Lawrence “LB” Baldwin
The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people at-risk of, victims of, or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017 this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high quality opportunities that nourish the minds,,expand the voices and share the personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the process of drafting, revising and publishing memoirs, participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie and positive selfprojection to author new life narratives.
Since January 2017 ConTextos has partnered with Cook County Sheriff's Office to implement Authors Circle in Cook County Department of Corrections as part of a vision for reform that recognizes the value of mental health, rehabilitation and reflection. These powerful memoirs complicate the narratives of violence and peace building, and help author a hopeful future for human beings behind walls, their families and our collective communities.
While each author’s text is solely the work of the Author, the image used to create this book’s illustrations have been sourced by various print publications. Authors curate these images and then, using only their hands, manipulate the images through tearing, folding, layering and careful positioning. By applying these collage techniques, Authors transform their written memoirs into illustrated books.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Lawrence Baldwin Can Books Start a New Chapter?
Walking across the stage to get my high school diploma and all I can think about was my next step with life. The grants I was given because of my football success made the transition to college easy. I was getting looked at by one college in particular the University of Dubuque.
During the fall of 2014 while I was waiting to get accepted in “MTSU” Middle Tennessee State University. I started hanging with some guys I knew from high school. “Aye you want to make $25,000!!”
Me: Hell yeah what's the move? “Now truth be told I'm broke fresh home from college and vulnerable.” Him: I got a lick for us you don't got to do anything just watch my back. Me: Get the fuck outta here where do I sign up at? Here I am the biggest crime I’ve ever done was stealing a piece of candy from a gas station was now 1 day away of doing a “Home invasion!!”
Just like that the dirty, infested streets of Chicago swallows another missguided black man into its web. Knock, knock, knock. Who is it? CPD, we are here for Lawrence Baldwin!! You have an investigation warrant in Aurora; 1 hour later I'm being booked for home invasion.
I stayed in school, got my culinary arts certificate and stayed out of trouble. After my release my responsibility as a father became 2nd nature to me. I started doing good for myself. Within one and a half years I had my own house and car. But like they say, “Once the devil see you doing good he's going to try his hardest to see you doing bad.”
One day as I'm leaving my fiance house as I get in my truck I can see police sitting at the end of the alley, but I don't pay them any mind, they probably surveillancing the crackhouse a couple doors down. So I ride past them in my “Benz truck” and go to the gas station, and sure as the sky is blue, the police come in and throw me on the car and arrest me for a gun that they found in my fiance's parking lot. “That gun wasn't mine and why is this keep happening to me!”
Long story short I took probation on a gun that wasn't mine, due to the fact that my lawyer felt the judge didn't like her and truth be told I was tired of fighting this case “2 years of fighting.” Even though this society is messed up I got to continue to stay positive for my family and have faith.
I'm not a bad person at all, and I have many examples that would compliment me such as coaching a Gold Medal Special Olympics basketball team or helping with back to school drives. When I was given the opportunity to experience something different with my life and coach a Special Olympics team, my first response was OK, this should be interesting. Let’s go! My first day of practice tickles me till this day, because there’s 11 Special Needs people that’s suited and booted from head to toe. THere was one guy by the name of Jim who came to practice wearing a pair of white gloves. Throughout the season he stayed with the gloves.
Coaching was relatively easy, because of the players wanting to win! I loved it. There were females and guys playing together, some with attitudes, some playing too much. Some of the players I had to repeat to them 100 times to dribble the ball instead of running with the ball like a football. But overall I enjoyed every bit of it! By the time the first game of the season came around, we was ready for “ war. ” That’s what one of the players with Down Syndrome calls the game. His name is Jerry. Jerry was my man, he couldn't play a lick of offense, but when it came to defense he would give Draymond Green a run for his money. His defense is almost like war for real.
Going back to the season we ended up losing the first two games. I remember after losing the second game for some reason every player felt some type of way. Every player was disappointed. From that point on it became more of duty for me to bring my inner Phil Jackson out.
There was one practice when we was playing a pick up game ad I noticed another player with Down Syndrome shoot every shot from the same spot without missing. His name was Kenny, my main man Kenny, ended up becoming a beast. His favorite thing was watching wrestling. He loved Triple H. During practice if he wasn’t practicing he was playing on the sideline doing the triple H gesture just being goofy “Suck It.” He was hilarious! Kenny ended up becoming quite famous. He was on billboards, a spokesperson for the Special Olympics and more. What’s crazy about him being famous, it made me feel special to have the chance to be in his life.
Afterthefirsttwolossesweendedupwinning8straight .WeendedupmakingitdownstatetotheSpecialOlympicsChampionshipgamethatwasatISU . Thatwasavery powerfulandemb racingfeelingtob ring9playerstotheChampionships . (2ofmy playersdidn'tmakeit .)IfyounoticeIcalledmyplayers , “ players” andnotbywhatthey arelabeledby,becauseI’verealizedthatspecialneedsplayershavethesameemotions , pride,desiresandambitionsas “ socalled” regularpeople .
I played sports most of my life and the same feelings I had when we went to ISU was the same butterflies “I felt going to a football or basketball game. ” We ended up losing the game, but everyone felt like winners. I get the chills when I talk about it, because it’s a feeling I can’t wait to encounter again.
When people read this I don't want you to feel sorry, but use my story to show others how disruptive life can be and how to respond the right way when a person asks “do you want to make $25,000.”
My evolution continues.
I Am From
I am from out West, L-town
Lawrence Baldwin
From slap boxing and playing 007 on Nintendo 64
I am from Lovie, “Mr. Make it Happen”
Peppermint water, and syrup bread
I am from the Baldwin family
Where Granddaddy use to ride the 7 on the passenger
To where 7 cousins playing hide-n-seek in the house
So Gma wouldn’t play and beat on our behind
I’m from 954 N Leclair and Sheek son
From waking up to Thuggish Ruggish Bone in my ear
And the smell of pancakes, bacon, eggs, biscuits, grits in my nostrils
I’m from getting told the top of the stove is hot
Then going to see if its hot forreal
And from toast and grape jelly was for dinner
I’m from where cleanliness is next to Godliness
I’m from 948 N Leclair
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb
