Day of Independence
Mohammed Ballot
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.
Day of Independence Muhammed Ballot
The 4th of July used to be one of my favorite holidays. I couldn’t wait for the BBQ, swimming, and fireworks with family and friends.
Growing up me and my best friend Aiman used to do everything together.
We would have matching shoes, matching clothes, getting money together, went to the same schools from preschool all the way to eighth grade.
Until one day I had to move about 3 hours away. But that didn’t stop us from still being close. When we got about 16 years old and got a drivers license we would drive to each other.
Either I would go back to my old neighborhood or he would come to my new area still doing everything with each other.
When we got about 18 years old, my best friend lost his brother to gun violence and they had a rocky relationship so it hit him big, it’s like he did a 360. Everything changed with him.
It's like he wasn’t the same person no more.
He was always angry getting into pointless fights and one of the biggest things he started to do was have road rage.
I remember in one week he crashed three of his own cars and a rental, this is all in one week.
I’ll never forget the day 7-4-14 my best friend got in the driver’s seat of my other friend's car and that was the last time I seen them alive.
t his, bu t u o y ck t el l o w to n is stu h a m w i o A n nd ’t k d ied a , “ I d on t g a l n i A y a d an er s cident y b r o th c m a r m a o ll f r ad c up e r b o ne ca s h p a t .” a n i I got t got h im o u a t l e A g d o an in g t A im a n y’re try e h t r ca in t h e
I could only think about what he’s thinking about, being stuck in the car and if he was hurt badly and if he’s going to make it.
it was so ba All I could do was pray. It
d they had to cut him ou
t of the car.
Eight hours later they finally got him out
, but he didn’t make it.
Four people lost their lives that day, and a little boy was the only one that survived, broke both his arms and both of his legs and lost both parents.
I couldn’t believe it. I was at a loss for words, making prayer that he pulls through.
This is just a dream.
It's not true, but it was far from a dream, this is harsh reality.
I’m still healing from this tragic incident that took place 9 years ago.
I never got over it, I just learned how to cope with it. I dread the day 4th of July.
Your paragraph text
Just want that day to pass by but it’s a constant reminder smelling BBQ, watching people swim and hearing fireworks.
I took from this horrible experience that you should always cherish life and the smaller things because they can be here today and gone tomorrow.
e th th i w it . a l in g il l d e o n f r o m t s s m g h I’ a b le le s u o h S o t d a v a lu e le a r n
from p a in
th a t
t
pe c ex r a gi
r ie n
gu e ce, I
ss I
Till we meet again forever in my heart
Aiman and Alat!
Mohammed Ballot I Am From I am from streets of Harlem From Dollar King and Mr. Subs I am from big houses and nice cars I am from the woods of La Grange From trees and smoking weed I’m from Aiman Block and Alat Street From hustling and shuffling And from money, cars and clothes I’m from got to make a dollar quicker then you spend it And from guns down, hands up I’m from arm - leg, leg - arm - head I’m from Little Company of Mary From steak, shrimp and lobster From Itedal and Osama I’m from Freedom, Let it ring “1948”
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb Copyright
2023