I don't care if you grew up in rough areas and have developed a distaste to a particular race or "kind". It doesn't make it right. I don't care if you believe that everyone is treated equal in this country because that is FAR from the truth. I don't care if you believe that every human being has the same opportunity and circumstances to be anything they want to be because you are wrong.
I thought about it this way: If I didn't go to one of the best public schools around that I was privileged to attend, where would I be? Would I have ever made it to college? Would my sphere of influence be the same? Would I have stuck with sports as long as I have? Those are all good questions that I can't even answer.
You see, children grow from the second they are born. You are probably thinking "well duh". So if you are not taught right from wrong from the START, you may never adapt to what decisions are right and what are wrong. You may never comprehend the value of making right decisions versus the consequences of making wrong ones. If you are surrounded by family members who are in and out of jail, and it's the "norm", wouldn't you believe it's the norm for yourself, too? If your father is dead, and your mother works day in and day out to be able to survive, and you are basically raising yourself, how would you ever learn what family is, love, and safety? If you work hard in school and love going, but the system could care less if you stay in school or not, would you? Especially in your most rebellious years? How would you feel going to an under privileged school knowing you may never make it college because of the school you go to? Because it's a "drop out" school, so they say. Imagine gun shots being as unnoticeable as the sound of a plane. Or deaths in your neighborhood being expected every DAY.
Having parents that teach you, family and friends that surround you, a peaceful environment to live in, sports teams that keep you accountable, non-violent, high-rated schools you go to, a home to call "home", and so much more is a BLESSING. YOU ARE BLESSED. Try having none of that, except maybe a home to go to, and a few family members that are still around to care for you. Makes it a little harder to get by right? Try being a child who is raised with no mother or father or both, raised in a community of violence because that is the only place affordable, left alone for hours throughout the day, who hangs out with his older brother who's in a gang. Where do you think he'll end up? You are probably thinking what I'm thinking.
Now there are a few heroes. And I call them heroes because I do believe they have beat the odds. They become singers, writers, business professionals, counselors, teachers, talk show hosts, and even spiritual leaders. They have beaten a vicious cycle they were born into.
You can choose your actions, but you do NOT choose by whom and what environment you are born into. You are just born into life. And you are meant to live that life and become the greatest YOU that you can be! Some have a harder road than others. I truly believe that.
I am not saying that there are not people out there who decide to take advantage of their situation...who take advantage of the government, claim racism to every disadvantage they are faced with, who lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want. These people are everywhere. And they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
It saddens me to see under-privileged go through the hardships they have to endure. My heart breaks because I know in some ways and sometimes all ways it is not by choice. My biggest piece of advice to these folks out there is to break out of where you are, and find a new path. As hard as it may be, if you can break out of that cycle, you really can do anything, and you are a HERO. And for those out there who never do, God have mercy.
I hope love will find a way in these neighborhoods some day. I hope our children will stop dying.
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -MLK
