My hometown has shaped my journey more than anything else.

To this day, I carry it with me wherever I go. The neighborhood, the scars, the experiences.

So, to start off, let me tell you a little bit about Oakland, California.

Man Of The House

In my neighborhood, it was very common for people to fall to a life of crime. As a young boy, I just learned it was the norm – the drugs, the violence, the gangs, the poverty. I never knew any different.

One morning when I was six years old, I learned that you couldn’t escape this life, even when you chose to stay away from it.

This particular morning, I got out of bed, walked into the living room, and saw my entire family in our house. I was confused.

But then, my uncle pulled me aside and said six words that I’ll never forget.

“Raymond, your dad just passed away.”

Later, I found out that he was shot in the streets.

At that age, I knew what death was, but I had no clue what this actually meant for me and my family. It wasn’t until the funeral that it really hit me.

It was time to grow up. Quickly!

I had to mature so that I could help out my mom and my two brothers. So, my brothers and I split the ‘man-of-the-house’ duties.