Chicago Gang Wars: Roseland

Chicago's violence has gotten a lot of media attention, from several documentaries explaining the violence crisis to Spike Lee's debut documentary: Chiraq. The brother in this video explains how it's not safe for kids to play outside because of street wars.

Chicago Violence: Roseland

Giving Up Social Media For A Committed Relationship

The craziest thing I've read on Facebook was some people saying they would give up social media to make their (wo)man feel better. Man, that's stupid because if you have to shut down social media because your partner is insecure, there's bigger issues to deal with. I don't care what other couples do, but I'm not shutting down social media to have a rewarding relationship with my lady. I've been on social media long before my woman came into my life, so it's crazy for me to give up social media. I use social media to reconnect with folks I've lost touch with over the years, meet new people from across the nation and world, promote my blog website and post encouragement. If she can't trust me to be faithful to her while on social media, then that's her issue and not mine. I understand everyone's different, so couples need to do what's best for them, but there should be some level of trust. If you can get your mate to deactivate their FB/Twitter account, then there's no telling what else you can get them to do. At the very least, I'll cut back on my social media presence, but closing my Facebook & Twitter accounts is a no-no. Trust is everything in a relationship. Without trust, you have nothing.

Athletes, Leave Women Alone

Second Florida State player charged with assault on a woman even though he defended himself. Note To Athletes: Stay Away From Women.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 11, 2015

Story 1: De'Andre Jordan got into it with a woman at a Tallahassee bar. She calls him a nigger and swings on him. He defends himself, but he gets charged with assault even though she started it. Jimbo Fisher kicks him off the team, and he may be expelled from FSU. Story 2:  Same situation involving Dalvin Cook. Punched a woman several times in a Tallahassee bar last month, HE also gets kicked off the team and may face explusion from the university. That's two talented FSU players that have thrown their football careers away because of assault on a woman. Yes, the two women involved were at fault because they threw the first lick, but as athletes, there's a target on their backs. Everything they do is scrutinized because they're representing their university. I feel like this: College athletes need to stay away from women. Yes, I said it: College football players need to leave women alone because it's obvious some women provoke them to assault. This is why it pays to live low-key because you avoid mess like this. Some women have NOTHING to lose, and will do anything to bring a successful man down. Some of these college athletes don't think about that; all they're thinking about is getting her into bed, and when she doesn't respond the way he wants, he gets in his feelings and puts his hands on her. There goes his future because she presses charges. This is just me: If I'm a star athlete, I'm living low-key. After watching too many athletes catch cases, socking a woman dead in her mouth for hitting me is not worth throwing away my collegiate career. Even if I'm right for defending myself, the courts won't see it that way. They're going to look at her as the victim, and me as the aggressor. That's something I can't risk, so I don't put myself in those situations. 

The State Of The Streets

The way the "streets" are now, it's not like it was growing up in the 50's and 60's. You had loyalty and camraderie among your partners you ran with. If someone in your crew was caught, he did his time and had his homeboys look out for his family. Fast forward to 2015, you have young boys telling on each other. Well, I'm gonna tell on this person, that person, this person and that person. When the investigator gets you alone and offers you a cup of coffee and a cigarette, folks mouths' start flowing like the Mississippi, just telling everything from Day 1. A lot of the reason is because some of these dudes want to get back to one of these broads, so they get their boys to take the fall. I don't condone getting involved in the thug/street life, but if you're going to be "about that life" do your dirt alone, because at least you won't tell on yourself. You can't trust your partners you run with because when the law put pressure on you, little by little you or they're going to fold. The police, DA and the Feds know how to get a confession out of you. I've followed some of the biggest criminal cases to know how this goes: How do you think the Feds are able to take down some of the biggest organized criminal groups in the nation? They have informants that are feeding them information about that group and once the Feds have enough information, they move in and shut everything down.

Teresa Marie: What Is Gossip?

Shout out to one of my Facebook friends for this status. She broke down what it means to gossip. Read On:

Teresa Marie

15 hrs · 

I saw this in my news feed and had to share it!!!

WHAT IS GOSSIP?????

Gossip is discussing anyone in a negative way without their knowledge or presence....

Even if you would say it to their face... Yet you say it behind their back out of there presence..

It Is Still GOSSIP. 

Gossip is telling someone's personal business, even if it is not necessarily negative

( it's still NOT your business)

Gossip is venting complaints about another person to someone other than the person your complaint is about (even if it is valid).

Gossip is hinting at another individual even if you keep their name undisclosed. (Spirit knows)

Gossip is being a silent party to the negative chatter of others. Even if you never say a single word, your presence is agreement and therefore promotion of this TOXIC energy.

WHY I CHOOSE NOT TO GOSSIP

Gossip is judgment energy. Judgement suggests seperation. When I judge my neighbor I am essentially saying that I am different/ separate/ better than they are.... When in reality we are all one. Just living life surviving comfortably.

This will keep one from the purpose of spreading Light, having compassion, and experiencing personal growth. Like all energy, gossip attracts like energy ( more judgment, more gossip) producing karma that must be balanced.

CHALLENGE

*Encourage rather than tear down

*Nurture the gifts, talents, strengths of others rather than expose their weaknesses

*Hold your neighbors accountable to a higher standard of peace and remember.

(No One Can Gossip Alone)

Have a blessed day.

Confession

I'm going to put this out there, and I don't care who's slighted: I used to want friends to tell me when I'm wrong, but as I got older, that foolishness changed. I'm about loyalty. I'll have your back through the good & bad. If you're wrong, it's up to you to recognize it on your own. Grown folks shouldn't need someone to let them know when they're wrong, they should know. As part of my zero tolerance mindset I've adopted: If you're going to be friends with me, you can't tell me when I'm at fault, or we're done as friends. Straight Up & Down. If I wanted someone to correct me, that's what parents & other elders are for. To me, elders have more of a right to correct me than my own peers because elders have been down the same road, and they have a lot more wisdom to offer. Why wouldn't I listen to them? Sure, I may rebel from time to time, but that's rare because 9 times out of 10, they were right, but I didn't see it at the time.

Little Of This, Little Of That

I better not hear anyone over 30 using the term "Bae".

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 7, 2015

You cannot talk defeat and expect to have victory. Send your words out in the direction you want your life to go.

— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) June 20, 2015

Stop, Drop & Roll doesn't work in hell.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 6, 2015

“If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.”” Matthew 21:22 CEVDCUS06 http://t.co/ZGr8w75zym

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 4, 2015

I wonder who lied to some women when they were told they look good with their hair cut short, or bald. #HotMess. 😩

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 3, 2015

Foolishness can end your life quick, and death will be ready to embrace you.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) July 2, 2015