Murda/Urban Gangstas - 10/23/2007 - Update - The Road Splits In The Courtroom
phoenix_risin:
Great Story. Love all the connections and suspense. I really love all the social issues you bring into the story with such finesse. Love that part. Especially the struggles of inner city youth and what they face as well as the whole baby momma drama and the trouble you have finding a real relationship in the "warzone". While doing all that you still brought in issues that are main stream. You have Skills.
Can not wait to read the rest.
vita4all:
Moon22T - I don't mind at all! I'll have it uploaded tomorrow.
Phoenix_risin - I almost always PM people a thanks rather than bump the story up with comments. However, your detailed reasons in why you like the story is greatly appreciated and I'd like to comment on what you said so others will benefit. Impoverished urban youth go through hell, particulary minority kids, but this is true of poor kids anywhere. We have the added burden of discrimination, particularly with jobs, and this makes the whole drug dealing scene so appealing to many.
In Amsterdam, they sell weed at coffee houses. In Italy, approximately 1/3 of their Parliment (equivalent to Congress) tested positive for weed and/or cocaine earlier this year, and nothing happened to them. Here in the US and in many other places, you get sent to the Big House, particularly if you're stuck with a cheesy free lawyer because you're poor. I suggested to one young relative who deals weed that he move. He laughed; he doesn't get it.
For readers who are unfamiliar with Prohibition, simply google it. It describes a time in US history when possession of alcohol was outlawed and would get you locked up. This is unimaginable now, and lin the 1920s or 30s, it resulted in incredible mobster violence. Because so many politicians and the wealthy continued to drink, they legalized it. We're in Neo-Prohibition times, but the poor and minorities suffer the most. Thanks to political correctness and I suspect the alcohol and pharmaceutical lobbies, few politicians dare try to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana as has been done in several other countries, yet they're stingy with funding rehabs.
I write about what I know, as well as what I've seen and experienced in my own family, community, and career, where I worked many years as a social worker dealing with every single issue in the story, over and over again. I came to the conclusion that more of our stories of struggle need to be told, without glossing over issues that some blacks would find embarrassing or make them angry. I have people in my own family who simply cannot stand me writing about "criminals" (gangstas). They'd rather see me write about less controversal issues with happy endings. They also hate the bisexuality in one character who lives on the down low. Or they're offended at my attempt to look at every angle dealing with the pros and cons of religion or abortion. They're old school and don't want our dirty laundry aired. Screw 'em, along with Bill Cosby who hates it when folks give their kids black names.
Every ethnic group, race, religion, and gender has individuals who do awful (or great) things, and it is not a reflection of their group. It's a reflection of individual temperament, the social class and community one is born into, plus the material, psychological and other resources of their family or caretaker(s).
I think that Murda has universal appeal even though it's in a black setting, because struggle is universal. I've come to believe that most people do the best they can with what they have. Many do not have happy endings. They and their children suffer - some grow up stronger for their experience while others become dysfunctional and "have issues". This is why my characters have extreme personalities - they grew up under extreme circumstances.
And Phoenix, it's like you said, trying find - and keep - love amidst the chaos in the warzone is unbelievably hard.
phoenix_risin:
All I can say is Amen!
I can not wait to see more of the story. If I was not in a rush this morning I would write more. I totally agree though with all you said.
Elven_Song:
I agree 100%, vita. Just like blacks, every race has their own struggles, even if they don't seem like much of a comparison. Even my family, who looks pretty put together on the outside. I wouldn't say my family is racist, because they have nothing against other races or their ways of life. But they fit into and try to make others fit into racial stereotypes in their own minds. We're a big german/dutch family. Beat our kids with our belts, go to church on Sundays, make them work on a nice big farm, make sure they marry a hard-working (preferrably rich) man and have lots of kids. And life goes on. >.>
vita4all:
Hi Friends and New Readers,
Lot of PM'ing back and forth, and thanks for sharing your comments, compliments and thoughts.
Moon22T - the Murda/Urban Gangsta Artwork Collection 1 to hang in your Sim houses is here as you requested! Plenty of Ronnie pics along with others. Sorry it took me so long, computer issues due to Seasons install, blah, blah, and thank you for asking.
For those who don't know, Moon requested some of the artwork that showed up in the story, including the two nice wolf portraits in the story and one that hasn't shown up in the game yet of a cool gangsta painting from Snoop Dogg's new movie, House of Horrors. No sexual themes in this collection; PM me for those. They're on various frames with easy to figure out labels, like Protecting My Cellmate -GrilledCheese, and you can view it by clicking on the jpg photo in the file to see if you want it. If not, simply delete it. Directions for how to install pics, in case you or others reading this post don't know are in the folder in the text document.
If anyone wants a wall-hanging of a specific photo, let me know here or PM me which one(s) and which frame(s) you want it on. I'd post these elsewhere but I'm uncertain there would be a great enough demand to warrant it. If this changes I'll post it on the Forums page where you can find art.
Phoenix_Risin: Amen and thanks for your support! Again, loved your insight into why people in the story do what they do, and how they came to be the way they did.
Elven_Song: Love your gift with words and I've enjoyed our PM'ing. Your experiences prove that all people and cultures have more in common than they do differences. For this, the entire human race is blessed and has a chance. Now as I said earlier in our PMing, go do your homework before yo' mama or daddy gets the belt and spanks your behind! (LOL) Just joking. Hugs.
To the young man sweating over life: Forgive me for giving you a simple formula, as I know it's easier said than done, but when when life sweats you, try to hang on, stay strong, and not to give up hope. Sometimes hope is all we have to get us through the hard times.
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