Seven Williams wants to help the kids whose lives don’t seem to matter. You can too.
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2016 is in full swing! This past year, I decided not only to start on my goals before the New Year hit but to include a goal to become more involved in my community. Nothing frustrates me more than to going back to my neighborhood and seeing shrines set up filled with pictures, RIP notes and empty liquor bottles for the latest victim of senseless violence. The victims and those committing the crimes are young, barely teenagers and many not yet in high school.
What’s my goal for 2016? Get involved again with the young people in the community.
Looking back, I laugh at how my friends and I said we would never be the “Old heads” still caught up in the past. When we are grown men, we would never be the guys who would step in and tell young kids “hey don’t do this or that,” or “in my day we did this.”
How ironic is that? Now days I talk to young guys pretty frequently, sharing my own personal stories and struggles to let them know there is some hope but you have to be willing to fight. They respect me because I don’t shy away from my past and I treat them like adults.
Most adults have given up on the youth, they are too afraid to approach them or they simply don’t care. The prevailing attitude has become “it must be someone elses problem.” The men of my generation have become too self-absorbed with themselves and their families. It’s time to change that!
I grew up in the late 80s and early 90s in what is considered the end of the Crack era. This period was a very violent time in our country’s history and its effects can still be felt today. It was not uncommon for an urban city to reach 900 or 1,000 murders a year.
Some passed away, went to jail, died of drug overdose or were murdered. The film that would come closest to what I experienced up growing up in my area would have to be New Jack City.
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I saw and experienced things that no child should ever see. I went to sleep to gun shots almost every night, wondering if it was anyone I knew who was the unlucky victim. At an early age I learned that was Life was short.
My early days were lonely as friends moved away to nice neighborhoods in New Jersey or on Long Island to escape the craziness. I lost close family members too. Some passed away, went to jail, died of drug overdose or were murdered. The film that would come closest to what I experienced up growing up in my area would have to be New Jack City. I honestly never expected to live to see 21. Black and Brown lives then didn’t matter much.
You’re probably wondering how I survived these turbulent times. My home life was shaky and crack had everyone running around the neighborhood acting crazy. I never stayed at one school too long. I ended up attending every elementary and junior high school in my neighborhood. By the time I turned 15 years old I was on my second high school which was one of the worst in the city.
My troubles in school never had anything to do with my intelligence but the environment. I was young and rebellious and heavily influenced by hip hop. Public Enemy, NWA, Tribe Called Quest, Dre, Snoop Dogg were some of my favorite artists.
You always backed up your friends. No matter what, even if they were wrong.
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I would wear bandannas (I was a big fan of Tupac), and ran with some bad ass dudes. I was the cool, quiet one and they were loud and hot tempered. 95 percent of the time the situations I got into were because of my friends. You always backed up your friends. No matter what, even if they were wrong. My crew of friends took the place of the tight knit family I didn’t have. Nothing came between our friendships; not money or women. Despite all this, it was several older people who came into my life who would have a significant impact.
I spent a lot of time around older guys as a teen and they would guide me on how to navigate the streets. They were kinda like the big brothers that I never had. I can’t tell you how many times just having a conversation with them stopped me from doing something really stupid.
Some of them were Old School Gangsters, some were just 9-5 guys. They saw a talented young man, far from a thug and I’m forever thankful for their guidance.
Let’s be real– it’s always rough growing up black and brown in America.
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I also had places to go. There was a non profit, that I could go to after school outside the neighborhood. Although all the teens that went through were from bad neighborhoods, you couldn’t tell– they were all about doing homework and applying to colleges. They had no interest in my conversations about what crew was beefing with who, East Coast vs West Coast or what borough was the toughest. This place gave me a place that I could go relax, drama free. There, they taught me how to be group facilitator and how to run workshops.
Despite all these things, it didn’t keep from dealing with the drama and fights at school, home or my neighborhood, but it was a temporary escape. Sometimes that’s all you need. There were many days when I missed some potentially life changing events by just being at that place.
The youth of today are more misguide than ever before. Not only are they killing each other but they’re killing themselves, as suicide among young people is increasing. As if that’s not enough, they’re being killed by police frequently. Let’s be real– it’s always rough growing up black and brown in America.
I’m willing to do the work but we need more brothers dedicated to step up and be positive examples for our youth.
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This generation doesn’t have the same guidance that previous generations have had. It’s up to us as Men to be warriors. Not just for our own families but for all young people in our communities. Yes, I do believe in the old saying ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child.
In 2016 I want to dedicate more time to building programs to help the youth. In the past I have worked with teens doing workshops and speaking at Youth conferences. I really enjoy doing those things but it’s only every so often I have opportunity these days.
What I want is to create programs and safe places to actually have places young people can go. Sports and Art programs are important but we need to teach them how to navigate. Guidance and mentorship is needed. These young men need Men who can relate and who have been there.
They also need mentors who can give them skills to be successful in life. Growing up, I had people who taught me how to fight, think like a warrior and survive. Unfortunately, learning how to deal with life and be successful are things that I have had to learn on my own and I’m still learning. Our Black and Brown young men need this.
I’m willing to put in the work; I have the ideas, I have the vision. I’m willing to work with any individuals or organizations that are willing to help save lives. When I say my community I’m not just saying where I’m from but my community of people of color throughout the states. I’m willing to do the work but we need more brothers dedicated to step up and be positive examples for our youth.
Photo courtesy of the author.