Michael Johns
The Ghetto Prophets/profits is an urban inspirational book. A modern-day Prince of Egypt, the book focuses on the struggles of people of color trying to create a better life for themselves and their children while battling issues of morality and desires.
Tina and Jimmy are young and in love. Jimmy sells drugs and Tina doesn’t agree with it but tries to live with it. When they have a son (Kenny) Tina finds it hard to live with Jimmy’s occupation and the pressure of raising a child. Tina sercomes to the pressure and turns to drugs, and eventually leaves her family. Tina has another child (Kayla) that Jimmy does not know about. Tina gives Kayla to a Christian couple (the Holmes) while she tries to get off of drugs. Jimmy raises Kenny and the Holmes raise Kayla . The two children grow up in the same neighborhood not knowing that they are brother and sister. Circumstances bring the two of them together, and both are faced with choices and decisions.
Michael Johns is an up and coming author of urban inspirational fiction. Michael started writing poems in the late 80’s, early 90’s, while he was in high school. While continuing to write poems, Michael began to write screenplays, and songs. His song writing skills diverted his attention from writing screenplays and poems for a few years. He finally was able to focus some of his attention to all of his talents and not just one at a time. Although this is his first time publishing he has a song (Get your praise on) featured on Ronald Hoard’s Revived album. Ronald Hoard and Michael Johns have collaborated to entertain and inspirer many people to continue to press on through all the struggles of life. Look for more great creations from both of them.
Kenny being thirteen is around his father a lot more and Jimmy even takes Kenny on some of his sales. Kenny is intrigued by what his father does for a living but he also has a lot of questions for Jimmy
While riding in the car Kenny asks Jimmy “If you make so much money why are we still living in this neighborhood.”
“That’s a good question. One reason is because I like the neighborhood.”
“Why? Some of the houses are about to fall apart and all of the drug addicts.”
Jimmy interrupts Kenny. “Those drug addicts are the reason we have the money we have. And the buildings are just buildings. Don’t just look at the bad thing's look at the good things about this neighborhood; there is a lot of friendly people and some nice houses. As a matter of fact most of these houses are over a hundred years old.”
“How can you see the good when the bad stuff sticks out?”
“Boy your still a kid one day you will appreciate this neighborhood. These people in this neighborhood understand it, some of them may not respect it but they understand it. Neighborhoods like this used to be new and people, who think like you are thinking, got more money so they left. But other people see the value in this type of neighborhood and buy up all of the property and rent it out to people who do not have a lot of money but need a place to live. Some of them do this because they want to help others but some of them do it to make money. Neighborhoods like this still profit a lot of people. Look at all of the people, who come from other countries and open up stores in this neighborhood, they understand the profit that can be made.
Son you need to understand that everybody needs things and someone is going to try to provide for people’s needs but at a price.”
“So what do you provide to people?”
“I provide a way to forget about some of the bad things that people go through.”
“Does it make the bad things go away?”
“No.”
“So why do people take drugs?”
“They can’t deal with some of their problems and they can’t run away so instead of facing their problems they try to forget them by using drugs.”
“Have you ever used drugs daddy?”
“No and you better not ever use them either. Drugs are for scared weak people who can’t handle life.”
“So what is so hard about life that people feel that they can’t handle it?”
