Its a little hard to put into words the experience of growing up in North Richmond, just one of the neighborhoods in the city where drugs and crime have the upper hand. I remember being almost immune to the sound of gunshots because they were so common. I also remember having to walk the same sidewalk where a woman's brains had been splattered the night before, on my way to get the bus to school. And then, there was that time when there was a drive-by on my street, where several people were gunned down, at 7:30 in the morning while kids were heading to the bus stop for school. I would have been amongst those gunned down had I not already been at school because I had an early class that year. Heavy experiences for youth and everyone else who desired to live in peace.

If I said that the killing of this young mother was a surprise I'd be lying. The entire city has a reputation. Just this past Sunday, a couple of guys actually walked into a church in Richmond and opened fire. A church! Luckily, nobody died, but two people were hit, this time the intended targets. Its pure senseless madness, and it has me wondering, what will come of us? Us as people who still live in neighborhoods like this. Us as people who want to go back to our neighborhoods bearing resources. Us as a people. Period. Do you have any idea how much of a challenge it is to rise above these kinds of conditions? When you are living in the middle of a war zone and every direction points in, instead of out?

I just really feel for this woman's children. In a split second, two children were left without their mother, and a baby will never get to take its first breath.

Below is a song by a couple of friends of mine who go by the name The Wryters. They give a little account of what its like growing up in Richmond from the perspective of young black men. Take a listen.