What we need

There is a war that is going on currently. A war claiming the lives of millions. A war that is costing us an astronomical amount of money each day. A war costing us plenty of young men and women.

This is not the war in Iraq, but rather it is the street wars that has effected us for so long. In Chicago alone, there has been 24 deaths six months into this year from gunfire (Another student dies: 'Enough is enough, June 13, 2006'). One report said that is safer to be in Iraq than a youth in the city (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/opinion/guests/398820,241GUC2.article). However, the government is more concerned with oil and Muslims rather than focusing on the home and streets that are being destroyed by mindless violence.

Yet it is not the government's fault. For years, we have known that the government does not care about black folks, rather poor folks. The thing is that the black community is no more. There is no longer a team efforts amongst the adult in the neighborhood to govern over the children behavior. There is not that team parenting in a neighborhood where one member in the neighborhood would call your mother and tell them what you did and how you cut up. Instead, now when a parent is informed of their child wrong, they get on the defensive and want to argue or fight back. Parents arguing with principals because their kid has behaviour problems and the school calls them to do something about it. There are not mad that the kid was showing his backside to everyone, but rather that he always get caught and that the school calls her not realizing that child is your responsibility. Parents thinking that they are the only one who can talk to their child has ruin that community that once strengthen the black neighborhoods.

As a matter face, parent are not parenting. Many parents are letting hip hop and R&B raise their child. They are letting the movies raise their child. The entertainment industry is telling your kid what is cool and "ain't" cool. They are telling your girls that she is a bitch and a whore. They are telling your girls that she need to stick her butt out and drop it. They are telling your girls to dress in short shorts and have body parts hanging out. They are telling your boys that money get girls and you is not the man unless you get some booty. They telling your boys that they are to sleep with many girls and not live up to their responsibly. They are telling your boys to wear their pants sagging low. And because many parents refuse to teach their child love, patience, education is important and care, we lose the battle.

Many are going to say he bashing the way we dress and "is". This is not about cornrows, earrings (I have them), baggy jeans or weaves, tattoos, short shorts and so forth. This is about mind that is growing and knows how to respect people. I am against anyone that tells you how to dress and act, but I think that you should be respectful. It about you talking with sense without having to use profanity in every sentence you say. It is about you being to express yourself and think logically. It is about you having love and patience.

Many smart people think that you need money in order to save the youths' mind. But the what you really need is to sit down and talk with them. Begin to really understand the struggle they deal with in their mind and emotionally is what we need to do. Stop talking down on them and start supporting them. This is how we will overcome.