Because the nation continues to reel from rising incidents of gun violence, one man continues his struggle in opposition to mindless shootings. In honor of Nationwide Gun Violence Consciousness Month this June, he shares how gun violence ripped via his household, how he realized forgiveness and why, via religion and the written phrase, it may be eradicated.
“The grim statistic of 119 mass shootings yearly paints a stark image. My life stands as a testomony to resilience, therapeutic and an unwavering dedication to peace. I’m Kweisi Gharreau, identified to many as ‘kweisi, the poet,’ and I’ve navigated a panorama of familial gun violence for over 5 many years, reworking private trauma into a strong motion for change.
The shadow of gun violence first fell upon my household in 1974 when my Uncle Levi was murdered on Chicago’s South Facet. This tragic occasion, simply doorways from my mom’s residence, marked the start of a painful journey.
In 1987, my older sister, Tanya, then 18, discovered herself in a tumultuous home relationship that tragically escalated. In a second of worry and self-defense, Tanya, who had been carrying a gun for defense, shot her ex-boyfriend, Bobby, throughout a violent altercation. The unintended and deadly shot led to Tanya’s conviction for manslaughter, and she or he served two and a half years.
The cycle of violence continued throughout my household. The heartbreaking homicide of my youthful and solely brother, Lemont, occurred in 1992. Simply two years later, my cousin Adin Howard was murdered in the identical method, on the exact same date as Lemont. The emotional toll was immense, leaving me so distraught I couldn’t attend my cousin’s companies.
As years handed, our household hoped to flee the grip of gun violence. However 2010 introduced one other jolt when my nephew, Quentin, survived being shot eight occasions over cash. He survived one other taking pictures in 2013. Dwelling by the ‘road code,’ Quentin refused to “snitch” on his assailants, resulting in a number of arrests for contempt. He was lately launched to a 90-day home arrest final month.
The affect of this pervasive violence even touched the youngest in our household. In 2022, my youngest nephew, Lil Quentin—Quentin’s son—was robbed at gunpoint for simply $20, sweet and bubble gum whereas strolling residence in Chicago. He was 12 years outdated on the time. I used to be residing in Hollywood, Calif., and I acquired a name from Lil Quentin’s mom. She talked about his profound rage and a chilling declaration that he needed to change into a ‘shooter.’
‘He had each proper to really feel the best way he did,’ I recalled, acknowledging the uncooked ache and bitterness that the streets of Chicago and Peoria can inflict. But, it was on this second of despair that my unwavering spirit of forgiveness shone via. I comforted my nephew, reminding him of God’s grace and the significance of prayer and forgiveness.
This spirit of forgiveness isn’t just a second for me; it’s a lifestyle. I’ve tirelessly labored to instill this philosophy inside my household, educating Tanya to forgive herself and educating my nephew, Bobby, to forgive his mom, after which his father posthumously. I had referred to as my nephew “Deonte” since his father died in 1987. At Bobby’s highschool commencement, I started calling him “Bobby” once more after sharing that I had forgiven his father. Bobby cried, and we embraced one another. Insomuch, Quentin’s refusal to “snitch” on his opps, even when seeing them again on the block, is, for me, a testomony to a spirit of forgiveness that transcends the road code.
My journey of therapeutic and forgiveness is powerfully infused in my poetry. It was via a panoply of poetry that I discovered the energy to write down, meet and in the end forgive my brother Lemont’s killers.
For the previous two years, via the INNOCENT RAGE Basis, I’ve partnered with Ms. Rosella Bynum, founding father of I AM The Approach, The Fact, The Life Outreach Ministries. Collectively, we spearheaded the “CEASEFIRE Social Impression Initiatives: The PEACE LOVE FORGIVENESS Poetry & Comedy on the Block.” This impactful initiative has mobilized a strong collective of Chicago neighborhood leaders, organizations and residents.
By means of grassroots efforts and the ability of prayer, we have now garnered assist from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Police Division, Congressman Danny Okay. Davis, Cook dinner County Commissioners Tara Storch and aldermen Michael Scott, Jr., Chicago celebrities just like the Emmy-nominated writerm director and producer Coodie, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Malik “The Wordsmyth” Yusef and extra. Our collective efforts yielded historic record-low taking pictures and killing numbers on Memorial Day weekend this previous Could.
The INNOCENT RAGE Basis, which is actively fundraising for subsequent yr’s initiatives, has a mission to tell, educate and encourage the neighborhood on gun violence prevention via the artwork of poetry. Looking forward to the longer term, Ms. Rosella Bynum and I are ‘Gunnin’ (pun meant) for an entire ceasefire in Chicago, aiming for our third Annual Memorial Vacation Weekend Social Impression Initiatives: The PEACE LOVE FORGIVENESS Poetry & Comedy on the Block, the place no Chicagoan is shot or killed throughout that weekend in 2026.
Because the legendary B.I.G. declared, ‘My thoughts’s my 9, my pen’s my Mac-10.’ I imagine that via poetry and the humanities that provoke thought, minds might be reworked, resulting in a constructive and stupendous shift in our tradition.”