Throughout the recent decades, we've been engulfed in the battle for our young ethnic youth. We're always telling our youth to "stay in school", "say no to drugs", "go to college", "become educated", and various other cliches which have been stretched as far as the eye can see... I have no qualms with raising our progeny up to be more than thugs, wannabe gangstas, the next-big-hip-hop-star, or the next LeBron James (keep in mind that this is not intended to knock music artists or athletes). I, along with many Black Americans out there, believe that kids need to be introduced to lifestyles which show that you don't have to be a "hustla", "cd slanger", or star athlete to be successful and blessed.
There's only one problem with this. Our EDUCATED "role models" are now exhibiting unsavory behavior at alarming rates! Imagine this: You're explaining to little Nick why he should grow up to be a lawyer, doctor, or businessman and right behind you the television is broadcasting Jesse Jackson whisper about chopping off Barack Obama's genitals! What the heck?! You have Jesse and Al (Sharpton) who both claim to be reverends in their own right. When do we ever hear about them? Soon as something remotely racist occurs, someone turns on their searchlight to display the "Black-signal" in the skies. Then it's one or the other to rescue.
If someone in the media says the word "Black" incorrectly, you can bet that there's a Rainbow PUSH supporter who's got their finger on the switch--just ready to turn on the "Black-signal"! To the "Black cave", Robin!
In this day and age, we no longer need to resort to the methods that were used in the 60s and 70s. For the most part--America is in tune to the struggles of the African-American community. Our job now is to educate each other and have unwavering men and women of God in leadership roles. That's the secret... Include God. He's what's missing from a lot of these formulas for success.
Oh, and let's not forget about our brother--the Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Charges stemming from perjury, unfair termination (of law enforcement), and now leaving the country without notifying the courts. A Detroit mayor is IN JAIL, people! That looks horrendous! Not to mention, he's a member of my fraternity and it does not reflect well. In any other situation, I'd have compassion upon an individual. But to me (maybe I'm alone in this one) I get an air that he feels somewhat "above the law". You lie in court, lie to your family, lie to the city of Detroit and still decide that it's okay to head to Canada without telling anyone. Not the best decision there, Kwame.
We seem to be at a crossroads where the lifestyles that we're trying to steer our children away from are slowly growing parallel to the lifestyles we promote! An old cliche' comes to mind... In order to see change occur and spread throughout our neighborhoods, communities, and country--we have to BE that change! Change is inevitable. Let's make it positive.
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