Public Allies, Los Angeles Class 2017-2018 Team Service Project
Hearts Of South Central: Narratives of Gentrification and Health
ABOUT:
For this year’s 2017-2018 Public Allies Los Angeles cohort, one of our Team Service Projects focused on the effects of gentrification on health. We will be publishing a series of interviews, poem, and infographics created and conducted by Allies that capture community member experiences from South Central Los Angeles.
These collective poems, interviews, and narratives provide insight on the impacts of gentrification and displacement on the health of South Central residents.
Poem by South Central Resident
“My South Central” by Guero
In this world of pain
It seems everything is going to waist
violence and corruption
We end up shut down if we raise our voices
Shot for no reason
rights taken away dosnt matter the season
Cops shooting innocents
hunting season
Peaceful protest no type of change
Burn down the city now they hear our pain
Brown on brown crime black on black crime
its all the same
They dont wana see us unite
drugs alcohol and sex insirted in our brains
keeping us distraced this shit is driving me insane
Money is the root of all evil
Just look what it does to people
You give them all you got or the take out the desert eagle
Winter is cold but the streets stay hot
All you worry about is money and thots
Educate yourself no need to loose your thoughts
In this world of pain is easy to loose your frame
Trying to stay in your lane but all the corruption makes it hard for me to stay sane
We are all the same Brown black white catholic christian Muslim
They try to separate us killing our wisdom
We have to change the system…
***
(sic)