THE BRONX pt. 1

My home . . . My City . . . My Borough . . . The Bronx.


A land of minorities, graffiti, poverty and crime.  Yet I see it as a land of hope. Yes, The Bronx.  The land where right under just about every train station is a Check Cashing place, a Liquor Store, and the Chicken Spot.  Maybe the Chinese Food Store, the Bodega that makes them Chopped Cheeseburgers, and your Bacon, Egg, and Cheese in the morning.  . .The Bronx. As a part of New York City, you would think we have the privileges connected to what they call the Capital of the World, but instead we are treated like the step child. 


This post isn't going to be all sad story though, because I love this place.  I think the harsh conditions create a more stronger spirited people.  People who are forced to focus on survival in a more deeper way, and thus birthed me from the picture.

In the more decent areas of the Bronx, like up by me in the North East you have a more working class people. These are the people who hold City jobs, or decent desk positions in a cubicle trying to genuinely help their families.  The people who are really doing well on the low are the small business owners.  We're not a place here there are a million big franchises, or house the Fortune 500 companies. We still have room for the mom and pop shop, the Barber Shops where someone comes in to sell Empanadas, and Pirated DVD's and 99 Cent Stores, that have all of the basic needs for your household at a cheap price.


What I appreciate most about the Bronx, is that you get people who are genuine.  These are mostly people who have been controlled by the system, and are not necessarily trying to control it.  Now as this may sound sad story to many, I see it as one of our greatest assets.  In the Hoods, you have people that are gonna keep it 100, and not Fake the Funk, and in the better areas, there are broken Middle Class families, working hard.


It may be sad that there is only one Barnes and Nobles Book Store that I know of around here, and that the crime rates are high, but people instead of awaiting outside forces to motivate them to move on they work on channeling inward.


The Pop culture does have its effect of course. . . With people who are shortchanged certain areas of education, and are taught that its wack to go to the Church or foster their spiritual life there is a reason why a certain mentality comes down upon here.  Its the reason why the black hoodies and snapbacks are the greatest fashion for many.  And since the New York arts scene is more in the Lower East Side and Soho of Manhattan, or right across the bridge in Brooklyn, you are considered a Homosexual if your clothes are too tight, or you wear too many colors (unless of course, this matches perfectly with the newest kicks that dropped, then you're fresh but don't have enough cash to jump on the 2 train).


This place made me . . . And I was blessed that along with going internally to reflect and channel from myself the most I can, I was exposed to the outside world by reading books, and traveling around the city, having conversations with people from all areas.  It has always served as a retreat home to after running around Manhattan in the madness downtown and experiencing the fast paced NY business life, to come back to a place where people aren't concerned with as much of the Politics.  And I have to say, that it is not only I, but there are many in this place being Spiritually reborn, and more Conscious of the conditions that are separating us all and a change is occurring.....
more coming soon.

- All is Love
- The Symbol