Samirah
June 1, 2004
English 2
Ms. Taylor
7th Period

McClymonds High School

Demetrius 'Hook' Mitchell Essay Reflection Contest

The legend of Demetrius 'Hook' Mitchell documentary to me was a very remarkable hood tale. I call the documentary a hood tale because it's a story that I can truly relate to. The life story of Demetrius 'Hook' Mitchell is a sad tale but unlike some life stories that are hard to believe Hook's story is amazingly believable. I understand the message that Hook is trying to send to young folks, and I'm glad that the person sending the message is from the hood like me.

Sometimes people try to promote and campaign on issues that they haven't even experienced before. With Hook it's like his documentary is one that people can say I know someone like him. I think Hook's life could have turned out different if he had family support. From the movie you can see Hook had the support of friends like Gary Payton, and his family, but that's someone else's family. If Hook had had the support of his mom, or maybe his dad, and not just his grandma, I think maybe the temptations of the street life would have been harder for Hook to accept.

I'm from the Town (Oakland), and the hood known as Acorn, so even now I can imagine how torn between his dreams in the hood Hook felt. When you grow up in a neighborhood that is drug infested, has pimps, prostitutes and 114 killings a year it's hard not to get caught up. You can have college in your future, a planned life ahead of you and before you know it, overnight it's just gone, like it disappeared. I assume that's maybe what happened to Hook. From his talks and the movie I believe Hook knew what he wanted, but he didn't know how to go about getting it. That's still the problem with many of us young people today. In our mind and our hearts we have dreams, we know what we want, but we don't sit and take the time to plan how we'll get to the next stage of making Dreams a reality.

It seems like Hook was destined to have a perfect life. There should be no way that Hook shouldn't be playing in the NBA. That's probably what everybody thought. I just wonder with what Hook had going for himself who would help him pour his NBA chance down the drain by introducing him to cocaine. I know drugs were popular in his time but I would think the neighborhood would want to see one succeed not fail. However in some cases that thought is wrong. In a way it can almost be one's personal opinion.

Hook was the best playground superstar out. The man was even better that Jason Kidd (a guy who gets mad props from the town). As I sit reflecting on his documentary I still question why and how. Why did he end up not succeeding to the NBA? (Because I believe he's succeeding by send a message.) How did he allow drugs to control his mind?

Although both these questions have been answered by Hook personally I still just think there's more to the situation. However, being that I'm walking everyday through the same neighborhood Hook grew up in there's a million things I can assume or imagine to answer my own questions.

Hook it seems went through his realization stage while he was in jail. That's where a lot of people wake-up and change. Some people change for a little while, and go back to their old habits. I don't think Hook will be one of those statistics because he talks about making a change. Making sure no one makes the same mistakes he did. Sometimes you hear that from a lot of people who have been to jail, but after hearing Hook talk, watching his documentary, and looking straight into Hook's eyes there's no doubt that he means every word he says. It's almost like he's feeding hope and faith into people who rich, famous celebrities think are nobodys (maybe except the hip-hop stars).

Hook's documentary helped me to understand how people can be on top one minute, fall down, and if they work hard enough, be back on top. It was sad to watch Hook's documentary and to hear him say he don't really get close to nobody. Coming from the hood it's like once you lose somebody you really care for or love it's hard to trust allow another person close to you. At the end of the movie I'll admit that I was near tears. I was in tears because the movie hit things right on the nose. It didn't dramatize or try to hold back anything. Hook's documentary actually exposed the everyday struggles people go through in what the media would label the ghetto.

I'm just proud to say that Oakland does have somebody they can say broke some stereotypes. Hook went to jail, he learned a lesson, and he realized he wanted to help make sure what happened to him didn't happen to anyone else. Hook doesn't consider himself to be a role model, and I wouldn't say he was one of mine. Only because he did some things like attempt to rob a video store, and did drugs that can't be erased. Other than that Hook is a cool man, who's sending out a cool message. Hook doesn't consider himself a legend, but when I speak, I believe I speak for all. Hook doesn't have to be the world legend, and regardless of what he did he's a changed man, and he'll always be Mack's legend. Why? Because we rep our family to the fullest.

My Reflection

Samirah
McClymonds High
10th Grade

"Warriors find a way out because they're survivors."
Missy Adams

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