Brooklyn S.T.O.O.P.: The Untold Story

By Akenathan Shakur

Brooklyn S.T.O.O.P is about five boys who grew up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. Elijah, Stevey, Jamal, Malik, and Curtis unite through friendship on the Stoop.Throughout their adult years the boys experience hardship, but through the essence of the stoop the boys are bought back together. Brooklyn S.T.O.O.P also highlights why unity is important. Brooklyn S.T.O.O.P is also a book about prosperity and a vision of prosperity. The main objective of Brooklyn S.T.O.O.P is to show essence will always overcome personality. This book is not in anyway trying to depict the ghetto as negative. it is simply trying to explain that in the end, there will be prosperity in ones life no matter if things seem hopeless. Stay together, offer each other oppurtunity, and then we all will have prosperity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 13, 2007
• ISBN: 9781467081863

Akenathan Shakur

Akenathan Shakur was born in Jamaica, WI, May 3, 1977, as Thornton Hinds. He moved to Brooklyn, NY, 1983. Mr. Shakur is the founder of the Living is for everyone foundation (L.I.F.E), which is a non-profit organization, which joins urban youth together with the goal of implementing unity within their community. Mr. Shakur currently resides in Everett, Washington, where he works as a mental health specialist. For more information about the L.I.F.E. foundation you can contact Mr. Shakur at [e-mail]

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Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Choices

Chapter 2

Adolescence

Chapter 3

Jamal’s Death

Chapter 4

Adulthood

Chapter 5

Elijah’s Destiny

About the Author

Dedication

I took experiences from my past growing up in Brooklyn and created a true story, but with fictional characters. The stoop was a place where a found solace when I was a kid. My friends and I had many extraordinary experiences on the stoop. The stoop showed us how to respect each other and unite as a way to survive Crown Heights. Our community was divided with social issues. I now look back at the days when my friends and I were adolescents. We glorified material things over unity, and this disharmony separated us at times. However, we always had the stoop to bring us back together as one. I would like to thank my best friends: Damion, Steven, Roy, Jamel, Derrick, and Omar, and to other’s I did not mention. I have learned that caring and sharing are the key to a man’s survival. I believe in L.I.F.E. (Living is for everyone). There are thousands of Elijahs in this world who realize that they must make a difference in the world. I agree with Fredrick Douglass’s theory: There is no progress without struggle. We must always remember that the struggle for freedom never ends. Many of us who are poor forget the struggle when good fortune has dawned on us. I wrote this book to send a message to those who feel that since they have made it, they do not need to fight. When I say fight, I do not mean violence. I mean fighting for prosperity in a nonviolent manner. Because, my friend, prosperity comes when we all love ourselves and do not give in the deception of self-hate. The bottom line: We must all love one another while we are here on Earth.

I also dedicate this book to my childhood friend, Robert Moseley, who passed away before he ever got to see the millennium. You were truly a good friend to me and I plan to live your dream of becoming a man. You died too young. I would also like to dedicate this book to my fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Rosenstein, who was sort of like Mr. Ridley. I remember when our principal told us that Mr. Rosenstein passed away; that was the first time I realized what a life had meant. Life for me was about love and not hate. I was reading a book and a saw a quote that said: Indifference is the blanket that smothers mankind. We are all different in many aspects of life, but we are all the same when it comes to our Creator, Almighty God. Growing up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, I learned that material things are not more significant than life, the greatest gift that God has given us. Social class, to me, was just created by men who were blind and greedy. Ignorance can cause a man to be blind, and my belief is that the only way mankind can ever regain his faith is to search for the meaning of life. I plan to build a foundation called the L.I.F.E. Foundation. The L.I.F.E. Foundation will be an organization consisting of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, coming together to talk about worldly problems and issues and the psychological effects these problems have on our children. I also dedicate this book to those whose lives were taken before their time due to violence and crime. I also dedicate this book to my peers I grew up with, who are incarcerated in any part of the world. I just want to say God loves all and man cannot judge you. I also dedicate this book to all the stoops all over the world. Life circumstances separated us, but stoop culture unites us for eternity and you will return from which you came: essence.

This book is also dedicated to people all over the world whose dreams have fallen short. I hope you will always remember that the door of opportunity is never closed; no matter how dark a night is, always remember sunshine is not far away. Staying together offers opportunity and prosperity (S.T.O.O.P.). Let unity and love be our eyes through the wilderness. Our children will benefit the most from our actions. Let them know life is not about turmoil; instead, teach them that Life is the greatest teacher.

To my Grandfather David Brown and to all my family I love you all with my heart and soul. I truly see Visions of Prosperity, and to one of my best friends Shamel who passed away. I ask you to prepare a place for us whenever we get towards heaven. I love you. I also dedicate this book to the entire New York City. We will overcome our turmoil and I also dedicate this book to the entire world…evil will never win.

Chapter 1

Choices

Elijah came outside to sit on his stoop. Elijah wondered to himself what the day had to offer. Elijah’s stoop was where all of his friends hung out. Stevey, Jamal, and Curtis met up on Elijah’s stoop every morning that summer. The boys shared stories of what was going on in the neighborhood and their lives. The boys saw many dramatic events from the stoop. The stoop was a way to escape the stress of being told what to do by parents. Each individual could be himself and not feel like an outcast. Elijah looked up and down his block to see if he saw anybody that bright summer day; the only person he saw outside on the corner store was Shaheem. Shaheem was the biggest drug dealer in the neighborhood. Shaheem sold drugs during the late night, so it was very unusual to see Shaheem outside that early still dealing; he would usually go home at five in the morning. Elijah’s brother, Malik, noticed that when he got up, his brother was not inside the house. He figured that Elijah was gone, and he was frantic because his little brother had left his chores undone. Malik washed up and headed outside, only to find his brother outside on the stoop.

What the fuck you doing outside so early, little brother?

Elijah had a lot of respect for his brother, so he calmly said, Nothing. Elijah knew his brother was mad about him not doing his chores, so he instantly went back inside. Malik went to the corner to take over for Shaheem. Malik and Shaheem were very organized when it came to selling drugs. Shaheem would work at night because he knew that Malik’s mother would not let him stay out past twelve; furthermore, Malik was the only one he entrusted with his drugs.

The crack epidemic emerged