On my way home from classes, I stopped by my local convenience store to make a purchase and while I was in the store, there were two elderly black women; both in their 80’s, purchasing lottery tickets at the front counter. During my brief encounter with these elegant ladies, they expressed to me their fear of young black men, specifically teenagers and young adults. It struck a deep chord with me listening to these women express how they were feeling. The could have easily been my own grandmother, and it saddened and concerned me that she felt the need to live in fear. I told her that I was a journalism student and that I also write a blog and I promised her that I would convey their message.

After pondering the words they had spoken, I came to the conclusion that the issue is far beyond the current state of young black men in America but rather, it is the youth in general that needs to be addressed. The problems within the black community are no longer just our own, it has been re-packaged, marketed and sold as “black culture” and people are making millions of dollars doing so, all at the expense of our culture. I don’t need to point any fingers: we all know who I am talking about, so there won’t be any blanket statements or generalizations, but let’s not kid ourselves. For every positive there is a negative and in some cases (music, entertainment) there seems to be more of the latter.

We have reached a severe state of depravity in society when the elderly among us have to live in fear. I beg the younger people of today to consider their current state of affairs and the reality of the world they live in-not the one rapped about or hung out to be desirable in videos and television. Life goes by a heck of lot faster than you may be aware of at this point, your youth is not an eternal spring. What you will come to realize over time is that it is the type of life you live that matters; not the one that glorifies your status or acquisition of material things that you may or may not come to acquire. Even if you do end up obtaining all of your hearts desires, you will ultimately come to see that when the game of life is over all your board pieces, all your property, all your money, everything, it all goes back in the box. No matter how hard you are, no matter what hood/suburb you’re from, when it’s said and done and you give up the ghost, that’s it. The mark you have made will stand as testimony to what you stood for. To live ones life in a way that benefits those around you, I would argue, is a far more beneficial proposition. Look, the bottom line is this: we can either have black culture defined for us or we can define it for ourselves.

When I think about what it means to be a black man in America, I think about those who came before me and the examples that they left behind. They centered their lives around their churches and their families and communities. That is something that we all need to do more of, regardless of ethnic affiliation. When I look at pictures of the past and read stories of their struggles, I realize that it was about being considered a man amongst men that considered them less than human. What then is the message that we want to send pertaining to black culture today? Some that I have talked to have little or no interest in black history month at all; a total 180 from when I was growing up. During my middle school years at

Urban Day School in Milwaukee Wisconsin, it was a requirement that we have a well rounded understanding of not only the history of black Americans but that we understood our potential for the future. While I am sure that there are still places that instill these types of values upon their students, one must question how much of an impact they may or may not be having.

If black culture is to be packaged, marketed and sold I would prefer that it be based upon the idea that my people; regardless of what obstacles may be in their way, persevered. That my people-regardless of what some may think about them, stood triumphant in the eyes of their detractors. That they rose to heights previously assumed to be unobtainable, setting a positive example that all would want to emulate because it is beneficial to the soul, not because of street credit.

There are exceptions to this rule; most notably, President Obama. I am not in agreement with many of his political decisions, but I respect him not only as President, but also for the respect that he shows his wife and children: the respect they deserve by taking care of his responsibilities as a husband and father, but also for being a positive image for all young men to look up to. Our ancestors wanted to prove that we are just as entitled to the American dream that anyone else is. Every step of the way, we have contributed to the progression and enrichment of America. Let not this tradition be ignored or replaced by something that is sinister to the soul of a people, of a nation. Be proud that you are black-I am. But also be proud that you are an American who’s goal it is to live your life in constant pursuit of the of equality and freedom for all citizens. To stand vigilante against whatever forces you may encounter-from inside and outside.

Above all know this. We all will pay the piper. You must pay for everything in this world, one way or another. There is nothing free-save for the grace of God. You can not get away from the responsibility we have to the youth and what we have sown, we will reap.