READERS,
This is where I post your comments.
I thank you for reading and sharing.
Meetta
Ms. Meetta's article, "SAVE OUR Boys", posted on October 2, 2010. Column, "On Her Soap Box".
Comment By:
David Green, of Detroit, Michigan
Teacher/ Detroit Fireman
"Great Blog Meetta!"
(This is) Something that I am very passionate about-The African American Family in America (AAFA includes Our Boys). The AAFA has deteriorated steadily since the early 1960's. So much so, that its been said that we are on our 3rd generation of dysfunctional families in Black America. If one looks into the past at the African American family, the saying "It Takes a Village..." goes back beyond the memory of anyone alive today. It goes back to African villages!
I have always thought that Hollywood often forecasts what will happen in society or eventually tells the truth about a tragic event of the past. There was a movie (can't call the name right now but it had Kadeem Hardison in it) that came out in the late '80's or early 90's that dealt with the mob getting into the drug trade. Anyway, I have always thought that there was a conspiracy to inject heroin & cocaine into the black community in order to destroy us. What they never counted on was that those same drugs would one day reach the doorstep of wealthy Americans as well. So not only have these drugs destroyed Black America...it's destroying all of America one family at a time!
Prior to the heavy drug trade there was honor among thieves. They would never hurt women or children. Not so today as women & children are at the center of this destruction.
When jobs were scarce in the early 1900's black men could go sharecrop & job hunting KNOWING that when he came home they'd have the support of FAMILY (wife, kids & even parents)...so their failures never seemed so bad because you ALWAYS could rely on family to lift you up and ready you for the next days search. Well, once you throw hard drugs [fast forward to the 1960's] (not just corn liquor) into the mix, that caused black men to spiral into an uncontrollable nose dive. We then took out our aggressions on our women & children...and if it didn't kill us, it effectively passed the violent behavior on to the children (they then come to see the strung out/abusive behavior as "normal") and they too would pass it on to their offspring. It's a depressing mindset for anyone to have to deal with. It hinders ambitions of higher education & it gets us away from our African roots that were cultivated in love of one another. The drugs have turned thieves into killers & have lead far too many to a permanent life behind bars or in the "system". I feel you in your passion for this subject...it's so much I could say, but I can't type that much!!! I admire your works & please keep on pushing on. I'd love to host a forum or talk group with teens about this topic someday.
David,
I must state for the record, that when I spoke of "Our boys", I was speaking about ALL boys of the world. No matter what race or creed. They are all apart of humanity and all are vulnerable to a deteriorating society, no matter which end of the spectrum they are on. What affects one man, affects another. But I hear ya!
I know of your advocacy and passion. I admire your "gumption" to speak out on the issues concerning the African-American family, local and National politics and the educational system in Detroit, for example. People listen to you and they respect you David.
You will find a way to have your forum. When you do, please invite me. I'd love to sit in. Thanks again, for sharing. S
incerely, Meetta
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