Chicago

I was born in Chicago, the youngest of four children, a few years before my family relocated to Houston where I was raised. I always feel a deep connection to the city, like its still in me. In fact I rout for Chicago sports teams before I'll consider any other cities. But my connection to Chicago is one of a blessing. For My mother, myself and my siblings it is a blessing that we moved out from the south side of Chicago to the west side of Houston.

Since the brutal beating/murder of honor student Derrion Albert (which was captured on a cell phone camera) on the way home from school earlier this week, my mind has been in overdrive reminding myself that this is a reality of conditions that TOO MANY people fight to escape. I use the word fight in a metaphorical sense because Derrion fought for his life everyday by going to school and striving for academic excellence despite the environment. Its so sad we are learning about someone so extraordinary through horrible circumstances such as these. Its more troubling that we will never get to see what he WOULD HAVE become.

I don't have THE ANSWER to this problem. It is senseless violence. It is savagery. It is hate! And as I channel surf and then look at myspace, facebook, and see images people who act hard to be cool it disturbs me. When did good become bad? Anytime you ACT it isn't real, you are pretending to be something you are not. And that act is detrimental to those influenced by the image you choose perpetuate.

It hurts me so much to think about all the family members I have lost, either to Death or prison, and then I think about all the people that experience the same thing all too often. AND FOR WHAT? NOTHING! NOT A DAMN THING!

You can call me an idealist, a pacifist, a wimp, whatever, but you can't call me a liar! I speak the truth that WE as a society have choose to ignore. We talk about the problem, but we yet to come up with a solution.

The attention on Chicago and the news coverage will fade as our nations attention is again diverted to the next crisis. but the problem will remain until we do something about it in our communities. There is no reason there should be a map of all this violence. It shouldn't take AC360 to get our attention.




Its ironic that I'm typing this while I'm in the studio with my producer Vango, who is also from the southside of Chicago. I love Chicago and will continue to love the city for it many positive aspects. Having the Olympics in 2016 would be great, but a safer city should be a higher priority. Every community deserves safe streets, especially those for school children.

Tonight I pray for peace in the streets, I pray for peace in Houston, peace in Chicago and peace everywhere it is needed.