Dear Momma
E. Williams
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.
E. Williams Dear Momma
Thank you for giving birth to me. Not just saying thank you for bringing me into this world, but I’m thankful it was you. A loving, hard working, compassionate, motivational, God fearing woman amongst many more things.
It was April 9, 1987 when it happened. Born and delivered at Mercy Hospital, you popped out a big head boy and named him Elbert L. Williams after his father, making him the third to have the name. I still ask you to this day why you did that lol. And you always say it’s because that’s what he wanted my name to be.
You took me home and raised me with my biological father until I was 3, which was the age I was when he decided to leave and not return. You worked hard to raise me and my sister while working a 9 to 5, which takes a strong woman to do.
You tried your best to keep me level headed and educated from a young age, making me read books every day for an hour, and to make sure I read it you would ask me questions about the book.
I used to hate sitting in my room doing it until I got older and saw that some of the people I had hung with at the time couldn’t read it made me appreciate the time you took out of your day to be a mother and teach me things like that and more when you could’ve just relied on the school to teach me and did what you wanted to do with your day.
As I got older, around 7 years old, you got married to the man I call father and who helped make a man of me. Which was also the age you taught me how to wash my own clothes, cook, and clean the house to make sure I would never have to rely on a woman to do something I can do myself.
You all started taking me bowling in leagues and playing basketball in gyms and tournaments to show me there’s more to do than just being on the block.
You were determined to push me to do whatever I put my mind to and to show me a positive path to take. whether it was me getting into astronomy and you buying me a telescope or even sports.
I appreciate how you took time to instill in me morals, common sense, values, and a lot of life lessons that obviously I tended to learn the hard way. You taught me how to stand up and speak for myself.
You bought me what I needed and not what I wanted and showed me the difference between the two. You did for me what I ended up seeing a lot of other mothers not do or want to take the time out to do for their kids.
You showed me how if I worked hard I could get what I wanted because I earned it. Which was what I ended up doing every time you told me no when I asked for something.
But I also look at that as you not spoiling me and not letting me think life is going to give me handouts or people owe me something.
You value things more when you have to work hard to get it yourself instead of it being handed to you.
I know a lot of the time me trying to be in the streets and hustling to get what I wanted (because I didn't need it, I just wanted it) put me in a situation where it made you stay up late nights and early mornings worrying whether I was okay.
Now that I look back on it, I regret the stress I put you through.
You’re the reason why I’m probably so blunt and straightforward with people.
Not blaming it on you because I know I take it to another level but with you, regardless of how a person may feel, you ’ re gonna keep it real with them and tell them what’s right and what’s not, and if they don’t like it they shouldn’t have done it.
I thank you for taking me to different places which made me not always wanna be on the block because I know through you the world is bigger than just my hood.
You broaden my mind to see the bigger picture in many aspects of life.
Regardless of the decisions I choose to make now, none of that reflects on you because you did everything you were supposed to do and more as a mother.
You gave me the guidance that I need. I thank you for knowledge that I was too hard headed to understand at the time and unconditional love that is the biggest blessing to receive.
You, to me, are the best mother anyone could have and I wouldn’t change or trade anything about you.
Thank you for your love and lessons. I’m learning to take heed and put them to use, and doing that is the best way I can honor you.
Love Always, Your Son
I Am From
I'm from The Wild 100’s
E. Williams
From 116th and Wallace to 117th and normal
I'm from gunshots and sirens
I'm from candy stores and block parties
Turn to weed spots and hood fights
I'm from Jackie and David
From balling in the street on the block rim
And taking no shit and demand and respect
I'm from watch who you hang with cause
Everybody is not your friend
I'm from never judge a book by its cover
I'm from his Lord and Savior
I'm from The Chi
From mac-n-cheese, greens, cornbread, yams and pot roast
I am from if you can make it here
You can make it anywhere
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb
