Living on the Frontline

February 27th, 2007 | Crime | E-Mail Article | Print Article

Thank you for visiting! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to this Blog's RSS feed or join the Forum for exclusive articles, updates, stories, news, tips, and useful information for ameteur and professional writers alike.

Three young people shot dead in South London and now everybody talking about gun crime, gun crime, gun crime. The Prime Minister Tony Blair, he’s now saying that the government will extend the minimum jail sentence for gun crime among young offenders. But since he’s a bit trigger happy himself, just what would he know about it?

Can’t these people see that gun crime is just the symptom and not the problem? The whole damn world gone topsy-turvy anyway and nobody seem to know how to get back to basics. Thatâ€™s why living on the frontline here, I always like to remember the old time sayings from home, and when I drop them on these British-born youngsters, they always have to wonder. When I explain to them, they get it, but I stop all that now.

Gun Crime up 35% in the Capital When I say things to them they look at me like I’m stupid; old fashion. They don’t know is not everybody fashion fit. The fashion may be in, but if it don’t fit me, I not getting into it. It’s not the clothes you wear or how you look. It’s what’s in you that make you that special outstanding individual. Most people think because you can dress, it’s not the clothes, that’s only a picture postcard. That doesn’t mean you have to dirty or appear anyway below the ordinary.

You know, just to go down the road here, you dress up like mutton-favour-lamb. Who you impressing? I’m clean that’s all I know. I see some of these young girls sometimes, unnecessarily dressed. You see them going round the Frontline here dressed to kill like billboard advertising sign. I see girls pushing prams with baby and dress up in-a-mini skirt; see them bend over two seconds - whoops! I mean, man, if a woman has to go on like that for a man to see her, it’s not right.

You don’t have to show your body where only your lover alone should see it. Just to gain popularity or for people to like you. Is not everybody can dress-up like Destiny’s Children on the TV selling records by the bucket-load. Some of these girls round here now suffering from massive insecurities. They encourage rape. See it you see what I mean? You not going to leave your house door open for thief to break into? You gonna make it easier for thief to get in by leaving it open? No!

I tell you, the little I see a Carnival each year is the highlights on the telly. I never been there. I started twice and just something change. I see some of them young girls from round here going up there. You know, oh my, huh-huh! It’s just not on! That’s right down slackness. So what style or fashion can that be?

Pops photographed by Newton U Brown Some round here now quick to call me “Batty Man” and “Chi-Chi-Man.” About how they gonna come round and burn down my place because … because of what … because I’m different? Because I’m not into this slackness and degrading women, they come want to run off their mouth and spread malicious gossip? I’ve got two girls and thank God I can lift my hand and knock wood. Hope it’s not too late. I’m glad for the way they are. They both work. I told them, “I wouldn’t mind if you don’t pick a man from round in this area,” and they listen to me.

The younger one living in Nottingham. She got her little man over there. The one living with me, she’s now at work. Her man is from Hackney and he’s not a Jamaican. He’s from … not Saint Lucia … I forget which one … anyway … Dominica? … No … But he’s just like us. He behaves just like us. And he’s not an idler. He’s always working. I don’t mean as if Jamaicans don’t work, that’s what people say, but it’s not true. Is just the company you keep. As I say, fashion suit some and don’t always suit others.

Like some of these boys on the frontline selling. One down there they call him ‘Gary Glitter.’ On my, every girl come its Gary. I think he must have about a hundred kids. So … so … so stupid. Just that Flash Harry way and having money counting, counting, all the time. And the woman they just give their body, “Here come. See it here. Tek it.” And it’s not theirs to give. They come off worse. And a Man that would help them for their future, they don’t want to know him. For if you’re not flashing they don’t want you.

So you can see, it’s love for convenience. It’s not way down love. Theirs is the love that comes and goes. But a love that grows like a beautiful flower, it needs the necessary moisture, warmth and air. Every time you see somebody you love, it seems deeper. You donâ€™t love them for what they have. If they donâ€™t have money today or donâ€™t have a flash car, fuck them off, leave them. Excuse my language, you see.

People now-a-days don’t know what love is any more, anyhow, and every minute they want to marry. Some before the reception finish they quarrel. You Know? Huh! I could write a book about all the things I’ve seen in my sixty-five years but I don’t know the first damn thing about book writing. To get it all in perspective, if you know what I mean?

I could sit here, though, the whole day through and talk to you about the carrying-on of people. And I learn from them, you know. I learn from them. I try not to take it all too personally. But it hurt me.