I was in my car, sitting at a traffic light, when two young African American boys crossed the street. They were between the ages of 12 and 14. Both wore Afros, causing me to flash back to the 60’s and 70’s, when the “Bush” hairstyle represented a King and Queen through out every black neighborhood in America and around the world. It was all about being cool, expressing a posture of pride and reassurance.
Then my eyes gazed downward to the rest of their anatomy. The T-shirts were fine. White and colorfully designed images with the latest Rapp Artists. But, then we get to the pants. Blue Jean, opened at the front, pulled down to about 3 inches above the knee. The underwear were white with red poke-a-dots all over. I got the impression that he has a flair for outward expression.
As you would image, my response was to shake my head from side to side and go…tisk…tisk…tisk, in disappointment.
Of course I went through the mental anguish of saying to myself, “If they only would apply themselves they could have so much more in life”. I’d go through the basics of food, clothing and shelter. Having a nice car, a beautiful wife and children. Going to the beach every summer and holiday. Taking a cruise once a year with close friends. Having a great job you love and retirement guaranteed, benefits in 20 to 30 years.
Then it hit me! How many of us have those things anymore and what job provides that kind of security? How many friends do we know that are out of work, some with Masters and PhD’s. They are out of the career fields driving taxicabs and flipping burgers at a fast food store.
I then asked myself… What are we asking our children to conform to living in a culture of mass confusion?
Posted By: Dr. Okpara Nosakhere
Thursday, July 1st 2010 at 4:37PM
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