Before this I thought I could write, but this project made me do some soul searching and pulled the best out of me. Now I know I am capable of more. I have learned to love myself more and to cherish things I always took for granted. Writing now is my way of making people know something about me and what I have to go through. It is a way to have people feel my pain.

In this project we learned that we all have been through the same struggle. We have made it easier for each other. I respect everyone who took the time to share their stories. The best thing was having someone who cares about us open our minds and make us understand there is more to life than jail stuff.

            Laurence

I learned how to open up about feelings that were messing me up, and I learned how to tell people about my struggles. I wish we had more days to work on this project. This was the best time I ever had. I want to write more because now it is something I enjoy because I can open up about my feelings.

            Anonymous

Being that I cannot speak too clearly, writing made it easier for me to express my opinion. I learned that in my ways I am not much different from others and that adult matters affect youth. The best thing about this project is that I learned to express myself.

            Anthony

I have been through a lot of things that I have never shared. When it came to expressing myself I found I have a lot to say. I learned how to express myself to other people. I learned the power of communicating with pen and paper. I learned that we all have something to say about our lives and our experience in jail. The best thing about this project was I had to chance to express my feelings about my father's death. In this project I learned to express my thoughts with words.

            Anonymous

I didn't think I could write. I didn't think there was anyone who would listen to what I had to say. I learned though that I am able to accomplish more than I thought I would be able to. I, also, learned that we all have a lot of things in common. Now I want people to know that just because we have made bad choices it does not mean we are bad people.

            Anonymous

I learned that I have it in me if I try hard enough. It was cool letting people know a little about myself. I learned I am pretty creative with thoughts, and I learned my peers are just as creative as I am. The best thing about this project was getting to say what was on my mind at any given time. My work got better as I went along. It was good to hear other people's work, too, as it made me want to do more and get more thoughts.

Anthony

I learned I have some talent, and that I had more to say than I thought. I learned that we all have struggles.

            Miguel

I learned that every piece I write has a significance to it, and that writing has to be a part of my life.  I learned that everyone has a story and a struggle, not just me. This was a significant project for me.

            Andre

At first I did not think that my writing would express my feelings, but now I understand how writing can relieve some stress. I learned I can express myself by writing. I learned from my peers that everyone goes through one thing or another in their lives. The best thing about this project for me was expression and relieving stress. I would describe the work that I did as showing potential.

            Jorge

This project taught me I can express myself another way instead of violence. I learned we all have a lot in common. I love the way everything in this project came together. I wish we could have done this every day.

            Akeem

I did not think I could write, and now I think I can write more. Through this project I learned how to express my feelings, and I learned what happens in people's lives. This project can help people.

            Michael

I learned that I have talent and that I do not have to limit myself. I, also, learned that I can do anything I want to as long as I don't give up on myself. I learned that I have good ideas for helping out in the community. I wish parents were allowed to be here during this project to hear what we have written. We all got to express ourselves. I wish we had more time and days in this project and we had extra computers. I, also, learned not to judge my peers and that they are as special as any human beings outside of jail. In this project I let people know how I feel. I think my work is a piece of art in literacy.

            Jamar

I learned that we need more positive programs in the community for us to participate in. This was wonderful. I learned how to think deeply. We need follow-up support for what we did in this project.

James

I learned we can do great things working together. I think we needed more time in the classroom with this project. It should be longer.

            Wesley

Through this project I have learned that hitting the books is what will really made a difference in my life.

            Michael

"The Hip Hop Project" screened in Brooklyn by Robin "Kheperah" Kearse and Chris "Kazi" Rolle (Photo: Michael Starenko)

http://www.pressurepointfilms.com/thehiphopproject.html

When "The Hip Hop Project" first started, I thought it would be a film like every other one I had ever seen, but it wasn't. It was good, and it was hood. it made me ask my girlfriend if she felt incarcerated when she came to see me. She said, "No, but I used to get nervous. Now I don't anymore."

"The Hip Hop Project" made me ask questions about abortion and death.

Seeing Chris "Kazi" Rolle come to the Monroe County Jail and show us where he came from and what he went through was a privilege. I saw his struggle in the movie, and how now he is such a fighter for youths' lives and helping his people through the struggle. "The Hip Hop Project" was real. At the end of the movie it was an honor to meet Kazi and Kheperah. They were two educated, intelligent, real people with a lot life experience. I will never forget the day Chris "Kazi" Rolle came to jail, and I got to shake his hand and talk to him man to man. At the end he said peace.

By Alex

 "The Hip Hop Project" was good because Kazi was real about what he did and said.

I liked how Kazi helped the youths put their problems in life in a rap. I liked how Kazi went to his mom and asked her why she left him. That was heartful and hurtful.

Thank you Kazi and Kheperah for coming. I learned a lot from the movie. I learned from you that we can do anything we put out minds to.

By Alton

Kazi is a brave man. I liked how he made something of himself. He grew up without a mom and dad. I liked that he went back to his mom to let her know he still loved her. His mom was gangsta.

Kazi talked about the difference between speaking real and gangster in raps.

"The Hip Hop Project" and Kazi coming to see us was great. It meant a lot to me. It helped me feel that I can do it if I put my mind to it. It showed me to never be afraid, to stay focused, and let my life come out.

Kazi affected me because I grew up without my dad, and my little sister had a baby at the age of twelve. Mom was very mad at her baby's dad, so my sister thought of an abortion. It was too late. Now the baby is one year old with no daddy, two mothers, and an uncle. Now she's pregnant again. My mother does not know what to do with her, and she sent her away to my grandparents. This hurts me because I love my little sister, and she has gone away to Florida with two babies and she is fourteen years old. I hope when I get out I can go see her. Kazi, I miss my little sister like you missed your mom.

By Anthony

I think "The Hip Hop Project" was a good film because there are a lot of kids, plus adults, that have been in Kazi's place, like me. I was kicked out of my house at a young age. My mother just sat back and got high off drugs. Then the drugs took her over. She used to whip us everyday for nothing. My brother and sister took out their anger problems on someone else, but it wasn't right. All the whippings we got we never cared about anybody but ourselves. Sometimes I used to be afraid to walk in the door because I knew that soon out comes the belt or an iron rod. My mother used to whip us so badly that we couldn't go to school. And when we did go to school everybody wanted to know where that sore came from. Who did that? I would punch the person in the face who asked me what happened. I was never kicked out of school though because they knew I had problems at home, so they worked with me.

Kazi's mom was never there for him. He showed people that you don't need anybody to make it.

By Da'Von

I thought "The Hip Hop Project" was a good film because Kazi was in the same position as most of us. He grew up on the streets, and he started from nothing. I like the rappers he worked with. I like how they rapped because they rapped from their hearts. They rapped about what was going on in their lives.

Everyone should see this film. Kazi, keep your head high my dude.

By James

I thank Kazi for trying to show us that you can turn your life around. I learned you can turn your life from nothing into something. I want so much to do the same.

By Lloyd

"The Hip Hop Project" was a good film because it showed the kids' upbringings and how they chose to tell their stories through film.

I like how they put the album together, and they didn't let anything stop them.

I want to tell Kazi and Kheperah to keep going and don't stop and to keep passing the torch and helping other youths around the world. They taught me to take life and my freedom seriously.

I thank Kazi for coming here and telling people like me that there is still a chance for a young Black man like me and that you can do anything you put your mind to. Even with your circumstances and your past you can still achieve.

By Laurence

Kazi is a real man because he spoke the truth about life. He is trying to help youths change their lives by showing his life on film. I have been through what he has been through.

By Michael

Kazi was like us. He knew how we felt. He was special the way he took time to talk to us. Kazi showed us the streets aren't what they seem to be. You can go for something better.

By Rodcliff