T his month’s Justice + Arts selections have been curated by our Artist in Residence, Paine the Poet. His own poetry provides the highlighted writing for August, and his poem “Rough Childhoods” provides the theme. As depicted in the artistic selections below, Black youth often suffer the effects of America’s systemic racism—growing up in areas rife with poverty; lack of education, opportunities, and resources; and danger. Literally and metaphorically, dead end streets. The effects of these “Rough Childhoods” reverberate throughout these young peoples’ lives and their communities. Even as youth incarceration rates have fallen significantly nationwide (down 77% from 2000 to 2020), Black youth are still 2.3 times more likely to be arrested and 4.4 times more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts. What part of the American Dream is this?
“Rough Childhoods” by Paine the Poet
The system doesn’t make special exceptions …for kids
rough childhoods
children without examples of what success really is
looking at their circumstances it’s clear … they were never expected to live…
Continue poem below
Photography
Shane Paul Neil
Shane Paul Neil is a photographer whose street photography and environmental portraits capture intimate moments and simple joys of people living their lives, even in rough circumstances.
See portfolio.
Music
Stevie Wonder, “Village Ghetto Land”
“Village Ghetto Land” was written by Stevie Wonder and Shatema Byrd and appears on Wonder’s 1976 Grammy Award-winning album, Songs in the Key of Life. The song is directed at out-of-touch, and presumably white, fellow citizens who look the other way or even disparage the poor.
Featured Poem
Paine the Poet
Paine the Poet (Kristofer Sykes) is in his second year as JusticeAid’s inaugural artist in residence. His lived experiences find searing expression in his spoken word performances of the poetry that became the spark of his creative journey. Read about Paine the Poet on Instagram.
Rough Childhoods
