DMX: The Forgotten Child

The day to day impact that Parents, Guardians and Support Systems leave on an individual is colossal. Energy that surrounds a person can be equivalent to a cold dungeon or the warmth of a Utopian experience. In the case of children, they are sponges that absorb everything in their environment. This environment often creates a path for the child to follow, in a journey called life. The adult you see is often the byproduct of a combination of events that molded a child through infancy, youth, adolescent and young adult years. You can almost say that a person is basically a science project to a degree. In the classroom of Earl Simmons, I believe the professors failed to prepare him for his assignments and exams.

For over a decade I worked with troubled youth in Group Settings, Hospitals, Jails, Detention Centers and other Residential Facilities. Many of the young men I mentored were from broken homes. Many of the young men I spent time with saw violence, drugs, abandonment, poverty and abuse as a standard way of living. This was also the same for young females who my colleagues worked closely with. I often call these individuals “Forgotten Children” because the “Safety Net” was neglected by people whose purpose was to protect their seeds and allow them the opportunity to properly grow. Earl Simmons aka DMX is the poster child for what I experienced at one point in my professional career.

As a young man, DMX had a toxic relationship with his parents. DMX has often discussed the turbulent childhood where he was dropped off with his Grandmother and other family members. DMX talked about living in Group Homes and Detention Centers on a consistent basis. There are so many African American kids who have a similar story. When children are raised in economically challenging situations, they are generally the victim of parental frustration. We are well aware that frustrated parents often transfer their anger and misfortune to their children. DMX cited that at one point, he felt that his Grandmother was the only person that truly loved him. Man, that’s an unfortunate way to view childhood. On the heartfelt track “I Miss You” featuring Faith Evans, DMX was very vivid about his life and relationship with his Grandmother. He talked about her death.

“Grandma, I really miss you and it ain’t been the same. I drop a t