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RailRoad Tracks
In the summer of 1987 Lafeyette and Pharaoh were with some friends near some railroad tracks looking around for pet snakes. They were digging holes with a crowbar to find snakes. As a train passed by the boys ran to cover in weeds and also in to an open boxcar. They hid becuase there were rumors that they would shoot at trespassers. Paraoh did not want to leave the railroad tracks becuase he felt it was like a peaceful sanctuary. -
Lafeyette's BirthDay
It was Lafeyette's birthday and she decided she would go buy something with the money she got. She planned to go get some radio headphones with Dede, her nine year old cousin, with the 8 dollars she had gotten for here birthday. Then gunfire erupted and he pulled Dede to the ground and told her to "Stay down"(Kotlowitz 9). -
Vice Lords
On a warm day a car pulled up and two body gaurds got out. Jimmie Lee was there and he was no more than 5' 7" but had a bulky cheest. He was a leader of the Vice Lords and residents of Henrey Horner feared to call in about them. They took over the Henery Horner homes and if you were caught snitching you could die. Jimmie Lee was one of the top wanted gang leader. -
Bird Leg
Bird Leg's real name was Calvin Robinson. He was 3 years older that Lafeyette but he still let him be his friends becuase he had few friends. Bird Leg loved dogs. Bird leg tried to get his money from a guy that owed him but he got shot in the shoulder. His mother moved to try to get away from horner but he ended up coming back and the next day he got shot and died. -
Pharoah and School
Pharoah's elementry school was on strike becuase of the teachers and pharoah was upset because he liked to go to school. Pharaoh tried to say "W-w-w-when...when..." and Lajoe said "Soon, Pharoah. Once they get off strike."(Kotlowitz 61). Pharoah wants to go to school but cant becuase they are on strike. He likes school because it gets him away from the violence of Horner. Ms Barone was Pharoahs favorite teacher and she also liked to have him in class. -
Jammed Apartment
The Apartment that Lajoe her family lived in started to get too packed. There could be as many as thirteen people in the apartment at a time. It wasnt uncommon to have an apartment that crowded but it effected the boys school work. Lajoe was closest to his son Terence who also made her the most disappointed because he ended up failing. Terence ended up getting arrested for armed robbery. -
Welfare Office
Lajoe went to the local welfare office and sat to be called. when she was called she was taken to an interrigation room. They asked her if her husband Paul was still living with her because he has a job. They said because Paul was living in the house occasionally that they would lose the welfare benifits. -
Spelling Bee
Pharoah had been selected as one of two kids from his class to participate in the school spelling bee. He took it very seriously and was really nervous about. He didnt pay much attention to anything but the word becuase if he wasnt focused he could stutter. when he got in the top five he got really nervous and lost even though he new how to spell the word. -
Terence in Jail
Terence went to jail for the supposed armed robbery. Lajoe and the boys went to go visit him in jail one day. Terence talked to Lajoe for a while about stuff and then he talked to the boys. He gave Lafeyette advice saying "i'm telling you, Lafie, stay in school and do something positive"(Kotlowitz 109). He told him if people try to tell you to do something you should just say no and walk away. -
Ricky
Ricky and Lafeyette become good friends. Rickey introduces Lafeyette to some of his friends who have been in trouble witht the law. Rickey had aslo gotten in trouble with the law plenty of times and convinces Lafeyette to steal a movie from a store and got caught. -
Craig Davis
The cops were looking for Craig Davis because they knew he purchused a sawed of shotgun. When Craig Davis saw the two officers he said "I aint Going to no jail again"( Kotlowitz 195). They chased Craig and Marianos caught him and pinned him up against a wall. He then stuggled to try to get away and that caused the gun to go off killing him. -
Four Corner Hustlers
Rickey and his friends created the four corner hustlers. They werent an actual gang. They just were young kids who controlled there own turf. They didnt even run drugs but they had an apartment with a tv and a couch that they used at there club house. -
Shooting Incident
Lajoe was with Rochelle waling down Washington Boulevard when she noticed two teens with red shirts on which is a symbole for the vice lords. they also had caps on and she also noticed a boy walking behind them. She yelled at the teens that someone is following them and then the boy shot at them but they were able to run away. -
Rainbow
It was raining and the sun was out in the middle of the day. They went to go get some food and went to main street with Rickey. Then Pharoah got excited and couldnt get the words out. He pointed at the rainbow and it was the first rainbow they had ever seen. -
Lafeyettes Trial
Anne Rhodes was the defendant for Lafeyette and he actually liked her because she chose to work in the juvenile court instead of just for experience. They found all five boys guilty but they let them allg go instead of locking them up.
