1 Legacy

Chapter

ong ago, sometime in the 13 th century, it is estimated that in central India, the Bengal region of South Asia, people traveled through the damp forests and over flowing river deltas of this lush green territory in search of places to call home. Traders and merchants also journeyed this hazardous terrain, hoping to sell their goods. They often moved in large caravans, primarily for safety. They reasoned that the more people in the caravan, the less likely they would be the target of robbers and attackers. However, beyond the difficult landscape and unpredictable weather, a greater risk lurked on the countryside. Since there were several people moving

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through this area, one group in particular took advantage of this fact. They would make it look as if they were accompanying travelers, and just happened to be going to the same destinations. They would even join caravans with the promise of protection. Ultimately, when this group gained the trust of the explorers, they were unaware that their lives were soon to be sacrificed and their belongings taken away from them in the name of the imposters goddess. Just before sunset, a pre-appointed member of this group would take a thirtyinch long cloth, called a ruhmal, and wrap it around the neck of the unsuspecting traveler and strangle the life out of them. Before they buried the dead, they would break their bones and joints apart, and then slice open the bodies so they would fit into the smallest holes in the ground. After the travelers had been buried, the killers would split up the goods between them and set aside a portion of the loot for their goddess.

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This organization of mass murderers would exist up until the 1830s when their British rulers finally upgraded the police force and initiated a widespread operation to eliminate them forever. Recognized today in the Guinness Book of Records as being responsible for the deaths of approximately two million people, they were known as the Thuggees of India. From that time on, they would lend their name to define those in our society who assault, menace, con, kill, and steal from others, Thugs, and that was their legacy. Fast forward to 1993, when an intelligent, articulate, twenty-two year old poet, actor and rapper formed a group called Thug Life and inadvertently poured gasoline onto the already blazing fires from teens across America feeling left out of mainstream society and longing to be a part of something to identify with. The young mans name was Tupac Shakur, and with his chants of Thug Life and his boldly displayed THUG LIFE tattoo on

What Teens Must Know! Real Talk Vol.1

his stomach, he would influence millions of youth around the world up until this very day. From the wealthiest of suburbs to the inner city projects, teens rushed to pledge their allegiance to the thug life. And so far, with the pen thats been passed down to us, we have written in our book of legacy much of the same as those original Thuggees of India. Of course, I will always remember Tupac for his creative and artistic expressions; however, his life and music remain misunderstood. Most of Tupacs life and music was dedicated to changing and uplifting the community. Simply defined, legacy is what is passed down from generation to generation. It is what you will leave behind and are going to be remembered for. It is your accomplishments and failures. It is your imprint, and the difference you made in others lives. It is also lasting.

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Legacies are passed down with the intention of having made conditions better for the next generation. This happens when people actively create and implement strategies to ensure that those who come after, such as our children and grandchildren, can avoid the pitfalls of the past. Imagine just for a moment, that you were a child who was born a slave and forbidden from ever learning how to read a book. In fact, if you were ever caught in the possession of any type of reading material, you were immediately punished, either slapped in the face, or beaten with a whip. However, in order to make sure that those who come after you would one day be allowed this simple and basic right; to learn, you would go so far as to sacrifice your own life. First, you would give away a portion of your one and only daily meal to pay off the kids in the neighborhood who dared to teach you how to read.

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Years of beatings would not deter you. With the help of newspapers, political material, and other books, you would continue to grasp reading. The knowledge you gained only opened your eyes further and made you more determin ed to be free. I would unite with After anybody to do right several and with nobody to failed do wrong. escape Frederick Douglass attempts, you would finally, not only gain your freedom, but go on to become a successful publisher and editor of your own newspaper, bestselling author of multiple books, politician who held conferences with presidents as well as the nations most recognized anti-

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slavery lecturer and spokesman, and one of the most prominent figures in African American history; Frederick Douglass, and this was his legacy. Young people, think for just a moment, how this man would feel now to know that after all of his sacrifice and suffering for the basic right to read and learn, many of you believe that reading and learning is not cool or keeping it real... Others of you have been deceived into believing that there is something wrong with striving to be smart and intelligent. Think about this for just a moment. Would it have made sense for the most of us to have been created with the capabilities to breathe, think, see, hear, touch, speak, walk and reproduce for us to fail? That wouldnt make sense. If we had been created for failure, we would not have been created with these gifts. These gifts were given to all of us so that we could brighten the path for the others who come behind us.

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Young people ask yourselves, what type of legacy do you want to leave behind? Right now, you still have the opportunity to pick up that pen and piece of paper to create the real legacy that you want to leave behind.
I shed tears of anguish as I see my children disappear behind the shroud of mediocrity never to look back to remember me. I am Joaquin. I must fight and win this struggle for my sons, and they must know from me who I am."(From "I am Joaquin/Yo soy Joaquin") by Rodolfo

Excerpt taken from Chapter 1, Legacy, What Teens Must Know! Real Talk Vol.1 available at Amazon.com.