Truemors
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
This series of events in one of Toronto's poorest neighbourhood could well be any large city in North America whereby the "have nots, see the haves" and selling drugs is the easiest way to be a "Have" enabling the unrealistic dream of getting out of the ghetto without working for it. Easy money running Drugs is King , especially for the underage children who know the law protects them, the same laws which will one day incarcerate them.
For the time being, Children will ply their Drug Trade till either they turn of legal age and go to jail or are killed for the few dollars they make in order to by luxuries, the "Haves" take for granted. Small luxuries to the "Have Nots" in their quest to "Dress to Impress" among their Peers are a neccessity, most of the "Haves" seen outside the Ghetto take for granted, whether it be the latest cell phone, new high top shoes or designer ball cap.
It is a Warped and Surreal Society, wear the "Have Nots" (Ghetto) strive to emulate the "Haves" (Rich), yet the "Haves" (Rich) strive to emulate the "Have Nots" (Ghetto), both not realising that one side has no choice, the other side makes it their choice, both the "Have Nots and Haves" are a product of their own unrealistic environment, through song and movies, which both using it as street cred and a badge of honour.
No one pushed Yomi into selling drugs. Then again, it wasn't a hard business to get into, even for a Grade 9 kid like Yomi.
My Final Thought
Many feel Liberal policies historically caused the shame of what is the Ghetto, whereby it is easier to go on Welfare, thus offering no incentives to get out.
The Conservative policies historically state, to get out, you have to work for it, regardless of your environment.
Individually they do not work , where environmental circumstances are out of a childs hands.
What we need are policies which are a combination of both in order to strike a balance between the two, thus not giving the "Have Nots" excuses to remain in their predicament. Many have escaped the Ghetto and lead productive lives, one man Mark a Youth Worker, and former Child Drug runner was a product of his environment, worked hard to get out, and now is making a difference in his community.
Bound by Hwy. 400 and Jane St. to the west, Dufferin St. to the east, Steeles Ave. to the north and Grandravine Dr. and Sheppard Ave. to the south, Ward 8 has for years held claim to a higher rate of immigrants, single parents, low-income families, rental households and unemployment than the rest of Toronto.
The 2001 census found 67.6% of the ward's occupied private dwellings were rented, compared to 49.3% in all of Toronto.
Of residents older than 20, 17.5% had less than a Grade 9 education, compared to the city's 10.8%, and more than 20% didn't graduate from high school, compared to Toronto's 14.3%.
Low-income families made up 35.4% of Ward 8's population, compared to Toronto's 19.4%. Nearly twice as many residents in Ward 8 made less than $10,000 in total annual household income, while less than half made $100,000 or more.
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No one pushed Yomi into selling drugs. Then again, it wasn't a hard business to get into, even for a Grade 9 kid like Yomi.
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