The hood or "ghetto" has several negative connotations. Just look it up in the dictionary and you'll find words like slum and poverty connected to it, and that's the better of how most people will describe it.
They are plagued with drug abuse, gang violence, sex trafficking, teen moms, and poor school systems. They are populated by minority groups (namely black or Latino) whose socioeconomic status is not necessarily the best. With all of these hard facts and negative opinions about impoverished communities, the truth is, there is still some good in the 'hood. These outward actions are only inward, silent cries to be loved, noticed, and heard.
Many positives of low-income neighborhoods go unnoticed like the young man across the street helping an elderly woman unload her groceries, the teenager who just graduated high school and got accepted into college on engineering scholarship, and the little girl who gives her Christmas gifts to children in her community who she feels need it more.
What about the teacher who teaches to the whole child and not just his mind? What about the pastor who plays basketball with middle school children to show them that they are important? And don't forget about the family who eats dinner with the homeless man every week just to show him that they care.
The list goes on. The sad truth is events like these rarely make the news or social media accounts, but when they do, no one cares enough or thinks much of it.
Where I'm from, people usually don't stay. Many people grow up here, leave, and never come back. The few who still live here can't wait to get enough money to move outside the city and those who don't have a desire to move are comfortable in living beneath their means.
They don't want any better because they don't know any better. All that most people in my community know is impoverishment: government assistance, section eight housing, fixed incomes, systemic separation of families and brokenness. And the majority of this community where I'm from is African American.
But, there is good in my hood.
There are a few people who see the beauty and potential that Portsmouth has. The people, the children, and the families need someone who cares. A lot of them. They need people who won't give up on them. They deserve people who will live with them, teach them, encourage them, and won't run away because it gets hard.
This is no easy feat. But my heart for my community is greater than my discomfort. I don't do good for a monetary gift or even a simple thank you. I do good because I desire to see my city become better, to see its people live better and because it's what God expects of me.
If you want your hometown, your current community or where you work to be better then do good where you're at. Be an example of what humility looks like and live everywhere.
