Pass the Mic with Chris Green

Meet Chris Green, a father of four. Originally from Virginia, Chris enjoys listening to music and watching anime. He is currently pursuing a degree in animation.

My name's Chris. I'm 35. I'm a single father of four. My oldest, Christopher III, lives in Texas with my mother. My three children who are with me, you know, it's hard every day, but I get it done. 

I didn't want to be a single father, but that doesn't stop me from being a single father. Everybody has an excuse, "I don't have help, I don't have this.” You do have help. You got you. It's the best, honestly, even with all the struggles. 

Christopher III is in high school. He plays football. He’s into animation, like me. He has a good personality, very bubbly. 

My eight-year-old, K’den, I call him “King Baby.” He was “The Great Baby” at first, but he just keeps growing up. He pays attention. It's like he has an old spirit. 

My five-year-old, Kyndal, she's the mother of the house. Even with me. I'll hear them playing, saying, “Mommy, we want to go outside,” and she says, “No, I say you can't!” I’m listening and thinking, "I thought I was the daddy!" 

My three-year-old, Eliza, is a straddler. She wants to be a big girl, and she wants to be Daddy's baby. When she doesn't want to do something, she's Daddy’s baby. When she wants to do it herself, she says "I'm a big girl!” I'm trying to teach them independence. I tell them to try everything at least once. If you can't do it, still try. Then, come get Daddy.

The boring life is what I look forward to at the end of the day. I like watching anime. Lying in bed and listening to music. 'Cause I'm running, ripping and I'm just tired.

I'm in my first year of a three-year program for animation. I also have a music production company, called True Hand Production. I was looking for someone to create an animated music video for me. I saw the prices and the turnaround time, and thought, “That's too steep. I could do this myself.” The first thing I did? Trusty YouTube university. I go to YouTube for everything. I know how to fix cars. I know how to do some electrical work, because I had to fix a light in the house. That's why I teach my kids: before you ask for help, go try yourself.

Prior to this, I was sleeping in my car. I got the keys on November 7 last year, and we moved in on my birthday. It was kind of hard when we moved from the last place. We left everything because they changed the locks on us.

I was trying to fix everything and get furniture and, at the same time, keep my marriage afloat. The moment my wife left, everything just fell into place. It sucked because it felt like I have everything now and I have nothing. But I know the old Chris would be proud of me.

“Pass the Mic” is a storytelling space featuring the voices and stories of people with a lived experience of homelessness.

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