The Angels Were Watching

A heartbreaking true story of survival, rage, faith, and the fight to reclaim a stolen childhood.

In The Angels Were Watching, author CJ shares the unfiltered and explosive truth of what he endured as a young Black altar boy in 1960s South Central Los Angeles, a time marked by segregation, racial violence, and deep community struggle.

Raised by a resilient mother rooted in unwavering faith, CJ believed the church was a sanctuary. He believed becoming an altar boy would keep him safe from the dangers of the streets. He believed the priests guiding him were men of God.

He was wrong.

What began as devotion and innocence quickly spiraled into a dark world of manipulation, alcoholism, grooming, and repeated sexual abuse at the hands of those sworn to protect him. CJ was only ten years old when his trust and his body were violently violated. His best friend David endured the same horrors, leading to desperate cries for help that went unnoticed by the adults who should have saved them.

As CJ's trauma grew, so did something else: rage.
A rage that would erupt in school hallways, on the streets of Los Angeles, and in every quiet corner where he tried to hide from the shame and confusion that haunted him. A rage powerful enough to change the course of his life.

Told with raw honesty and emotional depth, The Angels Were Watching is more than a memoir of abuse, it is a journey through the hell of silence and the long, painful road toward healing. It reveals:

• The hidden world behind church walls where predators were protected and children were sacrificed

• The psychological warfare survivors face when their abuser is beloved by the community

• The explosive consequences of unprocessed trauma

• The resilience of the human spirit and the small glimmers of hope that keep a wounded child alive

This is not a sanitized story.
This is the truth and CJ refuses to whisper it anymore.

For survivors, advocates, and anyone seeking to understand the lifelong impact of childhood abuse, this book is a beacon of courage and a testament to the millions of unheard voices still waiting for justice.