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, expanding the voices and sharing personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the healing process of drafting, revising, and publishing memoirs, participants develop selfreflection, critical thinking, camaraderie, and positive self-projection to author new life narratives. With support from Chicago CRED, ConTextos works with New Mount Pilgrim MB Church’s MAAFA Redemption Project. MAAFA’s mission is to significantly improve the quality of life for young men of color and their families on West Garfield Park providing dormitory-style residential support, workforce training, personal/spiritual-development, and a host of wrap-around social services. The embedded ConTextos Authors Circle provides a synergistic space of reflection, connection and healing growth as authors continue to forge new life chapters. The powerful memoirs from the 2021-2022 MAAFA Author Circle complicate myopic, monolithic narratives and include an array of Sankofa Stories, transformative experiences and vibrant insights of young men on the West Side of Chicago.
I am from heroes of the country. From Bally Martial Arts and Amundsen Park (Home of the Dolphins). I am from the blue crib in the middle of the block. Militant, Observant, Always aware. I am from sticky bugs, watered grass and waterhoses. Too fun to go in, I rehydrated at the waterhose. I am from pampered love and tough love. From Marcus and Lawanda.
I’m from toxicity and generosity, From you’re going to be the next big thing And stay focused. I’m from the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. I’m from Outwest Chicago Italian beef dipped with cheese and hot peppers, And chips with nacho cheese. I am from discipline and respect A student of self defense!
A memoir is a personal narrative that shares reflections, insights and transformative experiences of an author’s life journey.
It was a warm humid Chicago summer day, and nothing seemed abnormal. I was hanging out with my friends, rolling up a backwood when I received a disturbing phone call.
The incoming call was from my older sister, and once I answered, she spoke in a panicked, dramatic, crying tone. Unable to understand her, I tried calming her down. At the time, she was 6 months pregnant with my nephew, so I assumed her hormones made her dramatic, but boyyy was I wrong. “Jalil! He broke my phone,” she said frantically. “I’m tired of this nigga putting his hands on me,” she yelled. “He fucking hit you?” I asked while simultaneously urging her to answer her Facetime. Once she answered, seeing her almost brought tears in my eyes. Her eye was swollen shut, her face was restructured and her lips were cracked with dried up dark colored blood on them.
“Where he at?” I asked. By this time, my sister knew that I was seeking relitation by the anger displayed on my face. She was hesitant to inform me on his whereabouts, and that made me livid. “Where THE FUCK is he?” I demanded. She told me that he could have been at his other baby momma house, which conveniently enough was literally around the corner from where I was at the time.
I called my cousin, who was more like my brother, to have backup for any unforeseen bullshit. We pulled up to the location where we suspected he was hiding. I started kicking the door as if S.W.A.T. was executing a search warrant. “Check it out, tough ass boy.” I yelled from outside the house. That’s when my sister’s baby father’s other baby mother answered the door in a panic. “He’s not here.” She anxiously said. “He can’t hide forever.” I said with an evil grin. “I’ll see him when I see him.”
Some time went by with no sight, or sound of dude’s whereabouts. My sister seemed normal again, and I was convinced she moved on. Well, up until I finally saw the motherfucka I was looking for. My sister was good at hiding her relationships, so seeing dude really caught me by surprise. I was cooling with my homies, smoking a backwood when I called my sister and asked her to throw me a couple dollars.
When she pulled up to give me the money, guess who was in the passenger seat. If you guessed the person I was looking for, then you guessed correctly. Surprise motherfucka! I landed the first punch with great force! “Lemme get that jaw” I said, as I landed the punch that busted his mouth. After being stunned, he opened the car door, and the fight began! A few punches and kicks later, my friends broke up the tussle and he got back in the car! It felt my duty to protect my sisters from that day forward. Especially because my father told my sister, “You’ll leave when you don’t want your ass beat anymore!” That made me livid! I felt as a father, you should protect your offspring no matter what or how old they get! So, from that moment on, I vowed to always have my sister’s back!
Sorry I didn’t call you back. I often get so caught up in life and having fun, that I stop calling my loved ones. There would not be a Jalil if it wasn’t for you. The crazy thing is you never want materialistic things or money.
My safety in the city is your peace.
I can only imagine the anxiety you feel when we haven’t talked and you see a developing story about a shooting near me. All in all, I love you Momma, and now I realize the importance of loving while you’re here!
Personally, I cherish every moment with my loved ones. We all have an expiration date, and we often assume we have more time on earth. Losing my grandfather was the gut punch of reality to me. He wasn’t the richest man alive, but he always displayed his love through support and knowledge. He was the battery in my back, when it came to sports and I wouldn’t be the man I am without him. He contributed to my competitiveness by motivating me to be the best Jalil that I could be.
Sankofa is a word from the Ghanian Twi language meaning “Go back and get it.” “Sankofa teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward. That is, we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward. Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.”* *UIC African American Studies Department
Some things are priceless, and a healthy relationship with my grandfather is one of those things I have been blessed with. From birth, you helped play a role in my development in work ethics, mannerisms, characteristics, and life necessities. My grandfather taught me that love from a male is necessary.
You always spoke life in me, challenged me to be better, and most importantly held me accountable for my actions. This is important to me because I continue to practice these same values to this day. My grandfather taught me that hardwork never goes unnoticed. You encouraged me to become the best Jalil in everything I do. I was blessed to have a positive male role model that genuinely wants what’s best for me.
As a child, my grandfather introduced me to WWF/WWE wrestling, and I fell in love with the “sport” immediately. We would watch the programs that ran on Mondays and Fridays, eyes glued to the television, on the edge of the seat. We never missed a show! We watched every episode, every month PPV and we even went to see it live everytime they came to Chicago. The superfan experience was cool, however I appreciate my Grandfather Frank for far more reasons.
You helped me develop basic life necessities such as learning how to catch a fish, skinning it, and frying it. The irony in this was that I hated seafood! I just enjoyed the bonding experience and a chance to be around. I would like to thank my papa for everything. My laid back, cool demeanor has allowed me to become somewhat of the same. After Encountering many situations, one thing for certain is, some situations are almost impossible to recover from.
The world is yours and everything in it! You gonna go get it? Long stressful days in poverty and harsh living conditions are of the past. My future holds me exploring the world. Seeking the origins of my bloodline. Brown skin beauty is what lies in my DNA.
The motherland awaits my arrival. The pyramids of Giza are a must see for me. The youth needs a positive black role model and I have no problem being ”The man for the job.” I want to be able to offer help when needed as well as open up business opportunities for men of color.