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