"Crushin on the wrong one"

I first started getting into boys when I was in the sixth grade. I had the biggest crush on a eigth grader named Walter Bell, he was popular, he played basketball and he had a grill( TOP AND BOTTOMS). He was sooooo fine back then I did'nt know what to do with myself. He had a carmel complextion, light brown eyes and brown dreads with gold tips. I crushed on him for my whole sixth grade year and was teased royally for it. Girls wanted to fight me and i did'tn have any real friends. I never understood why things had to happen like that but i am glad that i learned a lesson... Never fall for a dread head with a grill from west oakland.Another thing i thought i knew about relationships before i got into one was that loosing your viriginity hurts super bad - this was not true for me it wasn't that bad.
Back when i was younger i used to fantisize alot and i did'nt know what relationships was about. Now i know that their is much more to relationships than just having fun and having boyfriends. Relationships are about being committied to your significan other and loving that person and having their back forever for that moment in time.



Misunderstood, 17

Love is an eye's mystery

I first started thinking about relationships when I was in the 3rd grade and this boy named Patrick who was cute with gray eyes went to my school.Hahahaha! A myth I heard about relationship is that in a relationship the boy always love the girl,I quickly found this myth to be untrue when I heard a boy said he went out with a girl quote in quote "because she had a big booty". I view relationships now as a stepping stones to bettering or learning about yourself . Almost like your in a relationship to learn life lessons. I believe my views differ from popular cultures belief just in the since that they believe all women are goldigging,you got to be paid,take care of my kids type people but, my belief is the guy has to have a nice personality,manners,and just a gentleman all around.
-Akilah Watkins 15

"The Kiss of Death/Kiss or Die"

I started thinking about relationships around the age of eleven.I think I was in the sixth grade.But when I seen "the boy of my dreams",I was in the second grade.Two myths about relationships that I believed BEFORE being in a relationship was if I kiss a boy I'll get pregnant and if I look a boy in their eyes,I will die.I found out those myths were false when i looked in a boy's eyes and found out I was still alive.Also,I've kissed a boy before and I'm not pregnant.Now I view relationships different.I view them as a rocky subject.It seems as the girl or woman is always the "Damsel In Distress".Like they need a man to boost up their self-esteem.Self-esteem relies in thy self.No one can ever bring your self-esteem or self-confidence down.
-Breanna Coleman 16

love is a gamble

i started thinking about relationships when i was 14 years old and thats also when i started dating and and the relationship that i was in at that age lasted for 2years but during the two years i was with him i didnt call us a relationship because i really didnt know what it was and what part do i play in it and what part do he play. but befor i got into the relationship i thought the guy was suppose to spoil me and buy me whatever i want and need will thats what my sister told me but what she did say was that sooner or later he would want something in return maybe because i was to young or whatever the case was but she didnt.but when i found out the spoiling was a lie is when i got into a relationship when i was 14 he was sweet in the beining but after a while he started to change and want more from me that i wasnt reaby to give him so that two year relationship was more like a off and on two year relationship i use to think when we would break up he would go to the next gurl and get it from her then come back to me when he wants to be loved because he knew i erally loved him. So now that i've experienced different things in a few of my relationships over the past few years i really have a hard time trusting men. Relationships make you stronger,happy and some times sad. When i think about it - i dont really want to get married i just can't see myself waking up to the same man for the rest of my life. Most girls nowadays say that they don't want to get married but if they find that right guy they will probably change thier mind.

Momo - 17

Girl's Respond to the Hudson Family Tradgedy

Learn From My Mistakes

Hello everyone that’s reading this right now, my name is Lady E and today I'm giving you a real life example of a bad relationship and some advise on how to avoid it.

In 2006, I was going with somebody much older than me, but didn’t quite know the real him. At first he came off so sweet like a gentleman: taking me out, buying me nice things and treating me like a young lady. But after most of the acting was over, he asked me to be down with him - be his girlfriend - and like many young and naïve ladies, I said yeah. So now, the whole act is all the way over, the real him comes out.

Now, I'm bitch this, hoe that and I'm sick of it, but because I'm “DOWN” for him, I stay in the relationship. But he started to put his hands on me, so now I'm ready to go. I told him that I didn’t want to be down no more, so he said I would have to fight him and if I won, I'm out freely. So I said okay, we fought and we was going back in forth and I finally won, and because of the age difference he was sent to jail for 53 years with no parole. He broke my jaw in the process.

Young ladies make sure you be smart about who you chose to go with.

For one: If you're 15, don’t go out with no one that’s 20.

Two: Don’t believe anything they say until they prove it.

Three: Give it at least 4 to 5 months before you start catching feelings for them.

Four: ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR HISTORY.

BE ENCOURAGED AND LEARN FROM READING MY MISTAKES, ENJOY LIFE AND LIFE WILL ENJOY YOU.

- Lady E

What I Would Say

If i was trying to talk to one of my friends about their boyfriend, I would sit her down to the side and give her reasons why she shouldn't be with that person. You should tell her stuff like: I'm only telling you this because I care about you," because she is probably going to think that her relationship is all good and that everybody is trying to break them up or everybody is hating on their relationship. You shouldn't try to talk or yell in front of everybody because they might feel like your trying to embarrass them in front of everyone.

-La Tajh

Making the Negative into Positive

I guess it's all in the approach. To me, it's not like you want to offend the person or let them take it the wrong way by saying "I don't like your boyfriend/girlfriend." You should approach them and tell them this is how I feel about your relationship and this is why. Otherwise, you're making them uncomfortable and pushing them away. The key to giving good advice to a bad relationship is applying it to yourself. Don't think that your way is always best, because for some people it's not. Just be mindful of all emotions and situations.

-Akilah Watkins

A Message From the Heart

I am writing to reassure you that if you are in abusive relationship, or you know someone that is in one that: You should speak up.

I was in a abusive relation when I was 14 years old, and it never was physical until one day when we were arguing about a pair or shoes. And it escalated to him putting his hands on me for the first time. My whole life flashed before my eyes, it was not a good feeling. At that point, I realized what everyone was saying to me was true.

But the way they approached me wasn’t cool. I got approached from almost everybody in my family: my mom and my aunties my brothers. Everybody tried yelling and cussing screaming at me. My friend lectured me about it like every day and it got really annoying to the point that I just started to shut down because I felt like they were talking to me just to hear themselves talk. But what got me to start thinking was my oldest brother. He asked me: 'Was I happy with hurting the people around me because of what I was doing?' He told me I was playing with fire and the dude wasn’t good for me. The only reason why I choose to listen to him was because he was coming from a place of love and he was very genuine in what he was saying to me.

That’s why when my ex-boyfriend and I had that last and final argument, it was easy for me to let go. So if nobody that's telling you is coming from a place of love, I am -- because I know how you feel.

When that person and I broke up, my self-esteem was completely gone. I had to start from the ground up. We were together for about a year and six months.

It is so important for the young ladies that are in abusive relationship to hear this: it's not healthy at all and it can damage you in the long run. So if you know somebody or if you are that somebody, get out of that situation. Trust me, there is somebody out there waiting for you, you don’t have to be treated this way.


- Jazmin, 17

No Matter What the Outcome Is, Say Something

If you know someone that’s in a relationship that you don’t aprove of, then it's hard to tell that person to get out of it because you don’t know what their reaction gonna be, because if you really care about that person - you don’t want to loose that friendship but sometimes you have to do it because letting a guy disrespect you and talk to you like you're nothing is not okay. My sister was in a relationship where he was hitting her and calling her out of her name and before she even got into a relationship with him, I knew about him and I tried to tell her but she didn’t want to hear me at all. Me and my sis was so tight but I guess she loved him more then she loved me, now we don’t even talk no more. What I'm saying is no matter what the outcome may be: if its one of your friends and it's happening, you have to say something.

-Momo,17

We Have to Bring the Change for Black Women

Me personally, I don't think Michelle Obama will change how some people look at black women, but for most I think it's not gonna change anything because no matter what color the First Lady is, black women will always be labled as bitches, hoes, hood rats, or just a babymama of somebody. We as black woman have to make that change for ourselves. We have to present ourselves as intelligent, beautiful, black women. We have to start having and showing that we have more respect for ourselves and just love being black women, but if we continue to act ignorant and show no respect for ourselves and others we're gonna be called and looked at as bitches, hoes, ect.

- Araijah

Michelle Obama Won't Bring Change for Black Women

I don't think anything is going to change just because Michelle Obama is the First Lady. A lot will change for the boys and men, though. They have a role model now with Obama, so their perspective on life maybe different now. There is hope for African American males now and they can acheive anything they put their mind to. It's so much negative things that are portrayed about women. A lot of people see women half-dressed, nude, and/or doing provocative things. A lot of people say "sex sells," so most people say it isn't going to change and sex is going to stay around for a long time. For Michelle Obama, most people might think that it's her job to dress neat, stay covered up, and looking conservative - since her husband just became president.


- Breanna Coleman

Changing the Gender of the Dream.....

In my mind, I believe that Michele Obama is an African American leader. I say this not only because she's of African American descent, but also because she's bringing lots of change to what we see everyday. I know, personally, she's the reason my mother gets up and does her best everyday. Michelle says that she's making an active change in the White House and it's not something you see all the time in a first lady. I like that Michelle gives speeches and relates to the changes that we want in our communities. You could tell that she's genuine with her goals for the decisions, and not just an act or to look good. I feel she believes that it should come natural to help your husband not just at home but, also with everything he does. Also, I believe that she could hold her own.

-Akilah Watkins

No Free Ride

I think that a lot more women will start going to college and stuff like that because they know that they can be like Michelle Obama, but I also think that black people will start thinking they have to lead way and stuff like that. Like they're gonna think that since we have a black family that went through the same struggle and they can relate to them, that Obama will give them everything for free - like set up different programs where they get money, but they have to remember they have to work for it.

- Tajh

Obama Will See Us

Now that Obama has won, I'm expecting the best of the best. He is going to make a big change, you feel me. He ain't even got to do nothing to change, because as soon as they said "Obama is the winner," he have already made change by him being the first black president. He will look at the problems in the world, you dig it??

I think he will look at the black people more. He would like be more supportive of the black community. He know what it is like to have no one to really go to. He been off of food stamps and had single mother.

-Araijah

Obama Will Bring Change

Having a new president will be a huge and wonderful change. Someone is always complaining about something wrong, but no one is willing to make a change. Barack Obama will be a great president if he is elected and he's willing to make a change. The change I would like to see are new books in public schools, helping teens get to college, and making it easier for teens to receive tuitions. Violence is an enormous issue in a lot of communities. People always say change and difference starts in a community, but no one is trying to change their communities. Obama will change everything. He will help people with housing; hopefully he will change gas prices, stop the increase in crimes, and stop the war issues.

- Breanna

Keep the Change Alive

I believe that change is very important to this economy. Me personally, I feel that a lot of things should be different in this world - especially since we had so many presidents who are the reason to blame. Violence is a big change that needs to happen soon, before our Latino American and African American sisters and brothers are no more. We as a nation rely on our president to decide on change. So things like the killings in Oakland getting higher and the H.I.V rates going up are serious issues that need to be handled. Senator Barack Obama could be that change that we all need. Even though he hasn't said anything about change, he preaches hope. I hope that he can make the necessary change possible for us as a nation. He also preaches change. So that we could get rid of this war that's been going on. Also, so that the crime rate could go down. These are qualities and change we need in a president. Us as African Americans and Latinos in this community should be apart of this change. In my eyes I'm relying on the elders in my community to keep the change alive and believe that we are overdue for hope.

- Akilah

The Change I Want

I want to see alot of change!!! Not just for California, but for the whole United States, ya dig? It's so much Bush messed up. Barack Obama has so much in store for him, not in a bad way but as in he can do it. We have violence, gas prices, the war, better jobs, more money, tax cuts and better education, etc… I think Barack Obama will make peace with the war and try to stop the volience with more offircers and more activites in our communities. God help Us and Let Barak Obama make change!

- Neshei

Obama Needs to Stop the Violence

When Barack Obama becomes president, I want him to make college affordable for everyone. I want him to lower gas prices and cut taxes. He should stop violence in all neighborhoods by going to different neighborhoods and getting more security. He also can start arresting murderers and stuff like that. If I were him, I would address this by making a speech in each city. He should focus more on kids and college students. Also adults that have kids should get special benefits.

- LaTajh

Man Up

Well, I don't think that in the other parts of the world men should put women down. It is not fair to treat women like nothing but sexual objects. Treat them the same way you'd like to be treated, say "Thank you dear. This is a lovely meal you have cooked." Don't just think of them as your chicks, lovers, females or "wifey," look at her as one of your friends. In my eyes, from what I see around my friends, men aren't doing anything but drinking, getting high and using women. But when she gets tried of him sitting around, and starts to tell him, "Look you gon' have to come up on some money!" he gets mad and starts hitting on his female. Then from there, he goes to the streets but instead of hitting, the violence turns into killing!

-Araiijah
da truth. . .

What women should get

I think that the thing with women being dumb and having to be lower than men is not fair because there are not a lot of men that work as hard or harder than women so for this reason every, man and woman, should be treated equally. In my neighborhood I see both, I see men helping women out and women helping their men. Most of the time I see both men and women as being equal. For example they both work, have their own cars, and share cleaning duties and stuff like that. I think that if men get paid to go out and work then women should get like a special "housewife" check because it's not as easy job you have to cook, clean and watch the kids.

Woman Vice President?

I would vote for a woman vice president because she would be helping the president and suggesting ideas and I think we should have a man and woman's point of view on things, but then again it wouldn't because if something happened to our president then it would be left to her. The vice president should fit all the qualifications as president, such as being smart, experienced, and normal and im not sure McCains new vice president (Palin) fits.

"Ms. Vice President?" No Thanks.

Well I think that a woman cannot be vice president because my Grandmother told me that God put man before woman. Its like saying men have to cook, clean, and do house work while the woman is looking at the football game. To put it simply, I really, really dont think that a woman needs to be vice president.

-ARAiiJAH

Equal Pay for Equal Work

My business would be a pizza parlor. The workers would have to cook, work the cash register, clean up, and serve the food. I would pay them ten dollars a hour. I would also hire both girls and boys. All employees would get the same amount of money for the days they worked. Men wouldn't get paid more and women wouldn't either, because women and men both need more money. For example, men probably need to support their family or something like that, but some women are single moms. So I don't know every one's situation. So everyone can get an equal paycheck. If they are working the same as their co-workers then they will get paid the same.



- LaTajh

Men Should Get Paid More...at My Store.

Well my store would be a men's store. It would be open to who ever wants a job. The men would get paid more becuase they would attract other men to come in. They would be looking nice, smelling good, and have on nice jewelry. My store would do very well becuase I have strategy and a good idea to get the money!! I think that men would fit this better because they can talk to other men better than women. you just have to see that women cant do every thing they want its a limit.

-ARAiiJAH

Safe Sex Equals Women Empowerment

Well if MTV came to me and ask me to do a show wit them. My topic would be about safe sex. It is mostly black woman that is getting HIV and AIDS. So I would like to let young woman know that, it’s not the best idea to jump right in to having sex wit a young man you just meet. I would tell them if your about to have sex. But he isn’t putting on a condom. Ask him, why aren’t you putting on a condom and explain to him the out come of not wearing one.

-aRaijah babii

WHAT GIRL EMPOWERMENT MEANS TO ME

If I had my own girl’s empowerment group then I would talk about not getting plastic or cosmetic surgery and if they could have like an idol it would have to be Beyonce Knowles, Alicia Keys, or Jill Scott. I wouldn’t encourage them to be anything like Trina or Lil Kim or any of those video vixens, because they always dress like half naked and think they are cute and the stuff they rap about in their songs wouldn’t motivate anybody in doing something except for nasty stuff. They wouldn’t want they kids listening to it and video vixens just let famous people do whatever they want to them because they think they go get famous, they do stuff like dance without underclothes and you wouldn’t want to inspire anybody to do that.

In my program we would talk about stuff like appearance and not always wearing so much make-up or at least no a lot of it. I heard that if you wear a lot of make up everyday when you get old you have to keep wearing make up all the time. I think that you shouldn’t always have to wear stuff on your face to be pretty, because if you get a good boyfriend he should like you when the make up is on or when it’s off.


- LATAJH WEAVER

The Superwoman show starring marteona-alaya johnson

My show would be called superwomen and I would get women like Alicia keys, Keyshia Cole ,Beyonce, and different women from my church.
I would pick these women because all of them have inspirational spirits and they are strong in what they do.
The theme song would be superwoman by Alicia keys. The women would spend time with the girls and do activities like, makeovers, shopping, and a dinner dance with dates. And for the finale show I would redecorate all the girls rooms and I would throw them a party with awesome gifts and their favorite celebrities like, bowwow, Soulja boy,Pete Wentz, Chris Brown, and Ciara signed, Marteona-Alaya Johnson

females with low self esteem!

If MTV came up to me tomorrow and ask me to do a show
I would do a show about young females having low self esteem
And how to carry there self as young women and young adults.
Like if we had a conversation about it and females say they have
Low self esteem well find away to break them out of it and just be
There self. I would try to give them some tips on how to boost it up or have someone famous who’s been there before. I would have Jill Scott
Arrive on my show because its like she’s been there before. I would also chose keyisha Cole because she can relate to whole lot of low self esteem because in her songs she lets you know that she’s been down the same path but the she realized she was worth more the what she was put through so she got over it by writing out how she felt.



Shelkeia green
Aka trinasty wife

Older Experiences

Yes, I have gone out with someone five years older than me. My experience with our relationship was different than most of my relationships because they're more mature and have more experience in life.

-Veira

Dating Older People

Well, I always date people older than me because it seems to me that they're more mature, but sometimes it's not always true. My experience with an older person… I mean I thought it was cool because I mean it was harmless. I mean he didn't take advantage of me or nothing he just treated me like I was a queen. It ain't nothing wrong with dating people older than you -- just take responsibility for your actions and don't be dumb about it.

-Djjanne Taylor

Older Guys Can Take Advantage

Dating somebody five years older sometimes can be a good thing, sometimes it may not be. That is because older men can be more experienced and go through a lot things like having a good job, being graduated, and making lots of money. Sometimes it may be a bad thing cause they can be childish, and sometimes they can take advantage of younger girls and use them.

- Vanda M.

Older, Not Younger

Umm no, I wouldn't go out with someone younger than me because they might think they are all that and they tha shit. Um, but I would go out with someone older cause they, well ... I think they will be more mature.

- Esa Chunky

Nothing Wrong With Dating Older Men

I have dealt with someone older than me in a relationship. He was four years older than me. I can say he never pressured me into having sex -- it took us like a year to have sex. Because when a female or male date people that's older than them, the person can understand what they go through but when you date younger than you both people are going through the same thing. Like the older person most likely been through it before so it's like you getting put up on game and you know what to expect. But I don't see nothin' wrong with young people dating older people.

What I think about R Kelly going to trial is that I think it's a waste of time because it wasn't like he forced the girl to have sex with him. She wanted to do it then when she went braggin about it and she got caught up and her mom called the police and
made a big deal outta nothin'.

-Shelkiea, a.k.a. Lady Act Up, Free Ma Husband Michael D. Lewis

17 and Under

I don't know about anybody else, but I am 15 years old and I date boys 17 and under, but I guess it doesn't matter. I mean if someone's in love, it don't matter how old they are.

-Marteona Johnson
I

Older Dudes

I think it's okay because age ain't nothing but a number. Yeah, like I said, brah. And we didn't know Adam or Eve's age, brah, so it don't really matter if God didn't say nothing, brah. I love you, momma.

-Jesus Crème

Meeting Guys at Bayfair Mall

My friend that goes to my school just told me about two months ago that she was at Bayfair Mall and she met someone. At first she lied to him and told him she was 16 years old, and even tough he was 20 years old he told her that she was too fine, and looked and acted too grown, that's why he wasn't trippin' off her age. Then she started telling everybody his age and people started saying he was a pervert and he was crazy, so she got scared and wanted to break up with him. So, she told him that she was really 15 years old, thinking that he would break up with her because of her age but he didn't, so she told him her mom found out and she had to break up with him.

-Tajh

My Older Boyfriend

Well when I was 15 years old, I had my first boyfriend who loved my for who I am. And I loved him too, but here was something that I know my mom and dad will not like at all -- me being 15 and him being 27 years old. But no matter what, he loved me even though he was too old for me. Well, I think that is ok

-Tanya Gaona

My Older Boyfriend

Well, I think that everyone has talked to someone older than them before. I have talked to someone that was 18 when I was 13 years old. I met him at a party. He was dancing with me and he got my number and I got his and we started talking. My mom and cousins knew but they didn’t care as long as nothing happened.

But I thought that it was a good relationship because he wasn’t very kiddy and that’s good. I liked him very much but he thought that he was getting too old for me, but he really didn’t won’t to break up with me. Some things are good to do, but some times they don’t work out how you want them to.

He knew how to treat a lady. He didn’t care about my age and I loved him. He would be childish when his friends come around, but we stayed together longer but then he got too old and wanted something older than me because I couldn’t give him every thing he desired and wanted.

My ex-boyfriend James loved me, but I was being very childish, but he still loved me.

- Ilene Hawkins

Dating Older Men is Good

Well, to me, I think relationship with older men are good and the reason why I say that is cause not all of them is mature but the average percent of them are. Um, some of them do think that they can easily influence younger girls, half of them understands what you are going through and they are there for you, but the rest are only with you for one thing. Now, younger men - on the other hand - are very immature and don’t have a life. Bums! They are always depending on a girl and don’t do for themselves, they are just too immature for me and I like people that’s on my level and could comprehend what I'm saying and not playing games, so half the time it can be a good thing and the other it can be a problem. But I'm not going to lie though, all of the younger kids far aren’t immature, but like 79 percent of them are.

-- Makayla Hickman, a.k.a. {{Loud Mouth}}

People Like Violent Video Games

The game "Grand Theft Auto" is kind of interesting, and kind of dangerous. The reasons why it is interesting is because some people like the fact that it is realistic, and the reason why it is dangerous is because some people's psychological clock ticks and they feel like it is fun to shoot people and stuff, and when they do it they get killed or shot. My sister is like this, when we were watching the shooting part in the video she said that was her favorite part, and my cousin won't accept games without violence.

- Marteona

GTA: Doing Too Much

Grand Theft Auto is not good for little kids. It does not tell the right message to have a good life. It gets into gang war and shit. But most kids get hooked on it and then they think that if they do the things in the game, they will not die but then they do it and end up dead. Well, the bopperz in the game is doing hecka much, hitting flips and having threesomes and stuff. I think it just gout of control, but it is a fun game but not for kids under 18!!! Except for me, LOL!

- Araijah

Why Do the Girls Have to Look so Bad in GTA?

Even though I like to play Grand Theft Auto, I still don't think that people should make them type of games. One of my reasons is because it makes girls look like hos and not only that, some kids these days get ideas from games like that will try to do it themself. I mean, I'm not saying not to do these kinda games but it would be nicer if it would have less to do with women doing stupid things and if it wouldn't make the girls look so bad.

- Veira

Too Much Like Real Life

Playing Grand Theft Auto is okay, but once you take the game out to the real world it's a different thing. It has too much killing for kids, too many things that they can do to real people. I have seen kids doing things like that the game does in real life. And I have heard people saying that they want to do what the game does in real life.

- Tanya

You Have to be Mature to Play GTA

I think that Grand Theft Auto is a bad influence on kids. It's too easy to buy, they say you have to be 18 to buy it but you could get somebody off the streets to buy it or an older cousin or friend or something. The first Grand Theft Auto wasn't that bad, it wasn't as explicit as they are now but I think they start making the games based on how life is changing, like it's more killing and prostitutes and stuff now, so they take what's happening now and put it on extra thick, like killing the prostitute after you're done with her and just being able to walk down the street and kill everybody. The game is fun because I play it all the time but I know I'm mature enough and I've got enough sense to play a game like that but my little cousins play games like that and they don't know better.

- LaTajh

GTA Influences Kids

The game is very violent but I still like it. People shouldn't play these games or buy them for their little brothers or sisters. I think you should be 18 and up to play this game. It influences people because little kids see their idol on TV playing it or their older brother or sister playing it and these little kids think in their brain: "I wanna be like them so I have to play this game."

- Dazanea

Why I like Grand Theft Auto

The reason why I like Grand Theft Auto is because it’s a challenge and it keeps you occupied. Another reason why I like this game is because you can steal people's cars and shoot people. I think young people like this game because they think that when they kill somebody they are going to get away with it. And to them its practice for stealing cars. Also I think people play it because it keeps them in the house and out of trouble. I like the game because there is a lot of action in the game. The game seems real to me because I see the same things that happen in the game, happen in the streets. When I was playing the game before, I went to a hooker and had sex and then killed her because she set me up.


- Shelkeia

Why Can't Games Influence Kids to Make Their Lives Better?

From what I have been through and what I have seen, Grand Theft Auto is a good but kids take it to the point to where they really try to rob someone or to shoot someone. Sometimes things don’t go the way they planned. I have played the game before because it looked very interesting and I love the way you could kill people and have sex with hos. But at the same time, this game makes me want to go and do something to someone because all the stuff I have been through.

See, my uncle died from gang violence and he was shot 17 times in Los Angeles when I was 4 years old, so I have been through some things that no one else has. Sometimes I wish they wouldn’t make things to influence kids and teenagers to do certain things. Like, if I was to make games I would make some thing to influence them to go to school or to make your life into a better life than what I had, cause I don’t want any one to suffer like I did without a mother or my uncle. I sometimes cry to myself because I don’t have any one but my grandmother and some people say I am never going to be anything in my life, but I think better of myself. Change your life before life changes you.

- Ienee

Why People Fight

Well girl fights, in my point of view, are coo to see, but when you get into a fight and you get your ass kicked ... that's no fun. What makes it cool to see fights are that they are funny and sometimes I wonder how it started or something like that. Most of them start cause someone talked about them or they just want to for no reason. Like one day my friends wanted to get money fast - and no he couldn't sell drugs or something like that cause they didn't have that job to do - so they just went and stopped anybody and took their shit for no reason, but they did have one way to get fast money, but they always get caught anyway or something. Gang banging is one of the reasons they be fighting for their colors and guns and shit like that but like my family and homies, they be fighting for their respect cause in some hoods they do that to get the respect they want. They fight for streets, territory, turfs, like: "Fight for East Oakland and 57th and 53rd and 13th Ave, but that's all. Okay, bye!

~Esa Chunky~

Boo-c Ass Girls Trying To Be Seen

Damn, so whatsup with blood? Me, I'm just being me and getting money. What? You thought I was a ho? No, I got a job. But anyway, I know you seen my title and that’s what got your attention. Well, to clear that up: Have you ever posted a video of fighting or some shit like that on YouTube? That’s so ancient. I mean what’s your point? You're still going to be the same-ass nobody you are now. I think you want attention, so I'll tell you what: Go get a job and be bossy, not boo-c! The only thing that’s gonna get you is enemies, and I'll be one because I think it's not cool to have the whole word see some one get they ass beat on YouTube, because that’s a world wide site! I never get on it, but I hear about it. I’m to real for that shit.

Young Keke, too pretty

Oh yeah and you’re the one who'll look like a sucka if you fighting a sucka! And that’s real!

People Testing Me!

I was on my way to school and me and this girl named Glossy was into it over my boyfriend. Why? Because she was trying to talk to him. We was on the 648 bus going to Community Day School. People was telling her she couldn’t see me and then she tried to hit me, so then I got up and flopped her ass. We fought from the bottom of High Street to the middle to the top. She got knocked off her two toes. The bus driver pulled the bus over and called the police, so we got off the bus and fought again. Then when we got to the school, I got suspend for five days.

Shelkeia Nicole Green, a.k.a. Keke

Boy's Instigate Girl Fights

Well, what makes girl fights so funny is cause they always talk mess, but when they about to fight they suddenly won't want to and be a lil' baby about it and not fight. Or another reason they don’t fight is cause they can't fight, so they be like: "Oh well, I can't. My mom don’t want me to be fighting," or something like that.

I think boys like to see girls fight cause they want to start the fights up again when the girls try to stop fighting. The girls will be like: "I'm not trying to fight! But if she comes up on me again, I will." So then the boy will go back to the girl and be like: "She said she gonna beat yo ass!" So then that girl will get all loud, so then the same boy is gonna go back and say: "See look at her!" And she will go over there and be like "What you say you're ready to get yo a** beat AGAIN?" And that girl will be like: "I don’t care, we can go again." So they will fight and then the next thing you know, one girl gets beat up real bad so she will call her sister and then the other girl will call her two sisters and her brother, so it's about to be this big old thing WHEN it could have been done with the first time they fight, but no cause it was a girl fight so it's gonna be more than that!!

- Araijah

Snitches Record Fights

Well about fights, I think it all starts when people start messing with you. The first thing they do is talk trash about you, then you talk back to them, that’s when the punching and kicking starts. Then a lot of people start coming. Well, the people that are some snitches. After that someone calls the police and then it's all bad, like if the girl you are fighting with is more hurt than you than it's all bad cause the police is going to take you, even though the other person started it. After all that happens, all the snitches that saw the fight stay talking about it. Well one time I remember that I was with my friend and one of them just came and showed us a fight in her phone. It was a boys fight at Fremont High. The only thing I remember was that all of the snitches were there looking and of course someone was recording.
- Lupita

I Love Girl Fights

Why are girl fights more popular? Well, for one thing, they are more entertaining and second, they there are more a thing to look forward to. I’m a girl and personally, I love girl fights. When I see a girl fight, I think of all the things that I would do. Girl fights seem more physical. Like boy’s just punch and dip, but girls punch, kick, scratch, bite, dip, throw and spit. It’s probably a genetic bond, like all girls love girl fights more and all boys love boy fights more. I watch these fights on YouTube and other people’s phones all the time.
- Myesha

Fights Are Fun to Watch

I think people like seeing fights because they fun to watch and it’s better than watching the boxing fights on TV, because in a fight out on the streets or something you could do whatever you want, there is no rules. I think that people that record the fights on their phones or cameras do it so they could be the person that goes up to all the people that missed the fight and shows them who won and what happened. Most people I know don’t put the fights that they record on YouTube. They only do it sometimes, but not all the time because they could get in trouble or get the people who were fighting in trouble. I would be mad if I had a fight and somebody recorded it, because I didn’t fight so that everybody can watch. I would be fighting because I was mad at the person and whether I won the fight or the other person did, I wouldn’t want it shown to everybody.
- LaTajh

Prices Going Up

I make money by doing stuff around the house, like washing my mom's car or stuff like that. I used to have a job at Acorn Recreation Center, but that was just a summer job. Other people do stuff like sell drugs and girls go and prostitute, and people gamble. Some people have jobs that they go to everyday. Or some people just steal money.

Right now, I’m trying to get a job holding signs outside that will bring people to buy or rent new apartments. It pays good - ten dollars a hour. Some people sell other stuff not drugs ... like clothes, shoes, or accessories.

I noticed that a lot of people are going broke or not having as much money as they are used it. I could tell because I see more dirty people on the street like homeless people or just dusty people. The gas prices are too high and the houses these days cost too much, I think that has something to do with why parents start complaining more about money. Most of the stuff at the liquor store went up on the prices to like little things like fifty cent sodas and candy bars.

- LaTajh

Fast Money

Well, my people be getting money by anything they can do to get money. For example, I know people that sell weed on every corner in East Oakland and sometimes they even get high on their own supply, that’s why they be broke as a fucking joke, but that don’t stop them getting weed and drugs and shit. Some of my family, they be selling drugs, all kinds of them all over Oakland. Well, everywhere ... but all they do is wait in their damn corner and wait for dumb-ass people to buy their shit and they do. That’s why people die every day, either an overdose or people don’t pay up. Another body was found on the streets. Either they die cause of that or because of gang banging ... my life used to be all about that, but hmmmmmm ... I have changed a lot.

- Esa Chunky

Getting Money and Getting Rich, So If You Broke You Get Ditched

Damn, what’s poppin? Everybody and they momma broke. This recession shit killing us, slowly but surely. I can’t even get a hot dollar from my momma without her talking bout: “Where your job at?" And then I.R.S steal, taxes man. They getting over. So get rich or get ditched! Get money and act funny, feel me.

I’m making money by working at Youth Radio. I also do hair and make money off of that. I do about three heads in one week, since I work and go to school. I make at least $160 from that. Can you believe it? Another young black woman succeeding in life.

I ain't selling my body or nobody else’s drugs – that’s the hustle over here in the West. You got boosters, hos, hustlers and I’m neither. I do not have close family or friends who does these things, but where I live you got a little bit of all that. I don’t think they make much money because it’s a lot of people on the same hustle they on, which is not good. And if the recession keeps going, every body gonna be stealing robbing and selling.

See me, I want to make a lot of money, like $300 every two weeks but how can I do that with everybody low on money? When I get the money, I buy things I like such as clothes, shoes and accessories because I’m into my fashion, feel me. Oh yeah, I ain't holding up no signs, talking bout spare change. Fuck that, get on your job. Hahaha holla.

- Young Keke (Free Teddy)

Making Money

This is how I make my money: I work for The Beat Within and they are taking taxes out of my check. Other people are getting mad because they are not getting paid enough. People sell drugs so they can have the amount of money that they want because they might need it for something. Hoing, some females does it because they are desperate for love and some do it just because they can. Stealing clothes - people do it because they need to provide for their family because they do not make enough money.

- Shelkeia Green

That's Just Nasty

I think that it is no such thing as a high class prostitute. A prostitute is a prostitute and just because they don’t have the same prices doesn’t mean they can rate each other. If that’s what they choose to do, they just nasty. I found out that the governor of New York was caught trying to get with this so called “high classed call girl” which to me means a prostitute that wants a lot of money but still nasty. Any other time a prostitute would be arrested and stuff but she didn’t get arrested I don’t know why.

-La Tajh

My Friend's Story

I feel concerned about my friend because she is hoeing for money and she could just get a job.

But then I see women like the one who just got caught with the governor who never gets in trouble and I wonder why things are different for my friend who’s been in juvenile at least seven times for prostitution.

She met her pimp at a girlfriend’s house. He didn’t pimp his girlfriend, but started pimping my friend. She was in a group home at the time. She would run away from the group home to be with him. Even though he was using her, he would also buy her things and make her look cute and feel good about herself. So she liked being with him. It almost seemed like she saw him as family. She’s 17 and is still prostituting.

I don’t think she woke up one day and decided to prostitute. I think he said something to her that made her think it would be okay to do it.

This woman in the news decided to sell her body to pay for her music career. She is an adult and my friend a minor. She is called a “high class call girl” while my friend is a street ho or prostitute. She gets the third most viewed Myspace page on the internet while my friend goes to juvenile over and over.

Why is that?

AMW

Slow Killer

Some people don’t get tested because they don’t think they need to because of what their partner said. When I got tested, I was really nervous because I didn’t want to be infected with the virus. When I found out that I was negative I was so happy - then I thought about the people who are infected and how they are dying in slow motion: bones swollen, weak and hard to stand -- that’s what I picture when I think of these men and women, silent. But no one cares ...

Do you think if you use a condom sometimes you won’t get nothing, think again. AIDS is a killer, but it don’t ever want to be alone so it keeps finding new partners – keeps finding new ways to infect and kill.

- Lil Missy Says So

HIV Testing

Well, HIV testing for me is like a must do, have to – just to be on the safe side. Sometimes I’m nervous, sometimes not.

Why?

Because they can tell you you’re HIV positive and I think it would mean you don’t have that long to live, or at least that your life would change a lot.

When I go get tested I'm always nervous but when it all comes down to it, I’ve been negative. When you hear you're negative, it takes all the pressure off your head. Sometimes, when you hear you’re positive - some people break down and cry.

I think it’s good to get tested because you will know that you’re on the safe side - and if you catch it, you will know who you got it from.

When, I first went to get tested I was so nervous I couldn’t be still. I didn't cry, I just kept praying - hoping I didn’t have nothing and I was HIV negative.


Hiv testing is not bad - try it!!!!!!

-Shelkeia Green

These Bootsy-Ass Magazines

King Magazine is not for me but I say it can be of use to lonely desperate boys. I love when I see black people succeeding in life, but I feel put down when I go to King Magazine and see young beautiful black women half-naked that could have had more clothes on. It could have been worse, but I think it’s a disgrace to all African American women who have respect for themselves and others! And if you have a problem with wat I wrote to bad b***hes get with the movement or get beat on. Believe that the ladies of King Magazine is some bopz, most definitely.

- Young Teddy, jr. hahaha holla bit****

Teen Vogue

What I liked about Teen Vogue magazine was their style. How they got different kinds of dresses and how they brought back the old school hats with the plain colors. The clothes that they are wearing look so in style and up to date. The other thing I like about this is the poses that they are doing. It makes them look like they know how to rock the clothes that they are wearing. Another thing I like about this magazine is that their hair look so real and the color brings their face out. Last, their make-up is so neat.

What I didn’t like about the magazine was how they make the models bodies look so skinny. Another thing I don’t like was how it seems like they can’t eat the stuff that want to eat. Like, they can’t eat the junk food that they want because I bet the magazine editors want them to be just that one size.

I read this magazine on regular basis because i like to keep up with the latest styles. I love to read fashion magazines because i can come up with my own style just by looking at what the fashion desingner come up with. I get my sense of fashion from myself because i like to dress in my own style and let other people compliment my clothes.

- Shelkeia Green, a.k.a. Keke

What I Thought of CosmoGirl

I checked out CosmoGirl magazine and I liked:

Potty Mouth in the Secrets section. I liked this secret because if a girl was flirting with my boy friend I would also put toilet water in her cup so she can drink it.

I liked the column talking about being single on Valentine's Day, the writer told the readers not to be in despair if you don’t have a boyfriend on Valentines Day.

I did not like….
When this girl said that she was in NYC and her boyfriend was in West Virginia, because they was not together on Valentine's Day and I think it's important to be together on Valentine's Day.

- Lil Missy Said It!!!!

If I Was the Editor of Vibe

Every time I’m in the store, I pick up Vibe magazine and start reading it. The stories are mostly gossip, the latest news, and other opinions about hip-hop and R&B artists. Like, for example, recently they were talking about what Aretha Franklin said about Beyonce Knowles and they talked about new videos from Kanye West and Talib Kweli.

I like that they have the latest gossip and news on some of my favorite rappers and singers and they have a lot of pictures.

I don’t like that there is not any games like quizzes, surveys, horoscopes, or something like that. I always look at this magazine if I’m in the store but I never buy any of the issues, unless my mom buys them, because it costs like $4 to $5 dollars and that cost too much for me.

If I were the editor, than I would lower the price, I would add more fun stuff and activities, and I would add more posters. The other thing I don’t like is that they have all these interviews and articles about these old people who not even on the radio no more, so I think they should just focus on new artist and young artist or artists that’s making a lot of money.

- LaTajh Walker

Don't Judge, Obama

Wassup with it, blood {Barack Obama}:

I have so much to say and, honestly, I don’t think words can explain. So many people judge a book by its cover and haven’t read the back to see what it's about. Well, that’s how I feel. So many people look at me by what someone wrote about me! (Or typed.) My grandma and my mom all ways said pen and pencil will get you in trouble and follow you forever. Well, I have so many talents and can use them in so many ways. I am a smart intelligent girl and my only problem is my mouth. Your tongue can put you in so much trouble that you can’t get out of. But my whole point is if my tongue can get me in trouble, it can get me out of trouble. And this is a message from a young adult that would like for people to look at her from the inside and only wonder about her from the out. If a child could vote, you would have my vote Barack Obama. And not only did I look at you from the outside, but I also looked at you on the inside, to see what you have to offer.

Sincerely,
Sitkeya F (Ms. Latin Bomb Threat, but dont mean it!)

Why I Would Vote For You

Dear Mr. Obama:

I would vote for you because I hope you would give the group home more money, so that it would be nicer. I would buy nicer furniture and good food with more choices.

Also, we should be paid more for working and get health insurance for when our parents get old so that they can go to the doctor.

Finally, we should find places for homeless people to live.

Sincerely,

AMW

Make Things Better

Dear Barack Obama:
I think you should win because you are a good person. Also, you are very cute. I think you should win because you’re sending a perfect message out to the young people because your commercial caught my eye and because you are going to be the first black man to be the president. I think you would be good for California because Bush don’t know what he’s doing. I also want you to win because I think a whole lot of stuff would change with you, like you could give us a later curfew and not let us go to jail for dumb stuff. Also, I think you can change the food that people have to eat in jail and have better group home and less police and let us be able to have more sideshows. Finally, I think that you need to win because you are good for us and it would be a good start for 2008 and we can go from there to improve.

- Shelkeia

Dear Barack Obama

Dear Barack Obama,

I know that you will be elected as the president, so I just wanted to tell you some things that should change about our country. First of all I think that you should lower gas prices because $3 for one gallon is just not working. I think that when you turn 14 years old, you should be able to get a job, because you should be able to earn money if you are mature enough. Also I think college tuitions should be way cheaper, because you have to pay thousands of dollars just to get a higher education, and there are a lot of people that can’t afford college and they could have been the one that cured AIDS or cancer or they could be one of the best judges or presidents but you would never know just because they couldn’t afford over priced colleges. It’s too hard to rent houses or buy your own houses because it’s too expensive and buying a house should be affordable. Last, I think that there should be larger schools, the classes should be small so you can learn more and get more attention, but the whole school should be large, there are too many small schools.

-- La Tajh

Advice about HATERS

Dear Kelly

I think you shouldn’t care about what people say because they just haters and they wouldn’t be hating on you if they wasn’t jealous. You shouldn’t even trip off them because they not nobody to be trying to impress anyway, so if they don’t like what you got going on - then don’t even trip. The only reason they be hating on you is because they don’t have what you have. If people hating on you, that means you obviously is doing something right. So like if somebody be like: “Yo shoes hecka ugly,” but you know yo shoes is cute, just be like: “Whatever. Don’t get mad, because you couldn’t afford them.” Or if you heard somebody was talking behind your back, you should just go up to them and confront them in front of everybody, so everybody could just see that they is hecka messy.

- La Tajh Weaver

Advice to My Cousin

Dear Cousin,

I felt like you should’ve used protection during sex. You are too young to have a baby. You’re only 15. I felt like he got you pregnant on purpose, because he put Vaseline on the condom and it broke. Now you’re going through all of this stress because your boyfriend is dead. Now you have to be a parent on your own. But as a big cousin, I’m going to help you so you won’t feel like you’re a lone.

Love,
A.M.W.

Dear Shelkeia

This was a part of an excercise introducing the girls to video blogs or "vlogs". This particular vlog is Shelkeia's advice to a scenario involving a young woman having problems with her boyfriend.


Dear Shelkeia,

My name is Monique, I'm 18 years old and I'm from Oakland, Ca. Me and my boyfriend have been together for almost two years. Right now I'm 8 months pregnant. He's a good guy, and he's been there for me when I needed someone but lately he's been acting funny. Three weeks ago, he left our apartment and said he was going to go to the store, after he didn't come back for a few hours I called him, but his phone went straight to voicemail. I called his mother, his friends, everybody, but still, I didn't hear from him. Three days later, he comes in the house, I've been worried sick, and he just strolls in and goes in the room. When I ask him what happened, he said that his car broke down and that he stayed at his moms house for a few days while it was getting fixed. I want to believe him, but the story just doesn't add up. What do you think I should do? I want us to be a family, but I don't want to put my baby through all of this drama.

Thanks,
Monique

Weak Minds, Strong Bodies

It's a new year, so we have some brand new media for you. This is the first of a series of video blogs -- or vlogs -- where the Oakland Girls speak their mind. Here's Sitkeya dropping knowledge on the idea that having a "weak mind and a strong body" allowed black people to be enslaved -- a point that was brought up in The Great Debaters -- and that she applies to pimps and hoes.