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     What it refers to is the act of relating the details of how a specific hustle on the streets works.  It can also mean relating the details of lingo, codes, etc.  It can mean giving up the details of a greater game and how it works.  It can mean relating the details of how an institution works.  Really it means relating the details of the way the inner workings of something operates previously known to only a select few, to insiders or to folks in the know. 

    Now, when I was a student at the University of Connecticut I went through an experience of being the target of group harassment due primarily to racial prejudice.  It happened starting in 2003 and lasted until 2006.  The majority of the time I was always striving to make it through the next harassment attempt, while simultaneously doing well enough at studies to understand what was being taught and to graduate.  In looking back I can see many aspects of how things were run then, I did not understand or understand fully when I was the target.

    Since the time I graduated, and ruined my harassers attempts to thwart my struggle for a degree, I have taken the time to meditate on what happened.  I have thought hard about how I survived, what I could have or would have done had I known then what I know now, and what of those things I know now could be helpful to others.  I have written about both my experience and my thoughts and insights, for whatever they’re worth, in the hopes people going through similar things will have something to aid them in getting through as I know how difficult that can be.

    There were many things which can help including things I did do, did not do or did not do enough of.  One is to meticulously gather notes including dates, times, names, etc.  This will be invaluable later on if and when you decide to do the right thing and stand up for yourself.  You will need facts and evidence.  Memory is great for writing about it and thinking about it for your own purposes later on, but evidence is required for thorough legal action.

    Bring audio equipment in to record incidents when things begin to develop as that is important.  This does not mean to be a snitch, but if they are taking your rights you need to stand up for yourself and keep a record.  The best forms of proof are hard evidence.  The more and the greater variety your sources of factual evidence, the better.

    Take still photos and video clips of things that prove your point.  Use cameras and camera phones.  Whatever you have to do – if it’s legal - do it.  It is to help you, but it also helps those involved in the harassing, as breaking the law is one thing, to see yourself breaking the law is quite another.

    See, when you are the target of harassment your harassers will say things about you to get to you psychologically.  Some of these will be true and even more things will not be.  Make sure you are extremely honest with yourself in assessing the truthfulness of what they say.  Where there are truths decipher which parts are true and which are not honestly.  In my experience that’s something they will try, or at least is a component of it, so be ready.  When you go public this will increase tenfold.  The attempts to hit you with what is true will be more intense. 

     The lies will increase tenfold.  Expect outrageous lies, taking things out of context, photoshopped pictures, harassing mail and email - you name it and more.  The more powerful the institution the more money they have to pay for a smear campaign.  However, there is nothing more satisfying than having the tools to counter that.  Those tools will be the facts and pieces of evidence collected by yourself and will be like you bringing your side to the table so people can bear witness to the truth about what you say. 

     So, when you are discriminated against due to race, religion gender or anything else, take notes and record what you can.  This way when they decide, “okay we will now cross the threshold and tell the mix of some truths with a lot more lies to discredit this person,” and then smugly turn around to see the look on your face – they will have a surprise.  You won’t be there. 

     Then you can tap them on the shoulder and watch them turn around to discover you crossed that threshold with them.  And together - you both gave up the game.  Only with you there, the whole picture and story got out, not just a tiny piece skewed by lies and falsehoods benefiting their cover up.  Wait till you see the look on their faces when you do.  Now that’s gangsta!  Lol.

     To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.