A little short story to help illustrate the idea behind this post's message.
He stood out on the corner from 4 pm until 6 am everyday. He attended to his block. He made sure no one interrupted his business. He was the man for 14 hours. The hood feared him for 14 hours. His feens worshipped him for 14 hours. His competitors hated him for 14 hours. He stood on guard for 14 hours. Minding his business but watching his back, alone. Had more than he needed, but greed fed his determination. So day in and day out, he found what he thought was love in a hopeless place. He found levels to life in a new space. He lost himself a little bit every day. Because he didn't know what he was searching for in the first place...
by: AudriWrites
Hood love is what it implies, love obtained from the hood. Love itself is such a powerful emotion that it builds bonds that can withstand a lifetime. Bonds like no other. When you grow up disadvantaged or lacking love, you tend to flock to whatever makes you feel like it loves you in return. Even when you don't even know what "love" is. Without knowledge of what "love is" it is easily misinterpreted and misappropriated.
He stood out on the corner from 4 pm until 6 am everyday. He attended to his block. He made sure no one interrupted his business. He was the man for 14 hours. The hood feared him for 14 hours. His feens worshipped him for 14 hours. His competitors hated him for 14 hours. He stood on guard for 14 hours. Minding his business but watching his back, alone. Had more than he needed, but greed fed his determination. So day in and day out, he found what he thought was love in a hopeless place. He found levels to life in a new space. He lost himself a little bit every day. Because he didn't know what he was searching for in the first place...
by: AudriWrites
*****
Hood love is what it implies, love obtained from the hood. Love itself is such a powerful emotion that it builds bonds that can withstand a lifetime. Bonds like no other. When you grow up disadvantaged or lacking love, you tend to flock to whatever makes you feel like it loves you in return. Even when you don't even know what "love" is. Without knowledge of what "love is" it is easily misinterpreted and misappropriated.
Men, women and children who live and die for or in the streets of his/her hood, do so because that is the only place they ever felt what they perceived to be love. But what type of love is it that they think they've gained? When your naive you think that your "brothers" and "sisters" who understand what you lack, know how to love you. How could they possibly know how to love you, when they have never been loved and/or don't understand what love is? One must be able to understand it, in order to recognize it. If you truly understood what love was, you would know that "hood love" is selfish love. Hood love looks out for your best interest, only when your best interest coincides with it's own. So who is really looking out for you?
Love, I have defined several times, but, in short it is an unconditional gesture of faith, adoration, honesty and humility that brings peace. Anything that requires you to be unsettled (continuously on guard), unsafe or idolized possesses no love. Love doesn't allow you to play on the weak for personal gain. If you loved your hood, you wouldn't contribute to its demise. If you loved your hood you would not place the crack, in the mouths of the people who you "love" or who "love" you. You wouldn't stifle your community. If you knew what love was you would not allow yourself to turn the other cheek or to be so gullible. So blinded by the what's right in front of you. You wouldn't ignore your moral compass and you would do "right" and seek to understand love.
So, now that you understand that "hood love" is a term that is conveniently used to describe individuals who have lost their way. Individuals who do not claim ownership of their contribution in the demise of their people. And individuals who seek personal gain at all costs. You know now that the hood never loved you. That is an irrational thought implanted by more of those who misunderstand, misinterpret and misappropriate love. So, I encourage you to be the change. Stand for the community. Learn to love the way love was meant to be, unselfishly.
Love, I have defined several times, but, in short it is an unconditional gesture of faith, adoration, honesty and humility that brings peace. Anything that requires you to be unsettled (continuously on guard), unsafe or idolized possesses no love. Love doesn't allow you to play on the weak for personal gain. If you loved your hood, you wouldn't contribute to its demise. If you loved your hood you would not place the crack, in the mouths of the people who you "love" or who "love" you. You wouldn't stifle your community. If you knew what love was you would not allow yourself to turn the other cheek or to be so gullible. So blinded by the what's right in front of you. You wouldn't ignore your moral compass and you would do "right" and seek to understand love.
So, now that you understand that "hood love" is a term that is conveniently used to describe individuals who have lost their way. Individuals who do not claim ownership of their contribution in the demise of their people. And individuals who seek personal gain at all costs. You know now that the hood never loved you. That is an irrational thought implanted by more of those who misunderstand, misinterpret and misappropriate love. So, I encourage you to be the change. Stand for the community. Learn to love the way love was meant to be, unselfishly.
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