Childhood

Positive / negative influences

• 
  Cigarette

  Mother: Crystal R
• 
  Disrespect

  Mother: Crystal R
• 
  Drug Trash in Playground--"Wet"

  Mother: Ashley O

  "Even though that’s empty you can smell the embalming fluids.  It’s the worst smell in the world.  It smells like mint from far away, but when you get closer if you know what “wet” smells like you know it’s wet.  My kids are like two feet tall, and they’re right next to it, so they’re smelling that.  That’s disgusting."
   

• 
  Graffiti

  Mother: Ashley O
• 
  Close-up of Zharae

  Mother: Whitney H

  "I’m gonna be real with my daughter. Being as though my daughter lives in the hood,  I’m gonna be straightforward to her. When she gets old enough to understand what’s going on around her, I want her to understand where mommy coming from. I’m gonna tell her about everything. I’m gonna tell her about the drug gang. I’m gonna tell her about everything, because if you don’t teach your child then the streets will, and if you let the streets teach them then they’re gonna turn them out, they’re gonna destroy them." 

• 
  Corner Liquor Store

  Mother: Tianna G
• 
  The Neighborhood

  Mother: Tianna G
• 
  Peace

  Mother: Crystal S

  He was saying peace to everybody. In this picture, from my son, he just wants to be a normal kid… same wants and needs. Because my son, he’s developmentally delayed from his medical problems.  He just wants to fit in. He just wants to be normal like everybody else...I figure you've gotta be gentle and you've gotta be nurturing, because the world isn’t … it’s not gentle, it’s not kind, it’s not easygoing at all. It’s hard, it’s tough, and it’ll knock you down every chance it gets, so I shelter them with as much love as I can right now.

   

• 
  Needed pampering

  Mother: Angela S

  Her father is my first cousin…he raped his girlfriend’s oldest daughter. He’s in jail now, the only family she know is me. She'd never gotten her feet and nails done so I got her feet and nails done.

• 
  Growing up young

  Mother: Tiffany R

  y

• 
  Prostitution

  Mother: Angela M

  We're taking my son to football practice and I want you to see when he gets to the park that there is prostitution going on.  Here is a prostitute in the park where he practice at. 

• 
  Selling Alcohol

  Mother: Angela M

  On our way to football practice, there is a truck in the park that sells water, ice, and pretzels for the kids.  And they also sell beer.  I want you to see that when my son gets to the park that there is prostitution going on and they are also selling alcohol.

• 
  Mini Market

  Mother: Angela M

  That is the store that buys food stamps.  They swipe it and put it into their machine and give six dollars for ten dollars.  If you stop these people from selling food stamps, it'll stop hunger, because most of these young boys won't have to out and sell drugs to get a sandwitch.  That is what they think they have to do.  I don't think they have enough sense or their parents don't make them go to school to get an education or get a job, so that is what they think they have to do because mom done sold all the food stanps and the house is cold.

• 
  A young man

  Mother: Angela M

  I make him wear a tie and shoes to school, just to teach him how to be a young man.  A lot of times I don't make him wear it because the other kids don't, but at least once a week I make him wear his tie and his pants and his shoes.  I make him go to school like a gentleman.

• 
  Smile

  Mother: Emi L
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  Sad Stare

  Mother: Emi L