R U still Down?

Ok, so as of late I've been really trying to get it
together emotionally. Usually I write about whatever
is going on, come back and read it.. which helps
me put it all into perspective. SOMETIMES. LOL
Yesterday didn't start off too swell (aye) but, like
my girl Shamika says,"It is what it is, move on!"
So I did...


I went to Watts to get my hair braided. Ok, now I live in
Compton, which is the city directly connected to Watts.
But for ANYONE whom is from Southern Cali, they know what
I mean when I say,.. Watts AIN'T the business! LOL It's
only a few square blocks, but in those streets are lurking
dangers that only occur in Watts. Especially since it is the
Home to some of the Notorious Projects, The Jordon Downs,
(Menace ll Society) The Nickerson Gardens (Boys In the Hood)
and the Imperial Courts (WHERE I USED TO GET BEAT DOWNS LOL)
It's safe to say that I wasn't too ecstatic to roll thru
the hood with my limo tinted windows... :)

Anyhow, I mustered up all my courage and began my journey.
It was raining, but I kept one window down just so THEY
could see me... THEY, meaning any suspecting gang member
that may mistake me for someone attempting a drive by.
Yes! it's that REAL! By no means am I scared of my own
people, but I've been shot at, seen friends/family
die in these streets and I AM scared to get my head
blown off!! Well, it took me about 10 minutes to get
to my destination from my house. I pulled up to a single
house that sat directly across from the JD's (refer to Project
names above) there is a subway that runs thru every 15 minutes
which makes it pretty annoying and loud. I get out and walk into
the house. First thing I noticed was there was no door handles
on the door. Instead some type of rag was put thru the door
hole to keep it shut and then a replica doberman pitcher statue
was placed in front of the door to hold it closed.. Ok, I thought.
When I walked in I tried not to look around too much. There
was a lot going on in there. Leopard couches, the infamous
wicker fans hanging on the wall... 3 entertainment centers.. all
with various knick knacks... It looked like a Sanford and Son Musuem.
then I smelled the faint aromaof marijuana. Coming from one of
the rooms in the back of the house, I heard an older voice,
probably "granny" (I assumed such because one of the girls said,
"Granny is gonna fuck you up for lighting that Blunt in here)
yelling out random phrases, directed to various people in the house!


I got situated and took a seat in the dining room chair,
which was placed in the center of the cluttered
living room. The braider began to section my hair and ask
me what kind of style I wanted. I explained and she started
the four house task. While sitting there I witnessed a typical
day in Watts. . .

There were 3 babies, a 2 yr old boy, 1yr old girl and a 9 month
old baby boy. The 2yr year had corn rolls and a gold bracelet on,
not much else. He came running out of the room and went straight
for my purse! The girl braiding my hair said,"Stinky butt put her
purse back!" he replied, "Shut up punk!" and ran away. I just
sat there...



Now the girl braiding my hair was no more than 19. She introduced me
to her uncle, who was about 26. He immediately informed me he was a
Pimp. He pulled out money and threw it all over the floor to imply
he was paid. I was slightly amused, but more annoyed that he kept
taking pics of me with a stolen camera phone (he stole from a trick)
and demanded I give him my number. I'm no one to argue with a gansta
and certified PIMP, so I gave him A NUMBER... LOL He continued on
about what a big, sexy girl I was..careful not to be confused with
FAT... LOl I mean, I am a big gurl. I am 5 foot 10 and a solid 190.
After about an hour of being harrassed and granny screaming from
the back,"Leave that Gurl alone, MAN MAN!", he retreated to the BACK HOUSE,
but that didn't prevent him from asking one more time can he kiss
me on the cheek... ( oh I was flattered )


Two hours into braiding my hair and several laughs in my head later,
we were joined by 2 other young men. One was very handsome and all of
19.. he came on with a subway sandwhich and a bag of weed. While he
was rolling his blunt he asked me about 3 times if I smoked. Everytime
I repeated, "NO!" His friend was a young man about 20. He was going on
about the 5 children he has by 5 different GIRLs with 2 more
on the way. HE was a stocky boy with short corn rolls. Lots of blinging
cubic zurconia going on.. LMAO. They began smoking and needless to say
they were forcefully pushed into another room by my faithful admirer, whom
deemed their act disrespectful to me (his girl as he referred to me).


By this point I'm ready to go. Not because I was uncomfortable.
Simply because I was tired of looking at the same roach crawl
on the wall in between the wicker fans. My butt hurt and my head
was throbbing...I remember when I was growing up this was a
similar lifestyle.I stayed with various people and encountered
some of the same situations....Sitting there I felt out of place.
Like a ghost watching. I felt sorry a bit because this was the
stereo typical assimilation of our lifestyle in the ghetto. I wished
I could tell them something profound.But I didn't know where to begin.
I'd come from similar backgrounds,yet I was able to rise above and
move on...so far on that I'd forgotten that I lived with roaches once
and my daddy used to sit me on his lap while he smoked his "pot" in the
big, blue bong, I'd thought was a toy. There were many amusing points of
this story, but the moral of it all is,NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM BECAUSE
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE TO GO BACK.


When I walked down the battered walkway to my car, I glanced back
at the shabby house with the wet couch sitting in the front yard...
I smiled. I understood.