Ricardo didn't let life's circumstances chew him up and spit him out, in fact any chewing being done was done on his own terms. But how long can one live that way? Listen and learn from a true patriarchal griot as he travels from test to testimony and beyond as he remembers his past and allows the legacy of his family to reignite a smoldering passion inside of him...a phoenix rising from the ashes. Editors Review: Redemption Rising is a phenomenal read told through the eyes and experience of Riccardo Washington. With stories ranging from a time when many of us weren't even born, it is filled with language that reflects that era and history surrounding where he was when Dr. King was killed and how he felt when Minister Farrakhan replaced The Honorable Elijah Muhammed. This story weighs in on and challenges the age-old idea that you are where you come from. Mr. Washington overcame many situations as the child of a hustler. Raised in a family where four out of five boys became drug dealers, he held onto his mother's words of redeeming the family name with disdain. Mr. Washington was almost everything I can think of except a pimp and a womanizer. Let that sink in. He was a product of his environment for decades, until one day deciding to try something different. At the urging of one man, he changed his life and created a legacy that shattered the past, changed the present, and reshaped the future. Redemption Rising is his story, and it is well-written and well-worth the read. Short Bio: A graduate of Merritt Junior College and California Paramedical and Technical College, Ricardo Washington was born in Neptune, New Jersey and raised in Asbury Park. He holds certificates in Accounting and Counseling and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Having worked 36 years as a counselor in many capacities, including Behavioral Modification, Drug and Alcohol, Anger Management, and Domestic Violence, Riccardo is now retired and enjoys his family, writing poetry, and playing competitive games on PlayStation.