My_DPS life_NN1 had_VHD shifted_VVN because_CJS of_PRF my_DPS mother’s_AJ0 relationship_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC as_CJS I_PNP struggled_VVD more_AV0 at_PRP home_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP leaned_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 church_NN1 ._SENT Shortly_AV0 before_CJS I_PNP had_VHD my_DPS own_DT0 sacrament_NN1 of_PRF confirmation_NN1 into_PRP the_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 Church_NN1 ,_PUN my_DPS granddaddy_NN1 decided_VVD he_PNP needed_VVD to_TO0 intervene_VVI in_PRP my_DPS love_NN1 affair_NN1 with_PRP Catholicism_NN1 ._SENT One_CRD day_NN1 ,_PUN after_PRP seeing_VVG that_CJT I_PNP had_VHD finished_VVN reading_VVG my_DPS mother’s_AJ0 copy_NN1 of_PRF Roots_NN2 by_PRP Alex_NP0 Haley_NP0 ,_PUN he_PNP decided_VVD that_CJT I_PNP was_VBD ready_AJ0 for_PRP some_DT0 “_NN1 better_AJC history_NN1 ,_PUN ”_NN1 as_CJS he_PNP called_VVD it_PNP ._SENT 
He_PNP took_VVD me_PNP for_PRP a_AT0 ride_NN1 down_AVP to_PRP Harlem_NP0 to_PRP one_CRD of_PRF his_DPS favorite_AJ0 spots_NN2 ,_PUN Liberation_NN1 Bookstore_NN1 on_PRP Lenox_NP0 Avenue_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC bought_VVD me_PNP two_CRD books_NN2 :_PUN They_PNP Came_VVD before_PRP Columbus_NP0 by_PRP Ivan_NP0 Van_NP0 Sertima_NP0 and_CJC Before_PRP the_AT0 Mayflower_NN1 by_PRP Lerone_NP0 Bennett_NP0 Jr._NP0 He_PNP told_VVD me_PNP he_PNP had_VHD nothing_PNI against_PRP the_AT0 Bible_NN1 or_CJC Christians_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC a_AT0 lot_NN1 of_PRF our_DPS folks_NN2 ,_PUN like_PRP the_AT0 ones_NN2 in_PRP Roots_NN2 ,_PUN stayed_VVN in_PRP chains_NN2 long_AV0 after_CJS they_PNP were_VBD taken_VVN off_AVP because_CJS their_DPS minds_NN2 were_VBD chained_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 Bible_NN1 I_PNP loved_VVD ._SENT If_CJS I_PNP was_VBD going_VVG to_TO0 read_VVI the_AT0 Bible_NN1 ,_PUN he_PNP said_VVD ,_PUN I_PNP needed_VVD to_TO0 read_VVI these_DT0 historical_AJ0 texts_NN2 alongside_PRP it_PNP ._SENT 
My_DPS mother_NN1 had_VHD raised_VVN me_PNP as_PRP a_AT0 bookworm_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 I_PNP spent_VVD most_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 eighth_ORD grade_NN1 doing_VDG exactly_AV0 what_DTQ my_DPS granddaddy_NN1 had_VHD said_VVN to_TO0 do_VDI ._SENT As_CJS fast_AV0 as_CJS I_PNP could_VM0 read_VVI a_AT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN he’d_NP0 recommended_VVD a_AT0 new_AJ0 one_PNI ._SENT I_PNP started_VVD caring_VVG less_AV0 and_CJC less_AV0 about_PRP confession_NN1 and_CJC started_VVD asking_VVG Father_NP0 O’Donald_NP0 harder_AJC questions_NN2 during_PRP his_DPS weekly_AJ0 visits_NN2 to_PRP our_DPS classroom_NN1 ._SENT 
Is_VBZ it_PNP true_AJ0 that_CJT Catholics_NN2 were_VBD slave_NN1 traders_NN2 and_CJC didn’t_NN1 do_VDB anything_PNI to_TO0 help_VVI enslaved_AJ0 Africans_NN2 until_CJS it_PNP was_VBD too_AV0 late_AJ0 ?_SENT I_PNP remember_VVB asking_VVG him_PNP once_AV0 ._SENT He_PNP glared_VVD at_PRP me_PNP over_PRP his_DPS small_AJ0 wire-framed_AJ0 glasses_NN2 as_CJS he_PNP stumbled_VVD through_PRP an_AT0 answer_NN1 about_PRP how_AVQ the_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 Church_NN1 evolved_VVN over_PRP time_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP turn_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP stared_VVD back_AVP defiantly_AV0 at_PRP the_AT0 pulsating_AJ0 vein_NN1 over_PRP his_DPS eyebrow_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP had_VHD found_VVN a_AT0 new_AJ0 thing_NN1 to_TO0 become_VVI :_PUN radical_AJ0 ._SENT 
Fall_NN1 of_PRF ’87_CRD was_VBD my_DPS freshman_NN1 year_NN1 of_PRF high_AJ0 school_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP was_VBD starting_VVG at_PRP Harry_NP0 S._NP0 Truman_NP0 ._SENT In_PRP 1987_CRD in_PRP the_AT0 Bronx_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 only_AJ0 thing_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI was_VBD a_AT0 ’round_NN1 the_AT0 way_NN1 girl_NN1 ._SENT LL_NP0 Cool_NP0 J_NP0 would_VM0 really_AV0 run_VVI it_PNP down_AVP for_PRP us_PNP a_AT0 few_DT0 years_NN2 later_AV0 ,_PUN but_CJC if_CJS you_PNP were_VBD young_AJ0 ,_PUN Black_AJ0 or_CJC Brown_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC alive_AJ0 ,_PUN you_PNP already_AV0 knew_VVD what_DTQ time_NN1 it_PNP was_VBD ._SENT Hip-hop_NN1 was_VBD our_DPS 
way_NN1 of_PRF life_NN1 ._SENT Our_DPS clothes_NN2 ,_PUN music_NN1 ,_PUN hairstyles_NN2 ,_PUN attitude_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC aspirations_NN2 all_DT0 flowed_VVD from_PRP what_DTQ people_NN0 called_VVD the_AT0 “_AJ0 soundtrack_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 streets_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 I_PNP loved_VVD every_AT0 bit_NN1 of_PRF it_PNP ._SENT 
I_PNP was_VBD desperately_AV0 trying_VVG to_TO0 separate_VVI myself_PNX from_PRP the_AT0 eight_CRD years_NN2 I_PNP had_VHD spent_VVN in_PRP Catholic_AJ0 school_NN1 —_PUN years_NN2 the_AT0 new_AJ0 radical_NN1 me_PNP now_AV0 thought_VVD of_PRF as_AV0 brainwashing_AJ0 ._SENT My_DPS mom_NN1 couldn’t_NN1 understand_VVB why_AVQ I_PNP wanted_VVD to_TO0 go_VVI to_PRP the_AT0 public_AJ0 school_NN1 instead_AV0 of_PRF continuing_VVG on_AVP at_PRP the_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 high_AJ0 school_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC public_AJ0 school_NN1 was_VBD free_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP suspect_VVB she_PNP let_VVB me_PNP have_VHI my_DPS way_NN1 because_CJS it_PNP also_AV0 unburdened_VVD her_PNP financially_AV0 ._SENT 
Truman_NP0 had_VHD a_AT0 decent_AJ0 academic_AJ0 reputation_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ helped_VVD to_TO0 settle_VVI my_DPS mom_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC it_PNP also_AV0 had_VHD a_AT0 legendary_AJ0 reputation_NN1 for_PRP violence_NN1 —_PUN that_DT0 unsettled_VVD me_PNP ._SENT There_EX0 were_VBD all_DT0 kinds_NN2 of_PRF stories_NN2 of_PRF girls_NN2 getting_VVG jumped_VVD and_CJC slashed_VVD or_CJC stuck_VVD up_AVP after_PRP school_NN1 ._SENT On_PRP all_DT0 sides_NN2 but_CJC the_AT0 front_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 school_NN1 was_VBD surrounded_VVN by_PRP Co-op_NN1 City_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 residential_AJ0 community_NN1 made_VVD up_AVP of_PRF about_AV0 thirty-five_CRD high-rise_AJ0 buildings_NN2 with_PRP nearly_AV0 fifty_CRD thousand_CRD residents_NN2 about_PRP thirty_CRD minutes_NN2 north_NN1 of_PRF Bronxdale_NP0 Houses_VVZ where_AVQ I_PNP lived_VVD ._SENT Co-op_NN1 was_VBD a_AT0 city_NN1 of_PRF its_DPS own_DT0 ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 bastion_NN1 of_PRF working_AJ0 and_CJC middle-class_AJ0 ,_PUN mostly_AV0 Black_AJ0 folks_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC it_PNP functioned_VVD like_PRP many_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 public_AJ0 housing_NN1 complexes_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 city_NN1 —_PUN insular_AJ0 and_CJC identity_NN1 driven_VVN ._SENT People_NN0 from_PRP Co-op_NN1 always_AV0 let_VVB you_PNP know_VVB they_PNP were_VBD from_PRP Co-op_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC not_XX0 just_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 complex_NN1 but_CJC the_AT0 specific_AJ0 section_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 most_AV0 notorious_AJ0 being_NN1 Section_NN1 Five_CRD ._SENT The_AT0 front_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 school_NN1 faced_VVD the_AT0 stretch_NN1 of_PRF I-95_NN2 that_CJT made_VVD up_AVP the_AT0 New_NP0 England_NP0 Thruway_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC across_PRP the_AT0 highway_NN1 was_VBD a_AT0 part_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Bronx_NP0 dubbed_VVD “_NP0 the_AT0 twos_CRD ”_NN1 or_CJC “_VVB the_AT0 two_CRD hundreds_CRD ”_NN1 because_CJS the_AT0 street_NN1 numbers_NN2 ran_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 two_CRD hundreds_CRD ._SENT Somehow_AV0 ,_PUN over_PRP the_AT0 years_NN2 a_AT0 feud_NN1 of_PRF sorts_NN2 had_VHD developed_VVN between_PRP Co-op_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 two_CRD hundreds_CRD ,_PUN which_DTQ was_VBD heavily_AV0 populated_VVN by_PRP Caribbean_AJ0 folks_NN2 ._SENT If_CJS you_PNP attended_VVD Truman_NP0 and_CJC were_VBD not_XX0 from_PRP one_CRD of_PRF these_DT0 two_CRD areas_NN2 ,_PUN your_DPS allegiance_NN1 was_VBD quickly_AV0 determined_VVN by_PRP who_PNQ you_PNP chose_VVD to_TO0 run_VVI with_PRP ._SENT The_AT0 rules_NN2 weren’t_NN1 hard_AJ0 and_CJC fast_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC they_PNP were_VBD clear_AJ0 enough_AV0 to_TO0 make_VVI students_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 outside_AJ0 tread_NN1 lightly_AV0 ._SENT 
I_PNP was_VBD an_AT0 outsider_NN1 —_PUN in_PRP more_DT0 ways_NN2 than_CJS just_AV0 geographically_AV0 ._SENT There_EX0 was_VBD no_AT0 harassment_NN1 for_PRP being_VBG smart_AJ0 ._SENT Everyone_PNI was_VBD pretty_AV0 cool_AJ0 about_PRP it_PNP as_CJS long_AV0 as_CJS it_PNP was_VBD clear_AJ0 who_PNQ you_PNP were_VBD ._SENT If_CJS you_PNP were_VBD a_AT0 smart_AJ0 kid_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP hung_VVD with_PRP other_AJ0 smart_AJ0 kids_NN2 and_CJC did_VDD “_AJ0 smart_AJ0 kid_NN1 things_NN2 ”_NN1 like_PRP joining_VVG the_AT0 honor_NN1 bowl_NN1 league_NN1 or_CJC science_NN1 club_NN1 ._SENT If_CJS you_PNP were_VBD a_AT0 tough_AJ0 kid_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP clapped_VVD back_AVP at_PRP teachers_NN2 and_CJC challenged_VVD everyone_PNI who_PNQ got_VVD in_PRP your_DPS crosshairs_NN2 to_PRP a_AT0 fight_NN1 ._SENT If_CJS you_PNP were_VBD a_AT0 cool_AJ0 kid_NN1 ,_PUN you_PNP wore_VVD all_DT0 the_AT0 latest_AJS fashions_NN2 and_CJC did_VDD I_PNP don’t_NN1 know_VVB what_DTQ ,_PUN because_CJS I_PNP wasn’t_VVD one_CRD of_PRF them_PNP at_PRP Truman_NP0 ._SENT 
I_PNP landed_VVD in_PRP an_AT0 undefined_AJ0 area_NN1 ._SENT My_DPS mom_NN1 initially_AV0 required_VVN that_CJT I_PNP wear_VVB only_AJ0 skirts_NN2 —_PUN long_AJ0 skirts_NN2 —_PUN to_PRP school_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP wanted_VVD to_TO0 continue_VVI the_AT0 modesty_NN1 and_CJC uniformity_NN1 of_PRF Catholic_AJ0 school_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 only_AV0 other_AJ0 girls_NN2 who_PNQ wore_VVD skirts_NN2 all_DT0 the_AT0 time_NN1 
were_VBD either_DT0 deeply_AV0 religious_AJ0 ,_PUN like_PRP Seventh_ORD Day_NN1 Adventists_NN2 or_CJC Jehovah’s_NP0 Witnesses_NN2 ,_PUN or_CJC they_PNP had_VHD “_AJ0 knowledge_NN1 of_PRF self_NN1 ,_PUN ”_NN1 meaning_NN1 they_PNP had_VHD allegiance_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 Five_CRD Percent_NN0 Nation_NN1 —_PUN a_AT0 younger_AJC ,_PUN slightly_AV0 more_AV0 authoritarian_AJ0 offshoot_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Nation_NN1 of_PRF Islam_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP was_VBD none_PNI of_PRF the_AT0 above_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC because_CJS I_PNP dressed_VVD the_AT0 part_NN1 I_PNP got_VVD lumped_VVN into_PRP at_PRP least_AV0 one_CRD of_PRF these_DT0 categories_NN2 on_PRP a_AT0 daily_AJ0 basis_NN1 ._SENT Few_DT0 things_NN2 were_VBD as_AV0 nerve-racking_AJ0 in_PRP late_AJ0 ’80s_NN2 New_NP0 York_NP0 as_CJS being_VBG approached_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 group_NN1 of_PRF dudes_NN2 who_PNQ were_VBD calling_VVG you_PNP “_AJ0 Earth_NN1 ”_NN1 and_CJC talking_VVG about_PRP the_AT0 “_NN1 mathematics_NN1 ”_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 day_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP stood_VVD out_AVP like_PRP crazy_AJ0 in_PRP a_AT0 sea_NN1 of_PRF girls_NN2 drawing_VVG style_NN1 inspiration_NN1 from_PRP rappers_NN2 like_PRP Salt-N-Pepa_NP0 and_CJC Sweet_NP0 Tee_NP0 ._SENT Most_DT0 of_PRF them_PNP were_VBD rocking_VVG door_NN1 knocker_NN1 earrings_NN2 ,_PUN colorful_AJ0 leather_NN1 jackets_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC intricate_AJ0 hi-lo_NN1 haircuts_NN2 ._SENT They_PNP looked_VVD fly_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC there_AV0 I_PNP was_VBD in_PRP my_DPS long_AJ0 ,_PUN unstylish_AJ0 skirts_NN2 ._SENT My_DPS mom_NN1 was_VBD still_AV0 trying_VVG to_TO0 salvage_VVI what_DTQ was_VBD left_VVN of_PRF my_DPS thick_AJ0 ,_PUN long_AJ0 hair_NN1 after_PRP a_AT0 brief_AJ0 stint_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 Jheri_NP0 curl_NN1 in_PRP middle_AJ0 school_NN1 ,_PUN so_CJS there_EX0 was_VBD no_AT0 way_NN1 she_PNP was_VBD about_AVP to_TO0 let_VVI me_PNP try_VVI something_PNI like_PRP an_AT0 asymmetrical_AJ0 haircut_NN1 or_CJC bleached_AJ0 hair_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC what_DTQ I_PNP did_VDD get_VVI was_VBD a_AT0 bad_AJ0 attitude_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC I_PNP decided_VVD to_TO0 let_VVI it_PNP work_VVI overtime_AV0 to_TO0 fill_VVI the_AT0 deficit_NN1 I_PNP felt_VVD from_PRP not_XX0 having_VHG the_AT0 rest_NN1 ._SENT 
I_PNP had_VHD tested_VVN into_PRP a_AT0 number_NN1 of_PRF honors_NN2 and_CJC advanced_AJ0 courses_NN2 ,_PUN so_CJS I_PNP spent_VVD most_DT0 of_PRF my_DPS day_NN1 with_PRP a_AT0 group_NN1 of_PRF kids_NN2 who_PNQ fit_VVB somewhere_AV0 between_PRP eager_AJ0 nerd_NN1 or_CJC naturally_AV0 smart_AJ0 with_PRP an_AT0 attitude_NN1 (_PUL like_PRP me_PNP )_PUR —_PUN or_CJC they_PNP were_VBD just_AV0 white_AJ0 ._SENT My_DPS homeroom_NN1 was_VBD a_AT0 different_AJ0 story_NN1 ._SENT Every_AT0 morning_NN1 we_PNP reported_VVD to_PRP a_AT0 random_AJ0 classroom_NN1 with_PRP no_AT0 agenda_NN1 besides_PRP listening_VVG to_PRP garbled_AJ0 announcements_NN2 and_CJC having_VHG our_DPS attendance_NN1 taken_VVN ._SENT The_AT0 students_NN2 in_PRP my_DPS homeroom_NN1 were_VBD unruly_AJ0 ._SENT As_CJS a_AT0 recent_AJ0 Catholic_AJ0 school_NN1 student_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP was_VBD beyond_PRP my_DPS comprehension_NN1 that_CJT kids_NN2 would_VM0 be_VBI so_AV0 rude_AJ0 and_CJC disrespectful_AJ0 to_PRP a_AT0 teacher_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP mean_VVB ,_PUN we_PNP got_VVD a_AT0 little_AJ0 hype_NN1 back_AVP at_PRP Sacred_AJ0 Heart_NN1 Middle_AJ0 School_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC cursing_VVG at_PRP a_AT0 teacher_NN1 ?_SENT Not_XX0 listening_VVG at_PRP all_DT0 ?_SENT Walking_VVG in_AVP and_CJC out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 classroom_NN1 ?_SENT Unheard_AJ0 of_PRF ._SENT 
My_DPS freshman_NN1 homeroom_NN1 was_VBD wild_AJ0 ._SENT Outside_AV0 of_PRF some_DT0 random_AJ0 name_NN1 calling_VVG ,_PUN I_PNP had_VHD never_AV0 actually_AV0 been_VBN bullied_VVN ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 girls_NN2 in_PRP my_DPS homeroom_NN1 started_VVD making_VVG comments_NN2 about_PRP my_DPS wearing_VVG skirts_NN2 daily_AV0 ._SENT After_CJS about_PRP a_AT0 week_NN1 of_PRF taunting_VVG ,_PUN I_PNP called_VVD on_PRP my_DPS Aunt_NP0 Cecelia_NP0 ,_PUN my_DPS mother’s_NN2 younger_AJC sister_NN1 ,_PUN who_PNQ functioned_VVD more_AV0 like_PRP an_AT0 older_AJC sister_NN1 to_PRP me_PNP than_CJS an_AT0 aunt_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP was_VBD the_AT0 flyest_AJ0 person_NN1 I_PNP knew_VVD and_CJC ,_PUN outside_AV0 of_PRF my_DPS mother_NN1 and_CJC grandmother_NN1 ,_PUN definitely_AV0 the_AT0 toughest_AJS ._SENT If_CJS there_EX0 was_VBD ever_AV0 some_DT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF beef_NN1 or_CJC argument_NN1 and_CJC you_PNP heard_VVD her_PNP loudly_AV0 say_VVB ,_PUN “_VVB I_PNP know_VVB one_CRD thing_NN1 ..._PUN ,_PUN ”_NP0 it_PNP was_VBD wise_AJ0 to_TO0 pay_VVI close_AJ0 attention_NN1 to_PRP that_DT0 one_CRD thing_NN1 if_CJS you_PNP wanted_VVD to_TO0 save_VVI yourself_PNX some_DT0 grief_NN1 ._SENT 
I_PNP explained_VVD the_AT0 homeroom_AJ0 situation_NN1 to_PRP my_DPS aunt_NN1 ,_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD also_AV0 trying_VVG to_TO0 convince_VVI my_DPS mom_NN1 to_TO0 reverse_VVI her_DPS skirt_NN1 rule_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP looked_VVD me_PNP dead_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 eyes_NN2 and_CJC 
said_VVD ,_PUN “_NP0 never_AV0 let_VVB them_PNP see_VVB you_PNP sweat_VVI ._SENT ”_NP0 It_PNP was_VBD advice_NN1 I’d_NN1 hear_VVB from_PRP her_PNP again_AV0 and_CJC again_AV0 ._SENT She_PNP told_VVD me_PNP to_PRP practice_NN1 saying_VVG one_CRD phrase_NN1 with_PRP force_NN1 ,_PUN so_AV0 that_CJT everyone_PNI in_PRP earshot_NN1 believed_VVD me_PNP :_PUN “_NP0 Fuck_VVB you_PNP !_SENT ”_NP0 Even_AV0 if_CJS I_PNP were_VBD scared_AJ0 ,_PUN she_PNP said_VVD ,_PUN my_DPS mouth_NN1 could_VM0 usually_AV0 get_VVI me_PNP out_AVP of_PRF a_AT0 tight_AJ0 corner_NN1 if_CJS I_PNP was_VBD loud_AJ0 and_CJC convincing_AJ0 enough_AV0 ._SENT 
“_NP0 But_CJC you_PNP always_AV0 have_VHB to_TO0 be_VBI prepared_VVN to_TO0 fight_VVI ,_PUN ”_VVB my_DPS aunt_NN1 warned_VVD ._SENT I_PNP thought_VVD of_PRF my_DPS mom’s_AJ0 street_NN1 advice_NN1 ._SENT Ever_AV0 since_CJS I_PNP had_VHD been_VBN jumped_VVN by_PRP three_CRD girls_NN2 on_PRP my_DPS way_NN1 home_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 fourth_ORD grade_NN1 ,_PUN my_DPS mom_NN1 would_VM0 tell_VVI me_PNP that_CJT if_CJS it_PNP ever_AV0 happened_VVD again_AV0 to_TO0 pick_VVI the_AT0 one_PNI with_PRP the_AT0 biggest_AJS mouth_NN1 ,_PUN punch_VVB her_PNP in_PRP the_AT0 face_NN1 or_CJC kick_VVB her_PNP in_PRP the_AT0 coochie_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC then_AV0 just_AV0 keep_VVI beating_VVG on_PRP her_PNP and_CJC don’t_NP0 let_VVB go_VVI ._SENT She_PNP assured_VVD me_PNP that_CJT my_DPS granddaddy_NN1 had_VHD given_VVN her_PNP the_AT0 same_DT0 advice_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC it_PNP always_AV0 worked_VVD ._SENT 
A_AT0 month_NN1 later_AV0 ,_PUN one_PNI of_PRF the_AT0 girls_NN2 from_PRP my_DPS homeroom_NN1 stole_VVD my_DPS purse_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 very_AV0 good_AJ0 knockoff_NP0 Gucci_NP0 that_CJT my_DPS Uncle_NP0 Joey_NP0 had_VHD taken_VVN me_PNP to_PRP Southern_AJ0 Boulevard_NN1 to_TO0 purchase_VVI as_PRP a_AT0 late_AJ0 birthday_NN1 gift_NN1 ._SENT Not_XX0 only_AV0 did_VDD the_AT0 girl_NN1 steal_VVI the_AT0 bag_NN1 off_PRP my_DPS desk_NN1 when_CJS I_PNP wasn’t_VVD looking_VVG ,_PUN she_PNP came_VVD to_PRP homeroom_NN1 the_AT0 next_ORD day_NN1 carrying_VVG the_AT0 purse_NN1 with_PRP my_DPS stuff_NN1 still_AV0 inside_AV0 ._SENT I_PNP politely_AV0 asked_VVD her_PNP if_CJS it_PNP was_VBD my_DPS purse_NN1 ._SENT 
She_PNP jumped_VVD up_AVP and_CJC started_VVD screaming_VVG ._SENT “_VVB You_PNP calling_VVG me_PNP a_AT0 thief_NN1 ?_SENT You_PNP saying_VVG I_PNP stole_VVD from_PRP you_PNP ?_SENT ”_NP0 Before_CJS I_PNP could_VM0 get_VVI my_DPS bearings_NN2 ,_PUN she_PNP took_VVD a_AT0 swing_NN1 at_PRP me_PNP ._SENT She_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 tall_AJ0 girl_NN1 ,_PUN probably_AV0 five-ten_CRD to_PRP my_DPS five-five_NN1 ._SENT When_CJS her_DPS swing_NN1 missed_VVD ,_PUN my_DPS instincts_NN2 kicked_VVD in_AVP ._SENT I_PNP jumped_VVD up_AVP on_PRP my_DPS desk_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC when_CJS she_PNP came_VVD lunging_VVG at_PRP me_PNP again_AV0 I_PNP popped_VVD her_PNP dead_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 mouth_NN1 with_PRP my_DPS fist_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ caught_VVD everyone_PNI —_PUN especially_AV0 the_AT0 girl_NN1 —_PUN by_PRP surprise_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP fell_VVD back_AVP and_CJC tried_VVD to_TO0 come_VVI at_PRP me_PNP again_AV0 ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 teacher_NN1 grabbed_VVD her_PNP and_CJC restrained_VVD her_DPS arms_NN2 ._SENT 
And_CJC then_AV0 she_PNP spat_VVD at_PRP me_PNP ._SENT 
I_PNP had_VHD been_VBN spat_VVN at_PRP before_AV0 ._SENT In_PRP elementary_AJ0 school_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 girl_NN1 I_PNP bullied_VVD because_CJS I_PNP was_VBD jealous_AJ0 that_CJT my_DPS friend_NN1 liked_VVD her_PNP better_AV0 spat_VVD on_PRP me_PNP during_PRP an_AT0 argument_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP beat_VVD her_PNP up_AVP ,_PUN kinda_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 fight_NN1 was_VBD over_AVP as_CJS quickly_AV0 as_CJS it_PNP started_VVD ._SENT Mr._NP0 Wes_NP0 came_VVD up_AVP to_PRP the_AT0 school_NN1 to_TO0 get_VVI me_PNP ._SENT When_CJS I_PNP got_VVD home_AV0 ,_PUN he_PNP asked_VVD me_PNP why_AVQ I_PNP had_VHD been_VBN fighting_VVG ._SENT I_PNP told_VVD him_PNP a_AT0 girl_NN1 had_VHD spat_VVN on_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC he_PNP seemed_VVD satisfied_AJ0 with_PRP that_DT0 response_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP could_VM0 hear_VVI my_DPS mom_NN1 fussing_VVG over_PRP the_AT0 phone_NN1 when_CJS he_PNP called_VVD to_TO0 tell_VVI her_PNP I_PNP had_VHD gotten_VVN in_PRP trouble_NN1 for_PRP fighting_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP heard_VVD him_PNP say_VVB ,_PUN “_VVB The_AT0 girl_NN1 spit_NN1 on_PRP her_PNP ..._PUN ”_VVB My_DPS mother_NN1 went_VVD ballistic_AJ0 on_PRP the_AT0 other_AJ0 end_NN1 ._SENT Spitting_VVG on_PRP or_CJC at_PRP someone_PNI is_VBZ one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 worst_AJS forms_NN2 of_PRF disrespect_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 Black_AJ0 community_NN1 ._SENT No_AT0 way_NN1 would_VM0 my_DPS mother_NN1 tolerate_VVI it_PNP happening_VVG to_PRP her_DPS child_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP didn’t_VVB get_VVB in_PRP trouble_NN1 for_PRP my_DPS bullying_NN1 or_CJC the_AT0 fight_NN1 it_PNP caused_VVD ._SENT Instead_AV0 ,_PUN my_DPS mother_NN1 lectured_VVD me_PNP that_CJT if_CJS anyone_PNI ever_AV0 opened_VVD their_DPS mouth_NN1 to_TO0 spit_VVI on_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN I_PNP should_VM0 try_VVI to_TO0 rip_VVI their_DPS tongue_NN1 out_AVP ._SENT 
When_CJS the_AT0 girl_NN1 in_PRP homeroom_NN1 spat_VVD on_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN something_PNI snapped_VVD ._SENT The_AT0 good-girl_AJ0 wall_NN1 that_CJT I_PNP had_VHD been_VBN slowly_AV0 chipping_VVG away_AV0 at_PRP finally_AV0 crumbled_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP proceeded_VVD to_TO0 whup_VVI her_DPS ass_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 teacher_NN1 struggled_VVD to_TO0 regain_VVI control_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 situation_NN1 ._SENT Security_NN1 guards_NN2 were_VBD called_VVN into_PRP the_AT0 classroom_NN1 to_TO0 assist_VVI ,_PUN and_CJC we_PNP were_VBD both_AV0 taken_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 principal’s_AJ0 office_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP got_VVD off_AVP with_PRP an_AT0 in-school_AJ0 suspension_NN1 once_CJS it_PNP was_VBD revealed_VVN that_CJT the_AT0 other_AJ0 girl_NN1 had_VHD both_AV0 stolen_VVN my_DPS purse_NN1 and_CJC swung_VVD at_PRP me_PNP first_ORD ._SENT I_PNP was_VBD a_AT0 stellar_AJ0 student_NN1 on_PRP paper_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC the_AT0 principal_NN1 warned_VVD me_PNP not_XX0 to_TO0 fall_VVI into_PRP bad_AJ0 habits_NN2 like_PRP violence_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP had_VHD to_TO0 hold_VVI my_DPS tongue_NN1 not_XX0 to_TO0 say_VVI how_AVQ can_VM0 I_PNP not_XX0 make_VVI violence_NN1 a_AT0 habit_NN1 when_CJS I_PNP am_VBB surrounded_VVN by_PRP it_PNP ?_SENT 
