Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb 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.
In Collaboration With:
The Rebirth G. Buckley III
Wassup people this Buck G, BG/Baby George, or to some George. I was born and raised on the southside better known as the wild-wild hunnits. So many childhood memories there boy oh boy. I was born on Jan 13, 1993 from a King and Queen by the name of George Buckley Jr, aka Jr. and a Queen by the name of Rhonda D. Buckley. Truly a blessing to have my mother and pops in my life all the way until now. Pops worked hard for the money to feed his family with a company by the name of Black Industrial on the East side of Chicago over 30 years.
Their relationship alone gave me the strength I have today to succeed in anything. I’m proud of the both of them. I witness that it ain’t easy, but if a couple can honor til death do your part, and go for it, it’s worth it with the right person! Both parents did a damn good job when it comes to parenting, providing leaders and being there for one another. Their relationship showed me that with the right woman, all the good and bad, ups and downs will be worth it all! They made it look easy even though I know at some point at times they wanted to give up! George and Rhonda didn’t leave God at the altar, and to be honest that’s what led to a long lasting marriage.
My Grandfather George Buckley Sr. was the Princeton captain of the blOck. he would tell the police that if his grandson or homies from the block got in trouble that he would get us off the hook LBVS! My Grandfather would give them the shirt off his back and BBQ on the block club party days for the entire block. Then you have Grandma, aka Mrs.BuckleY. She cooking the sides to go with the BBQ that was provided.
My Grandmother is a God fearing woman and the Queen who prays for us when something is wrong or we’re in trouble. Stranger or no stranger, she will make sure you are fed and ok! Mrs. Buckley will see you walking down the block and catch you with a to go plate just for passing through. The way it smells trust me, you wouldn’t turn it down! She hates, I mean hates when you sagging your pants. Her child or not, she would make you pull those pants up! Her true mother's presence was enough to make you do so! This was another marriage I witnessed the vows til death due was apart accomplished! Til death did them apart, my Grandparent George Buckley Sr. passed away from cancer. I went to the hospital with pops, and the entire family walked in the room and felt that it was something wrong. My Grandfather immediately told me he was going to be ok.
I know that he was remaining strong for us! As I walked to the hallway of the hospital, pops held me tight to restrain and embrace my anger towards cancer! I watched cancer eat my Grandfather to his death, and I watched my Grandmother take care of him every step to away. She fed, changed him, bathed him, clothed him, put him in his hospital bed in the house they raised their kids and grandkids in. My Grandmother set a bar so high of women because it was pure love, laidness, tendency, and grace that I witnessed on that journey til death did them apart. Knowing that my Granddad had cancer and watching what it did to him and his body made me feel so angry and sad! I felt he didn’t deserve it! So I took that anger on whatever, whoever, whenever mentality to the football field, school, streets, to life pidd! I received the news of him passing away while me and my sister was with an Aunt. We drove to 11946 S. Princeton after the news. We pull up to the block only to see the Corvair truck and people on the block and around the neighborhood out there. My Pops met me on the corner and held me tight again because my rage and anger towards this unfair shit. It broke our hearts into pieces, seeing and knowing my Granddad was gone and wasn’t coming back. I calmed down a little bit then went in to see his body one more last time, kiss his forehead, and say Goodbyes.
I learned to turn my pain into motivation. I joined the High School football team, the Vikings. A week or two later here it was my first football game as a Viking! Here I was Number 11, the starting middle linebacker going up against Marian Catholic High School power house. As I put the war paint on my face, I hear the band marching on the field. It was loud in the stadium. My nerves kicked in and I had butterflies in my stomach. Coach walks in, he says,”Guys look, we practice at a high speed so let’s play at a high speed.” He looked at me,”You ready?” I responded with a head shake. Being the starting middle linebacker position came with a lot of responsibility. Control the middle for the pass, and for the run the A and B gaps. I also had to tell the team what the strong side was based on the opposition's formation. Coin toss, my energy is high. We win the toss, defense out first. Here we go! Formation the D-line looked back at me for the strong side call. (Pastor Troy playing in my head that “since everybody soldiers let’s go to war.”) Strong left was the strong side I called out loud. “Strong left, strong left, watch the run.” Before the ball is snapped, all I can think about is my dedication to my Grandfather. Make him proud.
That entire team looked like cancer to me at this point. I felt the relief of hitting our opponents hard on the field, so that they could feel where I was coming from! I looked at anything, or anybody that wanted to defeat me in sports, or physically as cancer. I only knew one solution I felt was right, attack first and ask questions later. Later 3rd quarter ends, it’s time to put them 4’s up for fourth quarter 28-14 our way! The ball bounced to the outside going towards there touchdown, and their crowd was loud. I met the running back on the sideline to a huge hit and forced a fumble. Our crowd goes,”Wheew.” Whistle blows because the running back was hit out of bounds. The referees paused the game because the wideout didn't get up. Medical staff rush to his aid and head coaches. Long story short, that wideout left on a stretcher. It’s fourth quarter and now 28-21 which was the final scare we win. I shed tears in memory of my Grandad. My stats: 11 Tackles, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Sack. I play a great game. The next day that morning the picture of the victory of me rushing the QB was in the Chicago Suntimes Newspaper. 28-21. By the end of the season I received offers from Toledo, NIU, U of I, Gambling State, Langston University and Arkansas Pinebluff.
Ig r I d adua i t my dn't l ed h igh i k r o e an d I om t com scho o in tak o d e f iffe g ho l and ull r m res ent g e to Colle i po nsi rls al do h ge of o bil l ity nigh mew DuPa t. N ork for g . I’ e to it. ot d r get en ga gin ather my g gi t r n m alk o ade y p n th poin rio t e riti pho aver n a es co e up ge u st m sid p e s e do beca u ch ola wn i se n a n rsh tc ips t, i o n f I to y. usl were ming . o i er gh co ls it s hoo fore enou e k e sc 't , ta D1 irst b asn d e e w t f len ll th up ACT a t A A P y or s. tic atnes my G on m e l ath Gre get a 21 re to g to a ou stiny JuCo ettin y g e If d. ur D et in t and e n g s o r lea on y e to the te n m o y g la ss ng Le a de ndin assi e t P pu omm ool. h c re ir sc the
Then a new chapter. I loved every bit of this firefighter lifestyle AKA brotherhood! Practice after practice we were one step closer to being quick as the veterans at our station! Glenwood consists of two fire stations. Fire station one which is located off of 183rd & Halsted. The Manor Fire Station is in the forest part of Glenwood. We had two stations because the town is split in half by railroad tracks. Knowing the part of town, the manor, forests and estates of Glenwood along with the streets was very important as well. I mean we should know where we're going when you receive a 911 call, right? Then a new chapter. I loved every bit of this firefighter lifestyle AKA brotherhood! Most importantly this job helped me feel like I can save a potential cancer patient. I don’t want other families to experience what I experienced with the death of my grandfather.Summer training still goes on and here it is winter. The first week of academy class is about to begin and my captain announced that I was the lead candidate which came with big responsibilities. I was used to being a leader on the football field, now at work.
ry eve the e k on d li llo elle e call ut He m th ts lo g. I roach d yel n o n str app ock a s so l. We n a k w ell is rea or we m s do th e g th of dea ch the n i a ld ll bui me appro s e h e dt we Th tere ears. r. As n e doo or y we en side f obby h l W in ha go! trash g u e kw eir thro e. truc left th lding t twic e th d ui en Off ent ha f the b partm e o id res floor eD r i F t firs wood n Gle
We were taught to try before you pry any door open. We received no response after the two knocks and called out in the hallway. The daughter began to cry and state that he hasn’t answered the phone in 5 days. We then get to go ahead to pry the door open because the property manager couldn't be contacted. Captain Welsh went ahead and a fellow firefighter used our irons to break the door open only to a strong smell of death. The victim was lying face down on the floor and his body was blown up like a balloon. It was clear he had been dead for days. In the face of this horror, we offered his daughter emotional support.
I felt like I had it going on. Who wouldn’t want a fireman, or a guy that can take care of them in exchange for their love. I was hurt that I was there for my first born to the hospital all the way up until now and I couldn’t be with her mom.
I was excited to provide for them like my father and grandfather taught me to. Unfortunately that meant having to leave the fire department for a higher paying job to support my first born daughter. We had a good run together but I think our expectations weren't met. This caused us to go separate ways when our daughter was 2. It wasn’t easy separating, because I wanted to live in the same household as my kids.
So me not going by my family traditions of getting married and working it out put a huge damper on me. I felt like I was destroying my Grandfather’s legacy. It’s safe to say I was moving fast with this woman and not realizing the perks only came with the investments of a relationship. Not only did I let the fire department go, I had to let my oldest daughter’s mom go as well. I felt like I needed weight lifted off my shoulders and a fresh start. My life changed completely after that, I went from being a full time dad to a part time dad. Seeing my baby girl on the weekends, co-parenting with the oldest mom was not ok until everything was settled in the court of law. Things began to get better as time heals all.
Back to the flow of my life, I’m enjoying my loved ones and being single, but dating multiple women at the same time! When I don't have my daughter or doing activities with her, I’m out with homies or working which was my life. My daughter is 3 years old and I enjoy going on field trips to the pumpkin patch with her. I only wanted her to experience what I had in life. Spoiled and blessed is what Journee is and was growing up. She’s eight now and God will bless us with a lot more years to grow and grow. Daddy loves you and will always love you baby. I enjoyed bringing cupcakes to her school on her birthdays or going to her appointments. Being Journee’s father was the best thing that ever happened to me. Time flies by so fast. It seems like yesterday, I was bbqing for her and her friends at the beach for a b-day of hers. Me and my family did our best when it came to spending quality time, giving her the best b-days and Christmas I will say.
One night me, pops and uncle Kev were in town and it was Super Bowl game night. We went to pops friend’s house by the name of Bull, to watch the game. I love hanging out with the other guys in my life because I learned you can learn a thing or two by doing so nbs. We would have drinks, talk, crack jokes, and laugh in what us men call our man caves. All the guys refer to me as G or lil G. I see this light skinned beautiful lady walk through the door with this Erukah Badu body type, black scarf tied to her head with this red lipstick to her SIU shirt she was wearing along with some black framed glasses. All I think is o shit, who’s daughter is this? Who is this lady related to in this cave man. I was digging her look, the nerdy intelligent, college girl look. My uncle was laughing because he knew all along who daughter was. She was caught by rottweiler eyeballs locked in on her like she was a piece of steak lol. They were like wassup nephew? You cool lol, I’m like yea I’m chillin and we laugh. It’s time to go and she leaves. Then comes back to tell her dad Bull, her car is stuck in the snow. The uncles immediately aid her, Unc Kevo tells me to go help her G lol. I’m like say less in my head, I'm about to push this car out of the driveway myself so she can see how strong I am, lol. We helped push and Unc helped to get the car out of the deep snow. As I see her gold car leave, I’m like wait in my head.
Year number 2 comes, I see this fine lady at another Superbowl party at the same house. Only to see that she had a BF this time. I was salty, but it was cool because I had a lot going on at this point in time.And all I could remember is my pops telling me to leave his friend's daughter alone, if I wasn’t going to be serious with her. Pops never spoke on anybody I dealt with before, but I understood where he was coming from. She didn’t deserve to be treated only as an option. So I let it be. I liked how she helped her mom serve the fellas in the cave and her smile. I guess I was a lil heart eyes about her.
R.I.P. paradise Big home Bull. This will be the last third and last time us group of men came together for a homecoming for a fellow friend of my pops. I stand curbside with this same lady from my uncle's neighborhood. Seeing the pain she was going through, started to make me feel sad for her. I just wanted to open her limo door for her, but I was afraid of the reaction I may receive, so I didn’t. I just watched from afar. Weeks before this I would pray to God to send me the woman I need in my life. O God, give me clarity on that woman as well, Amen. This was the third time I have seen her, but this time there was no smile, it was sadness. As I watched, my heart was telling me that she needed comfort and tender love like now. But my mind kept me in a mindful state. This not the time and place to be a random guy in her life.
The repast was right after the funeral and I couldn't keep my eyes off this hurt lady. I get caught by a play aunt from the neighborhood glancing at this hurt lady. Nephew, you have your eye on Ashlye. I’m like no, mother was sitting at the table as well. They both caught me. Annie calls Crissy over to the table and tells Crissy I’m looking at Ashlye. Crissy crazy self walks off saying I’m about to put y'all on. My heart falls in my ASS! I’m like Crissy, No! Don’t do it. Too late she’s at the table talking to the lady I'm crushing on. I’m like y’all bogus, this ain’t the right time! Auntie like yes it is. Ashlye and Crissy look back at me so embarrassed! I wave like a nerd and Ashlye cracks a little smile and continues to talk to Crissy. I must admit I never experienced this type of crushing with no other woman but her. It was an all time high.
in, n s an i m ng ivi a wo ing l y t l ep or in o get too e d f t e are ayed lose prid o u yo er pr as c e my s int d w s n v ng y a g I e and vil u eeli s f e e bu in ts ryth ubre the d e her e ak il g ve f A et ev se e e o d. I l nd t d au am ce he na n t t bec the n urfa liste e h s a o . W ay th er by have me t y a s h t uld for tod s. I ge ife one er to at co was l y h d d ht f m love aug oy w ante o d t r r w t r pa you tiful des she g i d l u y l l b a n i a s a ou a a be orar hen y y p a d pl to ha em . W till age We to t way s n d ! an s dam eyes me i o my d g y ye iou co pla ser of m evil gs to y se in nt ad ed e l l cau n fro et th ng th h i T wil Il nti ht he s rig . But s wa y wa rried lwa . n a A m ch. tio a r u m side n co
I caught all the wrong attention with many other different women with my success all for the wrong reasons. She noticed it, but Ashlye loved me for me like she would always tell me. So the material things didn’t matter to her. Truth is she loved me for me. When God places people in your life after you take them through so much pain you have to pay attention and connect yourself. I question God often on so many things. Why is she still in love with me after having another child with another woman? Why is she still here for me during my incarceration? The answer is God makes no mistakes! It's up to me to want to change for the better.
evil he d ore and t e ak 't sh g her m her to n d l t in u I co to hurt brough ut him t u b e o , h g m itho selin ! It led forget w hip. W n u co 't ns me g to ll the ti houldn relatio n i o l s g a u fu even my way ate yo success r e h m t go soul ey in a oge ck t hings to d your k a b t uge n et i h g g f n a i o u is yt yo ant ld tr me, w t when od first u o f w a G We et out o now th eping e s k d t K ' e. min I didn plac s way! t e. s r r i i o f m the l have h n i you vil wil de the
In life it always seemed like I had one thing but couldn’t have the other. I became a successful entrepreneur remodeling homes! I began remodeling my high school classmates' parents house, head football coach’s deck, my parent’s deck, doctors, Lawyers, etc. I had contracts with Michigan State and Ball State, painting schools for my business. I have an amazing gift with my hands in construction that I discovered was my calling. I made more money in a year than I ever made working up under somebody. All of it was a good feeling riding what I wanted to ride, wearing what I wanted to wear, going home to a nice apartment but still I was missing the woman that God had made just for me. The money was coming fast when I spent it. My credit score was at an all time high but still I was not truly happy. Still coming home to one night stands that got played out in fake relationships, lusting, and wasting time! I was too far gone in my playa ways.
One night after work changed my life and had me in a state of shock where all I can call is my loved ones, my popz, momz, sister, and kids mom. I saw them all right before I turned myself in for prison. I was depressed for an entire month not eating much of the jail food and not thinking about much but what they charged me with which was first degree murder. My life just went from ok to hell! It's a year now since I have been incarcerated and my walk with God has been nothing but Amazing. I had no choice but to turn to God, because I felt peace only when I read the Bible or the books by Pastor Tony Evans. Prayers for Men, Victory Of Spiritual Welfare, Let Go Of The Past, or The Comeback. Those books and The Bible gave me the strength I needed when my mind felt weak and defeated.
I'm a year in and I have completed 7 to 8 college courses. I have become a GED tutor to the younger guys that want their GED. They recently all passed their GED test. So proud of them guys for putting in their work. I often lead the work out groups as brother foster leads prayer circles at night, right before lock up. Jail has taught me a lot and God created trials and tribulations for you to become closer to him. The turning point of my life is now. Books by Pastor Dr. Tony Evans and My Sword help me start my day off positive and prosperous. Sometimes during these trials and tribulations I learned that I'm a real organized person with ocd. There's no greater feeling than completing my am and pm workouts. Being detained in ccdoc helped me find a passion for living a healthy and active lifestyle. My work ethic has inspired others to do the same and now people took to me for motivation and advice for a healthy lifestyle.
I also had time to reflect, to know that in everyday life you don't have time to reflect. As I look upon my successes, failures, and relationships, the thing that was missing in my story was God. If I wasn't in the circumstances I'm in now, I wouldn't have a close relationship with him. From the start he already knew who he Wanted in my life and who he didn't want. During this journey he weeded these People out. His purpose was to show me the man he designed me to be. I've been a motivator to people inside with me and my family. I thank God for my tru SuperBowl trophy, a woman of God and my future wife. When I came in I was 263 pounds and now I am currently 232 pounds. My mind, body, and soul are currently in a spiritual battle which is the hardest battle I ever fought in my life. But knowing that God is with me gives me the courage to claim the victory He has for me. Perseverance in my veins and God inside my heart, I am Rebirthed!
G. Buckley III I Am From I am from 11943 S. Princeton/wild wild hunnits From alley basketball and crates on telephone poles. I am from a clean polished hardwood floor With the smell of pine sol and febreze plug-ins. I am from the world of the jungle, Where it’s necessary to win for you and your loved ones. I’m from Rhonda Buckley and George Buckley. From fishing with popz to learn survival skills And from laughing at the funny times we encounter. I’m from acting like a dog growing up to having a dog mentality, And from a big heart and chosen family. I’m from Jesus Christ our Savior. I’m from Chicago. From soul food and seafood with cocktails. From Rhonda B and June Bug. I am from the perseverance that led to victory.
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb Copyright
2022 ConTextos