The Cross and the Switchblade

Nicky Cruz is a Puerto Rican Christian evangelist and the former director of Teen Challenge, the ministry founded by David Wilkerson. Before meeting Wilkerson and converting to Christianity, Nicky (whose last name is never given in The Cross and the Switchblade) was leader of the New York City teen gang the Mau Maus. His dramatic spiritual transformation—which is narrated twice, first through Wilkerson’s eyes, and then in his own words—is used to demonstrate the importance of Wilkerson’s work.

As Wilkerson describes it, Nicky’s early life is marked by neglect. Because his parents work from their one-room house, Nicky is on the streets at all hours of the day and night. Nicky explicitly attributes his participation in gang life to this neglect, explaining that “[At] home [he] was the youngest one. [He] was nothing. But in the street they knew who [he] was” (113). His description of his home life points to a recurring theme: The Societal Roots of Gang Violence. While Nicky is ignored at home, he feels seen by teens on the street who fear him, which is why he becomes a gang member. Nicky is also initially driven to violence and crime by a feeling of hatred, which he calls “the crazy thing in [him]” (114). This feeling leads him to beat up other children, “and all the while [he] would be scared and wanting to cry, but the thing inside [him] was laughing” (114). Nicky’s reputation as a “vicious knife-fighter” leads to his recruitment by the Mau Maus. His story demonstrates the dangerous path from neglect to emotional turmoil to gang violence that the Teen Challenge Center seeks to disrupt.

When Wilkerson meets Nicky, he considers Nicky a hardened criminal; he writes, “I remember thinking, as I looked at him, that’s the hardest face I have ever seen” (80). Although Wilkerson preaches love to Nicky, he secretly doubts that his message will reach him. Early observations appear to bear this out; while Wilkerson preaches on the street, he watches Nicky standing “seething and silent […] exuding hatred for [Wilkerson] and everything [he] stood for” (99). However, Nicky experiences a profound transformation during the week-long youth rally described in Chapter 9. Reflecting on the rally, Nicky describes doubts that mirror Wilkerson’s assessment of him, saying that “the preacher told [them] to come forward if [they] wanted to be changed, but [he] knew it was no use for [him]” (119). Nevertheless, he prays for God to transform his life, reflecting that “as bad as [he] was before, [he wanted] to be that good for Jesus” (119). The transformation within Nicky is instantaneous, and within a year he is enrolled in Bible college. Wilkerson uses Nicky’s dramatic spiritual transformation as evidence of the power of his ministry. As one of the first teens who experiences this transformation, Nicky also shows that a similar path to change is possible for other teen gang members. Nicky carries on Wilkerson’s work in a literal sense as the director of the Teen Challenge Center.

Gwen Wilkerson (1931-2012) was David Wilkerson’s wife. He dedicates The Cross and the Switchblade to her. Within the book, she is depicted as an ideal Christian wife and is representative of The Sacrifices Necessary for Missionary Work.

From the beginning, Gwen is described in ways that highlight her femininity. Wilkerson recalls that, when they were touring the parsonage in Philipsburg, “Gwen’s heel went right through the ‘parsonage’ floor” (13). Shortly after, Gwen tries to convince Wilkerson to reject the job after she sees cockroaches in the parsonage, saying, “[the parishioners are] such nice people, but [she is] scared to death of cockroaches” (13). These early descriptions of Gwen emphasize her femininity by highlighting her apparel and her delicate sensibility. However, when Wilkerson decides that God has led them to the church in Philipsburg, Gwen expresses contentment and works hard to make the dilapidated house a home. Her willingness to abide by Wilkerson’s decisions and take care of their home make Gwen the perfect wife for a missionary. Her strong faith also makes her an ideal partner for him; like Wilkerson, she believes strongly in the power of God in their lives. In one instance, Gwen has faith even when Wilkerson doubts the efficacy of the mission. When he questions whether he has succeeded in converting two gang members or if they are only teasing him by pretending to be transformed, Gwen tells him that he “asked the Holy Spirit for a miracle and now that [he’s] got one [he’s] trying to argue it away” (80). Wilkerson depicts Gwen as a traditionally feminine, obedient, and faithful woman, portraying her as the ideal Christian wife.

Part of what makes Gwen an ideal partner is the fact that, like her husband, she embraces sacrifice. In the most telling example, Wilkerson is away in New York City when his youngest child is born. Before the birth, Gwen says that she won’t “pretend that [she] didn’t wish [Wilkerson was] home for the new baby” (91), but she nevertheless encourages Wilkerson to travel to New York to fulfill the mission. Her sacrifices as a wife are representative of Wilkerson’s belief that sacrifices are necessary for missionary work to succeed.