Author Description

Chicago Illinois has been nicknamed time and time again as generations add to the city's legacy. You have monikers such as Chi-Town, The Windy City and most recently...Chiraq Killinois! This story chronicles the life of a teen by the name of Byron, who faces the same complexities as many of his peers in a city where the murder rate leaves an alarming 500 caskets dropping a year. Finding his girlfriend pregnant, Byron begins to reflect over the gang life in which he has lost so much of himself to. As times grows more dire each day, he is forced to think about his unborn child's chances at survival. Fueled by rage, his best friend Jemarkus is anything but in denial about their lives. Life was simple arithmetic to the loose cannon...either kill or be killed! Once the reality of Byron's wanting to escape gang-world and violent hell storm of Chiraq sets in on Jemarkus. The latter is willing to do anything to show Byron that he is making a grave mistake. Will the two clash or is their friendship enough to withstand the darkness that plagues so many of the youth? Hood Chronicles and Racquel Williams have come together in this gripping story to not only emphasize the destruction in which is taking place in this particular city but also to enlighten others to the fact that there must be a bigger demand by us as a whole for a positive change. Conducting an interview with two gang members, Hood Chronicles attempts to give the readers a glimpse into the minds of those deemed America's Nightmare. To familiarize one's self is to understand and to understand is to be able to make a difference. Welcome to Chiraq Killinois!