Three in the morning yawning dancing under street lights

i got Sasha Thumper on the brain

We chillin like a villain and a n!gga feelin right
in the middle of the ghetto on the curb, but in spite
all of the bullshit we on our back starin at the stars above
Talkin bout what we gonna be when we grow up
I said what you wanna be, she said, "Alive"
It made me think for a minute, then looked in her eyes
I coulda died, time went on, I got grown
Rhyme got strong, mind got blown, I came back home
to find lil Sasha was gone

the movie, Street Soldiers, will move you to tears.

it is up-front, direct testament to the willpower of those in the community willing to shed their exoskeleton and risk their lives to save lives.

living is more painful. dying is the escape.

mario rodrigues and tina chery are true warriors. strong people who have helped to reshape the fabric of a community through the sheer will of wanting to make living the escape.

the documentary premiered last night at the Strand Theater and is a compelling tale of intertwined stories of hope, compassion, fear, pain, anguish, forgiveness, anxiety, innocence, faith, and determination.

it's like there are more bullets than bicycles.

i really appreciated the frank nature of the film. son spoke from the heart with a urgency in his voice and words that needed to be heard. it ain't PG-13. it ain't full of all the answers. it's just a no chaser shot of reality of how childhoods can be lost.

i stopped crying a long time ago

it has the potential to raise many questions. it wove together the oft-connected strands of urban life; hip-hop, war, the criminal justice system, parenting, fatherhood, marriage, community centers, and public safety.

there are moments when your heart will drop, such as when tina recounts the moment her son said "this may be my last meal." it has the potential to spur change on a whole new level. this mini-review is a small step to help make that a reality.

a message from the united states ghettos:
press release | ddorchester reporter | Gun BuyBack

Sasha Thumper just wanted to live. We just want peace in the streets so our youth can see the world, live the world, and experience life while enjoying the rest of their childhood.

Peace,