Watch the Company You Keep by Su Woou

Watch the Company You Keep by Su Woou

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 selfprojection 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.

Watch the Company You Keep Su Woou

Growing up on the West side of Chicago, Garfield Park area, wasn’t the best sight, but for some and most, it was home. Call it the ghetto.

Where you hear gunshots, police sirens, cars pilling, and name calling from one corner to another.

The days I love the most was those greens, mac & cheese, baked chicken, mash potatoes and corn bread days, every Sunday.

Waking up every Sunday for church service and coming straight home after school was getting boring at one point of time, til one day I decided to try sum new.

One Sunday morning I didn’t go to church. I played sick so I could hit the streets to see what the fuss was about. Once I got a taste of it, church wasn’t my thing, even school days I started to stay out late. I knew I would get in trouble but it was worth it. Doing things I shouldn’t be til one day I went out with a friend.

He decided to have me come along with him. I didn’t know what for. When we got there he pulled out a screwdriver, gloves and a spark plug. I’m thinking what’s that for, so he walks up to an old Buick car. I can’t remember what year the car was. He threw the spark plug at the window, and without a sound the window shattered.

At that point my heart was racing. I’m not knowing what’s going on. I just knew a MF was going to come out from somewhere shooting, but me proving to my friend I was up to the job, I didn’t run and leave him behind.

So he puts on the gloves and knocked the rest of the window out. I hear the doors unlock.

He tells me to get in. Lord knows I didn’t want to but I did. Once I got in he told me to look out but I was too busy seeing what he was doing, so I heard a pop, pop, pop.

I seen him turn the steering wheel 3 times. He broke the neck is what they call it. Then he used the screwdriver to peel and break the neck of the steering column. Then he used the screwdriver to start the car an we pulled off.

I realized he just taught me how to steal a car, so one day I tried to do it on my own. But this time everything worked but one thing I forgot. I stole the car and was joy riding.

I seen flashing lights. I was so scared I didn’t know what to do so my crazy ass slowed down and hopped out of a moving car. I ran as fast as I could for my life was depending on it.

I got away. I prayed to God that I didn’t get caught which I didn’t. I told myself I wouldn’t do that again. That following Sunday, I ended up back in a church. I just knew that was a sign.

On a Friday evening, my mother asked to meet my friend, so I called him up and he came over. He introduced himself and the look on her face was the look of not being pleased.

So after that we set in my room playing video games.

Once the day was almost over, my friend left. Right after that she told me she had to talk to me. The next day came and she called me into her bedroom. As I sat down, she immediately told me that I need to choose my friends wisely and that she don’t think he’s a good friend for me. Of course mothers know, but me being young, I didn’t listen.

I kept him around for a few years, but what I didn’t know was that she found out about the stolen car. She just didn’t bring it to my attention. She told my friend’s mom cause she know I don’t know nouthing about stealing cars and she knew my friend was known for being in trouble and being in trouble for stealing cars.

Of course I didn’t know but his mom asked him what have he done so on and so on. He came and told me and I was wondering how any of them knew til my mom told me that the owner of the car brung my ID I left in the car back to my house and returned it.

He wasn’t going to press charges. That was a relief and she told me to watch the company I keep. Still I went out and did dumb shit with him.

My so-called friend, I called a brother. I thought he was an honest and loyal friend til one day I realized things kept coming up missing out my crib.

I’m blaming my real brothers and sisters. I’m even blaming the kids. I’m coming to him about it and he’s giving me advice “to let things go” and that “it’s always replaceable.”

So one day I decided to install a mini camera in my room that I didn’t tell anyone about, not even my friend, I called my brother, so it was a day I put something very valuable in my drawer, just to see who’s stealing.

My friend/brother called me and told me he was on his way. I wasn’t there so I told him people was at my crib but he could go and wait on me. So while he was waiting on me, he decided to go into my room, rummage around and find that valuable thing and pocket it.

I’m watching it from my phone. I’m surprised but I made it home, played it off like I didn’t know anything. I’m asking who been in my room, but nobody answers. I ended up asking him. He told me, he didn’t know, that he had been in the living room.

I’m thinking to myself “should I fuck him up” but I decided to tell him that I had to do something, for him to go his way and I go mine. Once he left I sent him the video of him stealing and I told him I was done fucking with him so on and so on. I haven’t talked to him since.

I’ve learned that the people you call your friends be the ones that a do back stabbing things. I understood what my mom’s statement meant: watch the company you keep.

Melvin Richmond I Am I am from the Windy City, Fifth City From the westside and Mob Ties I am from granny crib I am from the slums, Gladys Park and TeenTown Community Center I’m from Janis and Robert From Sunday morning church service And from strict and loveable spirits I’m from you better whoop ass Or Imma whoop yours, playball And from if you don’t got nun good to say Don’t say it at all I’m from God himself I’m from Chi-raq From italian beefs, hot wings and nachos and loud pack From Ed and Fuz I am from hardcore and emotional Thugz I am Woou

Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb Copyright

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