Harold "Noonie G" Ward: A Gangster with a Heart of Gold

                               (Ward seen above with Hip Hop artists Kanye West and Common)

by Cyrus Webb

The numbers are truly staggering.

In 2012 in Chicago alone there were...
2400 shootings
505 total murders
319 shootings of children
108 murders of youth and children
19% increase in murder rate

It is because of this that the city of Chicago is not just seen as the Windy City but the murder capital of the United States. Though many are focusing on the negative, Harold ''Noonie G' Ward, is looking to be a part of the solution. Why? Because as a former high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples gang he was part of the problem.

I had the opportunity to talk with him after reading his book GANGSTER WITH A HEART OF GOLD (with a foreword written by Kanye West and Common) and watching the documentary by the same name. It was obvious in our conversation how passionate he was about his city and trying to protect the younger generation.

"There are too many resources and powerful people here," he told me, referring to city. The lack of attention that was being paid to the serious problem of crime caused him to ask this question: "What's the value of a black life?"

Looking at other senseless crimes around the country, Ward sympathizes with what they are going through. "There is crime everywhere," he says, "but in just one weekend we lost 55 young lives. We should be focusing on helping everybody. We need to step our game up. These kids need things to do: after school programs, etc. The problem is when they start cutting budgets, these things are the first to go. We can't forget that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Where there is poverty you will find crime and a lot of foolishness and violence."

In his book Ward says this: "Back in the day it took a village to raise a child. Not today. You got to check the parent and the child because they both kids. The parents don't want you to say or do anything to their children until it's too late... The Bible says "train up" a child in the way he should go and they will never depart. We as parents need to help put an end to violence. The solution starts at home. We need to stand up and make a move... Let's take our control back."

Ward sees the pattern and recognizes the source of a great deal of the disorder. "These are innocent kids," he told me. "The majority have fathers in the Penn and mothers on crack. They didn't choose that hand. They were dealt that hand. They got lives, too. They look around and think this is the way it's supposed to be. It shouldn't be that way."

Because of where he came from he knows firsthand what is possible.  "I know it was only the grace of God that has kept me," he said. "I really am surprised that I'm still here, but God has a plan for my life."

That plan includes using his life as an example for others and doing his part to raise others up along the way.

The book and DVD Gangster with a Heart of Gold are available through Amazon.com. You can keep in touch with Harold "Noonie G" Ward through his Facebook fan page and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/therealnoonieg.