Am I My Brother’s Keeper???
I guess I have a problem.
My brother has distanced himself from the hood lifestyle to pursue an honest living so that he can provide for his child but he has to deal with the neighbors in the hood that he works in. They basically keep robbing the establishment, or scoping the place out provoking employees as if they’re gonna rob it eventually (Mind you this black-owned establishment has always serviced and gave back to the community it was in). This would make anyone angry as well as uneasy. I’d suggest that he transfers but then he’s running from a problem that can find anyone anywhere. It just so happens that you can’t hide from ignorance. But I don’t want my brother to be a victim or suspect, just successful at whatever he does so this is bothering me.
At the end of the day, we’re bringing down the morale of our own community. Yea, there are some people in higher places that could have contributed or broken the cycle but “charity begins at home” like my mom used to say. We have to be the ones that initiate the change for the older and younger residents that dwell in these poverty/crime-stricken areas. YOU call it the hood but its OUR hood and its home for a lot of us.
If the truth be told, this is why some work so hard to get outta the hood and never come/give back. It’s a love/hate relationship and you rarely ever forget the hate that you experienced there. This isn’t to say that it can’t be improved but we have a lot of work on our hands fam!
