Jeff Hobbs, "The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace"

An award-winning writer even before he published his first novel, The Tourists, Hobbs took a break from fiction to research and write this life of Robert Peace, his roommate at Yale and a gifted young scientist who was shot and killed in a Newark drug lab nine years after graduating. What happened? Hobbs looks back to his friend’s impoverished youth, the brilliance and hard work that made him an admired teacher and coach, as well as at the legacy of poverty and dysfunction that made him a drug dealer. This is a story as devastating as it is illuminating.
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[@NariqueGibbs]

He was my teacher, and we had similar backgrounds. We both attended the same high school, and it was a pleasure to have him as an educator. Reading about his life and watching the movie adaptation brought back so much nostalgia from my school days and filled me with sadness knowing what the world has lost. He was a brilliant man with a genuine heart for his community. Unfortunately, he couldn't escape the treacherous streets that many boys and men from Newark struggle to navigate and survive

[@cherisej7829]

My husband is from Newark. He also went to Benedict's. Thank God for that school. It has saved numerous lives!

[@lifelovergrupp]

Jeff, I haven't read your book yet but just got done watching Rob Peace which lead me down a rabbit hole to find this video. What you have done is opened up a narrative that so many of us need to hear. A narrative that truly shows the struggles that black men face in the US and it makes me so angry to see what I believe is that most of them are used as pawns, set up for failure, and to be the "poster children" to cover up other people's greed. The look on your face at the end of this video showed me how wonderful of a person you are. I deep, loving, and caring man who wants to get his friends story out there. Two amazing people in this world wound up connecting for a purpose. A purpose that I believe is a start of something greater than any of us know. I will read your book now. thank you for being a beautiful human being to share a story about another human being.

[@cherisej7829]

Very well said!❤

[@kamila927]

Just saw the movie on Netflix. His passion and drive was incredible. Thinking of others before himself.

[@nkwari]

I think this author's being an introvert is helpful as a few of these people asked dumb questions trying to put words into his mouth. He quietly shut them down. He brought humility as the author, not trying to be a sociologist or make general pronouncements.

[@deansisqoxv20]

This was such a well written and heart felt booK. Robert Peace was a fascinating person... and his story is a worthy examination of modern day America. You can see the writers love for him, without compromising his professional integrity in telling an objectively written account. The book is an absolute page-turner and the end had me in tears.

[@johnparadise8128]

good morning Jeff, I finished your book last night & just listened to this presentation. Like so many, I am sad, yet thrilled to get to know Rob through your book. You did an unbelievable job in presenting his life. I have more empathy than anything for Rob - his life was & is special & it will live on through this work. There is no doubt in my mind, that his journey was a successful one.

[@rahruhreirorf6838]

I'm in the middle of this book and I gotta say this video makes me appreciate the life that was giving to me cuz a story like this puts life into perspective.

[@sisterz8534]

Sure does, teaches you not to sell drugs.

[@mattmontana9690]

If that’s all you learned from reading this book you missed the point

[@MsColetha]

All I hear is: No matter how brilliant you are, no matter how hard your mom works, USING DRUGS WILL KILL YOU. Stay away from drugs.

[@brendaswann-douglas372]

Robert Peace was born and raised his entire life in ORANGE NJ! He attended a private high school, Saint Benedict Prep in Newark NJ. Robert was killed in EAST ORANGE NJ. Why is the city of Newark being associated with this book and movie? Think about it!

[@jayman3915]

I peep that. I guess with Newark being so close. But yes he’s from east orange. It’s like someone being from Washington heights, Manhattan and the story keep saying Harlem.

[@cherisej7829]

​@jayman3915 East Orange, West Orange, Newark, Irvington, Livingston etc....Cuturally, it's the same. No difference up there.

[@patriciagreene2467]

Thanks for sharing 👍 ❤ so sad life ended so soon 😢

[@power-yl6xh]

Apart from his demise at the end, the saddest part of Rob's life, seemed after he graduated Yale, when he stayed back to clean dorm room and move furniture. Knowing what I know, companies would thrown the red carpet out to a black, smart, Yalie. I think Rob punished himself, because he felt guilty about success.

[@williamgrattan-smith8500]

Survivors guilt is a real thing unfortunately, Rob was such an inspirational and talented person. So sad to see him pass the way he did.

[@mka1967]

EXACTLY...WOULDNT TOP COMPANIES BE LINING UP FOR HIM? DID THEY? DID HE REJECT ANY AND ALL OFFERS....? BUT THEN SAYS YES TO BEING A BAGGAGE HANDLER...TOTALLY CONFUSING

[@kjdunjg2929]

He can't step away from his "old life" with his mom and his friends. He is intelligent but not brave enough to step away from that thug life in Newark.

[@nkwari]

With that red carpet come daily micro-aggressions and, from the book, I think Rob was not a Beta male. He was an Alpha who wanted to be his own boss and take care of others financially. He probably would have told off people trying to denigrate him. I do think he should have gone the red carpet route temporarily to make money and started his real estate empire he wanted. He used the weed sales as his financial foundation for his real estate empire and that had deadly consequences.

[@jayman3915]

@@kjdunjg2929east orange

[@NotthisAdrian]

the last question was great.

[@ms.sharon.262]

I have a few chapters before the end. Im wondering if they ever caught the murderers? He had a brilliant mind, gone too soon. So sad.

[@fatizzle716]

The first attendee’s question 🙄

[@MsColetha]

I would have asked him what does he think Rob thinks of his book?

[@power-yl6xh]

I'm wondering how Jeff Hobbs gets Amiem to open up and talk about drug dealing activities?

[@kay2576]

Just finished the book, man it was amazing! Would love to meet people who knew Rob.

[@t-roysanders4955]

Rob and I were on the same water polo team and lacrosse team. He was a year younger than me.

[@roselynholloway7863]

@@t-roysanders4955what was he like

[@thelog86]

Movie release 8-16-24

[@deserteagle7704]

Smh

[@mrdcutler8348]

A gifted man obviously. Also a drug dealer. It's a shame that he receives attention when those from the same background work in warehouses, factories, construction and never get involved in drugs. What about their stories?

[@Powerule23]

The fact is, their stories aren't much of stories, which is not to say their lives hold no value. Peace's life, as well as the author's brilliant perspective of Peace's world makes this particular story worth publishing.

[@peachesmorgan8097]

@@Powerule23I Agree, others who have sold drugs and end up dying, most have not been to Yale or Harvard but instead lived a lifestyle without significant changes socially or through education, their stories are told every day. we are familiar with their story. Not to condone the selling of drugs by anyone, what was worth writing about focused on Mr Peace's academic achievements and how his life tragically came to an end.

[@Powerule23]

Peaches Morgan + Yes I agree with your comment. I also find his story intriguing because he was so bright that his educational accomplishments were essentially secondary to his primary influences. His educational path seemed to come with little effort as compared to a lifestyle anchoring him to his community. My point being, the multitude of black and brown people who are independently bright, but limited socially on a collective level. You're right, his story is worth telling because he wasn't "average," for his environment. That "average" is what is truly sad because way too many bright minds are suppressed by limited social expectations from WITHIN our communities. We tend to focus/obsess on what society does to us; as opposed to what we often do to ourselves. Ultimately, he was killed by his own over drugs/money. He betrayed opportunities, in-part because he was a product of a broken home. Outside influences don't always break our homes; we often break them internally because we commonly fail to respond/stand up to the dominant social force. It's much easier to be a victim than pursue victory

[@devincarroll256]

@@Powerule23 this is why Jeff Hobbs is a piece of shit for writting his privileged white guy's view. He never got permission from his mom or even got an interview from her. He lied to Rob's friends promising them a chance to edit and validate before publishing. That never happened. Rob didn't make any mistakes. He didn't harm anyone. He didn't have any enemies. He tried the right path and this was just an wrong turn. But as you can see it's legal now. And if things went differently he would be leading the charge for minorities int he field. Because that's the type of person he was, a leader. This was a wrong place wrong time. No gang banging, no violence. Jeff twisted this story to sensetionalize it in way to sell books and jump start his writing career. He sold his soul to the devil to provide a nice life for his family.