AS A CAREER educator in urban schools,
Cany anyone but me recall when we had "teachers," rather than "educators"? Or was that just something that came to me one night while I was drunk taking medication? |
including 10 years as principal of Washington Preparatory High School, which is in the community where the Crips street gang originated, I have experienced the horrific effect of gang culture and violence in our schools and neighborhoods.
| It's only taken you this long to notice? |
I attended more than 20 funerals of children and adults during my tenure as principal, including two students who died on campus and a mother in the neighborhood — all killed by gangbangers. I am haunted by the tragedy of these lives lost.
| Doesn't sound like you ran a real tight ship, though. |
Almost more sickening than the slaughter itself is society's tolerance for the commercially lucrative glorification of the "thug life" in movies, clothes and gangsta rap. The devoted educators who work so hard to instill positive values in our children are neutralized by gang violence, drug dealing and disrespect for women that have contaminated our society in the more than 30 years since gangs began intimidating young people who wanted only to learn.
| I can agree with that. Our kiddies voluntarily line up each day for a dose of virulent propaganda that denigrates elementary decency. Who's surprised when they take that propaganda to heart? |
..I was with this guy until I saw this:
"Today, the corporate sponsors, gangsters and wannabes who romanticize the criminal life in rap are like military recruiters whose slick ads and macho spiels appeal to young men's lust for excitement. They are responsible for the fear, distrust and cultural decline that gangs inflict on our communities and are indirectly responsible for the exodus of families and children from inner-city schools and neighborhoods."
Except that - Military recruiters are selective — they don't take the dregs that populate the gangs.
- You've got to have a 3-digit IQ to get in.
- The military requires that you have at least a high school diploma.
- The military doesn't push drug use, tests for it regularly, and will toss you the first time you piss positive.
- It enforces equality of the sexes and of the races, and offenses against either are career terminators.
- The military — all services — enforces discipline upon its members, which in most cases results in self-disciplined behavior.
- The military applies violence to achieve distinctly defined ends, rather than engaging in violence for the sake of violence.
- The military channels young men's lust for excitement into productive channels, whether it be combat arms or any of the support jobs.
Other than that, I'm sure they're much alike, except for the points that didn't pop into my mind immediately while I was writing this. |
We need to intervene. Now.
| Sounds like you should have intervened a long time ago, Mr. Principal. |
Our schools, churches, civic organizations and political leaders must announce loudly, publicly, collaboratively and repeatedly that we will not tolerate the gun-toting, drug-using, women-dehumanizing images and language that rappers and their corporate sponsors promote as the essence of black culture. We must campaign vigorously against the enemies within our communities and those willing to assist our oppressors in their enslavement of our minds.
Mike |