Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is This What It's All About?

It takes major issues for a lot of people to recognize injustices. My father grew up in rural Texas. My mom and a lot of my family through my early childhood including aunts, cousins and friends I used to play court ball with are from Goodfellow & Highland on the Westside of St. Louis. My mom told me stories of how blacks used to have to sit in the balcony of The Fox back suring Segregation in St. Louis. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990 at the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Sean Bell, James Byrd Jr and others were victims of injustice. Troy Davis was convicted of murder and executed under court order despite lacking evidence and witnesses recanting their statements. In North St. Louis County between Lindbergh and Goodfellow on the same stretch of Highway 70 as well as the Natrual Bridge, police from what seem like a hundred different municipalities wait to generate revenue from traffic stops while more serious crimes go undtered. On that same stretch of Natural Bridge, there are routine sobriety checks in an area where there are hardly any bars or liquor stores that stay open past 10pm. There's only one and that is on the city line next to Goody-Goody. I'm from that neighborhood. City police blocks away are dealing with murders so much that people are surprised when someone gets pulled over on a traffic stop. Traffic stops in North County are commonplace to the point we just shake our heads. Common sense would say don't drive through there if you ain't right. Duh! What about those struggling day-to-day that can't afford correct plates? I'm not saying it's right but I understand. Now if you speed through there, that's just stupid. The point is that some officials are out to get certain people and there are those that should be caught. The others are profiled and prosecuted to the extent the law allows. I know people that are paranoid of police and people in authority. After witnessing cases where there are corrupt police cashing a check like many of us do, I know what's out there. Brandon Long is in jail in Kansas and had the book thrown at him on a first offense. He admitted doing the crime but the judge gave him more time than rapists and killers. Reggie Clemons, Mumia Abu Jamal and others are in prison on crap. I do my best now to stay out of trouble. I pray for people I don't even know. I want an equal world but I just have to do my best in the world I live in. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, many of The Black Panthers, Freedom Riders and others DIED for what they believed in. I cannot look myself in the mirror and live stupidly off the sacrifices they made or me and others. This fuels my quest for greatness. I saw injustice working in a law office. I saw it first hand and I learned from it. Injustices can't be swept under the rug. Just because some of us won't raid the state capitals where we live with M-16s and AR-15s doesn't mean we aren't fighting it. I share my knowledge and experiences in hopes that others learn what they can and can't do out here. No cliches. This is real life. Peace.

Is This What It's All About?

It takes major issues for a lot of people to recognize injustices. My father grew up in rural Texas. My mom and a lot of my family through my early childhood including aunts, cousins and friends I used to play court ball with are from Goodfellow & Highland on the Westside of St. Louis. My mom told me stories of how blacks used to have to sit in the balcony of The Fox back suring Segregation in St. Louis. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990 at the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Sean Bell, James Byrd Jr and others were victims of injustice. Troy Davis was convicted of murder and executed under court order despite lacking evidence and witnesses recanting their statements. In North St. Louis County between Lindbergh and Goodfellow on the same stretch of Highway 70 as well as the Natrual Bridge, police from what seem like a hundred different municipalities wait to generate revenue from traffic stops while more serious crimes go undtered. On that same stretch of Natural Bridge, there are routine sobriety checks in an area where there are hardly any bars or liquor stores that stay open past 10pm. There's only one and that is on the city line next to Goody-Goody. I'm from that neighborhood. City police blocks away are dealing with murders so much that people are surprised when someone gets pulled over on a traffic stop. Traffic stops in North County are commonplace to the point we just shake our heads. Common sense would say don't drive through there if you ain't right. Duh! What about those struggling day-to-day that can't afford correct plates? I'm not saying it's right but I understand. Now if you speed through there, that's just stupid. The point is that some officials are out to get certain people and there are those that should be caught. The others are profiled and prosecuted to the extent the law allows. I know people that are paranoid of police and people in authority. After witnessing cases where there are corrupt police cashing a check like many of us do, I know what's out there. Brandon Long is in jail in Kansas and had the book thrown at him on a first offense. He admitted doing the crime but the judge gave him more time than rapists and killers. Reggie Clemons, Mumia Abu Jamal and others are in prison on crap. I do my best now to stay out of trouble. I pray for people I don't even know. I want an equal world but I just have to do my best in the world I live in. Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, many of The Black Panthers, Freedom Riders and others DIED for what they believed in. I cannot look myself in the mirror and live stupidly off the sacrifices they made or me and others. This fuels my quest for greatness. I saw injustice working in a law office. I saw it first hand and I learned from it. Injustices can't be swept under the rug. Just because some of us won't raid the state capitals where we live with M-16s and AR-15s doesn't mean we aren't fighting it. I share my knowledge and experiences in hopes that others learn what they can and can't do out here. No cliches. This is real life. Peace.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Persistence & Ducky Hines

My closest friends know I've had a life-altering experience two weeks ago. Though it had me down for a couple days, I've kept positive and am working through it. As far as I know, I still have my health. I lost income. I still have music out that people enjoy. People shout me out and I appreciate it. I'm going with instinct and working to gain revenue. My closest friends know how persistent I am toward my goals. My friends are also supportive and helpful. In the past couple of weeks I've performed in Kansas City as my Doorway fam and fam in The Force will do this weekend. KC loves "Paint The Chevy" so I'll work it there as well as everywhere else. I've kept my faith and I'm determined to progress with my goals. Peace! Praise God. Moolah.