ELIEZER
I’m Not a Criminal
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.
I'm
Not a Criminal
Eliezer Curtis
Growing up I wanted to be in the NBA because I love playing basketball. When I lost my father at the age of eight years old in 2012, I was angry because he was my role model. I didn’t know how to process that he wasn’t going to be able to be in my life anymore. So I turned to sports to let out my emotions, plus the game of basketball was fun and I loved it.
Then my older cousins became my role models and they were in the streets. After hanging with my cousins on a daily, I wanted to be in the streets as well because the money, clothes, and females they had was attracting me. But they didn’t allow me to join their gang because of my age and my love for basketball.
They always told me they wanted me to do something, to be better than them. But that all seemed to change when I lost one of my favorite cousins at a young age in 2016. So I started to hang around the wrong people because it brought me peace.
I started to get in trouble a lot more often. Then I met this girl who wanted better for me because she saw the trouble I was getting into. A few months later she got pregnant with my son.
Brought me his mother closer than what we were. During the 9 months of my baby mother's pregnancy we had ups and downs but overall it was the best 9 months of my life.
My baby's mother started to get big over time and had to be on bad rest even though she wanted to be active, like she wasn't pregnant with my son.
During the pregnancy, I loved it because I was taking care of my baby mother by making her food everyday, rubbing her feet, stomach, helping her wash up, and I was talking to my son through her stomach.
We had many debates on what to name my son. It literally took us a week or two to come up with my son ' s name. We ended up naming him after me: Eliezer M. Curtis Jr.
Once I found out, I promised myself I was going to do better with my life for my son and myself. I wanted to be the best role model for my son, because my role model died at a young age of my life and my role model became the streets.
I didn’t want my son ’ s role model to be the streets as well, so I graduated high school and got my high school diploma.
When I graduated high school, my son was a year old and I wanted to be the best role model for my son Junior.
After high school, I enrolled in a community college. I was accepted into Kennedy King Community College.
My major was nursing because I’m spiritual and healthy and I wanted to be in the health field. I love helping people.
My first day of college was fun. I was a little nervous experiencing another level of education, but I was curious and determined. So I developed my time and focus on school while being a father at home at the age of 18 years old in 2020.
My son made me become mature at a young age, and being a father is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Having somebody (my son) look up to me was adorable.
I love teaching my son new things.
I am not a criminal. I am a father and was a student before my incarceration.
I have a family that needs me and a son who looks up to me.
I Am From
Eliezer Curtis
I am from across Western where it ain't safe at
From Englewood and West Englewood
Where your close friends turn into your enemies
I'm from where soul food gets cooked
And where your soul can get cooked by a bullet
I'm from Lowelife, the Lowe buildings
I'm from where you got to be in by the street lights
I'm from eating noodles hot dogs and chili all day
Cuz it's not no food in the house
I'm from the slums where we turn nothing into something
And from the ghetto where you see and experience
The worst things at a young age
I'm from playing ding dong ditch and throwing rocks at moving cars
And from beating buckets and shoveling snow for money
I'm from Granny house where she don't want your hands on her walls
I'm from Chi-Raq
From everybody ain’t your friends
But they playing a role like they is
From where no love is given which can turn into hate
Which eventually turns into anger
I'm from pain that led to success and greatness
