My father died when I was seven... in a deer hunting accident. At such a young age I did not know what to do, or who to be. I
was a lost young man. I became angry and this led me to the streets. I did not have any brothers or other male figures in my
home at the time. I sought out young boys who were in the same predicament... no father, no strong male companionship.
The problem with the streets and these other boys is it lead me into inappropriate behavior and some criminal activity. For
example, packing guns, smoking cigarettes, beer drinking, weed, girls, stealing, sex and illegal drug selling. This all
happened in Flint, Michigan on what we call the North Side. The areas were Moore, Van Wagoner, Gillespie, Pasadena,
Alexander, Wesley, Damon, North, Saginaw, and Detroit Streets.
I grew up and went to school. The Dewey Dragons on Damon Street, you know them streets we claimed as ours. I was from
"so and so hood." You feel me? From your hood to my hood, your block to my block. I know the reason for me going this
way was because my father passed away leaving me alone as a young man. I needed him.
Eventually I was incarcerated and this concerned me. I thought about the other young men coming up after me. Going through what I had to go through without a father. No, I'm not blaming
my father for how I went wrong... not at all. He didn't leave me on purpose but I had to live without him.
It started in my spirit when I heard and read about the killings of these young men from the years of 2000-2010. Our local paper, The Flint Journal broadcasted these death actions from these troubled teens. It touched my heart so much that I promised myself when I was released from prison, I would go where they were and speak with them. I would let them know where they are now, I was at the same place once in my life. I wanted to let them
know how deeply I didn't want them to end up where I had to go. I wanted them to grow up and become a man... a real man. I didn't want them to have to do it alone... so I write this to you and for you, young men.
I am sharing a piece of my life as a youth in the hopes that it helps you through. I'm here to be the father figure that you
missed or don't have in your life today. I know what you all been through, let us come together.

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• Education & ReferenceEducationEducation Theory

• Publication Date: April 18, 2020
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 67 Pages
• File Size: 181 KB