Inner-City Cries

I was not born in Paterson; but its where I was raised- where I was introduced to snow and so many of the people I know.

It was here in Paterson that I was introduced to family I never knew I had, and it was in this City, that I've learned, going through the educational system.

But it was also here that I've been exposed to drugs, violence and so much more.

Lately, the City of Paterson has been going crazy- more death by gun, others being done by drugs, and cops shooting what they call thugs.

The media seems to have nothing nice to report, I mean it's not their fault that our City sheds blood, which makes the lead- front page- "Another Man Shot and Killed in Paterson".

People look down on everyone who lives in the City- just assuming that we're all hoodlums and losers, deadbeat-abusers. Uneducated, and trouble-makers that become takers- robbing people of their goods, and taking the ultimate prize, somebody's life. But that is not true for everyone that resides within the City of Paterson.

So now it begins, the Inner-City cries of Paterson.

We wish that on every other corner, there wasn't a dealer- selling the drugs that lead to destruction of a family- because either they are locked up, or buried deep within the ground.

We cry for the fallen, even if he was a gang banger or if she was a hooker because that was somebody's life. Someone's child, someone's brother, sister, cousin, nephew, niece and so forth.

We cry that the guns be removed from the hands of the young, before they do something foolish and can't take back the horrible act- now they are being charged as adults.

We cry for more policemen, that do their jobs. Instead of being on 21st Ave- hanging and double-parking, that they patrol the hoods, non-stop because we help pay for their salary so we expect them to keep us safe from harm.

We cry for the woman who is abused by her man, terrorizing the lives of the young children who are forced into witnessing such a horrible thing. They are just continuing the cycle of abuse, drug use and screw ups from the City.

We cry for our City government to do more, enforce the laws, introduce new laws- help stop this growing epidemic of chaos and not just when they are running for re-election. This City needs some serious attention if we hope to change the outside's perception.

We cry for the good that resides in our City to be recognized- not just by the Media but people in general. So before you go, and assume- making a complete ass out of you and I, think about the student who has a 4.5 GPA and an SAT score that would leave some of your children in the dust. Before you assume that we are a bunch of no goods- think about your future doctors, lawyers, policemen, and political leaders because some will have come from Paterson.

And lastly, just because currently, crimes seem to be at its worse, and presently, our city seems to be the worse- REMEMBER our History- because we were one of the richest, brightest, and leading innovative City that helped begin the industrialization of OUR America.

So before you think negatively about everything and anyone PATERSON- think about this blog, which was written by a student raised in Paterson, and then tell me we are a bunch of losers and hoodlums.