Tears of a Gangster

Chapter 9 (Monday morning meeting and discussion) Monday morning at the 10 a.m. Meeting Miss Smith: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. We are here to talk about the problems in our community. I will be looking for answers to the way things are. Who we blame? Most of the young work 0 to 5 and deal with other people’s bullshit when you (the gangs) collect the same pay in a couple of hours. We have had many talks about the same things that go down with the youth, even though there are many problems out there. Also today, we have many groups and officer Tyson and Officer Diane who work with youth. Mr. Russell from the Black Muslims and Mr. James from the black Israelites. Officer Tyson talks first: I blame the families. Most families have a mother raising three or more children and some of them don’t have the same father. What messages are we sending to our youth? James: stop! Stop! Stop pointing the finger at the women. The truth is you don’t want the children out there, so therefore the youth are running around out here with their heads cut off. Officer Diane: What truth? I understand there are a lot things that are misunderstood and, yes there are things that go down that we don’t like, but we have to thank God for what we have because there are people with a lot less. Russell: Common ground. Let’s say this. We all know how this government is. They all call the young gangsters brothers, but who taught the youth? Not the mother or father or big brother or big sister, nephew, uncle, or niece. It’s from slavery. The youth want to know how people can kill a nation, rape, women put drugs in a community, and not call them gang bangers. We don’t understand this. Miss. Smith: Mr. Russell Mr. James, we have to blame the system. I blame everyone that the people have put up there. Russell: I blame those who have knowledge, but don’t teach. Diane: What is this white and black power thing? Tyson: I am black, but not hung on this black power thing. James: It’s not a black power thing. That’s the easy way out. It’s about looking out for each other. We are the two shades (two colors- black and brown) that stay behind. They are lost in a white man’s world, in a white America. Russell: See officer Tyson, you just want to teach and that’s a problem with Mr. James and myself. See, we are teachers. It is touch to teach one thing and therefore can never move to the next level. We want to open eyes and let the black and brown community be its own leaders. That’s why America doesn’t like Muslims and Israelites. My brothers say, get the U>S. out of the Middle East, Officer Tyson. If your eyes isn’t open, how can you help the black and Spanish communities? Of Diane: I still don’t get it with the black power and the Spanish power. We’re all fighting for the youth, right? Smith; what’s the problem? Like officer Diane is saying, we’re fighting for the youth. We need answers about how to stop this. Off Tyson: Our parents and our community need us. Some of you do too. They need role models for the youth of today. Tyson is talking to James and Russell. “How can we help the youth? James: We can tell you how to make things right, but you’re not going to like it. (Making fun of the cops) Off Diane: Mr. Russell and Mr. James let’s get down to business. You two seem to have all the answers about everything that is going on. I don’t know who is worse. You two or the gang bangers. (Talking about the youth now.) Smith: Do you two have answers for the youth about AIDS or HIV, young females are raising babies by themselves, and young females are being impregnated by their boyfriends and even killed. This is not just a Black or Spanish thing. It’s all nations and cultures are going through this right now. Ask how many families are homeless or do not have food and can’t find a job. Off Diane: No, Miss Smith, I don’t think officer Tyson means it like that. Have you ever had to tell a child’s mother that he or she is dead or in jail? Do you know the mother’s first word is to us: OH God, my baby, my baby, why my baby! XX Off Tyson: All I am trying to say is that, if there is a problem between two groups because of gang problem, culture or religion, don’t blame the household for the problems because they are the ones that raised the children. Russell: You talk a good game, but I still don’t feel any one of you all and for the families worldwide growing hungry right now, yeah I do and will always blame your system. You are telling us what we can and can’t do, what to teach and what not to teach. This country was built on my ancestor James: I would like to ask a question. Who was Jesus? Off Diane: A white man. Off Tyson: Does it matter? Smith: I talked about this in one of my last class sessions. Russell: A black man. James: First things first. Yes it does matter. First, the Middle East and African are all one. The reason it is not being taught like this is to keep us from fighting one another. The difference between the Middle East is the female, two holy stars, the five and the six. Russell: The five point: water, fire, earth, life, and death. Remember: Jesus asked to unite the twelve tribes of Israel. Diane: What does this mean to us? James: Well, like we say, we’re going to tell you the truth, but you may not like it. Tyson: You all are taking nonsense. We’re trying to help children here. RUSSELL: Let me ask a question. On July 4th, we wear red, white, and blue? Smith: I do, so what is the birth of a country? James: You could all leave now. Smith: This is my class. Tyson: See, this is what I’m talking about. No respect. Diane: These two things is all about them. Let them go. You have all the answers. Save your youth because I won’t. Russell: Seven plus four equals eleven. That’s the Devil’s disciples. James: hey Russell, let’s go back to that African and Middle East. First, oh how December is the month of the Capricorn which shows the head of the goat. Russell: Yeah, a lot of people don’t know what the horoscope signs show—the twelve Jews. James: If there are twelve, then it means there is one more sign unknown. Russell: This is why the Chinese have their own horoscopes, so what do they know that we don’t know? James: Look at school, twelfth grade. Twelve midnight goes into 11 days. Twelve noon goes into the afternoon. When you get to twelve, there is a new beginning. Russell: See James, if people study B.C, before Christ, they will see there were only dark skin people in the area. James: I know. We studied A.C, after Christ, showing the death of Jesus by the Romans and look at the black cops. When they die, are we being killed? When the cops get killed, they don’t get the African replacements, they the European. Russell; let’s take it back to the subject. James: When it’s Christmas time, you’ve got white snow, green Christmas trees, and a red Santa Claus. That’s the Italian flag—red, white, and green. Russell: James, do you know that they called the Italian flag and the Mexican flag showing how Romans took over Spain and then South and Central American and make it Latin America. This is why Spanish people call themselves Latin. Now who are the gang bangers? James: A Lot of people don’t know how the Vikings were here before the Romans, but when they saw the Indians they turned their boats around and went back. That’s why there is a Vikings football team. Russell: Don’t you love this? I wish more of our brothers and sisters had knowledge and wisdom like this. James: I don’t love anything because love spelled backwards spells live and that spells evil. Russell: That’s right. The letter o is changed into an i like the vowels— a, e, i, o ,u, and sometimes y. James: Russell, what are you doing for thanksgiving? Russell: Why? Are you trying to start something James? James: Now, calm down