It's crazy to think that I will be graduating May 22nd, seems like I've been aiming for this goal for so long, that now that it's finally here, its some what unbelievable. I stare at my cap and gown, and that pretty sash that says "Chapman university" and I think to my self how proud I am of me... I wish I had others that were so intune with how big of an accomplishment this is for me.. but so many people are like "ehh I knew you would do it".. and I'm thankful in deed that so many people have optimistic views of me.. but I'm still kinda like.. "can I have my glory?" haha. I look at my 19 A's and hope these last two classes are A's, that would be a whole 2 years of straight A's... Just amazing to me, with full time work, full time skewl, a boyfriend, family, etc etc I managed to be resilient through it all =) Not trying to sound conceded or toot my own horn, anyone that knows me, knows I hardly ever give myself praise, "I guess I gotta poor my heart out to get my glory" (R. Les) I just think the closer I get to graduation, the more I feel like.. "I did it". I know its JUST my Bachelors, but in my eyes its another thing I said I would do.. and I have done ;0)
haha, saw this commercial today on tv for storage units, it showed how most men don't like to give up their old trophies, jerseys, sports memories, school memories, etc and that the women are usually the one to initiate "the change" to either get rid of those items or pack them up and put them in storage.... I started to laugh, because I don't think there is anything that Larry has thats old, that he refuses to give up... instead I have boxes and boxes of stuff from high school that I refuse to give up lol. Old dance uniforms, pictures, year books, diaries, just all kinds of stuff haha.. Not to mention I'm just an overall pack rat, seriously, I have stuff from like elementary still lurking in boxes somewhere haha... hey some people like to hold on to old good memories in their mind.. others like mementos for along the way =)
a life sentence feels like what I've received.
Because I was guilty of wanting a degree.
It feels like there's no limit to the price I have to pay.
I'm being punished for wanting information in my brain.
Convicted for wanting an education for my self.
Labeld an "offender" of taking a non-criminal route.
This sentenced is so crucial, I don't know if I can hang,
Imagine, I have to face all this because I chose not to join a gang.
Faceing a never ending torture that just aint right.
All this because I wanted something better for my life.
© written October 26, 2010
Trying to fight what I feel inside
trying to ignore that this isn't right
Did something I never thought I'd do
I said I did something when I knew it wasn't true
Just wanted to stop all the drama & blame
the stress, heart ached, & pain
Didn't want to cause a gap with the family
When all I ever wanted was for them to love me
Sacrafice my character & my name
by admitting 2 something I didn't do & taking the blame
so that everyone else could sleep @ night
While I toss & turn, trying 2 tell myself it'll be alright
Did it mainly for him because I love him so
Because I couldn't handle having 2let him go
Guilty of a crime I didn't commit
All because she'd rather believe his bullshit
There are more African American men in prison than in college.
In fact there are four African American men in prison for every three in college.
(for white men, the ratio is about two in college for every one in prison)
African American born after 1960's are more likely to go to prison than to finish a four-year degree or serve in the military.
Wasn't always that way though, in 1980's there were three times more African American's in college than in prison.
Today, African American's make up 40% of the prison population, and only about 13 % of all U.S. Residents.
I'm not saying that you need to scolled the younger generation and teach them to do right... we all know that these statistics are not because African American't know nothing else but to commit crime.. no! that statement is false. There are a number of factors that play a role, one includes the fact that studies show the areas that police are instructed to patrol are usually high in population of African American's or Hispanics. They are sent to areas where there is less white males so how are they supppose to arrest anything other than a minority?
It is important for the younger generation and even our generation to know these statistics so that they can avoid putting themselves in certain environments. They also to be educated on the stats. There was a point in time when 3x as many African Americans were in college than in prison... I for one believe that those type of statistics can reoccur .. its just gonna take some word of mouth and encouragement from everyone.
