I come from an average family growing up like many of my fellow Americans. My mother and father divorced when I was about 7 yrs old and my mother gained the primary responsibility of raising myself and my older sister (I have a little sister too, but she came 10 yrs later). Although my parents were hard workers, I often watched my mother struggle to make ends meet. I can vividly recount many times coming home from school and telling my mother how starved I was.
“Did you look in the cabinets? It’s some can food in there. We still have some left over dinner from last night.” She would offer.
“I don’t want that!” I would say.
Cool as a cucumber she would shrug her shoulders and say, “then you not hungry, because if you were truly starved you would eat whatever food is available.” With that said she would go about her day and keep it moving. I wanted a hamburger and french-fries, pizza or some kind of fast food. I always questioned why I couldn’t get name brand shoes, clothes, jewelry, my own room, more lunch money so I can stop at the store after school. The list went on and on. My mamma made it crystal clear we did not have money for that kind of stuff. I grew up always feeling we were poor wondering what it would be like to walk in the shoes of my many friends who seemed to have everything.
As I became older and more exposed to the world I realized I was never poor or poverty stricken, just Materially Deprived. The word “Poverty” suggest being destitute or unable to be provided with food, clothing, and shelter. None of that applied to me. I may not have had the latest and greatest fashions or lived huge home, but my mamma and my dad made sure the necessities were provided without question. I began working at 16 yrs old and my Dad gave me my first car, a 1977 Chevrolet Nova (my first bucket).
Fast forward today, I admit guilt of not allowing my children the opportunity to be Materially Deprived. They have the latest and greatest “things” thanks to their father and do not expect to have to do much but wake up, and get good grades. Being Materially Deprived allowed my sister and me to be creative and use our imagination. For me, I spent most of my time as a child writing, reading, and playing outside (an activity that has almost become extinct) while my sister took to designing and making the clothes my mamma refused to buy for us. My sister and I fought all the time, but were able to resolve our problems through communicating. No email, text messaging, or cell phones to distract us. No Xbox or Play Station to vegetate our brains, just good old fashioned talking.
Did you grow up Materially Deprived? If so, what effect has it had on how you raise your children? I want to hear your story,
Holla at ya Gyrl !
Archive for April, 2008
Is There a Difference Between Being Poor and Materially Deprived?
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008When is it time to hang up the “Hood”?
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Those of us who grew up in the “hood” know about Triple O.G.
Triple O.G. is the 40 year old Hood Negro who refuses to hang up the hood. Every day he patrols the neighborhood in certified in Gangster style. Press n’ curl hair do, wife beater shirt with a fresh white-tee, creased khakis, white gym socks and of course corduroy house shoes. Triple O.G. been on the set since he was 5 years old and let him tell it, he’s been putting in work for the hood since that time. Triple O.G. revels in story telling to the B.G.’s (baby gangsters) about the old days when Gangsters were true and displays each bullet wound on his body as a badge of honor, evidence that he has been shot for the hood. So I ask the question, when is it time to hang up the hood? All of us have a Triple O.G. who still exists in our neighborhoods and every time you roll through, like clock work, Triple O.G. is standing in front of his house or sitting on the porch with a drink in his hand, and a blunt in his pocket not doing a damn thing. If you ask him what’s up for tomorrow he will let you know same “ish” different day. If you remain confused while reading this, you may be the Triple O.G. in your neighborhood. Triple O.G.’s greatly distress our Community, namely the children and young men who see Triple O.G. as a positive role model or someone to be emulated. As we strive to instill the value of higher education and establishing goals in our children, Triple O.G. gives the impression you can always take a shortcut by putting in “hood work”. Unfortunately those who buy in, end up dead or in prison. All the while, Triple O.G. is doing what he been doing, not a damn thing.
I want to hear from you, especially if you are Triple O.G. or married to one. When is it time to hang up the “hood”? Holla at ya Gyrl
~Godspeed~
Latoya (wordsRmylife)
Should convicted Felons be allowed to vote?
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
Apparently our Forefathers thought of everything when constructing the United States Constitution, including in its text the demise of voting rights for anyone convicted of a Felony Offense. Well, maybe they were not that precise, but they did cover the basis in the 14th Amendment characterizing that all citizens of the United States shall not be denied the right to vote,”except for participation in rebellion, or other crime.”
In my opinion, once a convicted Felon has served his/her prison term, the right to vote should, at the very least, be revisited in a manner in which one is evaluated for Parole or Probation suitability. Granted there may be Convicted Felons who are not adept enough to vote for the next M&M color, let alone the next president. However ponder on the numerous brain porous, “non-Felons” entering polls and punching holes through the ballots as if it were a connect the dots game. As a citizen of the United States, my fellow citizens, Felons, or whatever should be allowed to participate in changing our world. Do you agree? Do you disagree? Well make it make sense to me. Holla at me! – Latoya
