Childhood

Protecting children

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  Child's Memorial

  Mother: Crystal R
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  Childhood Innocence

  Mother: Ashley O
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  Looking Up

  Mother: Ashley O
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  CJ

  Mother: Ashley O
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  Reach for the Stars

  Mother: Ashley O
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  Adore

  Mother: Erica S
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  Sisters

  Mother: Erica S
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  Breaking the Cycle

  Mother: Whitney H

  This is me breaking the cycle with my daughter.  I don’t want my daughter to go through nothing I went through.

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  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." 

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  Marques

  Mother: Tianna G
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  Marianna

  Mother: Tianna G
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  The Twins

  Mother: Tianna G
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  A Hot Summer Day

  Mother: Tianna G
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  Marcus

  Mother: Tianna G
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  Medical Testing

  Mother: Tianna G
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  Holding the Bottle

  Mother: Tianna G
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  The Neighborhood

  Mother: Tianna G
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  A Close-up

  Mother: Tianna G
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  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.

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  Too many children get killed

  Mother: Virginia G

  A kid got shot here right around the corner from a gun control billboard. They’re trying to send a message.  Nobody’s getting it.  You see?  I’m scared to take my kids out and be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I stay in the house.