In the bustling neighbourhood of St. Albans, Queens, the hopes and dreams of a Black 16-year-old girl were abruptly extinguished on the evening of May 10.
Quaatey’s story has resurfaced now as part of a CNN series profiling American youth killed in 2023 by guns, a leading cause of death of children in the US.
Claudia Quaatey, a determined and ambitious young entrepreneur, was struck by a single gunshot to the head while sitting in the back seat of a car, as reported by the New York Police Department.
Her story is one of extraordinary determination and vision. At the tender age of 14, she decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, establishing her own home-based hair braiding business.
Her goal was clear: to save money for nursing school at the renowned Howard University. The young entrepreneur’s basement in Jamaica, Queens, was transformed into a designated hair braiding studio, catering to a growing clientele that admired her skill.
Dedication to her future beyond her years was evident. She tirelessly managed her business while also striving to excel in her studies as a sophomore in high school. Her parents, initially supportive of her ambitions, eventually had to step in to help balance her entrepreneurial pursuits with her academic responsibilities.
Her mother, Marian Abbey, spoke with pride and admiration about Claudia’s determination. “I would never change anything about Claudia,” she said. “Claudia was not perfect, but Claudia was exactly what I prayed for.”
Tragically, Claudia Quaatey’s dreams of attending Howard University, becoming a nurse, purchasing her first car, and eventually giving back to her parents’ homeland in Ghana will never be realized.
She had plans to braid a friend’s hair that fateful evening when the gunshot shattered her promising future. Claudia passed away in the hospital the following day, leaving behind a community deeply saddened by the loss of a bright and aspiring young soul.
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