Question: Are You A Gangster Or A Killer?
Donald Bohanon: Absolutely not. I have heard that rumor myself but I am not really sure how it got started. But probably from my past dealings while navigating the streets several decades ago. To be honest, I have had a few encounters where I had to earn my respect or I would have been run over and probably even killed myself. I had been pressed and tried by killers and violent street thugs but I always stood my ground.
And as a result of it, they probably didn’t like me, but they quietly respected me, and knew if they ever tried to use acts of violence and intimidation it would be met with violence, if necessary. I have never been a gangster or a killer. I was a street hustler (a big difference) for a short part of my life and was solely focused on making money and living life. I came from an impoverished one-parent home and community where food and jobs were scarce. I attended college but it was very difficult to concentrate on French history when my stomach was growling. So I felt I needed to do something to earn significant income pretty quickly.
So I turned to the streets. My brothers were dependent on me for a time as well. A gangster is someone who lives by the gun, and a code of violence. A street hustler is someone who is focused primarily on making money, (but not by theft of any form, at least not in my case, anyway. There were too many other ways to make money), and who does not push or glorify violence, but will not hesitate to use violence if he or his are threatened.
And not even real gangsters glorify the violence, many of them prefer to operate quietly, and under the radar, and don’t necessarily glorify the violence or openly promote the gangster lifestyle. Many of them wisely prefer to remain in the shadows and move quietly. And many of them were in circumstances where violence was what they had to use in order to survive, so I understand that.
You have real gangsters, and on the other hand, you have violent street thugs, bullies, and antagonists, who glorify violence and claim to be gangsters but I think there is a real difference even in that. The violence aspect I always tried to avoid, if necessary, but sometimes it was just unavoidable. I’m not a gangster or a killer but In those circumstances and at that time if I felt my life or the lives of my loved ones was in danger I would have done what I felt needed to be done.
I don’t respect or praise anyone who glorifies the taking of human life and think that defines you as a real man and a tough guy. Those kinds of individuals who glorify it, and have to go out of their way to constantly convince you they are gangsters and tough. While violently preying on the innocent public and community and drawing all kinds of attention to themselves are really lame cowards to be frank, who hide behind guns and if you take the guns from them many of them are wearing female undergarments underneath with the absorbent crotch area.
I’ve never been someone who felt taking life defined me as a tough guy or a man. I always knew the opposite was true. I’m pretty sure the reputation was probably birthed by the way I responded to the violent intimidation and unprovoked violent attacks in self defense. But, fortunately, no one was ever killed, a couple were seriously injured, and admitted into the I.C.U. but they, from my understanding, fortunately, survived. But no one was killed by me, or as a result of any of my actions, fortunately. And I thank God for that because it could have easily gone that way.
A few apologies and peace treaties were offered by the instigating and offending parties afterward because they knew they would probably be on the losing end if things continued as they were. And that they were wrong in that they started it. Which I accepted, to avoid continued conflict and violence. But I always kept my eyes open and was always ready if something jumped off. Just in case they were doing it to lull me into a false sense of security so I would let my guard down. But fortunately, they appeared to have gotten the message.
You just had to be that way in that environment or you would have been chewed up and spit out and could have easily lost your own life to violent predators if you had a sheep’s mentality. I’m not gloating or bragging just setting the record straight, giving it you straight, and providing the facts. And I’m not proud of my past, it just is, what it is. But strangely enough, these are the types God calls, converts, and uses for his glory and to lead others to him. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
But a cold-blooded ruthless killer or a gangster? Absolutely not. And I‘m far removed from that hustler’s life now, which happened several decades ago, and I’m totally focused on serving God and fearing God, and doing his will. And anyone who is promoting that cold-blooded, ruthless killer lie, who don’t have a clue what they are talking about, and don’t know me at all or my history, and are on the outside looking in buying into a false rumor, will have to answer to God. That’s simply just another Satanic lie. Since departing from that lifestyle several decades ago I had been gainfully employed for several years and even started a few businesses some more successful than others.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 King James Version
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.