People Power Movement ✊🏾
Yesterday I was introduced to something that was extremely inspiring, very positive and very uplifting as well. Reminds me of the “Stop the Violence” march that I participated in last month only this time, it was only a few of us and these were the same people I met at the march through a mutual friend. I was introduced to the People Power Movement. The People Power Movement is a movement that’s all for the African American and Hispanic/Latin communities. It’s an organization that’s all about anti-racism, anti-sexist, and pro-poor. They are a working class political organization who educate and are for more positive things and changes. Yesterday, I was uptown on the 4 train line on Kingsbridge with my new friend Damian, whose part of the People Power Movement, and a couple of others as well where we were walking up and down the neighborhood basically asking people who are from that area questions about their experiences living in the neighborhood and what they do and don’t like about the neighborhood and what they think should be changed and/or needs to be different. The stories that I’ve heard yesterday almost made me tuck in my gold rope chain because of the horror that people faced in their lives and how they ended up living in The Bronx on Kingsbridge and what it was like living there. One guy who only lived in Kingsbridge for 6 months got car jacked, ONLY 6 months. I was shocked about that mostly because I’ve lived in The Bronx my entire life and have never experienced nothing like that but of course I definitely know that it’s nothing new. Another guy from Ghana who owns an African mart business was telling us about his country and what life was like living in The Bronx but I don’t remember all of the details as I was drifting in and out of the discussion in disbelief. After that, me, Damian and the others basically spent the rest of the day just chillin’ in St. James Park talking about their next moves, new goals, accomplishments and planning on future meetings and events and stuff. I was told that I will be involved more because I made it clear that I was definitely down to join and to be a part of the movement. We all grabbed a bite to eat and then took the 4 back home. There’s just something about movements like these that make me feel so powerful and enlightened. To know that I can be a part of something that can help towards making positive changes in our communities. Definitely can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.
written by Jay-Doggz
Yesterday was definitely the most uplifting, inspiring and most powerful experiences I’ve ever had in my life. There was a “Stop the Violence” protest march that happened on Hunts Point and ended p on Longwood Avenue in front of the 41st Precinct. My friend tagged me on the post about it the days before it happened and I was honestly the most terrified I have ever been in my life. I was feeling so terrified about the march at first because these crooked ass cops out here are really no joke when it comes to their guns and of course, I thought of the worst case scenario but of course I was completely wrong and it’s just like what they say – what you’re mostly afraid of can possibly change your life if you be more open minded and that’s exactly what happened. The march started at 4 but of course, I didn’t leave my house until 5 because it takes me a while to get ready but anyways, I walked all the way to Hunts Point with an open mind, a half frozen bottle of water, and a positive and fearless attitude. I finally get to Hunts Point and I see a crowd of people standing around with picket signs, camera people and a couple of NYPD vans. I finally caught up with the crowd and see a couple of my homies in the crowd, including my close friend who told me about the march in the first place and another good friend from high school too. We embrace one another, ask each other how we’ve been and stuff and of course as usual, everybody is good and then we continue walking. As we’re walking we’re chanting “What do we want!? JUSTICE! When do we want it!? NOW!” and “If your mama don’t get it!? SHUT IT DOWN!” and all other kinds of chants that was led by this powerful guy who goes by the name of Rodstarz whose one 
half of the political conscious and raw hip hop group hailed from Chicago named Rebel Diaz. I knew these guys about 4 or 5 years now and they’re always active in their communities by spreading knowledge and positivity through hip hop shows and protests like this one. To be around these guys is always a pleasure because I someday hope to be a hip hop artist just like them. Their brave and bold spirit to attack issues in our communities without any apologies is always so amazing to me. We ended up at the 41st precinct on Longwood Avenue, right up the street from the 6 train station and the BX19 bus stop. Rod is on the mic still preaching in front of the cops who happened to be standing around outside the precinct about what kind of injustices are going on around the world and what kind of impact they’re having on both Black and Latin communities all over America. He continued by having everyone grieve the ones who were wrongfully murdered by police brutality, calling out their names, saying “I can’t breathe!” 11 times in honor of Eric Gardner, and then after all that, they played both classic hip hop records “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy and “Sound of Da Police” by KRS-One out loud on this huge speaker. The march was pretty much over and everyone went their separate ways but when I left with 2 of my high school friends, we spent the rest of the day just talking about the march and reflecting on it. I have never felt so empowered in my life. It gave me a totally different and larger perspective on things and it even gave me creative ideas for music and image way in the future when it comes my time to finally make music. I could definitely use that experience and the social injustices that’s going on in America in my music someday, just like Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, KRS-One, Beyoncé and even the X-Clan.