It's more than just a "hood fight", so you should know why I'm crying.

Some of you know that I work for a non-profit organization in the projects of Chicago. I work with 7th and 8th graders, trying to improve their academics. 

Today in my classroom a fight broke out. This isn't the first time that a fight has occurred, but this fight broke my heart. Two young men began to fight, for what I don't know, and another young man jumped in to help his friend. I tried to break it up, but was knocked to the ground. Eventually two other leaders came to my room and helped to dissolve the situation. 

As I made my way to the office to check on one of the students who was involved in the fight, all I could do was cry when I saw his bloody face. This is someone's baby standing before me. She trusted her son with me and look what happened. 

After things calmed down, my students and co-workers kept asking me why was I crying. I told them that seeing blood made me cry, because I really didn't feel like talking, but I plan on sharing with them the truth.

I cried because this was more than just a "hood fight". These 13 and 15 year old boys who are now fighting with their fists, will soon began to fight with guns. Once guns become involved, lives are lost, hearts are broken, and communities are forever changed. I cried because the cycle isn't broken. I cried because their fathers did the same thing. I cried because when I told one of the mothers that her son was in a fight, she didn't even care. I cried because I'm tired. I cried because I'm sick and tired.