NWSF Interview: King J of the Latin Kings

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood


Paul Scott




If you live in Greensboro, NC, chances are you've probably heard of Jorge Cornell. To hear the cops tell it, he's a Latino version of O-Dog from Menace to Society. But to many in the black and Latino community he is a modern day Huey P. Newton.

In an interview, earlier today, NWSF.com wanted to know why Cornell is loved by some and hated by others.

"They downplay the positive," says Cornell who says that he has been active in the Greensboro community doing everything from feeding the homeless to trying to establish black and brown unity.

A New York native, Jorge "King J" Cornell, "Inca" (leader) of the Greensboro Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) says that he was politically active up North and carried that same spirit below the Mason Dixon where he says that racism is 10 times worst than it is in the Big Apple.

According to Cornell, it is not his gang affiliation that has gotten him in trouble with the law but his political activities.

He says that the Latin Kings have been harassed for a while but it escalated after he made his "Call for Peace" last June.

Since then he says that he has been charged with 13 felonies, all of which have been dismissed.

Coincidentally, Cornell says that he has been shot twice since last August.

However, he says that his brushes with death only gave him more motivation to fight for the people.

When asked about the media hype of the tension between the black and Latino communities Cornell said bluntly, "Totally false."

"If Black and Brown come together, there is so much that we can accomplish, we are the same people," says Cornell.

"They brought you here in shackles and they ship us off in shackles, says Cornell, referring to immigration laws, an issue that is dear to his heart.

He mentioned his concern over Section 287 G of the Immigration and Nationality Act which, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, allows "the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions."

http://www.ice.gov/partners/287g/Section287_g.htm

Although, some would say that there are two sides to every story, there is one story that has never really been told. That is the political suppression of oppressed people. Until that story is told, all the facts aren't in and we can never arrive at a clear consensus of whether gangs like the Latin Kings are helping or hurting their communities.

With all the drama that activists have to go through, why doesn't King J just take an early retirement?

"I'm wiling to die for this," says Cornell. "If I can make a change for my people, that's what it is..."


Paul Scott, the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista's blog is http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com/