STREETSENSEMEDIA.ORG
Each of us has a responsibility to help each other
Hug Me
BY JAMES GARTRELL Artist/Vendor
Hello Street Sense Media reading fans! And may I not forget my fellow staff members: editors, vendors, volunteers, management, and founders. This organization is exempt from what I’m about to tell you, because it provides me and others the opportunity to work. But too many places of business in this area do the opposite. They deny motivated people opportunities and neglect or ignore the poverties that exist among our many homeless neighbors and our many more poor and working class fellow D.C. residents. At present I am working in a computer lab that is helping me learn skills I need. There are others working and learning in this class with. These are people with a positive outlook, with plans to learn and earn their way out of poverty and pass on what they have learned as they move into society, to enlighten and motivate the communities they will live in. While these homeless people are thinking about how they can strengthen and support their communities. I don’t see enough communities thinking about how they can strengthen and support these homeless people. As I write this, I consider both the news on television and what I’ve experienced firsthand. All the local business that we as minorities used to own are now shutting us out. I’m not afraid to name a few I know to have neglected minorities by denying opportunities to and others I know or have met. Nando's restaurant, for one. I applied for a dishwashing position that was available at the time I walked through the door. I was given an interview on the spot and
did some work with no pay to show and prove myself. Yet despite my persistence, I was given the runaround. The manager said he didn’t have time to ask the other employer about me and my performance after three different days. Now, if I don’t meet the qualifications or don’t do a good job, that’s on me. And we can be honest about it. But if you give me a patronizing chance of getting the job, and ask me to work for free to qualify for that job, only to make up excuses and never give me a straight answer, that’s cowardly. This was demoralizing, but still persisted. I suspect Nando’s hired a person of a different skin tone. The same has happened to me with McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and Wendy’s. The United States is supposed to be the land of the free. And you have to respect us minorities, especially our past fathers and grandfathers who built this country. We do what it takes to survive here, whether it's shining shoes, picking up groceries, selling, or whatever. As an African American, I know where I came from and I work hard to do the right thing and live right. I ask you all that read this newspaper… do you support restaurants that shy away from providing equal opportunities and deny support to people who want to work and help themselves? If you were hiring, would you respect men and women who are homeless that applied for your job? Life is very stressful and difficult to watch. It can be destroyed by nothing more than neglect. So, just making it from day to day, with the blessings of our Creator, is a gift of an opportunity to make the best of our time on this earth.
Looking for Work BY GWYNETTE SMITH // Artist/Vendor
I am looking for work. When I first came back to this city, I became discouraged; That was around 20 years ago. I was given a list of temporary jobs, but most of the phone numbers were out of service. It was necessary to apply online, but I didn’t realize it was sometimes possible to follow-up online and track employer responses. Many possible jobs slipped through my hands. After trying online businesses like Movie Matters (that didn’t take off), I found an opportunity marketing a line of clothes for children to Macy’s and other shops. But the business was out of state and the owner said I didn’t fill out the forms to get the commissions I should have. Poems of mine were published after I contacted an organization looking for work as a teacher. They referred me to a poetry group
and I was invited to send my poems out of town, but I didn’t go. There was no representation I would get my money for going. Later, I taught adult basic education, part-time, but broke my ankle and had to stop working. A couple of months after I was injured, I found out about Street Sense Media and was able to start selling the paper. This experience has added some financial stability to my life, but I do think about getting a regular job and not having to be an independent contractor with no benefits. I think I could find a job that pays minimum wage, which is now $15 an hour. I would work full or part time. I’d especially like this type of change if the work were interesting and had benefits. I have talked to three employers and two seemed especially positive. I want to follow through.
// 13
BY RONALD DUDLEY A.K.A. “POOKANU” Artist/Vendor
Rondald Dudley and his son. PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD DUDLEY
Hug me, hug me You don't gotta like me You don't gotta love me.
She said I need to take a bath But i still made her laugh So she hug, me hug me
Hug me, hug me You think I'm ugly? Too afraid to touch me
I seen a dog get more love He got a kiss and a hug Hug me, hug me
Hug me, hug me You say I stink I'm too dirty to think
When my daughter got suspended Her teacher highly recommend That she hug me, hug me
Hug me, hug me If you only knew All the pain I been through You would hug me, hug me
I told her, “Don’t be breaking rules” Daddy almost lost his cool Until she hug me, hug me
I was chillin’ with my son When the Capitals won He just hug me, hug me Got me thinkin’’’ ‘bout his momma Before we ever had drama She use to hug me, hug me When ever I was bad After my grandma beat my ass She would hug, me hug me One of my friends beatin’’ cancer I told her God the answer Then she hug me, hug me When the voice in my head Said this world wanted me dead Somebody hug me, hug me What really brought me back to life Was when somebody hug me twice After they hug me, hug me You ain't gotta like me You ain't love me But please hug me, hug me Before you try to judge me You need to learn to trust me Hug me, hug me
I been working on a song I been writing all night long Hug me, hug me This world could be much better If we all just get along Hug me, hug me Now give your mother a hug Give your father a hug Give your sister a hug Now give your brother a hug Now give your grandma a hug Give your grandpa a hug Give aunty a hug Give your uncle a hug Now give your family a hug Your friends a hug Now give your cousin a hug Cause they wanna a thug Now remember to pray And to give your mom a thousand more Hugs for MOTHER'S DAY Hug me