I Am Hilltop

By Anthony Crain

The overall intent of "I Am Hilltop" is to inspire, motivate and encourage readers to embrace the challenges of life, and utilize their burning desires to achieve their personal and professional goals.

This book will expose the vital tips and resources to enable our youth and young adults to reap the benefits of a conscious mindset that recognizes the gifts associated with morals, values, ethics, and a spiritual bond with the Grand Architect of the Universe.

Every one of us has a purpose and an obligation to champion the next generation and provide them the best opportunity available to achieve their dreams. This book was orchestrated with instrumental tools to allow them to embark upon the adventures of accepting challenges, establishing goals, and aspirations.

Every country, state and city has a "Hilltop", regardless of the name of your community, the people within that community should not be defined by their socioeconomic status; But we will be defined by our natural quest for prosperity, justice, equality, education and occupational mobility that inspires our ingenuity, personal drive and commitment to excellence.

"I Am Hilltop" is representative of the Bible scripture, Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639614691

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I Am Hilltop

Anthony Crain

ISBN 978-1-63961-468-4 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63961-469-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Anthony Crain

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Hilltop Roots

Be All You Can Be

Life Skills and Principles

Faith

Education

Goals

Budgeting

Discipline

Responsibility, Accountability

Résumés vs. Business Plans

Positive Attitude vs. Negative Attitude

Purpose

My Brother’s Keeper

Addiction

Prison, Politics, Power

Why Black Lives Matter

Serenity

I Am T-Town Crew

I Am a Soldier

I Am in Recovery

I Am My Brother’s Keeper

I Am Blessed

I Am Hilltop

To my rib, queen, best friend, soul mate, better half, Nubian princess, heart, protector, motivator, inspiration—my wife, Aprile Jordan-Crain.

To my children Anthony II, Alyxandor, and Laura Crain.

To my brother, Kenneth LaRue Crain, who always believes in me and inspires me to pursue greatness in everything I do.

To my sister, Starlene Waiss, who accepts, respects, and loves me unconditionally.

To my fathers LaRue Crain Jr., Les Jordan, and Lionel Swift Sr. These three Men taught me to believe in myself, never give up on my dreams, and to work hard but enjoy my family.

To my mothers Delores Crain, Catherine Jordan, Elenora Swift, and Mary Ginger Waiss. These women influenced me to treat all women with dignity and respect and to always honor God’s daughters.

Trust, Loyalty, Community, and Hilltop Respect to the T-Town Crew: Anthony Crain, TaDarwin Hardy, TaDarryl Hardy, Curtis Rafa Dudley, Anthony Young, James Cain, Joseph Bellamy, Ricky Johnson, Troy Bailey, Mike Hopkins, Ron Thomas Jr., Charles Jones, Phil Anderson, Theron Taylor, and Rodney Jones.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

(Romans 12:1–2)

Acknowledgments

I have been blessed with an ability to inspire, motivate, and lead others only because I have been inspired, motivated, and led by some of the most profound, intellectual, God-fearing men and women throughout my life. I sincerely understand where all of my blessings have derived from, but I also know that the Lord places people in your life for a reason—that being good, bad, or indifferent. It is only appropriate for me to recognize some of the people that contributed to me, sitting down and putting pen to paper, fingertips to keypads, and allowing beautiful memories of my past to overshadow some of the misfortunes associated with my choices throughout life. My gratitude reminds me of the following Bible verse: In everything, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I would like to acknowledge my sobriety mentors, Mr. Clarence Harris of Richmond, Virginia, and Mr. Morgan Moss of the Center for Therapeutic Justice. These gentlemen taught me to never place expectations on others—you will only disappoint yourself—and always strive to make a difference not only in people’s minds but also their hearts. Mr. Kevin Ryan for his unconditional love, inspiration, and support in sobriety.

I would like to thank all of my family and friends from Hilltop, Tacoma; East Side, Lakewood; Spanaway, University Place; Bremerton; Puyallup; Seattle; and across our nation.

I extend my sincerest condolences to all our Hilltop families who have lost a loved one to crime, violence, drugs, alcohol, accidents, illness, disease, or natural causes.

I salute all of my brothers and sisters in arms I served with in the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines. I would also like to acknowledge the New Equipment Training team for all of your personal and professional contributions to the readiness of our U.S. Armed Forces.

I will always honor, respect, and salute the warriors of the Quick Reaction Force I was deployed with to Iraq: Herschel Gillins, Christopher Sibley, Kenneth Pecor, Todd Bourque, Knowledge Green, Jarrod Sartini, Steven Fief, Clayton Kloehn, Chase Feener, Jasen Pfuntner, Jamell Woods, Jess Counts, Nelson Olivencia, Eric McPherson, Jared Jarorzowski, Jonathan Galicia, Brian Savage, Timothy Carter, Larry Thomas, Matthew Frank, , Thomas Hyson, Rodney Hunt, John Oxendine (RIP), Willington Rhoads (RIP).

I would like to take a moment to recognize a few warriors, first and foremost, my grandmother Jeannie M. Cooks who lost her battle with cancer. She was an amazing queen and a matriarch of our family. My aunt Mable Cooks-Dawson, aunt Estelle Loretta Sager and Tracie L. Davis Rest in Peace.

I am also proud of the following people who have battled and will eventually win the war against cancer because of their faith in God: Glenda Frazier, Linwood Lawson, Veronika Davis, Anna Cooks-Ellis, Cindy Marshall, Nic Lacy Sr., Andre Ridley, Lola Bailey, Ben Alaalatoa, Ramona Phillips, Veronica Brady, and TaDarryl Hardy.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge a handful of men and women of God who contributed to my awakening to the Bible, which contributed to my understanding of the following Bible verse:

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

God bless Mrs. Sylvia Jones, Mrs. Loretta Douglas, Mrs. Mary Easter-Daniels, Mrs. Deborah Crain-Nixon, Mrs. Anna Cooks-Ellis, Mr. Grady L. Cooks Jr., Mrs. Sondra Cooks, Mrs. Gertha Lovett, Mrs. Vernessa Ryan, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. Freeman S. Rhoades, The Muffins (Mrs. Martha Nash, Mrs. Doty Toliver, Mrs. Marty Brown, Mrs. Debbie Marks, Mrs. Alyce Glasser, Mrs. Anne Waller, Mrs. Delmatine Ray, Mrs. Barbara Minnis, and Mrs. Althea Jones), Bishop Curtis E. Montgomery and Dr. Elinor Montgomery, Mrs. Diana Miller, Mr. Darrell Williams Sr., Mr. Roger O. Laskey, Mr. Harold Moss, Mr. Willie Hadley, Mr. Sam Daniels, Reverend Clarence Pettit, Reverend Joseph A. Boles, Reverend Ernest S. Brazill, Reverend Freddy Davis Sr., First Lady Veronika Davis, Bro’ Toney Gray, Reverend Dr. Eric Jackson, Mrs. Dora Jackson, Bishop Freeze, Reverend Gregory Christopher, Bishop Michael Doss, Reverend. Dr. Anthony Young, Pastor Bryan and Pastor Kelly Briggs, and Destination Church.

I did not forget You! I just have a lot of significant people in my life. Please do not be upset by the fact that I was unable to list every single person who has impacted my life. Just so you know, I wanted to include you. Please insert your name below:

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Introduction

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

—Proverbs 27:17

My White biological mother was told that I would be adopted by a Black family in which the father was a wealthy physician, but instead I was adopted and raised by a Black family, in which my father was an electrician and my mother was an Avon representative, that resided on Hilltop in Tacoma, Washington. This family raised me to realize the importance of Christian virtues, family values, loyalty, respect, and resilience.

Collective efforts inspire unity, change, and progress, whereas selfishness breeds spite, vindictiveness, and envy. I have witnessed characteristics of greatness on many different levels throughout my life. I have always been intrigued by certain individuals willing to think outside of the box and go the extra mile to achieve unparalleled heights of the extraordinary. My fascination with success has attributed to my desires to make a difference in society. Each of us has a purpose, and this book is designed to assist you in inspiring others to identify their God-given talents and utilize them to increase in every aspect of their life.

My curiosities of greatness intertwined with being adopted shaped my mindset to always remember that life’s current circumstances have the potential to evolve into unexpected blessings. My upbringing on Hilltop stimulated my unwavering respect for those unsung heroes willing to stand in the gap.

The intent of the instructional theory allows the reader to create a methodical response to life’s challenges and strategically develop a blueprint for personal and professional success. Many of our hidden talents require inspiration, motivation, and cultivation to materialize. Prepare to utilize your highlighter because, upon completion of each chapter, the application of the provided information is going to contribute to your new and improved transformation. Buckle up for the ride! As you read this book, you’ll travel along a journey of knowledge to assist you in Conceiving, Achieving, and Believing in your ability to reach your desired destination.

Hilltop Roots

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

—Genesis 2:9

My name is Anthony LaMont Crain. I am from 12th and Grant Street Hilltop, Tacoma, Washington. I was adopted by a loving family, Mr. LaRue W. Crain Jr. and Mrs. Athlyn Delores Crain, when I was six days old in July of 1967. I was thirteen months old when my best friend was born, my younger brother, Kenneth LaRue Crain.

My mother (Rest in Peace) a beautiful Black, full-figured woman from Shreveport, Louisiana, that was prominently affiliated with Bethlehem Baptist Church through the choir and eventually obtained the position as the pastor’s secretary. Delores was a God-fearing woman that believed in Family First, Family Forever. She instrumented discipline with a stern voice, belts, shoes, extension cords, and even paint-stirring paddles from Kmart. She thrived off of ensuring Kenny and I were well provided for. My mother would take any measure necessary to clothe us and ensure food was in the cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer. Considering the fact that I was a light-skinned, butter pecan little Bro’ and my baby brother was a soft dark chocolate, our mother would often dress us like twins. Our mother raised us to love God, respect our elders, and do well in school.

LaRue (Rest in Peace), was a powerfully masculine Black man who was an athlete all throughout school—football, basketball, track, and Golden Gloves boxer served a stint in the United States Air Force and retired from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as an electrician. He is my idol and epitomized a fearless Hilltop warrior. His presence was gentle but intimidating. His nickname was Killa. He instilled in my brother and me the importance of accepting responsibility for our actions and being a real man. The two biggest things my father despised were liars and thieves. He believed that through hard work, discipline, and an honest living, you could accomplish your dreams.

My childhood was complex but comprehensively nurtured by a sense of motivation to survive the inevitable challenges of the environment I was raised. As I reminisce about my childhood, there is a checkerboard of memories of the good and bad. I was adopted when I was six days old by a beautiful