Editors Note: Minister William E. Brown is one of several power-FUL PNN Plantation correspondents who contribute to Poor Magazine notes from the inside, a column of plantation resistors who need your help to get justice.
INDEPENDENCE: (1) The quality or state of being independent. (2) Not subject to control by others
When a person chooses to gang bang, they choose to follow what other people are doing.
Gangs are made up of people who do not choose their own path in life, but the path of people who were also burdened with the false belief that they had to follow others who chose to follow the path of gang members before them.
When I chose to gang bang I justified my actions by putting the blame on my environment and lack of family love.
I was a follower and chose not to make my own path in life.
I didn't have many choices or role models to follow, but I chose the path of people who were just as confused, just as hurt, just as wrong, and just not independent to say the least.
I thought gang banging was the way of life for everyone everywhere, but now I see that I was wrong.
If I would have made the correct choice of not following the gang bangers in my community my life would be different.