I was the first brother of five,
Doing whatever I had to do to survive.
I'm not saying what I did was alright,
Trying to break out of the ghetto was a day to day fight.
Been down so long, getting up didn't cross my mind,
I knew there was a better way of life that I was just trying to find.
You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure,
Across 110th Street is a hell of a tester.
Across 110th Street,
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Across 110th Street,
Pushers won't let the junkie go free.
Across 110th Street,
Woman trying to catch a trick on the street.
Across 110th Street,
You can find it all in the street. Bobby Womack "Across 110th Street"
" They say that it's funky, but it's fair...." Well at least that's what they say. I would so, like to disagree with those that believe dat. I knew that after Christmas would come the storm, but I tried to hope and pray for the best. I know all is not over, but when you step into the world from which I was born it's like walking into the urban version of the twilight zone.
As you can see they have begun packing all the clothes and throwing away all furniture. It was a very solemn day at my mother's house. With less than 48 hours 6 human beings have to pack and be out of the of the only shelter that they have. When I arrived my sister Camille and my niece and nephew were there, my brother Andre was in his room writing his scientific manifesto and my other Kenny was playing that groovie Xbox 360 I was telling yall about the last time we talked. How anyone could be patient enough to play Gears of Duty while they are on the verge of sleepin' the cold streets is beyond me. But my family is no ordinary family, and what me seem rational to the "Cleavers' ", aint in no means sound mind to the folks I love and call family. I know I can be a little temperamental at times, but sometimes it takes someone to light the match under their toes, to get them to steppin'.
Well my brother in law Babu, he had his friend Alex come give us a ride in his Minivan. We went to my brother's job at the Pottery Barn to get some boxes, its right by this store called the Naked Fish. You should have seen the look on one of my brother's fellow employee's face when she saw those boxes slidin' out that side door. She leaned out to my brother and said, "How did you open that side door." Like he don't work there and obviously got someones permission to do so. She gave him a fake ass farewell and we were off.
Adversity in times like this is what creates the kind of character in which great men formed. As I watched the various shopper gallivanting in search of some escape from the reality in which they live, I wondered how could people spend money so frivolously when it is an over abundance of destitute people. I understand that their are reasons people work hard, so they will be able to the fruit of their labor, but when a man or woman begins to venture beyond the surface of material satisfaction, only then will they be allowed to understand the true meaning of life and love of their fellow man.
At the church I am a member, the pastor has a saying that he likes to sang in that ole preacher drawl, that preachers use when they want to emphasize on what I call my thought for the week. He begins to harmonize like he is Teddy Pendergrass and he says, "One of these ole days... " Usually implying that you better do what you gotta do while you have the opportunity on this earth to do what's right, cause one of these ole days, you got to be accountable for your righteous as well as your wicked actions.
Tonight I stared at this LCD screen since 7:00 p.m. and was unable to to form the words in which I wanted to express how my day at home felt. Tomorrow I have to scoop this sack of ebony necroplasma outta bed and go through the same thing again, and although thats a blessing one of these ole days... I wish I could wake up and without worrying if my mama will have some where to sleep.
1 comment:
Well, thanks for the depression that just sat in after reading your post.
Man, I pray things work out for your mama.
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