02/12/2009 05:00:30 PM EST

After hearing Cenk and Stacey

posted by Solo

The reason people outside of the dark brown American community can't grasp the concept of why there is so much violence, within communities that are flooded with gangs is because they don't truly understand what it is like to grow up in that environment and have to deal with these issue on a day to day, hour to hour bases.

Email Print
Google Technorati del.icio.us digg reddit Facebook
I will try to paint you a picture from my direct experience not as an excuse for any of group nor individual including myself. I was raised on the south-side of Chicago 112th st. in 1980 our neighborhood was a normal community, all the families had houses, all the kid's went to school, all the parents worked and there was no fear of being shot, or robbed etc.. All middle class people who actually looked after each others children, and yes at this time we had gang's and these gang's would primarily deal with each other violently, but I can remember day's when my Mother would walk out into the middle of full blown fight between these gang's and stop they fight with word's. These tough, violent, angry killers (and I mean real KILLERS!)would stop in their tracks and take off their hat's and apologize to my Mother and go home with their heads down. WTF! still blows my mind to this day, but the point is that they were hard criminal's yet they had a respect for my mom because she would actually talk to them as men, and treat them as intelligent individual's and she would do this in a clam even voice no screaming, or profanities. That was 1980, but in 1985 in Chicago crack was introduced to the gang's and this was the beginning of the end for our communities. The same gang member's I just mentioned in the 80's, most of which I grew up with, went to school with, lived next door to, and knew their whole family as family, were now killing or attempting to kill each other everyday, not 3 days a week I mean everyday. I know that I am being a little winded, but bear with me there is a point here. July on a staurday morning in 1980 two old friends and I  were sitting on my front porch just talking and basically having a good day kid's are playing outside at least 15 to 20 3rd graders and 6th graders and us. A new family had just moved in a few houses up from our house, A woman and a teenage boy leave their house and head to the car as this is happening out of nowhere me and my friends see at least 8 folk(diciples gang in Chicago called Folk's) run from between our houses, surrounding the woman and the boy now in their vehicle, by the way all these these men are armed heavily shotguns and .44 mag's and such. They begin unloading into the vehiclethe woman had the car started so she threw it into reverse and backed across the cross street intersection into another house, actually saving their lives. Now the men left after she backed away but the woman and her nephew were seriously injured I called the Paramed's and Police this all happend at around 1 p.m. I had placed the call to 911 around 1:10 p.m. as this all happend very fast, what time do you think the paramedics showed up, and by thw way there is a hospital 3 blocks north of our block. The police arrived at 6:30 p.m. the paramedics arrived at 9 p.m. Now of course you would think that the two who were shot would be dead, but of course people wouldn't just let people die so a few of our fathers got them out the vehicle and took them to emergency. Now you might also say why would the paramedics still haveshowed up, right? Well you see the call was never recended so they responded as they have to just no in a very timely manner, some may not believe my story and that's fine, just understand that it's your disbelief that keeps this problem going. This is one of soooo many actual violent event's that I and many other young  people in urban communities have had to deal with our whole childhood, so the best way I can explian this to none black people is, Imagine what it feel's like to be scared everyday, worried all the time about yourself, siblings, parents, and friends, all the TIME...Can you kinda understand the pressure that ways on you as a child. When everyday your main thought is to make it to the next, because unlike most races we don't have the luxury of calling for help and getting it,from Parents, Police, Teachers, anyone who is in a position to help either can't, won't or don't care about us so we have to help ourselves as best we can, with what we know, and that may not be much when your a kid but damn sure beats dying. One more thing, this whole school shooting thing that got big when columbine happend, I will first say that no one should have to deal with that kind of unnecesary violence and my condolences to those that have lost loved one's. Theis is not a new thing though, I went to highschool, yes I actually went to highschool and finished by the grace of some unknown force, but everyday was like a crap shoot, I attended C.V.S. on 87th st. and we had over i believe it was close to 1700 student's maybe a little over I think but the point is we had alot of kids at my school. The school itself was an old airforce site with ahngers and all still there to this day, antway everyday at last period I would watch as kids are pulling shotgun's, and handgun's from their locker's, no exaggeration not all the kids of course, but in a school with 1700 students and in a city renowned for gang violence you can be sure the percentage of who was carrying outweighed those that weren't. And yes when we all exited the building there were people being shot and beaten, extorted, and more maybe all these things happening at the same time everyday, but you could say they knwo how to keep you on your toes. So there is no piece of mind and it's constant stress, and anger and sadness. This is the fact of being an innercity youth of chicago and it's worse now, but I can understand why my people are the way they are

and do what they do, I didn't find out until I went to the marines that I suffered from P.T.S.D. and that was in 1995.  So when before you discount us and just throw us to the wayside as animals and killer's, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself who would you be if you had to walk in my shoes.

I hope this gives a little insight as to what really goes on in our community and I will blog again to go into more depth of the "WHY" it happens and doesn't get better, as soon as I am able. Here is a little list of the Chicago gangs


4CH (2 NEW PICS ADDED 2/06/2009)

ADIDAS BOYS

ALLPORT LOVERS

ALMIGHTY AMBROSE (8 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY BISHOPS (4 NEW PICS ADDED 1/28/2009)

ALMIGHTY BLACK STONES / BLACK P-STONES (2 NEW PICS 03/04/2008)

ALMIGHTY BRAZERS (4 NEW PICS ADDED 12/09/2007)

ALMIGHTY HARRISON GENTS (3 PICS 1/28/2009)

ALMIGHTY GAYLORDS

ALMIGHTY IMPERIAL GANGSTERS (1 NEW PIC ADDED 2/10/2009)

ALMIGHTY KRAZY GETDOWN BOYS (1 NEW PIC ADDED 2/11/2009)

ALMIGHTY LATIN ANGELS (1 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY LATIN EAGLES (5 NEW PICS ADDED 2/10/2009)

ALMIGHTY LATIN KINGS (16 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY LATIN PACHUCOS (3 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY NOBLE KNIGHTS (7 NEW PICS ADDED 11/07/2006)

ALMIGHTY PARTY PLAYERS (9 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY POPES (3 NEW PICS ADDED 4/17/2007)

ALMIGHTY SIMON CITY ROYALS (1 NEW PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

ALMIGHTY STONED FREAKS (5 NEW PICS ADDED 1/28/2009)

ALMIGHTY TWELVTH STREET PLAYERS (32 PICS AND 5 DRAWINGS ADDED 1/09/2009)

APACHE STONES

AZTEC SOULS (1 PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

BLACK DISCIPLES (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/008)

BLACK GANGSTERS - AKA NEW BREEDS (4 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

BLACK GANGSTER DISCIPLES (1 PIC ADDED 4/11/2007)

BLACK KING COBRAS

BLACK SOULS (NEW PICS COMING SOON)

BLUE FIN BLACK DISCIPLES (4 NEW PICS ADDED 03/04/2008)

B.O.S.S. PIMPS (HISTORY ADDED 2/02/2007)

CHI WEST

CICERO INSANE VICE LORDS

CONSERVATIVE VICE LORDS (1 PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

CRAZY GANGSTERS (NEW PICS COMING SOON)

EBONY VICE LORDS (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

EXECUTIONER VICE LORDS (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

FAMILIA STONES (6 NEW PICS ADDED 1/25/2009)

FOUR CORNER HUSTLERS - AKA 4CH (5 PICS  ADDED 11/20/2008)

FOURTH GENERATION MESSIAHS - 4GM (2 PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

GANGSTER DISCIPLES (4 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

GANGSTER PARTY PEOPLE (2 NEW PICS ADDED 2/10/2009)

GANGSTER STONES (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

GANGSTER TWO SIX (2 NEW PICS ADDED 02/06/2009)

GANGSTER STONE VICE LORDS (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

HOODLUMS

IMPERIAL VICE LORDS (COMING SOON)

IMPERIAL INSANE VICE LORDS (6 PICS AND 1 DRAWING ADDED 4/11/2007)

INSANE ASHLAND VIKINGS (9 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE C-NOTES (10 NEW DRAWINGS ADDED 2/27/2008)

INSANE CAMPBELL BOYS  (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE CULLERTON DEUCES (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE DEUCES (17 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE DRAGONS (2 NEW PICS 1/28/2009)

INSANE GANGSTER CITY KNIGHTS (1 NEW PICS ADDED 2/10/2009)

INSANE GANGSTER SATAN DISCIPLES - SATAN DISCIPLES (21 NEW PICS 11/20/2008)

INSANE GUESS BOYS

INSANE LATIN BROTHERS   (9 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE LATIN JIVERS  (5 NEW PICS ADDED 2/11/2009)

INSANE MAJESTICS (2 NEW PICS ADDED 03/04/2008)

INSANE ORQUESTRA ALBANY (4 NEW PICS ADDED 2/11/2009)

INSANE POPES (NORTH SIDE POPES) (10 NEW PICS ADDED 1/25/2009)

INSANE POPES (SOUTH SIDE POPES) (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE RACINE BOYS  (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

INSANE SPANISH COBRAS (10 NEW PICS ADDED 1/31/2009)

INSANE TWO TWO BOYS (6 NEW PICS ADDED 02/06/2009)

INSANE UNKNOWNS (7 NEW PICS ADDED 1/26/2009)

INSANE VICE LORDS (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM )

ISREALITE STONES (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM )

JET BLACK STONES   (JUST ADDED 1/25/2009 )

KING COBRAS

LA RAZA (4 PICS ADDED 2/11/2009)

LATIN COUNTS (15 PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

LATIN DRAGONS (3 PICS ADDED 1/28/2009)

LATIN LOVERS (1 PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

LATIN SOULS   (2 NEW PICS ADDED 1/26/2009)

LATIN STONES

LATIN STYLERS    (2 NEW PICS ADDED 2/29/2008)

LYNCHMEN SERCAUN GANGSTERS (LSG)

MAFIA INSANE VICE LORDS (1 DRAWING ADDED 4/11/2007)

MANIAC CAMPBELL BOYS

MANIAC FOUR CORNER HUSTLERS

MANIAC LATIN DISCIPLES (16 NEW PICS ADDED 1/26/2009) 

MANIAC TRAVELING VICE LORDS

MADD RENEGADE VICE LORDS

MICKEY COBRAS (15 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

MILWAUKEE KINGS (2 PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

MORGAN BOYS

NEW BREEDS AKA BLACK GANGSTERS (1 NEW PICS ADDED 2/10/2009)

OUTLAW LUNATIC TRAVELING VICE LORDS (HISTORY AND PICS ADDED 1/25/2009)

RENEGADE VICE LORDS  (4 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

RIDGEWAY BOYS (1 NEW PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

RUBENITE STONES (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

SAINTS (1 PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

SIN CITY BOYS (17 NEW PICS ADDED 1/31/2009)

SPANISH GANGSTER DISCIPLES (1 NEW PIC ADDED 11/20/2008)

SPANISH LORDS (7 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

SPANISH VICE LORDS  (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

SURENOS (COMING SOON)

TAP BOYS - THE ARABIAN POSSE

TITANIC STONES (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

TRAVELING VICE LORDS   (1 NEW PIC ADDED 2/11/2009)

UNDERTAKER VICE LORDS

UNKNOWN TRAVELING VICE LORDS (NEED PICS AND INFORMATION - EMAIL US AT CHICAGOGANGS@AOL.COM)

UNKNOWN VICE LORDS  

YOUNG LATINO ORG. COBRAS - YLOC (2 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

YOUNG LATIN ORG DISCIPLES - YLOD  (1 NEW PICS ADDED 11/20/2008)

  Checkout were i got this list "Chicagogangs.org" ;

may help give a bit better picture for those who have no knowledge of this kind of thing.

 

< Senator Gregg Withdraws His Nomination!!! | Who is the Greatest Human Being Ever? Richard Nixon >

Poll

If from the time you were 7 to now you had first hand experience and personal knowledge having seen murders and been subjected to daily viloence do you believe that you would be optimistic about life or pessimistic about life and society?
I don't know 0%
Optimistic 0%
Pessimistic 100%

Votes: 4
Results | Other Polls
 Display:
After hearing Cenk and Stacey | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
Although I did work in Washington, DC, the (none / 0)
summer after I graduated high school and directly saw the results of the rioting that occurred upon the assassination of Martin Luther King, I have not had bullets flying through my home or gangs walking my streets.  I am admittedly ignorant when it comes to direct experience of which you have written.  I can only rely on books and movies to gain a small perspective.  One such movie that I recommend for an installation of spiritual hope is FINDING FORRESTER.
http://www.imdb.com/title/t t0181536/

Is it at all an accurate portrayal of life?

"Finding Forrester" is the story of Jamal Wallace's life in the rough world of the inner city. Although Jamal is intellectually gifted, he puts little effort into his schoolwork to avoid criticism from his friends. On a dare, he sneaks into a recluse's apartment and, to his surprise, befriends the inhabitant. The man helps Jamal with his writing, in exchange for Jamal keeping a secret: the man is William Forrester, the secluded author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Avalon Landing, his only published book. When a highly selective private school, Mailor Callow, sees Jamal's test results, he is offered a scholarship. Jamal accepts, although it is a major culture shock to go to this elite school. He is immediately befriended by a board member's daughter and becomes a prominent figure on the school's basketball team, which eases the transition.

Later, a professor named Crawford accuses Jamal of plagiarism because he handed in a re-written essay of one of Forrester's works that was published in a magazine back in the days. The essay had been written by Jamal in Forrester's apartment, and despite the fact that he was told to keep anything he wrote in Forrester's house in Forrester's house, he turned it in. In the end, Forrester pays a surprise visit to the school to address the professor's accusations in person, and reads Jamal's apology letter in order to prove his innocence.

by gatekeeper50 on 02/12/2009 05:53:02 PM EST

You have all my sympathies, solo (none / 0)
This is an impressive and passionate piece of writing- sounds like something from 'The Wire' only for real. I can't imagine what it must be like growing up in such surroundings. And the list of gangs is terrifying... Keep writing, solo. 

by dan pearce on 02/12/2009 05:58:27 PM EST

Is this the real Solo? (none / 0)

I've seen so many fake ones, I just don't know.  Let the real Solo stand up.  <(Reference that about four people will get, if I'm lucky.)

Interesting post though.  Some of my favorite music comes from the south side of Chicago, and the stories they tell in it are similarly tragic.

by Spencer on 02/12/2009 06:09:31 PM EST

After hearing Cenk and Stacey | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
 Display: