Thread by @MajorFactor2

What you know about living in an abandoned house with a younger brother, younger cousin, and having to steal food outta grocery stores, just to feed all of us, and I was only 10 or 11yrs-old myself. Til the police kicked in the door, and they ended up in foster care.

I ended up at a family members house. My uncle took me in, the same one that just passed a couple days ago. I stayed with him until I about 15, and I jumped off the porch full speed ahead, hustling. Still took my ass to school, and hit the block soon as the bell rang.

I had a pocket full of stones (UGK voice), making more $$ than I knew what to do with at that age. Had an adult get a house in they name for me, but I paid all the bills as youngn. Connected with some older family members that had the city on lock.

I went from taking orders in my uncles house, to sitting at the table with other family members, counting a mill or more in cash, every couple weeks. I can speak on it now, cause all the family finally came home after doing a straight 30 yrs fed time. “The Mob”

I was on my own after the feds swept the town, and took over 35 of my closet folks. I stayed on my hustle when they left, and also kept my head in them books too. September 13th, 1996, 2 weeks before my 22nd birthday, I was robbed, and shot a few times that day

Left paralyzed, and a bullet still in the back of my neck. Lucky to have survived, although I flatlined a couple of times in the ambulance (seen that white light). Spent he next 7 months in the rehab institute of Chicago, downtown!

I took that, and done what I had to do, which was adjust myself to the new life I was lucky to still be above ground. No complaints in me, you gotta take the good with the bad. Thankfully, my finances were in order.

I used my book smarts, and put that $$ to work, legit! Haven’t looked back since, to the streets. No one can change their past, but you can ensure that your future is much different than where you started from, for those that know the struggle.

Many of my close family has passed, including 2 of my brothers, and cousin I spoke on. I’m left here alone, to do better than what we were accustomed to as kids in the projects. I need, nor want for anything, and I’m thankful for that too. I came along way from the block days.

I said all that, to say this. Don’t allow your past to dictate your future, and never allow others to shame you because you haven’t arrived to where they are, currently in life. Hold ya head, stand firm in your beliefs, and stay on your shit at all times. Focused and aware.

Just because I went the way I did, doesn’t mean the next generation has to. Never forget where you came from, and those that stuck it out with you along the way. There’s a light at the end of that tunnel. #IYKYK

Damn, that felt good to get off my chest! #HappyToBeHere 💯✊🏾

My name is, Jimmy! Thanks for coming to my Ted-talk.