Drug addiction continues to impact the nation in numerous ways. To shed light on how drug addiction has played a role when it comes to family members and the community, Killer Mike, Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, and Terrinee Gundy held a discussion during a book release event for Gundy’s “Daughter Of A Junkie.”
Moderated by Reed, Killer Mike and Gundy shared their experiences with dealing with family members who were captured by addiction.
On Killer Mike’s latest album “Michael,” the West Side Atlanta rapper features the song “Something For Junkies.” The song tackles how Killer Mike navigated life as a young man who was introduced the occupational side of drugs and being unaware, at the time, of the issues that it caused the community and family members.
He spoke about how cocaine was initially a party drug in the 1970s disco era and the introduction of crack led to higher rates of addiction.
“The song acknowledges and recognizes the people that are in our family that’s a pain to addiction and the people we use,” Killer Mike said. “Because the person who cleaned up in front of store fronts were not considered an employee and was not given consideration. So I wanted to show empathy. I wanted to show respect, compassion, and I wanted to show it to the people I knew and extend it because rap music has never really done that. As a community, as Black people. I don’t think we’ve given the grace to the addicts that they truly deserve.”
Tierrenee
But the part that has been the greatest for me is the love and support that I have gotten from my family, from everybody in this room from every land who sent that book to number one, because as Michael said, they cared about giving people grace in our community and so for me, that’s the greatest that inside of my own family. We have begun healing. My father called me and told me for the first time every time my daddy leaves us he tells us He loves us. He has two older sons, and he’s always both kids with him. My sister and I’ve listened to him. Faithful. My two brothers do not. My daddy says that my youngest brother read your book and for the first time in his life, told him he loved him first. So for me, that is really what I’m happiest about, but I am very proud of everything you’ve listed I’m excited to be here. I’m excited as Mike said, you said it perfectly. Why this is like keep repeating. We all deserve grace. And just because someone has an addiction and disease does not make them any less thing does not make them not human. It does not make them not deserving of our love, and our completeness. And so that was what I am the most excited about.
Unknown 2:00
Tell us about your journey to the title daughter jump most of the people who were close to me, didn’t feel like that was the right title didn’t think that the book should be named. And similar to the manner that Michael discuss, take us through how you ended up in that space.
Unknown 2:20
So for me, it’s a lot more personal. Some of you may know but I will repeat it. My father has a little crack cocaine since 1978. He told my daughter today he called her and say that he was 11 days clean and he has not been 11 days clean does she?
Unknown 2:47
And he has fought that battle every day since the book has come out. And so I’m very proud of that. But I’ve always been proud of him. Even when we were younger and people were not giving him or our families the grace they deserve. And so the one thing that my sister and I have no idea how probably the confidence and love that my mother and father of Oregon to us but we have the discernment to say I’m not going to throw away my father because he’s an addict because he has a disease or because the people in my community cause him a junkie or a J he is my father. I love him. He loves me. He is proud of me, and I am proud to be his Donner and I tyranny Lynette Gundy sit on this stage only because of that junkie. He gives all which is why it is insisted on naming the book the daughter of a junkie because that’s all I’ve ever seen myself as the Dharma junkie. I am his channel. He is agent. Yes. I’m the daughter of a giant proudly and forever and I will not allow anyone to make me a shame of that or the shame of my father. And so you ask about the target nobody wants. But the part that nobody hears is the byline, which really is the title of the book. A true love story. Because I’m obsessed
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