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I talk a lot about my sons “The Family” 🖐🏽 but there are “WOMEN OF STRENGTH,” behind these young men who make them who and what they are. After interviewing them, Felecia decided we should tell our story too. I met Felecia, Terrod “Roddy’s” mom and Olivia, Quincy “Q’s” mom during basketball season at Franklin High School in 2016 and 2017, and I met Takeshia, Daniel “Danny’s” mom and Shenné, Elijah “E’s” mom after Samaad passed. In the end we...

Life can change quickly. Understanding that takes a different kind of mindset, a different kind of person. People say that I’m strong. If they only knew that I pray for strength daily. What they also don’t know is that I’m a realist. To understand life I had to accept death as a part of it. I accept my life paths and journeys even though they change like moments. Allowing God to guide me and having faith is how I live...

Samaad and his best friends/brothers call themselves “The Family.” The members are Omar, Syed, Terrod, Davon, Elijah, Davay, Obrian, Tyree, Dominic, Tayo, Quincy, and Danny. They are a group of young men who come from different nationalities, have different personalities, and each contribute something different to their friendship/family bond.  I was so intrigued with their love, loyalty and support of one another I decided to write about them to learn more about how they met, what makes them click, and why...

Rationalizations make it easier to live with ourselves when we do the things that we want to do, rather than the things we know we should do. We know right from wrong; we were all taught this at a young age. What we never realize is that our actions could have consequences so deep to ruin not only our lives but our families as well. The fact that gun violence even reached Somerset, NJ still shocks me. Somerset is considered...

Every day I think of what could have been done differently to save Samaad’s life. There are so many questions and WHAT IFs. What if I didn’t have to kick him out because he was on the wrong path? What if he would have just stayed home that day? What if he never got depressed and fell off? What if that Coach never destroyed his self esteem? What if he would have never been on that block? What if I...

We have words back and forth. We are all up in each other’s face calling each other names, saying your Mama this your Daddy that. Talking about your clothing and shoes, your mistakes and boyfriends, and how stupid you are. It’s broken up and we go our separate ways vowing to see each other again and when we do it’s on! Later that day we get at each other on social media. Talking shit back and forth showing the world...

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape… But a woman of strength builds relationships to keep her soul in shape. A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything… But a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear. A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her… But a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone. A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future… A woman of strength realizes life’s...