Poetry and Art Contest Winner

ICHV’s Student Essay, Reflects On How Gun Violence Impacted His Life

from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, an affiliate of Freedom States Alliance.

Like many students who won awards in ICHV’s Essay, Poetry and Art Contest this year, Verdell Taylor has experienced the effects of violence in his own life.

“I wrote an essay for the ICHV essay contest because I have heard and seen how gun violence has affected my family,” said Verdell. “So I wanted to write about what I feel. I've also learned not to be afraid about speaking out.”

Verdell wrote an award-winning essay about guns for the 2008 ICHV Essay, Poetry & Art Contest while he was an eighth grader at St. Sabina Academy in Chicago. He will be a freshman at Morgan Park High School in Chicago this fall.

Verdell lives in the Beverly/Morgan Park area, down the street from a police station. He said “it's a very quiet neighborhood. You rarely hear about any violence at all.”

The same, however, is not true of neighborhoods where many of his relatives live.

“I hear a lot about gun violence from relatives on my mother's side of the family,” said Verdell. “I see them almost every day; some are in [Chicago communities of] Gresham and Englewood. No, they don't feel safe. They talk about how they hear gunshots and then police drive by. They talk about how they have to be careful at night.”

In particular, Verdell is close with his older cousin, Ebonie Turner, who is 28. “I see her all the time -- she's the kind of "big cousin" everybody wants,” he said.

Last year, Ebonie was by herself, and a man wanted her car. He shot her three times for it.

“I was very afraid when I heard that, because I didn't think it would happen to her, of all people,” said Verdell. “She's very nice, and thoughtful to everyone. Now she's afraid. My cousin is recovering, but one of her hands is paralyzed.”

Now, Verdell says he talks to younger cousins about guns “all the time. I tell them to always be aware and to always tell their parents if someone has a gun around them.”

“Why do people use guns?,” asked Verdell. “I think many use them because of drugs, or to get money or material items. Or because they're in a gang. And some people will do it for no reason. I know it happens all over -- I just hear about it in Chicago.

How can we stop it? It would help a lot if we had stricter gun laws. I also think parents play a big role in it, and can help make sure kids don't have a chance to get a gun.”

Verdell points to the positive influence of his mother as well as teachers at his school in getting him to think about how to face this problem in his own life.

“My mom and I talk about this issue a lot, and about how I shouldn't be influenced by other kids,” said Verdell. “I also have a curfew. Plus, it’s very important that I was always taught to be a leader, not a follower. I think just being a follower can cause destruction. I've learned that followers don't know what they really want in life. My homeroom teacher in school was a pastor, and he witnessed gun violence. He's seen so many friends get shot. He told us you should choose your friends wisely, know what is going on in their lives. And tell the closest authority about gun violence.”

Meanwhile, Verdell believes something can be done about gun violence – but that people have to hear a message about how it affects so many lives.

“I believe this problem can be solved, but it's going to take a while,” he said. “I wish that people who make decisions, like politicians, could see what has happened in my family. In my essay, I wrote that being shot ‘felt like someone heated a fork over a fire and stuck it into their bodies.’”

That's what Verdell’s cousin Ebonie said it felt like when she was shot.