Hey Yo! Gangs Ain’t Cool / Part 1
Posted: Friday, September 14, 2007
by Judi Lake
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Although based on a true story, all names, dates and places have been changed to protect the innocent.
As he sluggishly enters the room, he timidly pulls out the chair across from me and sits down without making any eye contact.
“Hi," I say to him as I smile.
“Hey," he quietly mumbles back while looking down.
“How are you?"
“’K, I guess."
Recalling his “love" for Tiny Size Chiclets, I hand him a few packs.
“See, I remembered," I jeer at him as I pour a pack of Chiclets into my own mouth.
“You always remember, Miss Judi, that’s the thing. That’s why Miss Laura’s lucky."
With a mouth full of Chiclets, I smile back at him.
“OK, Chris, we don’t have much time here and I’m going to have to leave before you know it, so… what the heck happened ?"
With a mouth full of gum he finally looks me in the eye. “I dunno, Miss Judi. Mama’s back in prison and, anyhows, she’s got a new boyfriend. I kinda got sick of staying home alone and began hangin’ with some cool dudes at the Bottoms and…"
“The Bottoms? Aw, ge-ee-ez, Chris, the Bottoms ?"
“Yeah, and, um, well, anyways, they told me to try this house and it’d be cool. That’s what they told me, Miss Judi, they told me it’d all be cool," he muttered to me as his eyes self-consciously dropped down towards his fidgeting hands.
Looking him straight in the eye, I coldly responded, “Cool to be armed, Chris? When did that become cool?"
Embarrassed and ashamed, Chris confessed everything to me faster than I could absorb it all.
As he recounted the events prior to the robbery, my mind wandered back to our beginnings. I had first met him four years ago when I volunteered at my daughter’s former elementary school. Positioned as the “school librarian" for a few short hours a week, Christopher would often visit me. At first, he would timidly “shy away" from me and sit on a couch at the far end of the library. Conscious of his presence, I would occasionally gaze towards him while he earnestly pretended to read.
Within a week, I gently approached Chris and asked him to help me sort through the pile of returned books. Before I knew it, “my little helper" was eagerly waiting for me each day I was scheduled to volunteer.
As the weeks progressed, Christopher unconsciously elected me as his confidant. His drug-addicted mother was in prison while Christopher’s sixty-seven year old grandmother was given temporary custody of him. Outwardly, this seemed the perfect solution but there was one problem: his grandmother was an alcoholic .
Basically, this young boy was parenting himself and eventually began experimenting with alcohol. When I tried to inform the school officials that I had suspected abuse with this child, it was to no avail. I was informed that because Chris’ grandmother “knew how to beat the system," there wasn’t a thing that could be done.
The last time I had seen Christopher was in 2005, the year I had transferred my daughter, Laura, to a private school. The kids were getting rougher and drugs were slowly filtering into the elementary school. I also suspected Christopher was experimenting with more than alcohol now.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted with Chris’ last statement.
“Chris, wait a minute, what did you just say ?"
“ I was talkin’ about the new gang, Miss Judi . Face it, I ain’t got nobody else and these dudes are like family, man, like family . They’re fixin’ to start a gang in the Bottoms and I’m their man. It’s like we’re family, Miss Judi and we take care of each other."
“Hey Chris, tell me something. Where’s your homeboys now ? Anybody helping you now that your butts sitting in jail? Any money put in your commissary? Have any of your homies taken care of you with a lawyer? Any visit you lately?"
With one look at Chris, I knew the answer and replied, “I didn’t think so."
Locked in a stare, I broke the silence and asked him what his plans were now?
Eyes welling with tears, Chris choked out, “I dunno, Miss Judi. I dunno. All I know is that I’ve been here for three weeks and ain’t nobody told me a thing."
“Not even your homies? Look, Chris it doesn’t have to be like this. Remember when you’d talk with me years ago? Do you remember the dreams you had… what about your dreams of becoming a pilot ?"
“Yeah, well that ain’t happenin’"
“It still could but you have to make a choice . It’s really simple. Either you decide to be a follower and end up in places like this or you choose to be a leader and control your own future."
“But the guys –"
“Enough about the guys, Chris! You’re in jail and they are not! Get over it. Hold on, I’ve got something you may be interested in."
As Chris was wiping his eyes, I reached into my purse and grabbed the Gangbuster comic book that I had intended to present to a guidance counselor. Placing the book on the table, I watched for Chris’ reaction.
Chris spied the comic book lying on the table for a few moments then hesitantly picked it up and began to scan through it.
“What’s this?"
“Well, Chris, this comic book and the character, Gangbuster , was created by a man named Dick Kulpa. Gangs aren’t new, Chris. Kulpa first introduced Gangbuster in 1986 to kids just like you, and guess what?"
“What?"
“THE KIDS LOVED IT! You see, it was the kids who loved this and it showed them how stupid being in a gang really is. The main character, Gangbuster, understands street life and shows kids why it’s cool not to be in gangs. He helps kids everywhere understand racial harmony, the pitfalls of drug use and the horrors of gang violence."
Just as Chris opened his mouth to respond, the cold steel doors of the visiting center swung open with the Detention Officer announcing that visiting hours were over. Instantly, as his eyes locked with mine, I saw his despair and vulnerability.
I walked towards him and handed him the Gangbuster comic book. “Keep it," I whispered. “I’ll be back next week — I promise ."
As I watched Chris despondently walk away from me, without turning, he quickly shouted. “I coulda been a damn good pilot, you know!"
“Chris, you still could. See you next week!"
Watch what happens to Chris in part 2 of this series. To find out more about Gangbuster visit: http://www.gangbustercomics.com/
©2007 Judi Lake. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
This Article has been viewed 2,301 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Can you see the example the government sets for these young men Judi? Just last night our president bragged about all the insurgents we killed. Democrats and republicans battling it out like gangsters on the street. The only thing missing is the earrings, tattoos, and a unique street slang. Only these political gangs are legal and they are praised by the people. If we want our young to be good citizens then give them a government they can be proud of. "politics ain't cool either"Oh, David, don't even get me started about the government; I just may get in trouble (smile). Thanks for your comments and hope you're doing well!
Fiine story, Judy. Looking forward to part 2. Is this true?Thanks, Anon. I hope I don't disappoint you with the rest of the series. Yes, this is based on truth and actually is developing as I write it. I have more interviews next week so even I don't know where this will go. Thanks for commenting and wishing you a great weekend!
This is a very interesting way to write about a serious problem. I am from New York and gangs are a very serious problem. Judi, you have courage to write about it. I've got 2 nephews in gangs that wont listen to anyone and we worry constantly about them.. I'm also looking forward to the next part.Until I began doing research for the development of this series, I was clueless about gangs. The statistics are unbelievable with children beginning as young as seven and eight years old. If you go to the Gangbuster site mentioned in this article, perhaps their comic books may be useful for your nephews. My prayers go out to you, Minerva, as with all of these kids/adults. Thank you for commenting.
I was your Christopher even though I am a girl. I had a mother and father who drank all the time and I got hooked on drugs at 11 but I found someone who cared enough for me. God has not only forgiven me but I am blessed because today I am married and am a mother. I hope the story ends just as good for Christopher and like the others will be reading the rest of this story. God bless you, Judi.God bless you for your honesty and the courage to turn your life around. As I mentioned above, I really won't know the ending of this story myself as it is being composed as I am conducting my interviews. I am hoping, however, for at least an awareness and involvement with this situation and that Gangbuster spreads further to help these kids. Thank you for commenting and wishing you the very best!
riveting, judi, it was like watching a movie. my heart hurts. i, too, have known people like chris, my own brother being one of them. it's so horriffic to be hopeless, at least you said the words that could lead to hope. academy award*I am sorry that you were able to relate to this, Sue. I felt the subject worthy to perhaps bring upon further awareness of the problem and for communities to unite to face the problem as opposed to hide from it. Thanks for your comments and I hope you have a great weekend!
Judi, you say this is based on a true story yet your unusual style to a very serious problem is very compelling and interesting, not dry. I will check in from time to time to see what happens next. Thank you for drawing me into the life of this boy.Thank you, Anon. As I stated in the above responses, I hope I don't disappoint you with the series because I really don't know how this will go. I have an interview set up this Monday in a prison and as I gather my interviews the story will evolve. Thank you for your kind comments!
Judi, Great article! But I am confused. Is this something you wrote INDEPENDENT of the gangbuster's comic series or FOR the gangsbuster's series? ThanksHey James! I am writing this INDEPENDENT of Ganguster with conjunction to prison interviews. I feel Gangbuster very worthy and valuable because the kids seem to take ownership of it and look upon Gangbuster as their "hero" to help them make better decisions. There needs to be better role models for the kids. Thanks for commenting and I hope you have a great weekend!
Judi, as one who has taught and done youth ministry I know exactly where you are coming from. I can say there were many times it laid heavy on my heart to the point of sorrow. I came to realize that as much as I tried I could not solve the problem or help them all. I became oevrwhelmed by it. Many in the ministry say you count victory one at a time. As I am writing me new series of articles it is really about this and the multiudes of other issues that mankind must confront.The issue is one that is bigger then us all. It is one that few have had answers for. I suspect it starts with the main ingredient - love of neighbor. best wishes,Robert, this lays heavy on my heart as well. I can't say that I am trying to solve any problems but rather am trying to bring awareness. My feelings are honestly mixed: on one hand, my heart goes out to the young children who are being misled and on the other hand, from my research, I am angry and disgusted with gangs. In order to see change, I believe this is needs to be a community effort with schools and law enforecment involved. I also believe that parents need to be educated and, unfortunately, I am discovering that far too many children are indeed parenting themselves. Children are supposed to be protected and they are our future yet are hardly a priority... That is sad... As we both pray, God help us! Thanks for your comments, Mr. Robert!
Great story! I was a gang intervention officer for the Odessa (Tx.) Police Department for several years in the 1990's. I have an article entitled, "A Cancer Amongst Society," that was written during this time. The article is also on searchwarp. Your story really nails the lingo and attitudes that are prevalent in today's youth.Chris, when I have a chance I want to read your story. I was aware that you were in law enforcement, but wasn't sure of what division. My husband had lived in Texas for 15 years and actually that is why he left: gangs were getting out of control and he had young teenagers. As I've told others, my research is giving me a ton of mixed emotions with anger being a big one. Thanks for your comments!
what a grand way to handle this sort of problem. your style and story is so compelling that i look forward to reading the next part.OK, Ånon, I've just posted part 2. I hope you are not disappointed and thank you very much for your comments!
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