“Until the lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” The Soy Autor writing process was developed in collaboration with young people at-risk of, victims of or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017, this innovative program launched at Cook County Jail with young men awaiting trial for violent offenses. Through the process of drafting, revising, illustrating and publishing memoirs, the Authors’ Circle develops reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie, conflict resolution and positive self-projection.
In collaboration with:
Cook County Sheriff’s Office
The 24 Hour Boyz Deunte Thomas
By the end of the night we would en up back on Park Lane at Cj’s house. “Aw hell naw! Y’all beeer get the hell out my house.” You would hear those words from Cj’s mom: Mama Pat. She didn’t mean no harm. She loved us all and welcomed us with open arms. But don’t get me wrong, Mama Pat didn’t play no games.
’t s “don e o g g yin the sa s a t u db all goo s a w ng erythi v e y b t rs wen a e y s A er.” t forev s a l d g goo nothin
2:30 am I was in my room playing with my daughter E’ndiaa and her mother Shanice. As I scrolled through my Facebook meline I came to a status saying Cj and E-man was dead. I read over the status at least 20 mes before I reacted.
I got back into the car. My ride home was silent. I didn’t realize I was siing in my driveway unnl I looked up.
When I got back inside the house Shanice and my daughter were crying. Shanice kept asking, “Is they really gone?” And E’ndiaa was crying as if she could feel something bad was going on.
As Shanice was consistently asking the same quesson my mind was clouded with a million thoughts. Was Mama Pat ok? This wasn’t just her second son she lost to the street violence, but this was also her baby boy. I wonder was his baby mother Shay ok? And his newborn son Cy’Monte that he only spent a couple weeks with? How was he going to take it? I wonder who did it? What about E-man? He was only 17. he didn’t even get to live his life. How was his family going to take it? Out of all of the thoughts only one stuck out like a sore thumb and it was: Revenge.
“Plus this rap thing looking good for us we gone reach the top and kill them with success. They’ll ssll be out here doing the same stuff and have nothing going for theyself.”
Later that night we did our video. We also released it on youtube and it reached over 50,000 views.
24 Hour Boyz now have videos all over YouTube and performed in a lot of dierent places like Chicago, ATL, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, and more.
I feel a lot beeer now but that ssll will never bring Cj & E-man back.
As I ride through Ford Heights down Park Lane St and see the house we once used to spend most of our me at, and lost two real good friends to this same driveway the vide don’t even feel the same no more.
A lot of memories replay through my head. Some good some bad. Was it all worth it? Yeah I think so, we could of did a lot of things dierent though
We’re killing them with success!
I am from Harvey. I am from the slums,
money, drugs, violence.
I’m from a hardworking, and loving family, from Stacy Thomas and David Wilson. I’m from Harvey,
from chicken, ribs.
The 24 Hour Boyz.