Some people are frightened by them, some are not. If you fear about someone close to you, even if you don't suspect a gang involvement, read this. You never know.
Gangs: What do we know about them? We know they carry guns, knives and other weapons. We know that they are 'trouble'. But what exactly may I ask you, are the true cold-hard facts? No one truly knows. Every gang is different, every branch is different, and every single person within the web is different.
My good friend just had a buddy shot down by a gang last night. I feel remorse for him, because I know what it is like to have that happen. A close friend of mine just passed a few days ago, and I'm still in denial. But what happened last night has my mind so boggled, that it's not even funny. This friend of mine, Donald, doesn't cry. EVER. He doesn't tell people about his life, nothing. But last night, he sat next to me on my sister's bed and told me what had happened. A single tear fell down his face just before he got up to go home.
Now, his buddy was not in a gang, whatsoever. He was just simply driving home after a long hard day, and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe that's how God intended it to be, who knows though? He was a saved man, good with the Lord, so we know he's in good hands. The thing is though, these gangs are going around hurting people, killing people, yet also saving lives.
About two years ago now, I was caught up in a gang. I was walking my usual route, but decided to go behind the old Food Town, instead of walking up front. When I got back there, I had a guy attack me. Now, he didn't hurt me or anything, just had me extremely freaked out. He grabbed me by my throat, pinned me up against the old brick wall, stuck a knife to my stomach, and then starting screaming me. I couldn't even make out what he was saying. Just then a little black car that I had been noticing for days pulled up back, which was strange because no one ever goes back there. Three guys stepped out, looked at the guy holding me, and then the guy immediately retreated.
Now I don't know if it's my extremely good luck, or if these people just thought I needed help, but they offered me protection and help. At the time I was caught up in a lot of things; i.e., drugs, alcohol, bad people, clubs…etc. I was to the point of a mental breakdown or suicide, whichever came first. So, of course, I took their offer, thinking that things couldn't get worse.
At first, things were great. I made trustworthy friends, people got me out of trouble, the drugs had came to a stop, along with the alcohol, and people were starting to leave me alone. I thought that my life had finally became clean, and that I was saved.
One night while we were all hanging out, my buddy got a call. He looked at me, his eyes filled with tears, and he left immediately to go get a few others for a “meeting” as they called them. I didn't see them for the next few days, and when I did, everything was different. They asked me if I would want to quit now, leave the gang and never look back. I kept telling them no, and they kept arguing with me, as if they wanted me to leave. I got upset and explained to them how I felt. They finally settled it, and I was left alone. The next day, I was told why they had started all that. The phone call from a few days ago was the “main guy”. He wanted to know who I was and why I wasn't doing anything.
I now was having to do drug runs, and not just ordinary runs. Most of the buyers were guys, and they would hurt me, or rape me, saying that they'd take me as payment. Usually no one was around to help me, and was a small girl stuck with three to four large guys. Day after day I'd just cry and sit at home, not wanting to leave, but knowing that if I didn't get up, I'd be in a lot of trouble.
One night had pushed me to the maximum. I went on the same route, to do the same run for some heroin junkies. Well, they knew that I was coming today, and had something else in mind. They pushed me into a chair, tied me up, and then shot heroin into my veins. Once it settled in, I was vulnerable. Heroin was a new thing, and I was tied up. Three guys raped me that night while laughing hysterically. I was left there, half conscience till one of my buddies showed up to see where I was. He untied me, panic-stricken while I screamed for my life, and ended up taking me to his apartment. When I woke up, approximately twenty-eight hours later, I had no idea where I was, but I saw him sitting near the kitchen in a chair, looking at me. I said his name, and he came over to ask if I was alright and made me drink some water and vodka for my headache.
I told him that everything was okay, and that nothing had happened. He told me that I was not to leave his place until I told him the truth about everything…right from the very start. So here I was, spilling my guts and reliving some of the worst things that had ever happened to me. He said nothing, but gave me a hug, then went into his bedroom to make a call.
The next week, I went out to meet up my buddy. He was standing there with a bunch of others, and when I approached him, they all looked at me. Every single one of them gave me that look of not knowing who I was, with that “I'm so sorry kid” look in their eyes. I asked them if this was it, started screaming, and took off back home. I knew that my friendship with these people was over.
Later on that week, my buddy sent me an e-mail explaining everything. Turns out, he wasn't being rude or anything. He was mournful, along with everyone else in the gang, which mad me extremely mad, until I read one. He called the “main guy” and demanded a meeting. He told the guy everything about me, what had been going on…everything, and that he also wasn't going shoot me, and neither was anyone else because he knew I was safe.
So, let me ask you something…are gangs REALLY that bad?? Yes, they kill people and cause problems, but they also save people and solve problems. Gangs are really only people grouping together to lookout for one another; kinda like a family, but on the streets. That isn't that bad now, is it?
