray twice a week to the Heavenly Father, thanking Him for allowing me to help change and save a billion lives. I’m not here to promote gangs, I’m here to destroy the myth that gang life is fun and cool. That’s a lie the industry sells to youth. Gang life leads to mental illness and genocide. There’s nothing gangster about hurting others for things we don’t even own. We’re dying over streets and blocks with no value except to create more precincts, jails, and prisons.
For readers inspired by this conversation and eager to start their journey, what first steps would you recommend?
Sit in your bedroom and go through your contacts. Review the list two more times. On the third review, delete the people who are just “in” your life, those who bring no real value or respect. The ones in your corner are the ones who truly respect you. Ask people why they love you. If their answer focuses on what you do for them rather than how you value yourself, they don’t love you; they love needing you. Once you know who’s in your corner, you can set boundaries. Stand firm. No one will respect you until you respect yourself. Setting boundaries shows that you value inner peace, the most precious thing humanity can have.
Cut out distractions like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Focus on yourself. What are your values? What do you truly want? Google it. Read. Study. The more you study, the more you grow. Pray and ask for wisdom. If you’re not sowing seeds, the Heavenly Father won’t water your garden. You must be faithful. It's about divine timing, YAHWEH’s timing. Manifest your vision by writing down your ideas, goals, and plans. Think it, see it. Pay attention to signs. You’ll receive visions and dreams. Discipline, confidence, and patience come from studying and mastering your craft. What starts as sacrifice becomes obedience. God bless everyone!
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