Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 4-18-17

LocalCharlie Wilson ‘IN IT TO WIN IT’ Tour The Charlie Wilson IN IT TO WIN IT Tour with special guests, Fantasia and Johnny Gill was at the USF Sundome on Thursday, March 23, 2017.
The concert’s headliner, Charlie Wilson gave those in attendance a show to remember. (Photos by Julia E. Jackson).
Chara Monroe, Rhonda Rentz, and Tomekia Williams had loads of fun at the concert.
Mother and daughter, Dianne Calloway, right, and Angela Read took in the concert.
Nate Iralane was among those Belinda Martin was also a con- who ‘dressed to impress’ for the
cert guest. concert.
Writer Uses Skills To Make Best Of Bad Situation
BY CLARENCE BARR, II
The first thing you notice about Cedric Hargrave are his dreads. Thick, long and well-groomed, if you didn’t know any better, you would think their presence atop his head were simply a fashion statement.
But, as Hargrave is quick to point out, that is far from the case. “I’ve been growing them for 17 years. They are a large part of my faith as a Rastafarian.”
Currently, Hargrave and his dreadlocks are serv- ing a 30-year-sentence in federal prison. It is a sen- tence that Hargrave be- lieves is unfair and far too harsh for a non-violent, first- time drug offender.
“After being incarcerated for the past 17 years in fed- eral prison I’ve come to real- ize that this is the essence of the ‘New Jim Crow,’ Modern day slavery at its finest.”
Hargrave says with a sarcastic chuckle as he refer- ences the popular book by Michelle Alexander.
“Tax payers are paying $35,000-a-year to house of- fenders.” Hargrave contin- ues. “In my case alone the
CEDRIC HARGRAVE ... Author
federal government has al- ready spent $595,000 to keep me locked up. To me that’s money that could be better spent on more posi- tive things like education, health care and small busi- nesses.”
Even though Hargrave finds himself in a rough sit- uation, he refuses to allow his circumstances to get the best of him. Since he’s been in the prison system he’s started a book company
called Take Ya Lick Publish- ing, which is run by his son, D’mario Hargrave, and is currently in the process of releasing a book entitled, “I- 10 To The Pen.”
As a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and a close personal friend of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer War- rick Dunn, Hargrave says the company and the book were both manifestations that came from his desire to tell his story. “After being in-
Book Cover of
“I-10 To The Pen”
carcerated and reflecting on what got me here, traveling along I-10 hustling, I de- cided to write a story based on that lifestyle.”
“I-10 To The Pen” is described by Hargrave as a tale of loyalty as a way of life and centers around two close friends who become caught up in the thrill of committing crime and learn life lessons the hard way. While his book is based on the grim reality of a seedy
underworld, Hargrave says he works hard to incorporate important messages within his literature.
“The stories I write are not glorifying drug dealing or killing. The basic message in my stories is that the choices you make determine the path you take. At every point you must choose wisely.” True words of wis- dom from a man who is tak- ing life’s sour lemons and turning them into something a little less bitter.
To get a copy of I-10 To The Pen” visit Amazon.com, Barnes & No- bles, Books-A-Million or email takeyalick225@gmail.com. You can contact the author at facebook.com/Cedric Hargrave. Other books by Cedric Hargrave that are coming soon include: I-10 To The Pen” Part II, “Life After I-10,” and “Blinded By Love.”
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. You can write to Mr. Barr at: Clarence Barr 43110-018, Oak- dale F. C. I., P. O. BOX 5000, Oakdale, LA 71463.
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017