Ghetto=Impoverished & Violent

The ghetto doesn't have to be run down & dangerous. Being poor is no excuse for criminality.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 29, 2015

Boston:
Roxbury
Mattapan
Dorchester (Blue Hill Ave. area)

New York:
 Brooklyn-Brownsville, Flatbush, Bushwick, E. New York
Queens: South Jamaica, Hollis
Bronx: South Bronx-Yes, South Bronx is still rough.

Los Angeles:
South Central-Watts, Crenshaw, Florence & Normandie, Compton (borders South LA)

Philadelphia:
North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, South/SW Philadelphia

Washington, DC:
Southeast
NE Washington
NW Washington (portions where majority blacks live)

Atlanta:
College Park/SWATS
Bankhead

Memphis:
North Memphis
South Memphis (Westwood, Whitehaven, Orange Mound, Castalia, etc.)

New Orleans:
 Uptown: 3rd Ward, 13th, 17th wards
Downtown: 7th Ward, 9th Ward (Lower 9th pre-Katrina)

Houston:
3rd Ward
5th Ward
SW Houston

Miami:
Overtown
Liberty City
Little Haiti
Opa-Locka
Miami Gardens/Carol City

The hoods listed in the aforementioned cities have made headlines for being notoriously dangerous. Violence & drugs have ran amok in these inner-city neighborhoods since the crack era, and although crime has fallen drastically in the above listed black neighborhoods since the crack era, violent crime is still an issue. During the civil rights era, the named hoods above were the center of black life. These areas had thriving black businesses which served their communities because blacks were forbidden to go to white areas for basic necessities. As decades progressed, the black family structure fractured leading to single parenthood, and the rise of gangs & drugs led to each black neighborhood becoming violence & drug-ridden. The ghetto doesn't have to be run-down and dangerous.
Being poor is no excuse for criminality. Why take what little someone else has just to satisfy your hunger? They're struggling just like you are, and you're going to steal from them. I don't respect that. Everyone in the hood has equal opportunity to make something out of their lives, but they choose criminal activity. True, someone in the ghetto has to work harder for the same opportunities but they usually appreciate the blessing more because of what they went through for it. What saddens me is that there are extremely talented folks in the hood with bright minds, yet they take that talent and use it to build a lucrative drug empire. I mean, some of the biggest gangsters could've been CEOs or corporate executives under the right circumstances, but the streets took hold.
Being poor is no excuse for letting a neighborhood go to waste. Some inner-city black neighborhoods are so blighted, you'd think you're in Beirut. Don't get me started on the violence; assault weapons flow like water, 6,7, 8 victims laying in blood in the streets. The reason for the carnage? Poverty. You don't see a way out so you resort to hustling to get out of your situation. Only one problem: Police scrutiny, enemies coming at you, etc. Even worse, law-abiding citizens have to live amongst the carnage because they can't afford to move to safer locations. Now, you do have law-abiding citizens who live in the inner city who bust their behinds to get out of the hood because they don't want their kids growing up around drug activity and hearing machine gunfire going off at random.

Tim Tebow: Staying True to Christ

Marcus Gettel

13 hrs ·

The New York Daily News reports former Miss USA Olivia Culpo broke up with Tim Tebow because he wouldn’t have sex with her due to his abstinent lifestyle. "She had to break up with him because she just couldn’t handle it,” a source told the Daily News. Tim Tebow is a wonderful role model. He could have easily went against his commitment to abstain from sex until marriage but, with integrity and character, he stood firm. Sadly, he's being criticized for his commitment. He is frequently ripped because he is unafraid to credit all his good fortunes to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now because he refuses to submit to consensus by having sex with one of the most beautiful women in the world, he is being chastised for his faith-based impotence. It doesn't matter what you think of him as a quarterback or Christian, or whether you agree or disagree with his lifestyle. The fact that he stays true to his own beliefs and values speaks more than his ability to throw a football. I applaud and respect you Tim Tebow, God Bless!

I don't have much else to add because the person mentioned above said it all, so here goes: Salute to Tim Tebow! If she wants to leave, BOUNCE!✌🏿👉🏾She obviously wasn't right for him if she couldn't respect his beliefs. The only problem I have is her getting into a relationship with him, knowing he reps Christ. The Bible speaks of being unequally yoked, and this was a good example: Tebow is about his faith, she's about sex. She did Tim a huge favor by breaking up with him because as stated before, Tebow was deadset on honoring his commitment to Christ and no beautiful woman was going to make him stray. I don't know why some people are in their feelings about Tebow being ripped for upholding sound morals. Anyone who's walked with Christ long enough understands that if a Christian takes a stand for God, it's guaranteed (s)he will be ridiculed.

Tell It Like It Is

These tweets are doing just what the title says: Telling It Like It Is

Black Lives Matter to blacks who value their own lives.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

For some people, being whorish & "on fleek" matters more than a sense of responsibility.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Women would rather act manly, and men would rather act like women. Life is messed up. Smh.😒

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Fixing the black community is simple: Raise your children right, and half the stuff going on in society wouldn't exist.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Some people don't need a (wo)man, they want one. What they need is Powerade to quench their thirst.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Some people are picky, and still pick the wrong person.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

With the proper exception of Jesus, no one will look out for you the way you look out for them.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

It's too much like right for some people to give you the same treatment they expect.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Gators are getting that belt Saturday.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 27, 2015

Spoiled kids=Entitled adults.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 25, 2015

The funniest thing to see is two fake people acting like best friends. Cut the crap, we know y'all don't like each other.😭😂SMH.😒

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 24, 2015

The best advice you can receive is NOT making the same mistakes as others. If someone is showing you how to avoid THEIR pitfalls, listen.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 22, 2015

Listening Ears=Running Mouths.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 21, 2015

The Bulls should give up on Derrick Rose, because he's quit on them.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 21, 2015

Strawberry Letter: Grass Not Greener

Grass Not Greener

Wow, this letter is too much and too stupid! Who gets involved with a married man, and then the wife joins in and plus she already has a man. These guys are messed up and not serious about life, love or relationships. None of them have respect or boundaries. This whole situation is messed up! How she got him is the same way she'll lose him . How can she love someone when she's lost and confused about love? If this is love, I'll pass. These are quick hall passes for lust and sex. This lady needs to get her life, and focus on her because it's obvious she doesn't love herself or know her worth. When one knows better, they should do better. She knew what she was getting into when she started, now she needs to be a big girl and deal with the repercussions. The married guy hasn’t divorced his wife, even though she left him, huh? Hmmm! This is a classic HOT MESS, and all three of them need to get away from each other. She needs counseling to find out why she would get into a lose-lose situation. Her moral compass is broken.

Enemies, Now Besties

The funniest thing to see is two fake people acting like best friends. Cut the crap, we know y'all don't like each other.😭😂SMH.😒

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 24, 2015

I'm telling y'all, it's hilarious to see fake people acting like best friends. Not too long ago, they were into it with each other and now all of a sudden, they're best friends. Some of us with critical thinking skills know that deep down, you two don't like each other. The only reason you two are faking friendship is for professional or personal reasons. Both of you has something the other wants so y'all are basically using each other for personal gain. I don't co-sign phoniness; If I don't like you, you'll know it by how I distance myself. I don't have to tell someone I don't like them, my fall back game is on point to where they're dead to me. We can be in the same room, and I won't acknowledge their presence unless necessary. Even then, contact is very low, if non-existent.
You don't have to tell somebody you don't like them, just keep your distance and move forward. I don't understand how some folks can keep friendship facades going. These people keke with each other, then dog each other to their friends. Make it so bad, THEIR true friends see right through their mess but they don't say anything. They're saying to themselves "Does (s)he really think we're slow? Stop It." People really need to keep it real with themselves. It's ok to dislike some people; not everyone will like you and vice versa. Nothing wrong with that. What's wrong is kekeing with someone you're into it with, knowing both of you are going to dog each other behind closed doors. People are funny with the fakery.

Strawberry Letter: Triangle Of Frustration

Triangle Of Frustration

She's kidding herself. These guys are telling her, but she's not listening. They can not see spending their lives with her. She should reread what she wrote:

"Each has professed their love for me and told me that they can see us spending the rest of our live together (my self and each of the respectively) the problem is the single dad doesn’t want us together cause he is afraid of hurting me and ruining the friendship, and the navy man is afraid that we have changed to much to work now even though we know we wold fit together."

They “professed” their love for her, but neither put into action.

“the single dad doesn’t want us together because he is afraid of hurting me and ruining the friendship” – that means he’s still a hoe. He doesn’t want her falling in love with him because he won't reciprocate.

“The military man who helps everybody” – guaranteed paycheck and military benefits. He probably told her he sends money home, or in a passing conversation how he helped a family member or two pay a bill. He’s on active duty; traveling the world and he’s not going to limit himself to you when he can have his share of women (or men) in every state drooling over him. “The navy man is afraid” – no, he’s not. This is not a dilemma for him, what does he have to be afraid of?  He’s not worrying about this.

High school is the past, let the memories keep her heart smiling and be about her business with them as platonic friends. Stop trying to make something be what it's not meant to be. They have their lives and they’re fine WITHOUT her. They’re not trying to be with her.

She's a good example of how some women have multiple kids by many men or trick males with twerk skills into marrying her. And, the end result is hate.

Being in the middle means they would’ve proposed WITH AN ENGAGEMENT RING, they would’ve incorporated her in their FUTURE (shared accounts), both would consistently be in contact with her, both would lavish her with unsolicited gifts, she’d have a direct line with their mother and immediate family members, etc.

There’s nothing in the middle.

She should stop thinking she needs a  “man” to complete her or make her feel good about herself. Re-evaluate her life and find out where you want to be in 5-15 years from now. She should love herself enough to have standards so she won't be duped by guys like this.

They both gave her excuses & told her in a nice way to keep it moving.

Gossip Folks, Pt. 2

Some of you should have outgrown that he say, she say nonsense. Get it from the source instead of listening to gossip.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) November 19, 2015

Want to get on my nerves? GOSSIP. You don't have to gossip about me and my loved ones, but just being a chatterbox is the fastest way for me to get annoyed. The way I'm set up, I don't have time for gossip because if someone's willing to gossip to me, they're willing to gossip about me. Let's be clear: I don't care if I'm talked about (good or bad); folks talked about Jesus, so I'm not exempt. I figure I'm important enough for some folks to keep my name in their mouths, so keep on making me famous. What happened to saying what you have to say TO someone? Are people such cowards to where they can't stand behind their comments? Sounds like it to me with all this he say, she say foolishness going on. Gossip is juvenile for one reason: When the recipient finds out and confronts the person spreading the gossip, the other person changes their story because they know they could be in for it. Some of you should have outgrown that he say, she say nonsense. Get it from the source instead of listening to gossip. I forgot, that's too much like right for some people; they don't want to hear the truth because they're so used to hearing feces coming out of someone's mouth.