If you’re interested in sharing your opinion on any cultural, political or personal topic, create an account here and check out our how-to post to learn more. Opinions are the writer’s own and not those of Blavity's. ____ I spent my childhood in a wild neighborhood. I grew up on the Northside of Oklahoma City in a community called Chisolm Creek during the ‘80s and ‘90s. From an early age, I was exposed to gang violence, drugs, death — even the Oklahoma City Bombing happened when I was in the fifth grade. I remember the toll that took on the city; it seemed like every school year held a new tragedy. I was bullied as a kid and had countless fights in elementary school. Without fail, I found myself in some kind of trouble. My mother, who worked full-time as a librarian for the OK Historical Society, was aware of the circumstances and, whenever possible, would look for ways to lift us up from our situation. I went to eight different schools in the same city. While she sought to...
