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Toronto: Diary of a Grade 9 Drug Runner
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by Barry ORegan | March 30, 2008 at 05:04 am
1186 views | 7 Recommendations | 6 comments
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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, where 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.
In Ending
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.
My Final Thought
Brain Dead idiots who came up with the Term "Ghetto Fabulous" and "I Love Ghetto" was most likley by the former Ghetto residents who are now Super Rich such as your Jenny from the Block, Akron, P Diddy's, all who claim to be of the people, yet don't live anywhere near a Ghetto, yet tell everyone, they miss the Ghettofablous Good Old Days. Really?? Perhaps they should part with all their millions and build homes, schools, food programs etc for the Ghetto residents. Rappers like Politicans seem to love to "Talk the Talk", but seem to go into "Paralyitic Crippling Spasms" when it comes to "Financially Walking the Talk". For some twisted reason, the majority of Ghetto residents still buy it, "hook, line and crack needle". If Ghetto was so Friggin Wonderful, we wouldn't be having this conversation or story now would we?
Ghetto: a poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions. Certainly doesn't fit the "Ghettofabulous Term" used by those who are Super Wealthy, when they state they are still from that particular block.
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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Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 06:39 on March 30th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:09 on March 30th, 2008
Thanks PEP, though at one time I dealt with the Youth, I now deal with the fatal after effects as you well know. Certainly Governments can use our tax dollars in more constructive ways in getting people out of the vicious circle of poverty, but refuse to clearly spelling out the obvious for fear of being labelled racist or inflaming the middle and upper class taxpayers who would have to pay for it. The Ghetto set have to stop using their poverty as an excuse to sell drugs, and governments have to start showing them through well thought out public programs that once implemented, the Ghetto set will never have an excuse.
at 10:43 on March 30th, 2008
Hello Barry,
The ghetto will always be what it is. Not enough people desire to get out, either through feelings of hopelessness or defeat.
I agree that they have to help themselves - everyone out of work should be working after seeking a job for any length of time - it's just that half the time, they don't want the job!
It's the children I feel sorry for - those that will come after the unmotivated, lazy adulthood of today - where are the role models for them? How will they learn that they CAN leave ghettos and lead productive, happy lives?
For many, mostly drug runners, the ghetto is their turf, it's where they make most of their money, preying on those who want to escape the life they lead.
As for those who claim the ghetto as their heritage, why don't they donate 10% of their earnings to re-educate the youth, give them activities to look forward to and have them taken on field trips and teach them skills?
Great article Barry! Thank you.
~ Swan
at 21:29 on March 30th, 2008
Thanks for the Flag and Comments Swan, I turly believe all kids are good kids and need to be just kids, and not forced out of survival to engage in illegal activities especially selling drugs. Those who do are a product of their environment in which we must change immediately. The adults who yell at society for their failures, Stating but we are from the Ghetto, is no excuse, especially in the same breath proudly state they are from "The Hood". Ghettos in Canada are not just populated by black people, anyone who watched Trailer Park Boys, know their is some truth in Trailer parks all over Canada and poverty. But still no excuse to rob and sell drugs as an excuse for being poor, we have free education, and many do not take advantage of it, preferring the easy way out engaging in crime instead of working for it. Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy and many, many others were from the ghetto and streets and made it on their own merit legally.
Or Prisons on both sides of the border are full of excuses from all races and cultures. Ghettos just seem to be the easiest excuse by those, in which need not be explained.
at 14:04 on March 30th, 2008
I got out by joining the army: maybe more should do the same.
at 21:17 on March 30th, 2008
The Military is an excellent choice for anyone who yearn for discipline, comraderie and maturity to carry them on later in life. Though in the US and Canada the risk of War is always on the backburner of ones mind, but then one has the choice in not joining during those times, but many do in order to serve ones country. Other avenues that provider training are trades schools, and with unemployment in Canada at an all time low, Canada is always receptive of American citizens wishing to ply their trade skills in this country, with work visas issued within weeks. Currently Canada is even recruiting workers from Mexico and as far as India and the Phillipines to Russia to fulfill our labour and skills shortage, funny how many Americans are not taking Canada up on it's offer to immigrate to Canada, there is nothing unpatriotic immigrating to Canada, when an empty stomach or better life for your family is only a few tankfuls of gas away. Besides Canada and America are so very similar in culture amd history it is easy to assimilate into our society.