by Edward Ferguson Best Friends
The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people at-risk of, victims of, or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017 this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high quality opportunities that nourish the minds, expand the voices and share the personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the process of drafting, revising and publishing memoirs, participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie and positive self-projection to author new life narratives.
Since January 2017 ConTextos has partnered with Cook County Sheriff's Office to implement Authors Circle in Cook County Department of Corrections as part of a vision for reform that recognizes the value of mental health, rehabilitation and reflection. These powerful memoirs complicate the narratives of violence and peace building, and help author a hopeful future for human beings behind walls, their families and our collective communities.
While each author’s text is solely the work of the Author, the image used to create this book’s illustrations have been sourced by various print publications. Authors curate these images and then, using only their hands, manipulate the images through tearing, folding, layering and careful positioning. By applying these collage techniques, Authors transform their written memoirs into illustrated books.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Edward Ferguson Best Friends
Damn homie, I never thought I'd see you in a casket. My dawg gone, my ace, my right hand. You never seen one without the other- Jaquez Williams 16 years old gunned down. My Bestfriend.
Man, for the most part I grew up on the west side.
That shit was a battle within a battle, my family wasn’t rich but shid who was living in poverty. It was the summer of 2011, I was 14 when I met lil Joc.
He had a raw ass MAG bike and ever since I saw him with one I knew I had to tell my Og to get me one, So you know what I did? Shid got on my mom ' s nerves til she got me one, The next week I had me a bike, all grey MAGs, stand-ups front and back.
It’s probably another word for stand-ups but that’s what we called them. The very next day I was on the block with my MAG bike, just so happened lil Joc pulled up with his.
After that we clicked. That was my boy, we shared everything from being in the same school, stealing from the corner store, sneaking in movie theaters, even one day I got caught. Just so happen Joc went and got his mom and she got me out shid it was either my mom or the law. Man I still can’t believe that man was smart enough to get his mom to bail me out. She said I was her bad ass nephew (LOL) yeah I know what you thinking…
That’s my brother because after that day she became a mother figure to me.
That’s a memory and two people I will always cherish and never forget.
If you are reading this I hope you make memories and cherish the people you love as well, you never know when God is gonna call them home.
It was July 4th and everybody was outside back then it didn’t matter what hood you was from or who you was hanging with people was able to enjoy the fresh air with the smell of barbeque, streets packed with people having a good time popping fireworks, 2010, 2011, 2012 what a time to be alive, those was the days that people would actually enjoy outside without having to worry about gun violence or a random shooting.
Me and Joc, Joc and Me riding the bike I was on the front handle bar with two roman candles (LOL)
Damn I miss my dawg. That is a day that I wish I could play over and over.
What a night I'll always remember, the funny thing about memories is that you ' re going to always have them.
You can write them down or even take pictures. Anyway it's always great to have them, to remember the good times and good people you encounter.
I look at memories like being a piece of treasure. Something to cherish, something that will always have value.
The very next couple of weeks passed and school started back, shit I ain't seen little bro the last couple of days before school started. I went to visit my aunt out of town that weekend. It was cool but I was eager to get back, especially to show off my brand new Jordans for the first day of school.
Lil bro didn't come to school but I didn't think none of it, shit I was shorty.
In my mind I think about people getting shot.
The next day the school principal made a very shocking announcement. My stomach dropped after hearing my dog, my right hand, had lost his life to gun violence.
I didn't know how to feel but I know I was lost for words.
Hearing that I couldn't believe what I just heard. That same day I ran home as fast as possible to talk to my brother.
I got home and called my brother and let him know what just happened at school. I remember me saying bro, Lil Joc got killed he said he knew but he didn't want to tell me.
The next day I attended school.
The school had a ceremony and honor of my boy, my dog. My best friend was gone. The crazy thing about my dog, I didn't have a single picture but I have memories in my heart that will never fade.
Looking back, I think about all of our memories and it gives me chills. I wish we could ride bikes again. I wish we could be on the block again outside getting in trouble lol.
My right hand, my dog, my best friend, my homie was gone. Jacquez Williams aged 16, lost his life to gun violence.
Edward Ferguson
I Am From
I am from North Ave
From death row and back block
I am from cuz crib 007 and dragonball-z
I am from the street
The pavement the curve
I’m from Big Reese and Doug
From shooting hoops after school
And from being kind staying humble
I’m from dont talk to strangers
And from look both ways before crossing the street
I’m from dust of the earth
I’m from the Raq
From banana puddings and ice cream pie
From Monique and Lisa
I am from darkness that led to glory
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb
