Here is the biography of Robert Goines:
Robert Goines was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1937. He was sent to Catholic school by his family, who expected him to get his education and eventually work in the family's laundry business. In 1952, Goines enlisted in the US Air Force at the age of 17, lying about his age to enlist. During his three-year stint in the USAF, he became a heroin addict while stationed in Korea and Japan.
After his military service, Goines was unable to get straight and turned to crime to support his addiction. He was incarcerated for a total of six and one-half years, during which time he wrote his first two novels while in prison. Goines was released from prison in 1970 and began writing at a furious pace, publishing 16 paperback originals with Holloway House.
Goines' novels are semi-autobiographical and reflect his experiences as a black junkie and a criminal. He wrote about the "lumpenproleteriat," the criminal underclass, and his characters struggle to survive in a ghetto jungle beset with predators. Goines also wrote five novels about a black revolutionary cat called Kenyatta, who takes an active stance against exploitation and the depredations of inner-city life.
Goines' work had a significant influence on the hip-hop generation, and his novels have been adapted into films and music. Despite his rough and unpolished style, Goines' books have been widely read and have inspired many young African Americans.
