Another Day en la Oficina

Twas a good day in the life of Sir Latin. Had a rocky start but got through it like a champ and pushed forward to the tasks and mission of the day. The mission which I chose to accept was to head to Harlem and spit the words that get me up in the morning and settle me down at night. Free and I were scheduled to perform for the Youth (Elementary-High School aged children) of “New Settlement Apartments”in the South BRONX! My apologies for the capitals on BRONX! but it's a given rule that when one states a borough from the 5 of NY one must yell that borough out. For instance, I was born in QUEENS....not Queens. To not yell it out is to not rep and I am not going to be the one that doesn't rep his birth place to the FULLEST.

Moving along...the day was filled with workshops for the Youth of the program in observance of World Aids Day. All over the world people came together to discuss the disease that is ravishing our brothers and sisters young and old. A disease that for years has been misunderstood throughout the world. The main goal of the day is to educate and raise awareness. With that goal in mind the “New Settlement Apartments” Youth program did their part in educating our young inner city Youth on the importance of Safe Sex and abstinence. Before our performance I asked some of the youngins what they'd learned. After of a short timid pause hands began to raise up with pride and excitement to express what they'd learned. That's the beauty of Youth. Knowledge is exciting to them. Knowing something and expressing it gives them a rush. I'm sure many of us can recall a day in our lives when we couldn't wait to get home to tell someone about what we'd learned. Some of us forget that rush...others repress it. I hold on to it. Knowledge craves me as I yearn for it because it knows that I'll use it and or push it forward. While I know I need it to survive.

After the builders of now and leaders of tomorrow talked about the importance of safe sex, abstinence and why people should get tested regularly it was time. Free and I then decided to do what we had come to do. Allow our words to resonate through the room and build against inner cerebral walls in the form of neuronal connections. I introduced Free and every other word she uttered caused audience members to yell out supportive “Aha's” followed by the occasional “Tell it Sista”. The crowd of both Youth and Adults roared at the end of Free's piece. She then proceeded to give a brief lesson on the history of Hip Hop and it's importance to our generation. She intro'd me and a silence that amazes me every time flooded the room. It was as if they all knew something was about to happen but they just didn't know what. I performed with the passion that takes over my diaphragm whenever I step on deck and ended with a nearly whispered ....Peace. During my performance my hand had gone up in the air as it usually does but this time I noticed that my watch said they were running over time. We were only able to do one piece each since they began the performance a bit past go time. However, I made sure to let them know “No matter what happens after this performance...not matter what line you remember or forget...don't forget these words...Follow your dreams because only we can stop ourselves on the journey of success...DON'T LET NOTHING OR ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR DREAMS...

Free and I spoke with the event organizers and networked for a bit then headed home. We ate in her car as we discussed the work to be done and when the time came I bid her my Peace and caught my train back Upstate. On the train back I began writing this entry. As I wrote, I thought of the performance and one young brother that stuck out from the rest. His eyes seemed glued to each word Free or I uttered. As I recalled the world that I saw in his eyes I was smacked with the reason for why I do what I do. Because there are young soldiers out there waiting to receive the tools to go out into the battles of reality. Because if I did not I would not be. But most importantly...because of him.