We forgot to be family in my hood...

We forgot to be family in my hood...

there was a code unspoken, a certain way we used to act.

Or maybe it wasn't an act at all, maybe it was just an understood fact.

The fact that we were all put here together to take care of each other.

Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin... all loving each other as one.

Not just because you were a blood relatives but because we all lived under the same sun.

Sometimes we shared the same DNA but sometimes that wasn't always the case.

See we simply loved and respected each other, our elders taught us that before they left this place.

We didn't care who had the latest kicks or look what our neighbors had to determine what we'd choose.

We may trade pants and shirts,  sometimes we may even swap shoes...

And not one of us felt like we were playing whose better game that someone had to lose.

See people were to be loved and material things were there to be used.

And when a neighbor needed a helping hand we'd all pitch in and do whatever we had to do.

Mothers took care of kids, Dads provided stability, love and money for bills and food...

And the family was there to help them see things through.

Aunts were like big sisters and moms, uncles were like big brothers and 2nd dads that protected you.

Then there were the friends and other elders that lived in the hood, they scolded us and told us things that would help you be good. 

Now I see them pray on their friends children,  manipulatively trading little girls around and encouraging the little boys to tote guns and sell illegal goods.  

I often wonder how they can feel so good about themselves as their grandparents turn over in graves and boxes made of wood. 

We were taught right from wrong by them, and they had high hopes of what we'd come to be. 

They marched, fought, and got beat with sticks for this freedom that we lived to see. 

They went through hell and back all for us and the future of their family. 

Now we sit with closed mouths as we watch each other destroy the essence of the black family. 

We take from, steal from, drug, manipulate, kill and rape our own.

we pay no attention to the fact that the family we are destroying is our own.

 And what will all of this behavior earn us in return... a little hood star status,  a nice new pair of  

sneakers, a diamond ring, or maybe a new whip.

But what do think that will get you when our father calls our souls to return? And when you meet back up with the ancestors, what will you tell them that you learned. 

What will you tell them became of all that they struggled to earn. 

Will you even get the chance to explain or will your soul just be sent to burn. 

I'm not trying to dog you or tell you what to do, I am saying this because I love you all enough to tell you that the fake people won't, that this mess isn't cool.   

See I remember growing up and I remember all the silly stuff we used to do and I remember family wasn't always who you were related to . 

There was a code of respect that wasn't said, it was just simply understood.  

Family took care of family and your family was also your hood.