all right I am going to transport you to another world was my world for nearly
another world was my world for nearly
another world was my world for nearly two decades and I want to take you
two decades and I want to take you
two decades and I want to take you inside the emotional world of poverty
inside the emotional world of poverty
inside the emotional world of poverty not to elicit empathy or sympathy or
not to elicit empathy or sympathy or
not to elicit empathy or sympathy or even guilt but just to show you what
even guilt but just to show you what
even guilt but just to show you what what that world is what that world is
what that world is what that world is
what that world is what that world is really like all right in the animated
really like all right in the animated
really like all right in the animated movie inside out which was one of my
movie inside out which was one of my
movie inside out which was one of my favorites a young girl named Riley
favorites a young girl named Riley
favorites a young girl named Riley overcomes a wide range of emotions as
overcomes a wide range of emotions as
overcomes a wide range of emotions as she navigates her world of change and my
she navigates her world of change and my
she navigates her world of change and my life story though most people know the
life story though most people know the
life story though most people know the basketball side of it only was an
basketball side of it only was an
basketball side of it only was an emotional roller coaster ride too and
emotional roller coaster ride too and
emotional roller coaster ride too and this is common in generational poverty
this is common in generational poverty
this is common in generational poverty and it shaped me from the outside in
what I’m about to share is covered in
what I’m about to share is covered in greater detail in my my latest book
greater detail in my my latest book
greater detail in my my latest book social psych anomic social classes think
social psych anomic social classes think
social psych anomic social classes think act and behave financially in the 21st
act and behave financially in the 21st
act and behave financially in the 21st century for 18 years I grew up in the
century for 18 years I grew up in the
century for 18 years I grew up in the roughest the toughest the baddest the
roughest the toughest the baddest the
roughest the toughest the baddest the meanest housing project here in central
meanest housing project here in central
meanest housing project here in central Ohio settlement gardens housing projects
Ohio settlement gardens housing projects
Ohio settlement gardens housing projects my wife I was dating her at the time she
my wife I was dating her at the time she
my wife I was dating her at the time she was my girlfriend she visited with me
was my girlfriend she visited with me
was my girlfriend she visited with me and she says there’s no way it’s not
and she says there’s no way it’s not
and she says there’s no way it’s not possible that you can actually be from
possible that you can actually be from
possible that you can actually be from an environment like this and I said I am
an environment like this and I said I am
an environment like this and I said I am and the thing that was so ironic about
and the thing that was so ironic about
and the thing that was so ironic about Sullivan Gardens was all of the streets
Sullivan Gardens was all of the streets
Sullivan Gardens was all of the streets were named after US presidents Van Buren
were named after US presidents Van Buren
were named after US presidents Van Buren McKinley Peirce Coolidge my street
McKinley Peirce Coolidge my street
McKinley Peirce Coolidge my street Buchanan
Buchanan
Buchanan they promoted liberty and freedom
they promoted liberty and freedom
they promoted liberty and freedom we of course lived in economic bondage
we of course lived in economic bondage
we of course lived in economic bondage for ten years right growing up in us
for ten years right growing up in us
for ten years right growing up in us about 18 years grow up in this
about 18 years grow up in this
about 18 years grow up in this environment there were ten people that I
environment there were ten people that I
environment there were ten people that I grew up with who either murder BAM Oh
grew up with who either murder BAM Oh
grew up with who either murder BAM Oh committed suicide ten that I grew up
committed suicide ten that I grew up
committed suicide ten that I grew up with
with
with checked out it’s not a video game you
checked out it’s not a video game you
checked out it’s not a video game you can’t press reset and started over still
can’t press reset and started over still
can’t press reset and started over still many others but we’re trapped in a
many others but we’re trapped in a
many others but we’re trapped in a literal or imaginary prison many still
literal or imaginary prison many still
literal or imaginary prison many still imprison to this day the prison of their
imprison to this day the prison of their
imprison to this day the prison of their mind I grew up in a house full of women
mind I grew up in a house full of women
mind I grew up in a house full of women that was rough growing up in a house
that was rough growing up in a house
that was rough growing up in a house full of women you see me there in the
full of women you see me there in the
full of women you see me there in the middle right I got my pink on real men
middle right I got my pink on real men
middle right I got my pink on real men wear pink I got a smile on my face my
wear pink I got a smile on my face my
wear pink I got a smile on my face my other two sisters just looking like
other two sisters just looking like
other two sisters just looking like what’s going on here three older sisters
what’s going on here three older sisters
what’s going on here three older sisters single parent mom run up and by that
single parent mom run up and by that
single parent mom run up and by that environment my sisters they used to make
environment my sisters they used to make
environment my sisters they used to make me play with doll babies they would put
me play with doll babies they would put
me play with doll babies they would put lipstick on me and put perfume on me
lipstick on me and put perfume on me
lipstick on me and put perfume on me it’s all good I turned out okay it’s all
it’s all good I turned out okay it’s all
it’s all good I turned out okay it’s all good it’s all good our family of five we
good it’s all good our family of five we
good it’s all good our family of five we received $300 a month
received $300 a month
received $300 a month on welfare that’s what we receive I’m
on welfare that’s what we receive I’m
on welfare that’s what we receive I’m not against welfare I’ll never be
not against welfare I’ll never be
not against welfare I’ll never be against welfare but welfare should be a
against welfare but welfare should be a
against welfare but welfare should be a temporary measure not a generational
temporary measure not a generational
temporary measure not a generational birthright fear the first emotion is
birthright fear the first emotion is
birthright fear the first emotion is fear all kinds of fears exist the fear
fear all kinds of fears exist the fear
fear all kinds of fears exist the fear of being violated the fear of being
of being violated the fear of being
of being violated the fear of being falsely or wrongly accused the fear of
falsely or wrongly accused the fear of
falsely or wrongly accused the fear of getting robbed or assaulted or the fear
getting robbed or assaulted or the fear
getting robbed or assaulted or the fear of seeing someone a loved one right in
of seeing someone a loved one right in
of seeing someone a loved one right in front of you died an earlier tragic
front of you died an earlier tragic
front of you died an earlier tragic death all kinds of fears exist in
death all kinds of fears exist in
death all kinds of fears exist in poverty my biggest fear was for someone
poverty my biggest fear was for someone
poverty my biggest fear was for someone to see me with the Food Stamp to this
to see me with the Food Stamp to this
to see me with the Food Stamp to this day I carry a food stamp round around as
day I carry a food stamp round around as
day I carry a food stamp round around as a constant reminder of what poverty was
a constant reminder of what poverty was
a constant reminder of what poverty was really like a debilitating condition to
really like a debilitating condition to
really like a debilitating condition to grow up in poverty and I remember going
grow up in poverty and I remember going
grow up in poverty and I remember going to the grocery store I would be in the
to the grocery store I would be in the
to the grocery store I would be in the line ready to checkout and someone from
line ready to checkout and someone from
line ready to checkout and someone from my neighborhood would walk through the
my neighborhood would walk through the
my neighborhood would walk through the door and my heart was just it’s saying
door and my heart was just it’s saying
door and my heart was just it’s saying and I would get out of the line and I
and I would get out of the line and I
and I would get out of the line and I would walk around as though I forgot
would walk around as though I forgot
would walk around as though I forgot something from my list and I would
something from my list and I would
something from my list and I would wander around I knew every item in the
wander around I knew every item in the
wander around I knew every item in the grocery store I waited for that person
grocery store I waited for that person
grocery store I waited for that person or those those people to leave because I
or those those people to leave because I
or those those people to leave because I never wanted anyone to see me with food
never wanted anyone to see me with food
never wanted anyone to see me with food stamps I never wanted anyone to see me
stamps I never wanted anyone to see me
stamps I never wanted anyone to see me poor and it’s the same fear that drives
poor and it’s the same fear that drives
poor and it’s the same fear that drives me to this day the bridge the growing
me to this day the bridge the growing
me to this day the bridge the growing wealth gap that exists in our country
wealth gap that exists in our country
wealth gap that exists in our country and obviously I need all the help I can
and obviously I need all the help I can
and obviously I need all the help I can get and by the grace of God I will
get and by the grace of God I will
get and by the grace of God I will the next emotion is anger anger is
the next emotion is anger anger is
the next emotion is anger anger is obviously a very toxic a very
obviously a very toxic a very
obviously a very toxic a very debilitating emotion in poverty
debilitating emotion in poverty
debilitating emotion in poverty sometimes you can have righteous
sometimes you can have righteous
sometimes you can have righteous righteous anger sometimes you’re angry
righteous anger sometimes you’re angry
righteous anger sometimes you’re angry angry and you don’t even know why you’re
angry and you don’t even know why you’re
angry and you don’t even know why you’re angry I know for me is I didn’t like the
angry I know for me is I didn’t like the
angry I know for me is I didn’t like the fact that I felt that people treated me
fact that I felt that people treated me
fact that I felt that people treated me like I was invisible like my life didn’t
like I was invisible like my life didn’t
like I was invisible like my life didn’t matter like I was a scum of the earth
matter like I was a scum of the earth
matter like I was a scum of the earth people will walk right past you with
people will walk right past you with
people will walk right past you with other contempt as though your life is
other contempt as though your life is
other contempt as though your life is just worthless and I remember some folks
just worthless and I remember some folks
just worthless and I remember some folks in my neighborhood they would tell me
in my neighborhood they would tell me
in my neighborhood they would tell me they say Lawrence you ain’t never gonna
they say Lawrence you ain’t never gonna
they say Lawrence you ain’t never gonna be nothing but a poor kid from the
be nothing but a poor kid from the
be nothing but a poor kid from the project’s you ain’t never getting out of
project’s you ain’t never getting out of
project’s you ain’t never getting out of here no way you’re getting out of here
here no way you’re getting out of here
here no way you’re getting out of here and I say be very very careful what you
and I say be very very careful what you
and I say be very very careful what you say your actions because you never know
say your actions because you never know
say your actions because you never know where their intentional or innocent how
where their intentional or innocent how
where their intentional or innocent how they can negatively scar someone for the
they can negatively scar someone for the
they can negatively scar someone for the rest of their life an impoverished
rest of their life an impoverished
rest of their life an impoverished in the form of ribbons you pay people
in the form of ribbons you pay people
in the form of ribbons you pay people back because they hurt you it’s not
back because they hurt you it’s not
back because they hurt you it’s not right but that’s what you do
right but that’s what you do
right but that’s what you do and as a man of faith now I deeply
and as a man of faith now I deeply
and as a man of faith now I deeply regret some of the things that I did
regret some of the things that I did
regret some of the things that I did because when I became as somebody as
because when I became as somebody as
because when I became as somebody as this sports figure I wanted to pay them
this sports figure I wanted to pay them
this sports figure I wanted to pay them back because when I was a nobody when I
back because when I was a nobody when I
back because when I was a nobody when I was a poor kid I said I want to pay
was a poor kid I said I want to pay
was a poor kid I said I want to pay people back because you didn’t care
people back because you didn’t care
people back because you didn’t care about me then why are you do you care
about me then why are you do you care
about me then why are you do you care about me now and retribution is very
about me now and retribution is very
about me now and retribution is very common all we need to do is look into
common all we need to do is look into
common all we need to do is look into our inner-city communities look into our
our inner-city communities look into our
our inner-city communities look into our prisons and we see this play out you
prisons and we see this play out you
prisons and we see this play out you have a right to be angry but you don’t
have a right to be angry but you don’t
have a right to be angry but you don’t have a right to execute judgment on
have a right to execute judgment on
have a right to execute judgment on people who had nothing to do with your
people who had nothing to do with your
people who had nothing to do with your childhood pain this has been a painful
childhood pain this has been a painful
childhood pain this has been a painful lesson I’ve had to learn through the
lesson I’ve had to learn through the
lesson I’ve had to learn through the years disgust settlement gardens that
years disgust settlement gardens that
years disgust settlement gardens that environment I never want anyone to see
environment I never want anyone to see
environment I never want anyone to see where I lived there were a couple guys
where I lived there were a couple guys
where I lived there were a couple guys who went to this school here Michael
who went to this school here Michael
who went to this school here Michael Cooper and Cecil goof I never wanted
Cooper and Cecil goof I never wanted
Cooper and Cecil goof I never wanted those guys to see where I live
those guys to see where I live
those guys to see where I live I never want anyone to come face-to-face
I never want anyone to come face-to-face
I never want anyone to come face-to-face with poverty it’s one thing to hear
with poverty it’s one thing to hear
with poverty it’s one thing to hear about poverty but it’s another thing to
about poverty but it’s another thing to
about poverty but it’s another thing to actually see it and smell it up close
actually see it and smell it up close
actually see it and smell it up close and personal and I was one of the top
and personal and I was one of the top
and personal and I was one of the top three high school players in the country
three high school players in the country
three high school players in the country every college coach wanted me not one
every college coach wanted me not one
every college coach wanted me not one college coach ever visited with me and
college coach ever visited with me and
college coach ever visited with me and my mom and our housing project
my mom and our housing project
my mom and our housing project I never wanted them to to come inside
I never wanted them to to come inside
I never wanted them to to come inside and see our Mitch match furniture I
and see our Mitch match furniture I
and see our Mitch match furniture I never wanted him to see the deplorable
never wanted him to see the deplorable
never wanted him to see the deplorable living conditions that I had to endure
living conditions that I had to endure
living conditions that I had to endure each and every day and as the youngest
each and every day and as the youngest
each and every day and as the youngest of four I had the distinction of having
of four I had the distinction of having
of four I had the distinction of having to take the trash out I didn’t have a
to take the trash out I didn’t have a
to take the trash out I didn’t have a choice of course and as you see the
choice of course and as you see the
choice of course and as you see the picture of the trash cans oftentimes
picture of the trash cans oftentimes
picture of the trash cans oftentimes there’s actually more trash outside the
there’s actually more trash outside the
there’s actually more trash outside the dumpsters than was actually in the
dumpsters than was actually in the
dumpsters than was actually in the dumpsters and you see dirty diapers you
dumpsters and you see dirty diapers you
dumpsters and you see dirty diapers you would see liquor bottles you would see
would see liquor bottles you would see
would see liquor bottles you would see pop bottles you would see milk cartons
pop bottles you would see milk cartons
pop bottles you would see milk cartons you would see all these things and and
you would see all these things and and
you would see all these things and and obviously with with one hand I had the
obviously with with one hand I had the
obviously with with one hand I had the trash trash bag and I’m stepping over
trash trash bag and I’m stepping over
trash trash bag and I’m stepping over these items and then will mother hand
these items and then will mother hand
these items and then will mother hand I’m covering my nose I’m plugging my
I’m covering my nose I’m plugging my
I’m covering my nose I’m plugging my nose and I throw the trash because I
nose and I throw the trash because I
nose and I throw the trash because I never wanted to have that stench and
never wanted to have that stench and
never wanted to have that stench and then smell it now that stench is still
then smell it now that stench is still
then smell it now that stench is still with me to this day I never want to
with me to this day I never want to
with me to this day I never want to forget about poverty that stench is as
forget about poverty that stench is as
forget about poverty that stench is as much a part of my DNA as my six four
much a part of my DNA as my six four
much a part of my DNA as my six four nine inch height and the color my skin
nine inch height and the color my skin
nine inch height and the color my skin as a black man is Who I am it will
as a black man is Who I am it will
as a black man is Who I am it will always be a part of me sadness
a lot of sad moments in poverty a lot of
a lot of sad moments in poverty a lot of heartache a lot of grief intense sadness
heartache a lot of grief intense sadness
heartache a lot of grief intense sadness is depression and lord knows I had to
is depression and lord knows I had to
is depression and lord knows I had to overcome it on many occasions and my
overcome it on many occasions and my
overcome it on many occasions and my heart was broken my father like a lot of
heart was broken my father like a lot of
heart was broken my father like a lot of kids inner-city african-american grew up
kids inner-city african-american grew up
kids inner-city african-american grew up without a father
without a father
without a father he crushed me he crushed me and my mom
he crushed me he crushed me and my mom
he crushed me he crushed me and my mom she would tell me she would say son she
she would tell me she would say son she
she would tell me she would say son she would say your father is coming to see
would say your father is coming to see
would say your father is coming to see you I’m like really he’s coming to see
you I’m like really he’s coming to see
you I’m like really he’s coming to see me and I wait outside all day I wouldn’t
me and I wait outside all day I wouldn’t
me and I wait outside all day I wouldn’t go outside and play out and wait outside
go outside and play out and wait outside
go outside and play out and wait outside and I wait and I would look outside he
and I wait and I would look outside he
and I wait and I would look outside he never showed up he never showed up
never showed up he never showed up
never showed up he never showed up I’m your son and you do me like this and
I’m your son and you do me like this and
I’m your son and you do me like this and those rare moments when he was show up
those rare moments when he was show up
those rare moments when he was show up he was an alcoholic he was drunk never
he was an alcoholic he was drunk never
he was an alcoholic he was drunk never gave me the satisfaction of being sober
gave me the satisfaction of being sober
gave me the satisfaction of being sober was an alcoholic he’d take me to the
was an alcoholic he’d take me to the
was an alcoholic he’d take me to the corner store and buy me some candy I
corner store and buy me some candy I
corner store and buy me some candy I hate candy to this day buy me some candy
hate candy to this day buy me some candy
hate candy to this day buy me some candy I run to the candy aisle he runs to the
I run to the candy aisle he runs to the
I run to the candy aisle he runs to the adult beverage cooler to buy a 40 ounce
adult beverage cooler to buy a 40 ounce
adult beverage cooler to buy a 40 ounce a malt liquor
a malt liquor
a malt liquor OD I hate that smell most of my candy
OD I hate that smell most of my candy
OD I hate that smell most of my candy had to go back on the shelf to pay for
had to go back on the shelf to pay for
had to go back on the shelf to pay for his liquor I’m riding their car with an
his liquor I’m riding their car with an
his liquor I’m riding their car with an inebriated man who just so happens to
inebriated man who just so happens to
inebriated man who just so happens to share one half of my DNA what does the
share one half of my DNA what does the
share one half of my DNA what does the Sun say to a father that he doesn’t know
Sun say to a father that he doesn’t know
Sun say to a father that he doesn’t know what does a father say to his son that
what does a father say to his son that
what does a father say to his son that he doesn’t want a lot of unanswered
he doesn’t want a lot of unanswered
he doesn’t want a lot of unanswered questions in poverty my sons in the back
questions in poverty my sons in the back
questions in poverty my sons in the back back here and he asked me he said he
back here and he asked me he said he
back here and he asked me he said he said daddy how come your father didn’t
said daddy how come your father didn’t
said daddy how come your father didn’t love you
and I can’t answer that question he died
and I can’t answer that question he died at the age of 40 he cared more about
at the age of 40 he cared more about
at the age of 40 he cared more about that bottle than about the emotions that
that bottle than about the emotions that
that bottle than about the emotions that were bottled up inside of me did I go to
were bottled up inside of me did I go to
were bottled up inside of me did I go to his funeral
his funeral
his funeral absolutely not surprise or shock our
absolutely not surprise or shock our
absolutely not surprise or shock our housing project was nicknamed Madison
housing project was nicknamed Madison
housing project was nicknamed Madison Square Gardens if you know anything
Square Gardens if you know anything
Square Gardens if you know anything about Madison Square Garden you know
about Madison Square Garden you know
about Madison Square Garden you know it’s a lot of action there a lot of
it’s a lot of action there a lot of
it’s a lot of action there a lot of action in our neighborhood but mostly on
action in our neighborhood but mostly on
action in our neighborhood but mostly on the bad side Suliman Gardens had a
the bad side Suliman Gardens had a
the bad side Suliman Gardens had a recreation center and we were hosting a
recreation center and we were hosting a
recreation center and we were hosting a softball game that one fateful day in
softball game that one fateful day in
softball game that one fateful day in the summer I was about nine years of age
the summer I was about nine years of age
the summer I was about nine years of age I was a spectator just watching a game
I was a spectator just watching a game
I was a spectator just watching a game and I don’t know why this visiting
and I don’t know why this visiting
and I don’t know why this visiting Recreation Center an all-white team
Recreation Center an all-white team
Recreation Center an all-white team wanting to come inside of Sullivan
wanting to come inside of Sullivan
wanting to come inside of Sullivan Gardens because they obviously didn’t
Gardens because they obviously didn’t
Gardens because they obviously didn’t get the memo that even when you’re
get the memo that even when you’re
get the memo that even when you’re invited into Sullivan Gardens
invited into Sullivan Gardens
invited into Sullivan Gardens you’re still not welcomed if you’re an
you’re still not welcomed if you’re an
you’re still not welcomed if you’re an outsider so we had some guys on our team
outsider so we had some guys on our team
outsider so we had some guys on our team who were too old to be playing nobody
who were too old to be playing nobody
who were too old to be playing nobody was going to stop him of course from
was going to stop him of course from
was going to stop him of course from planning a game and they were smacking
planning a game and they were smacking
planning a game and they were smacking homeruns left and right over the fence
homeruns left and right over the fence
homeruns left and right over the fence and then after the game after the game
and then after the game after the game
and then after the game after the game they gave that team a beat-down and a
they gave that team a beat-down and a
they gave that team a beat-down and a Smackdown and a stomp down and in in
Smackdown and a stomp down and in in
Smackdown and a stomp down and in in this this next moment scarred me for the
this this next moment scarred me for the
this this next moment scarred me for the rest of my life there was a guy who was
rest of my life there was a guy who was
rest of my life there was a guy who was had nothing to do with the game he was
had nothing to do with the game he was
had nothing to do with the game he was just watching but he wanted to
just watching but he wanted to
just watching but he wanted to participate in some format he grabs a
participate in some format he grabs a
participate in some format he grabs a baseball bat he picks it up to coach
baseball bat he picks it up to coach
baseball bat he picks it up to coach another team a muscular white guy he
another team a muscular white guy he
another team a muscular white guy he picks it up and the guys like please
picks it up and the guys like please
picks it up and the guys like please please don’t do this please as a plea
please don’t do this please as a plea
please don’t do this please as a plea bargain as a goodwill gesture he said
bargain as a goodwill gesture he said
bargain as a goodwill gesture he said please don’t don’t please and he swings
please don’t don’t please and he swings
please don’t don’t please and he swings as hard as he could and he smacks the
as hard as he could and he smacks the
as hard as he could and he smacks the guy on the side of the head he’s
guy on the side of the head he’s
guy on the side of the head he’s bleeding but I thought he would be
bleeding but I thought he would be
bleeding but I thought he would be bleeding a lot more and and and I
bleeding a lot more and and and I
bleeding a lot more and and and I thought the blow would actually gonna
thought the blow would actually gonna
thought the blow would actually gonna what’s gonna kill him and he’s
what’s gonna kill him and he’s
what’s gonna kill him and he’s staggering all over the place
staggering all over the place
staggering all over the place staggering you know you had that gut
staggering you know you had that gut
staggering you know you had that gut feeling sometimes when you say man
feeling sometimes when you say man
feeling sometimes when you say man something Bad’s gonna happen you know
something Bad’s gonna happen you know
something Bad’s gonna happen you know how you have that feeling I knew
how you have that feeling I knew
how you have that feeling I knew something bad was going to happen
something bad was going to happen
something bad was going to happen and I didn’t stick around to see the end
and I didn’t stick around to see the end
and I didn’t stick around to see the end of it I run all the way home sprint all
of it I run all the way home sprint all
of it I run all the way home sprint all the way home sprint was about hundred
the way home sprint was about hundred
the way home sprint was about hundred yards from the softball field run do my
yards from the softball field run do my
yards from the softball field run do my door up the steps and I do a swan dive
door up the steps and I do a swan dive
door up the steps and I do a swan dive on my bed and I tell myself I got to get
on my bed and I tell myself I got to get
on my bed and I tell myself I got to get out of here I got to get out of this
out of here I got to get out of this
out of here I got to get out of this this torture unless you think otherwise
this torture unless you think otherwise
this torture unless you think otherwise there were some happy moments not many
there were some happy moments not many
there were some happy moments not many but there were some and most people know
but there were some and most people know
but there were some and most people know me as a basketball player but nothing
me as a basketball player but nothing
me as a basketball player but nothing ever bought as much joy to me as
ever bought as much joy to me as
ever bought as much joy to me as academics being in an institution like
academics being in an institution like
academics being in an institution like here of higher learning I couldn’t
here of higher learning I couldn’t
here of higher learning I couldn’t control the clothes that I wore how
control the clothes that I wore how
control the clothes that I wore how bummed me out look I couldn’t control
bummed me out look I couldn’t control
bummed me out look I couldn’t control whether or not I have enough food in my
whether or not I have enough food in my
whether or not I have enough food in my stomach but I could control those
stomach but I could control those
stomach but I could control those thoughts that knowledge that I could
thoughts that knowledge that I could
thoughts that knowledge that I could place up here in my brain I control that
place up here in my brain I control that
place up here in my brain I control that with a religious fervor and I felt even
with a religious fervor and I felt even
with a religious fervor and I felt even as a poor kid I had no equal poor kids
as a poor kid I had no equal poor kids
as a poor kid I had no equal poor kids middle-class kids rich kids
middle-class kids rich kids
middle-class kids rich kids I had no equal intellectually and people
I had no equal intellectually and people
I had no equal intellectually and people thought I was arrogant as a basketball
thought I was arrogant as a basketball
thought I was arrogant as a basketball player in a classroom I was really cocky
and you see this gym bag up here
and you see this gym bag up here obviously some of you probably play
obviously some of you probably play
obviously some of you probably play sports or did back in the day I’m a
sports or did back in the day I’m a
sports or did back in the day I’m a basketball okay but mostly in poverty
basketball okay but mostly in poverty
basketball okay but mostly in poverty you carry this gym bag around disgust
you carry this gym bag around disgust
you carry this gym bag around disgust anger sadness you carry it around with
anger sadness you carry it around with
anger sadness you carry it around with excuses somewhat more legitimate but I
excuses somewhat more legitimate but I
excuses somewhat more legitimate but I have a question to ask you
it’s a wait a minute question how many
it’s a wait a minute question how many of you have ever thought what it’s like
of you have ever thought what it’s like
of you have ever thought what it’s like to live in an environment of lack of
to live in an environment of lack of
to live in an environment of lack of stress well you never know when your
stress well you never know when your
stress well you never know when your next meal is gonna come you don’t know
next meal is gonna come you don’t know
next meal is gonna come you don’t know even if you’re going to get home that
even if you’re going to get home that
even if you’re going to get home that day because of the violence
day because of the violence
day because of the violence how many of you have ever taken a time
how many of you have ever taken a time
how many of you have ever taken a time to think about kids like me grew up just
to think about kids like me grew up just
to think about kids like me grew up just like me what that life is really like in
like me what that life is really like in
like me what that life is really like in poverty as again not guilt but just to
poverty as again not guilt but just to
poverty as again not guilt but just to be aware I want to thank you for your
be aware I want to thank you for your
be aware I want to thank you for your time may God bless each and every one of
time may God bless each and every one of
time may God bless each and every one of you thank you
”
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