Netflix's "On My Block" Synopsis
Hello Readers,
So, I just finished seeing the first season of Netflix's "On My Block". "On My Block" follows the stories of five young teenagers from a rough neighborhood in L.A. There are love triangles, gang violence, family matters, and comedy for a show that touches on some serious topics. The series showcases the diversity of these communities, the stories of why people enter gangs and get involved in gang violence (many times it is not a choice for many people), immigration and how deportation can break entire families apart, and more. If you want a visual reference, I like to think about the series as a combination of "Stranger Things" and "The Get Down" (#RIP). The show is beautifully written, beautifully filmed, and honestly REALLY funny. The characters are complex and relatable. Yes, these kids may be from the hood, but the show reminds us that a part from their circumstances and experiences, they are still teenagers after all. They deal with things that many, if not all, teenagers deal with: first loves, sex, heartache, and insecurities, just to name a few. The show is beautiful, the story is complex, the characters are unique, and it is all so incredibly capturing. After the first episode you are hooked, and after the last episode you are devastated, confused, and left with so many questions. You want more, but there isn't (we need a second season now Netflix!). So, what do you (I mean, “I”) do when a good show ends and are left with your thoughts? You analyze the shit out of it.
*Spoilers Time!*
Okay, so the last episode of the season is a whirlwind of emotions! There is happiness, sadness, confusion, anger, frustration, lost of hope, gaining of hope, and finally…the end. The end. The end is devastating (honestly I didn't know what to do with myself after that last scene, my little heart was broken, shattered!). So what happens at the end you ask? A character dies, or it’s assumed he dies. A great character. With a gun. Typical. He wasn't even the initial target! An innocent life (although all lives are innocent in this show quite honestly, but we'll get to that later). The character's name is Ruby. Ruby is your ideal hood college candidate – your ghetto charity case. Ruby is the kid that you're going to “save from the streets” and give them a full scholarship to attend college because they just have So. Much. Potential. And the hood isn't a place for such brains and talent. With his brains, this kid could do great things for society, but he'll never be able to show off his skills and talent because there just aren't enough opportunities in the hood.
Ruby is an A+ student, future lawyer, a great mediator, his words are encouraging – moving even – he's an entrepreneur, a business man with great ideas for a new start-up company, and best of all, he's a quinceñera planner! This kid does it all, and he does it with thoughtfulness and compassion (honestly Olivia girl, I don't know what took you so long to recognize this boy's charm and wonderfulness. Caesar is great, but Ruby, Ruby is the REAL DEAL!). And yet, although he is the hood poster child, Ruby is shot in the end. Ruby is shot instead of Caesar, the initial target. Ruby is shot because of gang violence and gang culture. Ruby is shot because of poverty and the lack of opportunities. Ruby is shot because of reckless gun violence. Ruby is shot by his peer – a kid himself.
You see, they are all kids. They are kids with access to guns. They are victims of not only their own neighborhoods, but of the larger systems that place them in these dangerous circumstances, make gang involvement the only option for many, and rob them of opportunities to get out of their circumstances and better support their communities.
When they shot Ruby, I asked: "Why couldn't it have been Caesar?" Caesar was the initial target because he was a part of the rival gang, Los Santos, but not by choice. Caesar didn't want to be in the gang, but that was the only choice he had. It was the family legacy to be a part of Los Santos. He didn't have money to get out of his situation, so he was forced to stay. Caesar didn't ask to have his life on the line every single day of his life. Caesar didn't ask to kill just so he didn't get killed. Ruby certainly didn't deserve to get shot, but Caesar also didn't deserve to get shot. Yet, if it had been Caesar who was shot it would have hurt a lot less. It would have hurt a lot less because Caesar was a gangster and Ruby was a star pupil. But it shouldn't be that way. We shouldn't think that way, I shouldn't think that way! These are just kids, kids who didn't ask to be in, and grow up in, the circumstances that they did. Kids who didn't choose to be placed in the face of danger.
Ruby's life matters. Caesar's life matters. Spooky's life matters. The people of Freeridge lives matter. And that is the point I want to make. We need to do better, both within our communities and as a society as a whole. Kids shouldn't have access to guns. Kids shouldn't be killed. Kids shouldn't have to kill just to not be killed. Whoever says, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people," is misinformed. Guns kill people. Guns kill people. Guns kill people. Guns kill people. Guns. Kill. People. People don't kill people. These kids didn't kill people. These kids didn't want to kill people. They killed people because they can, and because they have to in some circumstances. They have no choice. It's kill or be killed. But imagine a world without guns. Imagine a world in which kids didn't have access to weapons of murder. Imagine a world where kids, healthy kids, didn't die. Imagine a world where kids didn't have to kill to not be killed because there wasn't that worry. Imagine a world without senseless violence.
*End of Spoilers*
People don't kill people, guns kill people. Point. Blank. Period.
Today, thousands of people marched to stop mass shootings, the senseless killing of our children in institutions of education, and to end gun violence once and for all. Today, Americans marched for our right to life. Although I was not able to attend a march, I am so proud of those who were able to make it out today. I am so proud of our young people who are fighting for the change they want to see, the change that we need. You will be the ones to make America great again.
'Life imitates Art. Art imitates Life'
Xo, Naydeline