Our Neighborhoods are dangerous but to us its home

I have been blogging about the hood for going on ten years now and one thing that surprises me is when people ask me "Why don't you move? I don't move because any neighborhood I can afford has the same level of violence. That is not even my main reason for not moving. I have lived in 15104 since I was 5 and its the only place I will ever call home. That's right I am a lifer. The other reason is because we can change things here because no one understands what life is like here but the people who live here or spent most of their lives living here.

After my youngest child moved out I started thinking of moving to Maine and I'm considering it. I realized even if I move to Maine I will still be an Activist for the hood. I still understand this Community and I will never forget what's its like here and can never leave my people.

I shouldn't have to say this but most people in the hood are friendly and mostly we don't care about what color you are or where you come from. They will show you different memorials or even places not marked and will tell you stories of who died there and how they knew the person. We may talk loud, and Ebonics is the language for all who live there regardless of race. You may be surprised to find out where we stand on the issues. We love to crack jokes and one thing about the hood it teaches you to Rip.

As for Crime, I do not see middle Class neighborhoods being free of crime. Most of the stealing is due to drug addiction. We have our problems but we live decent lives. Poverty is not a crime its just our income status.

Why Children of the Hood trick or treat in the Suburbs

Today is Halloween and all over America kids are planning their night and excited about Trick or Treating. The children in the hood have to leave their neighborhood because its to dangerous in their own neighborhood. Parents don't want to leave but they are afraid of loosing their children to violence so they travel to the Suburbs and Trick or Treat in neighborhoods that are safer.

Braddock has an annual Halloween party and that is an alternative to leaving the hood when you have no money for bus fare or in my case no longer able to walk that far.

There has been a lot of push back by people in the Suburbs because of all the children coming into their neighborhood even though the kids do not cause any problems and just enjoy the holiday as most kids do. I wonder if the people who complain realize that these children have difficult lives as it is and this is the only way they  can go trick or Treating safely. I can hear them complain on TV on why people can't stay in their own neighborhood. These children, all of them, have either lost a loved one to homicide; witnessed a shooting, or have multiple experiences with gun shots being fired in their neighborhoods. Our children deserve a night of fun too.

Most Hoods don't have an alternative to Trick or Treating. Braddock has one because of the Mayor, John Fetterman, and his wife Gisele Fetterman.  I get why people complain but instead of complaining how about helping out at in the ghettos give them an alternative. Trust me if a bunch of middle class white people came and guarded the kids they could. Trust me no one will shoot up a neighborhood when the hood is filled with White Middle Class people.  Maybe you could have an Halloween party in a community Center and take donations for prizes but especially candy. Hot dogs are a great meal for kids.

Think about what it would be like if it were your kids and grand kids. How sad you would feel if you weren't welcome in the Burbs and your parents wouldn't let you go Trick or Treating in their own neighborhoods.

Happy Halloween everyone stay warm and safe.

Can we talk about what's going on in the hood?

Can we talk about what is going on in the hood? Can we organize and take on the murderers and shooters that devasate our Community as much as we protest the Klan? Can we come up with a stradagy that will stop the Violence, have real Criminal Justice system that gets away with the Plea Bargain which puts scared lower income people serve time for a crime they did not commit.

A few months back the Klan was coming to Pittsburgh and boy did the hood and Groups like Anafa and Black Lives Matter planned to show up. The Activists in the hood had to tell both sides that they were guests in our city and if they caused problems they will have problems. We didn't want any fires set, no riots, and no violence. The Zklan did not show up but the other two groups did. Shame neither group shows up to protest the murders of people who lose their lives to violence. Man if their numbers really cared about the hood we would be cooking with gas.

Conservatives are more likely to show sympathy to our cause but they also don't show up to protest. Liberals are more afraid of being labeled Racist than they are of standing up for the very people who would vote for Democrats in larger numbers if only they care.

We need to demand that Politicians serve us. That is their job to serve us. A choice is going to have to be made by the Democrats to address our problems or lose our votes. In order to get that power we have to vote every election like President Obama was on the ticket. We have to vote in local and state elections. I do believe the hood loses by voting one party. This is something we need to do like the white folks do like we say in the hood. We need to hear what the Republicians say and let them know we will give them a chance but they must show up for more than photo opps. This will shake the Democrats know we ain't putting up with being ignored.

We also need people from outside the hood come to the hood and help. Come out and Protest the killings. Find out a way you can help people in these Communities. Come and volunteer to teach people basic education and change their lives. We do not care your not a teacher, we don't care that your not perfect. All you need is basic skills.

Another way you can help is teaching Financial Literacy classes. They are very helpful. Do not assume they got this from their parents assume they didn't. I hear Conservatives talk about teaching a man to fish. How do you expect to teach them if you don't come to these neighborhoods.

If only we could have this Conversation we would survive.

Why do you care about the hood? We are set up to die anyole way?

I am asked by some people from the Hood. "Why do you care about the hood?" They begin.  "Ain't nothing you can do about it anyway because we are set up to die any ole way?"  I explain to them that I care about what is happening in the hood and its time someone speak out on our behalf. They, like other's have stated.  "Only people who care about the hood is the people who live here. The rest of America either don't know or don't show that they care about the hood."  This is a common belief in the hood.  I also used to feel this way. However, I no longer believe this.


In 2008, I was a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton, and as she started losing her Primary I joined a forum for Hillary Supporters.  I never expected what was to happen next. I told everyone I was from the hood and actually began to become very popular.  I met my best friend, a Republican, on that site.  She and I were outsiders on a forum where most of the people were life long Democrats.  I voted Democrats most times but not always and I tended to vote for the person I thought would be the best for the Hood.  I always voted because people died for the right for me to cast that ballot.  Jen was the first Republican I had ever really met.  She was the Least Racist person I ever met and she didn't hate poor people.  She and I remain best friends to this day.  I began to think if the media can lie on Jen maybe the Republicans didn't hate poor people and people of color. 

I became face book friends with a lot of  people both Democrats and Republican and what I found were racist people on both sides of the aisle and that most people in both parties are good people. I also found a lot of people who were concerned with the hood and poor people in general.  However, most of them blamed the other for what was going on. "Its the Democrat's fault they run the Cities."  I guess they forget the Poor Rural whites who's lives are not so much different than the people in the hood.  Why do they over look that? Because the Poor Whites are live in areas where the Republican's control.  Its the Republicans fault because they are so racist and they hate the poor." Forgetting that Bernie Saunders and many other Democrats believe that all blacks live in the ghetto forgetting that there are millions of white people who live in the Hood and they are no different than the blacks that live there.  Democrats ignore Urban issues because they listen to middle class black people who tell them that their is no such thing as "Black on black crime" and for them to talk about it makes your party a racist.  Apparently according to some members of Black Lives Matter, random white people come into the hoods of America to shoot unarmed black people.  I do not know where that crazy theory comes from but we do not appreciate it.  Object to the name Black on Black, Urban Violence is more that blacks killing other blacks.  Its also Latino killing Latino, Asian killing Asian, and white killing white.  CRIPS are multinational and are in all 50 states even in states where there are no black people. I have warned several Democrats that they are playing with our votes and that we do not like being ignored or discarded.  It is very unfortunate most people fall in line with party politics instead of what is good for poor people. 

I have found Republicans to be very interested in what is going on here but they are often to concerned with the life of the unborn instead of worrying about the people already here. Its hard for people in the hood to worry about people having abortions when so many of our little kids, teenagers, and young people are adults but of course they don't think so.  I really just wish both sides would listen to the people who live in these neighborhoods before they listen to others who have never lived here or who moved out in the 70s.

Strangers need to hold their advice especially if you can't control your kids

A lot of people feel free to give poor strangers advice or scorn, both online and in real time. Actually, its rude to do this, but it happens all the time. Just remember this while you feel free to give unsolicited advice we also have the urge to give you advice too. How do you justify telling someone to get a job or how to spend their money when your five year old is running up and down the grocery store and injuring people with their misbehaving.  Most poor women are bold enough to tell you off and if you were so rude to look down at your nose at them, they will pull your card. I was in a grocery store and this middle class woman with three children who were tearing up the store running grocery carts into people, screaming at the tops of their lungs and throwing temper tantrums. The mother only said in a meek voice
"Honey, please don't do that" while the older kids were running around.
She felt she should be able to go before me since I didn't have a job. She started giving me advice about going to work. I refused to justify myself to this rude women instead I offered my own advice.
"Why don't you control your children?" I asked. "Are you afraid of them." My children snickered. "I have 12 kids with me and all of them know better than to act a fool. Why can't you control your three." She glared at me. "You must be working to many hours or your weak. I wouldn't give advice to anyone when you can't control your kids." I know the woman was surprised when I paid for my groceries with cash. She did shoot back with a " Keep your legs closed" My nice told her that only half the kids were mine.

People are worse online with their advice, not only the general public but also Political commentators or writers. You may have preconceived notions about people but you should be aware that the poor person you are lecturing has opinions about you. You don't mind forming incorrect opinions about complete strangers don't get butt hurt when that person gives it back. If you do not have the Home training not to mind your business and the person answers you back and YOU get offended you reap what you sowed. A lot of Middle class people feel like they have the right to take poor people to task about things that is not your business then want to cry because you give it back to them. I hate for some Conservative or Liberal telling me I should have waited or got married before I started my family. When I tell them that they need to stop working so many hours and spend time with their kids so I didn't have to worry about their kids shooting mine in a school shooting. You have a problem with when I started mine; I have a problem with the hours you spend with your kids. They become upset like I'm getting out of my place by daring to question someone in a different class. All that means is you have more money than me you certainly do not have manners.

This has nothing to do with race because black middle class do the same thing as white people. Larry Elder thinks because he writes that he can tell people when to have children and how not to be poor. Since he is speaking to poor people I informed him that most poor people do not have any interest in becoming middle class. He seemed stunned that someone would tell him this. I hate to inform people that we have no desire to be middle class. Why would we want to be stressed out, having more bills, and working so much that we never see your kids. Some middle class people are slaves to their things. Poor people know that anyone can lose things and all those hours away from your kids so you can have an expensive car is not worth it.

I had a member of Black Lives Matter ask me why I was so proud of being from the hood. I should be ashamed of where I am from. The people from the Hood including me educated this young privileged woman. You wanna make a member of BLM angry call them privilaged especially if you have the nerve to pull their card in front of whites. People from the Hood don't care. A poor person from the hood will let them know we are sick of you treating us worst than white people. We will let them know that they treat us the way they claim white people treat them. We also ask them if they were taught to respect their elders? They either shut up or start hurling insults.

Jesus said "How can you help take out the speck out of your brother's eyes when you have a log in your own eye. First remove your log before helping your brother remove his speck."  Remember this everyone has stereotypes about every one else. If your so rude that you feel you can advise poor people then don't get so offended when we give you advice back based on prejudices.

Remember this the poor don't mind being poor and we work just as hard as you do.

Raising My Kids in the Hood During the Wars

Yesterday was one of those rare days that I heard from all my adult children.  They are busy living their lives and raising their families. I thought about raising them in the Hood.

I was a poor single parent, who lived a lot of places although in the same zip code.  No matter what part of 15104 we lived, gun violence and the drug trade was always there. Sitting outside gunshots ringing out and everyone hitting the ground. My two and a half year son witnesses a drug bust across the street; He told everyone about the "Ninjas breaking into the Broken House" describing the undercover Task Force police officers dressed in black ninja outfits pulling a raid on the Crack house. We had to worry about the color of clothes they put on their body we were not allowed to have red clothes on because the gang members would threaten the kids.

As they grew up and started school I worried about the fighting and bullying that happened so often at schools as well as racism from some teachers at school.

The fights got worse in highschool but as a parent I was terrified of the children outside especially the boys. You not only have to worry about your sons and daughters being shot you have to worry about your kids entering the Drug trade or becoming a member of a gang. I was lucky my kids were nerds and preferred the company of nerds.

There were plenty of time when outside violence did not threaten our kids; Trips to Kennywood Park,  a local amusement park, Church Picnics, Christmas celebrations,  and Trick or Treating on Halloween.

The hardest thing for a parent happened after a homicide when the children and teenagers would beg you to move but you knew that you could not move anywhere else.

Yes growing up in the Hood is tough but it is home.

Writing My Story

I'm in the process of writing a blog about my life it's been quite an eye opener.
I wasn't planning to write my story.  Who would want to read it?  I am not rich or famous. I'm just a poor woman from the Hood.  Then one day I wrote a facebook post about some of my life's most difficult challenges  and a good friend and wife of the Mayor of Braddock read it and texted me she thinks I should write my story down because she would read it.  I told her I would.
Well life turned upside down and I ended up Homeless.  I had to find a place to live and start over.
Now I'm settled and began the process of writing it all down.
All my troubles and celebrations.  I realized that my life is reflective of most of the people who remained in the Hood after the MLK riots. After the riots came the drugs and then the violence. Yet I remember life when it was much simpler and we were still a loving Community.  How everyone black and white knew not only who you we're but also who your people were.  People cared about each other.
We were all poor but we had each other.  I remember my friends parents we're also mine and vice versa. We rode bikes and played Release The Den and Red Light Green Light on hot summer nights
We walked to school with friends and went to Church.
So although life was hard in the Hood it was also good.
As much as our parents loved us they could not protect us from reality we we're impoverished people.  In the USA we are the Unclean,  unwanted and invisible to everyone but each other. We saw this in the teacher who segregated the poor kids into a group called the Dummy Group. The Girl Scout Leader who used Racial Slurs. Our parents had to explain to their kids that they are special and not dumb.
I still despite many bad times feel lucky I had the childhood I did growing up in 15104, the poorest zip code in the Country according to The New York Times.  They also referred to my town as Hell.  I often wonder why they would ever think it's OK to insult poor people after visiting our town call it Hell.
I will be writing more as my book develops. I want to start writing daily.