| Why Are You Concerned About Black America: |
| First because I am a Black American, so I do not want anyone to believe that I am being altruistic. Secondly I am the mother of a Black Female and a Black Male and I know that being Black in America takes "Special Skills" in order to live like a free human being and not survive like a slave. My concern is for our youth in our communities all across America. They seem to lack something that we as a mighty nation of people once possessed in great abundance and that thing is " self-respect" and therefore respect of others(even those of who bore, raised, live, work, and look just like them). I am in the Human Services field where we do Mental health, Substance Abuse, Developmental Disabilities counseling and community resource work. I have also taught public high school in the curriculum area of Special Education. In the field of Special Education the population is overwhelmingly Black Males, and people of color by and large. Over the last couple of years others and myself in this field talk about the difference in ourselves and the youth we are serving today. We have came to the conclusion that when we were growing up in urban and rural areas of the North and South we faced some of the very same issues that the children faced today. I mean really drug abuse, drug dealers, hustlers, pimps, one parent households, teenage pregnancies, and gangs are nothing new. Some of the people that raised or reared us (parents, other relatives where alcoholics, drug abusers, etc) and those parents/guardians still Functioned mostly and parented us offering proper adult supervision, guidance, and "daily living skills". These citizens were involved with the community agencies such as church, school ,PAC, city, county, state governments and local hospital and or clinics.Some where leaders for civil rights for all Americans. These "soldiers" exampled not only modeled what was needed to be done to live as a "citizen" and not just survive as a second class citizen at all cost no matter your hangups or habits. And then we all know ( those of us born in the 40's-and the early 1970's) about the neighbors on the block, in the building, the corner store, or wherever that could straighten you and then get your parent/and or guardian to straighten you.
It takes a village to raise a child is nothing new to Blacks as a whole. All of a sudden it seems as though we are allowing every system or organization the opportunity to raise our children and dictating what will happen in our homes and the lives of our children a lot of the clients we serve their parents are either alcoholics, drug abusers, etc. but the difference now is that parents/guardians are no longer functioning providing adult supervision. Whatever the school system says about their child they go along with it , whatever the local law enforcement, and or government wants to say or do to their child and hurt the entire family and community unit it seems ok, as LONG AS THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE ADULT SUPERVISION AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
I want to see real change in this America not just us voting for a African American President , but some things that are really going to affect the way that the most impoverish of Black Americans live "wholistically" spiritually, mentally, physically, and financially.
I personally talk to the youth, tell them about the right and or respectable way to speak, walk, dress if they are out of order. I share with other parents rules, laws, and or regulations that lets them know their rights as a parents, the duties of the agencies, and the rights to equal protection under the law. I decided in the last year that I would no longer be part of something that was not empowering and encouraging not only to Black Americans but to all Americans . If a young man and or young lady is cursing at me , near me , etc. I talk to them and just encourage them to not waste their brilliance in the jail or the grave.
We must take personal responsibility for our lives in this country recognizing that we have never had anything but Our Faith, each other, and the Law of the land to get what is "rightfully ours". I love the second verse of America the Beautiful " It reads thus O beautiful for pilgrims feet whose stern impassioned stress, A thorough fare for freedoms beat across the wilderness. America America God mend thine every flaw, confirm thy soul in self control thy LIBERTY IN LAW!!!!!
Let us began to Edify and Embrace on another with the TRUTHS needed to get through even if that means the Talented Tenth just pull up and be responsible for 10 more(everyday ordinary Black Americans) |
| How Did You Find Out About This Site: |
| Emailed to me from Black America.com |
| What Would You Like To See On This Site: |
| networking opportunity for professionals, employment classifieds, educational resources, entrepreneurial resources that are free for the Masses to access |
| Did You See The CNN Special Entitled "Black In America": |
| Yes |
|