Hip-Hop Artist Propaganda on why every scar has a purpose

Propaganda_sm2“My mama used to say, ‘Nothing God does goes to waste,’ and I’m seeing that happen in my life. Every scar I have, I prefer to call them life tattoos. They’re masterpieces. They’re beautiful.” (from https://www.iamsecond.com)

For Jason Petty (aka Propaganda), fitting in was never a familiar feeling. Growing up, he first lived in a neighborhood surrounded by violence, gang life and drugs, then as the poor kid in an all mexican neighborhood. He wasn’t a typical teen; he was an artist from an early age.

“I like to say that I was slow cooked. It started in the 6th grade and culminated in my junior year examining my experiences in life and feeling like I didn’t belong. Whether I was born the wrong color, in the wrong neighborhood, in the wrong decade, to the wrong parents—I’m just not an alpha male. I was an artist. Like, I would draw all the time, and I wrote poetry.

I think there was a moment where my father pointed to a particular passage, Psalm 139

‘Before you were in the womb, I knew you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows full well.’

And I think that was when I realized my value was not determined by some particular innate quality that I have. NoI realizedyour value is because God was willing to pay the cost of His Son for you. That all of this was on purposeeverything you are. Your whole goulash of experiences and gifts, all the scars. Every hurt. Every failure. Being spit on walking home, like all this. Its all on purpose. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Today, Propaganda shares his life experiences to inspire others. He’s a dynamic Hip-Hop artist known all over the world for his powerful, relevant lyrics that reach across youth and pop culture. (You can check him out at www.humblebeast.com.)

And this year, hes one of our featured general session speakers at our 360LA Conference in May, 15 – 17! Don’t miss your chance to hear from him and get the latest tools and strategies to help you impact youth in your community.

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