Mis primos me enseñaron a vender droga a los siete años | Fernando #México #Fútbol #Entrevista

YouTube · 6OtecN9H1vo

Quick Read

Fernando, incarcerated in Mexico, recounts his harrowing journey from selling drugs at age seven, influenced by family and poverty, to finding a path toward rehabilitation through sports and the love of his children.
Childhood trauma and lack of support can lead to early entry into crime, as Fernando started selling drugs at seven after his grandmother's death.
The 'easy money' from drug dealing can quickly overshadow traditional paths like education, especially for children in poverty.
Personal tragedy and the love for his children became Fernando's turning point, motivating him to seek rehabilitation and reject a life of violence.

Summary

Fernando shares his life story, beginning with his early childhood in the Guerrero neighborhood of Mexico City, where he started playing street football. The death of his grandmother at age seven fractured his family, leading him to engage in drug dealing with his cousins. He describes how the immediate financial gain from selling drugs, like buying a football uniform, overshadowed schooling and traditional opportunities. Fernando reflects on a year living with an aunt and uncle who provided structure and positive activities, a path he ultimately rejected to return to his family and the streets. His narrative details the harsh realities of the drug world, the normalization of violence, and the profound losses he experienced while incarcerated, including the murder of his brother and the death of his mother. A pivotal moment came when his young daughter's plea prevented him from seeking violent revenge. Now, through sports and therapy in prison, Fernando is committed to a new life, driven by the desire to be a positive role model for his children and break the cycle of crime.
Fernando's story offers a raw, first-person account of how systemic issues—poverty, lack of parental guidance, and exposure to crime at a young age—can funnel children into criminal enterprises. It highlights the profound impact of family loss and the insidious draw of 'easy money' in vulnerable communities. His journey underscores the critical role of rehabilitation programs, personal reflection, and the transformative power of family motivation in breaking cycles of violence and incarceration. The narrative challenges perceptions of criminality, revealing the complex human stories behind statistics and emphasizing the potential for change even in the most challenging circumstances.

Takeaways

  • Fernando began selling drugs at age seven, influenced by cousins and the financial void left by his grandmother's death.
  • The immediate gratification of 'easy money' (e.g., buying a football uniform) made him prioritize crime over continuing school.
  • A year living with an aunt and uncle offered a structured, 'normal' childhood with sports and education, but he chose to return to his family and the barrio.
  • Incarceration brought immense personal losses: his brother was murdered, and his mother died while he was in prison.
  • His daughter's emotional plea during a moment of intense desire for revenge became the catalyst for his commitment to change.
  • Fernando now channels his energy into sports and therapy in prison, aiming to be a positive example for his children and break the cycle of crime.
  • He believes true rehabilitation requires leaving the environment where one engaged in criminal activities to avoid falling back into old patterns.
  • Fernando distinguishes between 'victims' of crime, arguing that those who exploit others financially are different from innocent bystanders.

Insights

1Early Entry into Drug Trafficking Due to Family Influence and Poverty

Fernando's entry into drug dealing at seven was directly linked to the death of his grandmother, which destabilized his family's financial and emotional support structure. His cousins then introduced him to selling drugs, framing it as 'chambear' (working), and the immediate financial rewards, like buying a football uniform, made it appealing.

Mi primer problema fue cuando falleció mi abuelita paz descansa. Era como pues mi segunda madre, ¿no? De ahí pues casi se podría decir que mi núcleo familiar se empezaba a este a distanciar, ¿no? El apoyo que teníamos cuando estaba allá pues ya era muy muy limitado... lo que mismo que me empezaron a jalar pues fue mi propia familia, ¿no? Unos primos diente vente vamos a a echar un 18, ¿no? a chambear y al ver dinero pues decías en ese tiempo 150 pues era mucho para un niño de esa edad.

2The Allure of 'Easy Money' Over Education

After completing primary school, Fernando chose to abandon secondary education to continue earning money through illicit activities. He explicitly states that the immediate financial gain from selling drugs was more attractive than pursuing further schooling.

Nada más acabé la primaria, me aventé un año de secundaria y de ahí ya no ya no preferí seguir ganando dinero, ¿no? Andar haciendo maldades, andar vendiendo.

3A Daughter's Plea as a Turning Point from Vengeance

Following the murder of his older brother while Fernando was incarcerated, he experienced an intense desire for revenge. However, a phone call with his young daughter, who heard him crying and expressed fear of losing him, served as a critical emotional intervention that prevented him from acting on his violent impulses.

La ansia de de venganza me estaba comiendo por dentro... ese día marqué para despierdense de mí, no vengan a verme. Ya no voy. Voy a hacer unas cosas que ya no sé si esté vivo o no... mi hija me escuchó llorando... me dice, 'Papá, papá, ¿qué tienes? ¿Qué te pasa?'... 'Papá, no quiero que te pase nada. Quiero estar contigo. No, no quiero dejar de verte o de escucharte'... Ese día fue cuando para mí fue mi ángel de agua ese día y fue lo que hizo que me relajara y no sé si estuviera todavía aquí, ¿no? Lo que si hubiera pasado ese día lo que iba a pasar.

4Redefining 'Victims' and Moral Justifications in Crime

Fernando articulates a controversial distinction regarding victims of crime. He suggests that robbing wealthy individuals who may have acquired their wealth through illicit means is less morally reprehensible than robbing working-class people. He also identifies 'innocent bystanders' caught in violence as true victims.

Hay de robar a gente que sí tiene, gente que no tiene, ¿no? Por ejemplo, vas y robas a alguien de que va saliendo de trabajar de la panadería. Evento, le vas a quitar 1000 pesos a su semana. A que te vas, no sé, Polanco, Roma, lugar donde hay dinero, ¿no?]... para mí pues también ellos hacen cosas que muchas veces son impunes para ellos, ¿no? Y esa es donde les quitas cosas algo de lo que ellos quitan como que no es tanto el el dolor de uno mismo, ¿no? ¿Por qué le quitas al que tiene, no al que no tiene? No... Pues las que no la deben de pagar, ¿no? Gente que va pasando, si tú quieres, ¿no? En una balacera, en lo que sea, se equivocaron, ¿no?

Bottom Line

The use of children in drug trafficking is partly enabled by shorter legal sentences for minors, making them attractive recruits for criminal organizations.

So What?

This insight suggests that legal frameworks, while intended to protect minors, can inadvertently create an incentive for criminal groups to exploit them, highlighting a complex policy challenge.

Impact

Policymakers could explore alternative justice models for minors involved in organized crime that focus heavily on rehabilitation and breaking ties with criminal networks, rather than just short sentences that might not deter exploitation.

For individuals deeply entrenched in criminal lifestyles, true 'volver a empezar' (starting over) often requires a complete physical relocation away from their original environment and social circles.

So What?

This challenges the idea that rehabilitation can solely occur through individual change, emphasizing the powerful influence of environment and social networks on recidivism. Returning to the 'barrio' means returning to the 'vicious circle'.

Impact

Reintegration programs should consider comprehensive relocation and support systems for ex-offenders, facilitating a complete break from past environments and fostering new, positive social connections in different communities.

Key Concepts

Cycle of Poverty and Crime

Fernando's narrative exemplifies how economic hardship, lack of parental guidance, and early exposure to criminal elements within one's family and community can create a self-perpetuating cycle of crime, making it incredibly difficult for individuals, especially children, to break free without significant intervention or personal motivation.

The Power of Redemptive Motivation

This model highlights how profound personal experiences, such as the loss of loved ones or the desire to protect and provide a better future for one's children, can serve as powerful catalysts for individuals to fundamentally change their life path, even from deeply entrenched criminal behaviors.

Lessons

  • Support and advocate for comprehensive rehabilitation programs within correctional facilities that include sports, therapy, and educational opportunities, as these were crucial for Fernando's transformation.
  • Invest in community-based initiatives that provide strong family support, positive role models, and economic opportunities for children in vulnerable neighborhoods to prevent early entry into crime.
  • Recognize the profound impact of family connections, particularly the love for one's children, as a powerful motivator for individuals seeking to change their lives, and integrate these connections into rehabilitation strategies.

Notable Moments

Fernando's decision to leave a structured, 'normal' life with his aunt and uncle to return to his family and the barrio, despite being offered a better future.

This highlights the powerful pull of family loyalty and familiar environments, even when a clearer path to a different life is presented, underscoring the complexity of choices made in childhood.

The impact of his daughter's voice during a moment of intense grief and desire for revenge after his brother's murder.

This was a pivotal emotional turning point, demonstrating how the love and concern of a child can interrupt a cycle of violence and vengeance, shifting an individual's focus towards a future for their family.

Quotes

"

"Mis primos me empezaron a jalar, 'vente, vamos a echar un 18, a chambear.' Y al ver dinero, pues decías, en ese tiempo, 150, pues era mucho para un niño de esa edad."

Fernando
"

"A tus 7 años te diste cuenta que vender droga te podía dar dinero para comprar un uniforme de fútbol. Qué cabrón, ¿no?"

Saskia Niño de Rivera
"

"La sed de venganza o de resaltar lo que yo era antes, pues no es como que ese camino, no hay cosas mejores. Esa motivación que hoy en día es la que tengo, la de mis hijos, pues creo que es la que me ha hecho seguido estar de pie hasta el día de hoy."

Fernando
"

"Volver a empezar es volver en a pesar de ceros, como decimos, ¿no? Pero ya de dándole un cambio radical a tu vida, ¿no? Desde donde creciste, donde te te desenvolviste, ¿no? Ya no puedes regresar a eso, ¿no? Volver a regresar es regresar a lo mismo."

Fernando

Q&A

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