You are right and Im sure they are a million socioloigcal studies to back up your statement. But I believe even if you have crutches you can still walk and get where your going. If you get what I am saying. Most will adapt to the enviroment in any situation, but right and wrong is common sense.
You've made it due to attitude and determination. How do we as society convey that same message to the kids dealing with these issues? If they can't receive this guidance at home, is there a way to make it happen?
Someone would call you racist because your equating this problem exclusively to the black community and citing examples like Rappers and hip hop music in your statement. Every ethinicity has its problems with the samething, its a poverty problem. You ever been to trailer parks or crowded hispanic communities. They suffer similar problems. If you would stop focusing your attention just on the black community then you wouldnt be seen as a racist or a bigot. Just my observation. And if you wouldnt say shyt like" These people" and "most blame their problems on whoever" you wouldnt be seen as a racist or a bigot. "These people and most" are stereotypical phrases. And maybe your not even a racist and you want to find solutions to a problem, but you are right we have to use correct dialogue without equating blame on one another.
Yes there is a way without the parental guidance. If people like myself and athletes, businessmen, teachers, and other people who have done something with their lives give back to the communities they came from. Set an example to show kids there is a way to make it even with growing up in a screwed situation. The persona that rappers portray doesnt help all the time, but all rappers dont do that. Rappers have missed a opportunity to turn their success into a life lesson. Some do it, but most dont. Kids see the glamour but they dont see the hard work that some rappers put into the artform, whether people agree with the music or not, its a business which success can be built in and shown to the younger generation. But strong examples have to be set in the inner cities, rappers and athletes shouldnt be the only role models that these kids pattern their life after. Because i know engineers, accountants, businessmen and women, lawyers, who are just as success, that should be setting greater examples. Everyone is not going to be a professional athlete or a rapper.
I've been to communities that make inner-city poverty look like easy street. There is poverty at many levels but most inner-city issues (and definitely New Orleans issues) tend to involve large numbers of black citizens. White, Hispanic, Asian, etc. communities have always had their share of problems as well. The problem in the black community is that it's not progressing at the same rate as others. We need to determine why. Maybe it was part slavery, part poverty, part attitude, part whatever... Regardless, it's still a huge issue. I'll leave your Hip Hop and Rap "artists" alone as I know you can't believe they're a negative influence. I think you're in the minority there but that's your opinion. I know I don't look at Ozzy as a role model but I guess someone does. :huh: I'm not focussing my issues exclusively on the black community but they tend to be the only group that I routinely hear blaming their poverty and/or other issues externally. You could be a good person to discuss these issues if you could leave your defensive attitude out of it. Just my observation. It you could get over your hangup of thinking everything you disagree with is a stereotypical phrase, you'd be great for this discussion. Chill out!
You are right, maybe I do take those phrases to personally sometimes. Its hard to let the past go sometimes and things people say really get to me sometimes. I'll be the first to admit that. Ive gotten better with deciphering what a person is really saying without the emotion. But its not gone completely. Also I know as well as anybody some rappers and hip hop music is just plain ignorance. Im not blind to that fact. But I find the greater message in some of my favorite artist who are rappers. I just dont like blame to heap on that genre because I find it hypocritical, you sited a great example with Ozzy.
Thank you! That's what needs to be demonstrated to the kids. There are tons of examples but we don't use them. Some school in Houston brought in Snoop Dog and his crew to speak to elementary school children. Are they on crack? :nope:
I think you'd have a different impression of me if you met me but that's irrevelant to this thread. Just know that if I didn't care what happened to these kids, I wouldn't do what I do and wouldn't waste my time expressing it in here. We've (society) need to get serious if we're going to make things better. If we hurt a few feelings along the way it will still be worth it if we can make life worth living for EVERYONE. I'm just tired of catering to the politically correct crowd. It's time to stop saying one thing in public and a completely different story behind closed doors. Let's put it all on the table and find solutions! It doesn't matter what color, gender, religion, etc. someone is...to know when we have a 14 year old murder a 13 year old over a marijuana dispute, we need to find some answers.
You are right again, something has to be done and quickly. Politics does get in the way of doing whats right for children in these situations. Thats the sad part of it. A 14 year old murdering a 13 year old over weed is the bottom if you ask me. Quick story I have to tell. Its kinda funny in a way. I guess I was 11 my brother was 10 years old. My father took the both of us to see Menace to Society ( the gang movie). He didnt say a word, the people at the movies look at him like he was crazy. All of the killing, drugs and violence in that movie. So after the movie was over my brother and I we loved it. We got in the car pulled over and my dad said to us, " I never ever want the two of you to live and think like the characters in that movie, because you see the end result." Thats always stuck with me to this day.
