The Irony by Jaran Hughes

The Irony

Jaran Hughes aka Mr. Jwheel

African Proverb

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.

Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter

-

Jaran Hughes The Irony

Never knew my life would come to this. Growing up on 61st, I had some good times and bad times. Back in 2014 to 15, in early 2014 me and my friends used to play it around the block.

We used to play one catch all to see who was going to be the last one to get caught. After that we got bored. We started throwing rocks at buses and cars. We threw rocks at the wrong car and somebody hopped out and chased us for like three blocks.

After that we stopped and started having Rock Wars with each other. We split up into two groups and went on the other side of the street and threw rocks at each other. That used to always start fights with us.

The fights used to be funny until somebody got too for real. One day my homie got into it with the other homie and he couldn't catch him so he went and beat his dog up. I was dying laughing.

The next day he popped up with the BB gun and chased them. I miss those days in 2015 when we had the blizzard. My homie used to stay on the second floor and we was jumping out his window into the snow.

I was scared at first until I saw like three of my homies do it and ain't nothing happened. I was like “bet,” and jumped out the window. It was fun.

We were helping people get their cars unstuck out of parking spots. Having snowball wars. I made a mistake and threw ice and my homie ducked and it busted a car window. We took off. When summer came we were doing all types of stuff to get in trouble.

I ain't believe her so I wasn't claiming her. I found out later she was mine. I didn't know what to do because I was young. She had my first daughter in 2018. Her name is Zyriyah. She is five now and looks just like me.

My first time going to jail was in 2017. Me and my friends was coming from the basketball court and somebody left their car keys in the door. I took them. Then came back and took the car later.

That was my first time getting locked up. The start of my criminal life. That's when things started going bad. My homie and I used to be with each other everyday. He got shot when he was on his way home from the store.

That shit fucked me up. He didn't gangbang. I was gangbanging a little but not all the way. After that happened there were so many thoughts going through my mind. The main thing I remember was saying fuck it and I started gangbanging harder.

My homie is still alive now that's my dawg. I love him like a little brother. I met the girl I’ll love for life in 2017, her name Maya. Right now we on and off in our relationship. She had my second baby, another girl in 2019. It made me happy. Her name is Malayah and she finna be 4.

I lost my rappy in 2019, three weeks before Malayah was born. It broke my heart. I started popping pills everyday to try to ease the pain. I was popping 2 or better after my rappy died and it Unleash the Beast.

After I got caught they put me on papers for 2 years. In 2020 I caught my first gun charge. They extended my papers for another 2 years, that's when I started slowing down. 2021 I got Maya pregnant again. This time everything went bad. I got locked up for something I didn't do. In the beginning of 2022, she had the baby, March 10th 2022.

I wasn't there to see my daughter be born. Her name is Aziyah. I have three kids, all girls now. I'm sitting in jail fighting for my life trying to get everything right.

I’ve started making music now. I'm writing a book. I never liked writing but I got to let everybody know the story about how things can go from good to bad to it’s good again.

Being in jail changed me a lot. It made me look at everything and everybody different. I'm getting my GED in a couple of weeks and I found Allah, by being patient.

The streets ain't for everybody. That's why they made sidewalks. So if you ' re not ready for the streets, be patient and stay on the sidewalk. Living the fast life is not cool. Look where it got me. Wise words from the one and only Mr. JWheel Don't Crash At All.

To my kids and family I love y 'all. I will be home soon and everything will be okay. It's just a setback for me to find myself. Next time y 'all see me I'll be better than ever.

Dear Jayski,

I shouldn't have left you that day. I told you not to go to that party without me and you still went. Now you gone and my heart broke. When I got that call in the middle of the night they said you got shot. I lost it. I was on the run so I couldn't go up to the hospital. I had to wait for somebody to call me and it wasn't the call I wanted. They told me you was dead. I didn't want to believe it. I lost my closest friend, the only person I could talk to about anything. Now I'm just out here lost because they took you from us.

Rest in peace Jayski, rest in peace grandma, long live 13, long live Spyda, long live Lil AJ, Long Live Boss Moo.

I Am From

Jaran Hughes aka Mr. Jwheel

I am from the southside of Chicago.

From 61st and Indiana.

I am Mr. J Wheel don’t crash at all

I am a proud father of 3 girls.

I am Harry Hughes and Jennifer Moore’s first born.

I am the recreation of the life I live.

I am young and talented and dangerous

I am the protection my family needs.

I am from gun violence and fighting to make sure I’m safe.

I am from Allah the one and only.

Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb