Sandra Jones
Feb 28, 2025
Local Black history event honored 600 Black boys and men during its 14th annual Raising Kings conference.
Nathaniel Murray, 23, grew up in a fractured family in North Wilmington and spent more time hanging out with friends on the streets. By age 14, he followed a local rapper who promoted drill music and got involved in neighborhood fights that escalated into gun violence.
“Everybody wanted to drill. We would hear our favorite rapper, saying, ‘We shot this person, we shot that person.’ So, it was second-hand to us. I believe the energy actually has a hold on your energy, your aura,” Murray, who bears a bullet wound on his hip, said. “So, I turned on something about ‘shoot ’em up, bang, bang’ at eight o’clock in the morning. I feel like I’m going to want to shoot ’em up, bang, bang.”
Murray was one of dozens of young men who shared their story at the 14th annual Raising Kings Conference at the Police Athletic League held earlier this month in Wilmington, Delaware. The annual conference’s mission is to raise visibility for Black boys and men and build community between them and successful role models, father figures and mentors.
Read More: https://whyy.org/articles/raising-kings-wilmington-black-history-month/