I come from paradise on one street to the ‘hood on the next. I come from not staying out too late, ‘cause that’s playing with your life. I come from being an athlete by day and a gang member by night. I come from where if you make it to see age 18, you’ve hit…

“My father once told me, “Mija, tienes que estudiar muscho en escuel porque no quiere trabaja mucho como yo en el futuro.” Which means, “My daughter, you must study in school because you don’t want to work hard in the future like me.” I look up to my dad for everything he’s done for me,…

Money come money go Follow the rhythm go with the flow High school come mindsets change Don’t you find that kinda strange? Every day we make new friends Perfect start, but there’s the end To get to the top, it’s ‘bout respect If you don’t give that then what you expect? As day play its…

She expanded her wings to her nearest best Because she felt as if she was nothing but less She flew away from the dark shade before the lights fade to a darker shade Tree is so high so she wondered how she’d fly She’d fall but she’ll fly right back up with her broken wing…

You see me. You hear me. I seem strong. I say I’ll fight hard. I’ll show him wrong. I work hard. I try to stay strong. But you’re right. Inside I am weak. Inside I am holding Millions of tears. When you bring him up, It feels as if I’m Losing the strings That hold…

No father no love wondering if I matter seeing my friends with their daddies listening to classmates talk about their dads how he took them to restaurants and shopping malls and told a boy something, defending his little girl I’m lucky enough to remember him his hugs I mean, I think they’re memories either that…

Everyone has a story. POPS (Pain of the Prison System) is my story. For a long time I felt trapped and didn’t know how to escape my thoughts, many of which frighten me: the memories of my parents arguing with each other; my grandmother passing away; when I was bullied; suffering from depression; a heartbreak;…

I have the power to rise up Power to me, power to you My brothers and sisters we must rise up, for what we need for what we believe What happened to the dream of Dr. King? That dream was not only for people who looked like me, but for people of all different complexions…

I am desensitized I wonder how much poverty, violence and misery I can withstand I hear gunshots, a kid crying out in pain because he’s getting his butt whooped I see dirty old palm trees, trash all around and half-dressed women waiting to turn a quick buck I want to leave this ‘hood, but home…

I live on 97th Street and Budlong, where neighbors say, “Lots of history on Budlong. People get jumped, robbed, shot.” I live a few blocks from where a Blood was killed by a Crip and that’s when “The 100 Days and Nights” began. Which meant the Bloods were going to kill people who weren’t from…