THE JOSEPH ASSIGNMENT GLOBAL INITIATIVE IS COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS. We need: rice, canned goods, baby food, antibacterial wipes, tylenol, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, gatorade, flip-flops, latex gloves, band aids. Bring to New Faith Baptist Church International 25 S. Central Ave. Matteson IL. for more information call 815-806-3429. Compassion must be followed by action!
*The Joseph Assignment is one of few organizations which ensure that 100% of your donations go towards helping those in need. Read more »
Summer, Chicago- 1993.
We sat on the steps of the neighborhood recreation center. Me, Jonathan (J-baby), and Eric, my twin brother. J-baby sat between my legs getting his hair braided and Eric sat next to me. At some point, another neighbor we called Lil’ Marcus, would briefly stop, talk to the guys, harass me (I think he liked me) and walk away with the basketball that appeared to be attached to his wrist. Recalling that scene is still very painful. Within a few years, in separate incidents, all three young Black boys would be shot to death.
Sometimes, we went to funerals weeks apart. I attended the funeral of another neighborhood kid, who was shot just seconds after I walked away from him on the street, only 3 weeks before my brother was killed. We didn’t need studies to tell us how high the murder rate was–3 out of 6 of my close childhood friends lost a sibling to street violence. Teenage boys on Chicago’s Southside owned more “R.I.P.” t-shirts than any other article of clothing. Both my sons are named after loved ones lost to street violence. Read more »
Season 1 | Erica | 
January 13, 2010 9:18 pm | 
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