When I told a friend of mine that I’d written a book called Project Chic to Paulie, he asked, “What makes you a project chic?” I answered quickly, “I’m from the projects. I grew up there.” He shook his head in acknowledgment, but suddenly all the things I used to feel when I was a youngContinue reading “Project Chic To Paulie”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
What Is A Life Worth?
We are all fair game; children in strollers; police sitting in patrol cars; elders walking down the block; women asleep at home. Who do you see? Can you see me? My life? My worth? Am I enough for you to extend a kind word; a smile; a thought filled with respect? I see you inContinue reading “What Is A Life Worth?”
A Dream Realized
What happens to a dream realized? Does it fade into the background; replaced by a longing for more? Or does it linger in a life filled with joy? Is it forgotten amidst a quest for survival? Or held near to our hearts like a first love? When our dreams become our reality do we appreciateContinue reading “A Dream Realized”
Farewell, My Gift
I knew I had you when I began to think on my own You comforted me when I could not fall asleep You pushed me up mountains I didn’t feel equipped to climb But I didn’t know how much I needed you until you were gone. Those years without you filled my mind with self-doubt Continue reading “Farewell, My Gift”
In The Silence
In The Silence I remember the music that seeps in through the open window I remember the voice of the son who dishonors his father I miss the helicopter searching for the latest criminal I miss the echo of a gunshot that misses a child I inhale the smoke of things I never dared toContinue reading “In The Silence”
Foreign Born; New Home
5pm. Dark clouds held the sun hostage before the downpour, but he sat outside in the red chairs with his back arched as he savored his cigar and took long gulps of Evian. He checked his Cartier watch in-between glances of parents filling their phones with pictures of their children mimicking the fearless girl pose. Continue reading “Foreign Born; New Home”
Ernie
When Ernie accepted the assignment to work with Moses, the first Afro-American patrolman, he did not concern himself with what other White officers thought of him. He knew there were officers who had refused but he felt, as one of the older officers, that he could lead by example. Ernie imagined if Moses did well there wouldContinue reading “Ernie”
CINDY
It was 7:45pm and Candy only had 15 minutes before Nessa and Moses arrived. She knew they wouldn’t dare be a minute late and thought maybe they might be about five minutes early. She had brushed her red hair into long silky perfection. It draped down her back and laid on her dark blue dress every strand movingContinue reading “CINDY”
NESSA
In the darkness of the early morning Nessa heard the snores of her husband and children fill the house. She had thirty minutes before Moses woke up and then only an additional fifteen minutes before all of the kids were stretching and heading towards the kitchen. She fried the bacon and sausage together in the largeContinue reading “NESSA”
MOSES
On Monday morning, several weeks after beginning his new role as patrolman, Moses got up, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and looked in the mirror as he slicked back the few strands of hair that covered his head. In the midst of his daily routine he took a moment to be thankful for how wellContinue reading “MOSES”
BrownsvilletoConcord 