so does this mean that i live in the hood...?

did some vocal sessions with my man dopestyle today, i let it slip that i was broke and needed to get my tax refund, he's all:

"aww man, the H&R Block is right across the street, i mean it's a little hood, they play KMEL in there and shit but i got my taxes done in 15 minutes and they were really friendly..."

(that's not an exact quote, my man is quite articulate, naw'mean?)

so i walk across the street from my apartment to H&R Block, go in and sit down next to a brutha wearing purple pants and a white beanie, and again it's all good, everyone is super friendly and cool, but then again why wouldn't they be...

then i hear a car backfire...

5 times

now i've heard gunfire before, just not everyday and while i'm a bit jaded on society, i still give the benefit of the doubt until the situation really unfolds...

so i'm like "was that a car backfiring?"

sista in a leopard top says "5 times...hell no, that was a gun!"

dude in the purple pants hits the floor, dude behind the desk says "I'M GOIN' HOME!!!"

I'M LIKE SHIT!!! THEY SHOOTIN'!!! BUT I REALLY NEED MY TAX REFUND!!!

dude comes over to help me with my taxes, he's doing his best to concentrate amidst everyone else in the spot screaming:

"LOCK THE DOOR! DID SOMEONE GET HURT?! IS THERE AN AMBULANCE?! IS SOMEONE DEAD?! SHIT I'M GOIN' HOME!!!"

they finish my taxes, we all exchange thank you's and be safe's, i walk away from the gas station where the shots came from and go to the bank

on the way i see happy people, a window with people on the other side celebrating Chinese New Year, a little girl in the nail shop beaming because she got her nails did, helpful people at the bank, people concerned for one another...

stopped at the corner store on the way back to get a beer, really wanted one for some reason, asked the woman at the counter if any news about what happened had hit yet...

someone shot the mechanic at the gas station

we exchanged more be safe's and i went home

god bless the misguided hands that commited violence, the victims of said violence and the innocents that were traumatised by witnessing said violence

so...

does that mean i live in the hood?

no.

this shit happens everywhere, and has, and does and it's dumb

that shit is all fun and games on t.v. until your sister takes a bullet and you wonder if the rest of your family is safe (sup Liz)

this neighborhood is full of good people trying to have an honest sanctuary where they can raise children and escape the evils of society, no place is immune, no place is safe and we shouldn't be afraid to walk down the street

fear makes you a prisoner, caution keeps you alive, sincerity and care builds a community

glamourizing the idea of a "ghetto" cheapens the lives and homes of innocent people trying to live within their means

we are not defined as people by our negative experiences and trials

so fuck that

this is not the hood

someone was just dumb with a gun

love

j