What It’s Like

Marcus is a 16 year old black teen in the city of Chicago who lives with his single mother. One day he singlehandedly finds out how ignorant people can easily miss treat him just because of the color of his skin.

• Non-Fiction
• Novel
• Children

								
It was after school on a December night around 8 pm in the southside of Chicago. A 16-year-old African American male named Marcus is chilling with his friends Darius, Jordan, and Keith. They are all in the car listening to music as it starts to rain over them. Then Keith notices someone from the window. "Aye ain't that the guy that was talking to your girl in 7th period Darius?" Keith says.

"Wait, are you talking about Javonte? where? I don't see him, the rain is covering my window" Darius said.

"He's at the house with the red car parked outside sitting on the porch with his homeboy Jay" Keith explained while pointing through the window.

"Oh, I see him," Darius says pissed off as he hops out of the car and walks toward the house.

"Hold on y'all handle that, not me because you know I don't do all that fighting stuff plus I got sports to stay in," Marcus said.

"Alright then go Marc. We'll see you later after we handle this situation," Keith says as he and Jordan hop out of the car and follow Darius.

Marcus hops out as well and starts walking home. As he's walking he tucks his dreads into his hoodie, puts on his headphones, and throws his hood over his head as he vibes his way home. Little does he know Darius and Javonte end up fighting and sounds of gunshots are coming from their direction.

As Marcus is walking a police cruiser pulls up on the side of the street. Marcus doesn’t think much of it and keeps walking. The officer hops out and yells in Marcus' direction. “Hey stop where you are!” he yells loudly. Marcus' music is so loud that he can't hear him and his hoodie is on so his peripheral vision is blocked.
“Let me see your hands in the air boy” he yells in anger. “BOW BOW” The officer lets off two shots in Marcus' direction. One bullet zips past his right ear going straight through one of his dreads, then the other bullet grazes his right shoulder. Marcus drops to his knees in pain. The officer's partner hops out of the car and pins Marcus to the ground while he's in pain from the bullet. “Stop Resisting!" The second officer says as the first officer cuffs him. Marcus asks the officers. “Why is u arresting me, man?” He cries with shock and pain. 

Neighbors that saw everything go down from their houses came out to record and ask the officers. "What did He do?"

“There was a shooting 25 mins ago up the street from here. The suspects fled the scene wearing a hoodie and were detaining him because he matches the description.”

“Were the guns and aggressive arrest necessary? What description did he match?” A woman asked in confusion. The officer rudely ignores her as they pick Marcus up and bring him to the cruiser. 

“What did I do? Why am I in cuffs?” Marcus yells out in pain. Marcus constantly thinks if he was to go right now, What would his Mom think? What could he have done to get treated like this? The cops throw him in the car and take him to the station.

Sometime later after the incident, his mom finds out about everything and goes up to the Station. She got him out on the count that Marcus is under 18 and they can't hold a minor alone without a parent. When he sees his Mom he jumps in her arms and cries in her arms. “It's okay. I’m here to take you home”. His Mom says to say him and she holds him tight and with great relief. Then when they arrive at the house and Marcus sits down with his Mom to discuss the situation. 

“I was just minding my own business listening to music as I always do."BAM!" a bullet grazes me then I'm on the ground. I was so scared and confused while in pain from the bullet. I had no idea what was going on. They were telling me to stop resisting and everything. All I did was ask what I did to deserve this. This ain't fair at all, it's not.” Marcus said with tears dripping from his face. 
“It's always hard to accept the truth that black men and women can never walk around or do anything without the fear of being attacked or harassed by racist people. Don't let it bring you down because that is what they want it to do to you. They want it to break you down and make you feel like you are nothing but you are. Marcus, you must live through it and make the best of yourself and not let this hold you down because you have to live your life. I know the pain and trauma will stick with you for the rest of your life.” Marcus' mom said to him

“This is hard because I never expected it to happen. Like I know I've seen stuff on the news and in Movies of this exact thing but I would have never thought it would happen to me. I can’t think the same, act the same, or feel the same. I'm hurt for real Ma. Like I don't know what to do or think. The Thought scares me.” Marcus said.

Marcus' mom looks at him and says. "People who do things like that use their power to make us scared and hurt us. Situations like this constantly occur; it's something we can't change. Black people educate each other on what to do so we can be ready. They treat us as if we are some sort of game to them. It's like we're pawns and they’re the kings or queens. We just some pieces on the chessboard for them to throw around and break. That's Just What It's Like"
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