Ghetto Lifestyle Quotes

“A fog of despair so pervaded the ghetto that the smallest gesture of rebellion could seem like a bold, piercing light. Bad, said with a fond expression, was almost always a compliment.”
― Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx

“Institutionalized:
Ghetto stars pimped so hard for so long -- they'll starve to pimp themselves behind psychic bars.”
― T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph over Death and Conscious Encounters With the Divine Presence

“I don't think the drug dealer in ghetto culture is really admired just because of the shit he owns. He isn't respected for his money, either. Think about it—there are plenty of people with money who aren't respected in ghettos all over the world. No, he's respected because he's capable. For those who feel broken and helpless, there does not exist a more inspiring thing.”
― Mike Hawthorne, Happiness Will Follow

“Prince of the Ghetto:

They hate me because I'm poor.
They despise me because I'm common.
They reject me because I fight for the ghetto.

Let me tell you about the slums.
Let me tell you about the shanties.
Let me tell you about the ghetto.

Roaches do not bother us.
Violence does not frighten us.
Reality does not intimidate us.

At birth, our portion is pain.
At birth, our portion is sorrow.
At birth, our portion is death.

We see what others do not.
We hear what others do not.
We feel what others do not.
We experience what others do not.

We laugh but there is pain in our laughter.
We sing but there is distress in our songs.
We dance but there is agony in our steps.

The world was built on our backs.
The world was built on our tears.
It was built on our misery.
It was built on our blood!

We are sons.
We are daughters.
We are mothers.
We are fathers.

We are the poor.
We are the wretched.
We are your problem.
We are the ghetto.”
― Matshona Dhliwayo

“In the Ghetto, life is meaningless, death is glory, and to fear people (neygah) is the beginning of wisdom. Selah”
― Crystal Evans, Jamaican Acute-Ghetto-itis: Jamaican Sociological Commentary