Just back from a road trip to the Bay

I got a lot of pictures from a trip to visit family in the Bay. This
is one of my favorite pictures. While it was a relaxing trip, the hood
never rest. At Jesse Owens, right up the street, two college students
were killed yesterday. According to the police, they were killed for
no apparent reason. Life in the hood never makes sense. Hopefully the
young student is in a place like the beautiful pictures below.

Century and Budlong

On my way to the post office, I nearly got run over by the cops! They were heading east. After I dropped off my mail, I had to head that way to stop by the t-shirt store on Manchester and Vermont. I saw the helicopter out, so I cut through Normandie. They had 3 streets blocked up in the 90s, pretty close to the liquor store where a kid was killed two weeks ago. Nothing had been reported yet, but I'm pretty sure that someone was killed. That area has had one of the highest homocide rates in LA. It is about a mile from where I'm at, and I know a lot of students that live right there. My girlfriend said the same area was blocked off but on the other side of Century this afternoon. Mad craziness while everyone rushes to do their holiday shopping. I had to do mine today, and I'm exhausted now. But I still got the easy life, in comparison to so many around me. 

Deep In The Hood...

Today was the last day of school before winter break. I am exhausted and can just barely keep my mind together. The last week has been difficult. I have been sick and I have barely been sleeping, all why trying to keep up my class. One of my former students is trying to survive the murder of his mother. That was a difficult thing to see. I sometimes feel like I have lost my connection with some students, as new connections develop. I'm trying to do my best. It was hard with being sick as well. The streets were hot last week, but seemed to get quiet this week. We have a new student at the school from Bangladesh. He is the only dude that from Bangladesh at the school, and probably the only one in South Central! We were talking about factory labor and he was talking about a gun factory that employs 5-7 year olds in his country. He used to make 300 guns a day. We must be crazy over here in the States to feel so bad for ourselves and act like we got it hard. Ain't nobody in the hood making 300 guns a day when they were kids. Not to take away from our suffering, but dang! So this post is all over the place. This break is going to be good. I'll get to finally slow down. 

Rough Day

Today, I found out that one of past student's mother was murdered. He is a senior, getting ready to graduate. She was a single mother. I will have more information soon. Furthermore, while at work, I found out that my street was blocked off after a shoot out. Things get much worse during the holiday, always. 

Black Rider Liberation Party Incarcerated On Charges Of Attempted Possession Of Some Fullys

Here is a link to the story: Black Rider Liberation Party, centered in South Central, were jailed because of supposedly agreeing to buy automatic weapons. In my opinion, this was a dumb move on their part. I agree with their basic philosophy, described by the rollers as "anti-government, anti-police and pro-Black unity. BRLP members believe that the Black community would be better served if they governed their own people. They also believe that the system of capitalism is oppressive and dehumanizing to the Black community." This is similar to Larry Hoover, founder of the Gangster Disciples' idea that the hood needed its own government. But trying to buy fullys, which really ain't even necessary is a big mistake. It is the same mistake that Larry Hoover made as he attempted to buy a rocket launcher from Libya and tried to get money by offering to start violence in the U.S. You got to learn from the history. The battle for the Black community, the Latino community, any community, any hood, is a battle of philosophy, psychology, and ideology, none of which require a gun. 

Winter Formal At The School, Chaos In The Hood

My school had its Winter Formal last night, and had the lowest turn-out ever. My usual job of Freak Patrol was not even needed! On the way back from the dance at LMU (which was under Internet threat) I came down Van Ness and everything looked clean because of the recent rain and calm. When I walked in the door, Christina told me I just missed a caravan of police with blow horns and helicopters. Dang, it just never stops! Tonight, helicopters were out over by the school too. But on the positive, a lot of the seniors are making huge strides toward college. A lot of students came and just said what's up to me at the dance as well. That was really nice. Another post is coming soon! 

The Life of a Teacher

The life of a teacher can be tiring and difficult at times. This week was extremely hard. There were meetings to go to, student drama, grading, and everything else. Some the lessons don't completely hold their attention. I think it is because most of education has nothing to do with everyday life. Knowing algebra isn't gonna keep you safe on the streets on your way home from school. If someone is gonna jack you, it just isn't gonna help. So, what is the solution? 

The Streets Is Hot

Last night was a chorus of emergency vehicles. There seemed to be an endless number of them running up and down Century. To top it off, the helicopters was out by mid-night. A 16 year old was killed about a mile away the other day as well at a corner store famous for its graffiti. It is an all out war right now. It always seems to get worse during the holidays. I think because family problems are magnified and people are trying to hustle to keep up with the "tradition" of giving huge amounts of expensive gifts at the end of each year. What a waste.