The Reality Is…

Ammunition leaving innocent bodies in ambulances

Im holding up candles for the kids that didn’t really have a chance

to live life to the fullest

The cops dont stop the fights that ignite the bullets

So im naked

Because the colors i wear, i dont want the gang members to take it

the wrong way

So some days i smoke this cannabis and this locust

So i can lose focus

on whats going on with my folks

Cuz i aint supposed to see this scenery

So i stick to this greenery and think thoughts of revenge on people thats mean to me

As my grandmother sings to me

Songs from Mahalia

See, Thats the reason i aint focused on America

Because The Reality Is….

The area im living in is surrounded by killing

And in my vision i see kids getting the life sentence in prison

Yall chasing the wrong Osama

Imma tell you about the forgotten Bin laden

The cops that left ya son shot in the streets

And didnt do nuthin to prevent it

But we holding up flags representin America

Like we sharin a bond or something

Yall PROBLEMS aint nuthin compared to mine.

So as long as condoms bustin

And people rushing to hospitals for abortions

And  a portion of Milwaukee missing

Because people missin their targets

and hitting Malcolms and Martins

I aint gon take part in the starting of another war!

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

Can I Live??? Another Shooting Victim in Milwaukee

Everyday we hear about another senseless act of violence and as the numbers increase we become numb to it. But with cause comes effect and when we lose an enemy, someone else loses a friend or in this case a brother, son and father.

Jordan Larson, 19, a former student at Rufus King High School, enrolled in UWM, was found shot in the back of his grandmother’s house on Milwaukee’s Northside on the morning of February, 1st with a bullet wound to the head and back. With no leads or suspects, you can’t help but wonder the cause of such a sudden death to a young man whose future seemed so promising. Was this an act motivated by money? Was there bad blood between Jordan and the unknown assailant? Although, its too early know, these are definitely the signs of an unsolved mystery but with the help of the community, we can gather enough information to bring closure to the case and most importantly the family.

An occurrence like this is, unfortunately, so common and can easily go unnoticed. Its hard to stomach, but the family of rising star Lavelle Felton is still searching for the person guilty of murdering their son, brother, cousin and friend. That was August 12, 2009 and there’s still no justice. Milwaukee’s music community is still mourning the lost of Koo Laid and Lala Brown two and a half years ago. With a large number of homicides in between, what is our attitude towards death? It seems as if life is as easy to start as it is to end, given the amount of teen parents and teen deaths. The question is, are we shrugging our shoulders at life? Such a gesture symbolizes how weak we’ve become and how low our standards are for each other.

Milwaukee, obviously, has a serious problem with coexistence.

Posted by:

DJWillieShakes

99Problems.org Presents … Darrell Jones

Check this out folks … this is crazy moving:

This video is based on the writings of Massachusetts inmate Darrell Jones. Since his incarceration, Mr. Jones has maintained his innocence and spent the last 23 years fighting to stop the devastating cycle of violence and incarceration he is witnessing. This video is about hope and responsibility on an individual and government level . If the men and women behind bars think that no one expects more of them, if they believe that this great “change” Obama spoke of meant everyone else but them, the results are disastrous. Without hope, the prisons are currently breeding violence, racism and anger to be released back into our streets (97% of men come back out) fueling this endless cycle of violence and incarceration. If Obama is able to address terrorists and school children alike, then why not this prison system when it is holding so many of our people?

Here’s one excerpt from Darrell’s letter, to show its resonance and unique perspective:

Mr. President, I once read in a news article that listed the top music artists you had on your iPod. Among them, it listed Jay Z. Well, with 24 years in prison, I’ve never seen an iPod, and neither have many of the men around me, but I do know that daily I see many very young males walking around me with “Spiritual iPods” that are playing in their ears, the songs of Notorious B.I.G. singing the words “You’re nobody unless somebody kills you”. Yet two things are clear, sadly, Biggie did become bigger in death, and that many of these kids who have never seen their families together during a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner meet them for the first time in a casket with their eyes closed at a funeral. So, what troubles me is not so much that they’re willing to die, but that they don’t even want to leave here (prison) and get back to living.

For more information and to read the full letter or to contact Darrell directly, please go to www.obamaanswerthis.com.

Posted by:

The Editor

Chicago Youth Stay Home From School to Stay Safe

Yesterday, in an act of protest, students living in Chicago’s Gardens neighborhood who attend Fenger High (the high school that slain teenager Darrion Alberts atteneded) stayed home from school.   With the support of their parents, the teenagers are protesting conditions by staying home and boycotting the violence they have to face to get an education. More after the jump.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

The Editor

Obama Administration Responds To Inner City Violence

Yesterday, US Attorney General Eric Holder gave a powerful speech about the importance of tackling youth violence. I am glad people are finally acknowledging the problem. They say they are going to get beyond the surface issues. I hope so, inner city violence isn’t going to go away just because somebody gives a fancy speech.

Check the video after the jump.
… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Biko Baker

More Blood and Carnage in Chicago

(More from Ebony at This Happens Every Day)

It’s happened again! Within a week of the beating death of the 16-year-old Derrion Alberts, another boy, this time a 14-year-old, was beaten on Tuesday. He skull was fractured, and he was left bleeding in the streets.

The boy (his name is not being released by police at this time) is now in critical condition at Children’s Memorial Hospital undergoing surgery. This time the event happened on the Northside.
Last Night, A witness told police the victim was being chased by three males about 7:45 p.m. After the three caught up with the victim, all three beat him, and one reportedly struck him over the head using some type of shiny” object.

A neighbor found the boy lying in the street while she was looking for a parking space. Blood was all over the street. It was all over his face, arms, and coming from the back of his head. Two little girls and another kid were with him, holding him down. The police arrived shortly. Police have not yet made any arrests.

IS THIS AN AFFRONT TO THE OUTRAGE THAT HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION?

The powerful truth is that this is only a mirror! All I know is that these events only reflect US…(all the ADULTS who have arrived here before they did). Who we are and our choices in resolving conflict. There is an energy, a wicked one NO DOUBT, that has chosen our children as ripe receptacles for violence and brutality. Why are our children so vulnerable to these demonic acts of senseless terror against THEIR OWN!? Both Derrion and the latest victim (here in Chicago) were defenseless to attack! NO WEAPONS! AND THE ATTACKERS. JUST HAVE AN ENERGY WITH A MISSION! WHO IS THEIR MASTER? THESE STORIES ARE DEEPER & THE ELEMENTS AT PLAY ARE FIGHTING FOR SOULS.

Written by Ebony, originally found at http://thishappenseveryday.blogspot.com/

Posted by:

Biko Baker

The X Fact(her): Health Care Reform for Dummies

Can someone please tell me why these people are mad?

Haven’t they watched SICKO? Well maybe their Senators should hold a town hall meeting where they watch the Michael Moore documentary about health insurance in America and let see if they continue to bitch and moan about Prez Obama’s proposed reform.

I won’t pretend to know the ins and outs of the bill that is on the table but I do know I need cheaper health care.

… Continue Reading

Posted by:

Chloe

Killing Outreach Programs (Indirectly) Kills Kids

It’s unthinkable that a kid is killed in a drive-by while at an Anti-Violence Rally. Yet that’s precisely what happened to 13 year old Tamrah Leonard in Trenton, New Jersey last Sunday! Abomination! How is society not outraged at this heinous act?

Sadly, it was not an isolated incident.The economic recession has had an adverse affect on homicide rates, which are skyrocketing. Homicide is now the leading cause of death among young African American youth, and the number two cause of death for all other youth aged 10-24. Dire straits mean that desperate youth are becoming increasingly likely to resort to violence. At the same time, decreased funding means that many after-school programs–which have been proven to get youth off the streets and lower crime rates–are at risk of being reduced or eradicated entirely.

Thankfully, outreach programs provide hope that change is on the horizon. Find out more about these matters of life-or-death, and WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP, at http://www.campusprogress.org/fieldreport/4284/killing-the-programs-we-need-most.

Posted by:

Yolanda Clatworthy