The Search for Thugs

I find many of these comments disturbing because I see that we as a HUMAN race are focusing on unnecessary issues as opposed to reaching out to one another. There are countless individuals, and especially children, of every race that need nurturing and love. It is our responsibility to reach out and make a difference for as many people as we can. This divisiveness is counterproductive and will help no one. There is degradation, self-loathing and intolerance in every ethnicity. Let's encourage an end to that! That is something worth championing for - across all 'groups' - not just our own. Our responsibility is not just to our 'own people', but to all people! I choose to love and admire the positive aspects of all people, with the understanding that we all have a purpose to fulfill. I choose for my purpose to be impactful. I choose to love.

When Dr. King decided it was time for our voices to be heard, he did not waste time making excuses or blaming someone else for our own destruction. We need to take a good look at ourselves and take responsibility. My parents raised seven children in the stereo type "ghetto", and decided that if they wanted to change the outlook for their children, they had to remove the mentality from our thinking that the "ghetto" is all there is. If we continue to degrade, attack, victimize our own, how do you expect others to respond????????

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And your never ending blame on someone else nonsence just goes to show me how stupid you people really are...while you have a gun in someones back because your too stupid to earn something for yourself.

In the hood where i meet these 3rd grade mentalities? Yea if you call in malls, on buses, downtown, in bussinesses, at work.....the truth hurts don't it? Educate yourself out of your stupidity.

again..your missing the point.."in proportion to your race" another uneducated idiot succuming to primate emotionalism...as stated again...all races do the same things...pointing out two whites doesn't prove anything other than your just another uneducated numskull trying to defend your barbaric stupidity. Please your draining the gene pool...get fixed. I KNOW WHAT I SEE IN REAL LIFE....NOTHING SUPERCEDES THAT...SO DON'T GET YOUR DIAPERS IN A UPROAR..ANY QUESTIONS??

well theQ you must be in the hood bying drugs when you encounter all these 3rd grade educated people. blacks are naturally loud people but when you have a predetermination to hear every comment that is made in public by blacks then of course you would have the opinion you have...what about john belushi!!!what about chris farly!!! when you get your degree in african american studies then please open your mouth and say something intelligent

IF THE SHOE FITS WEAR IT!!

It's certainly out of contol, and media doesn't make it any better. Everybody has a little part or a larger part in it. I personally do not see anything glamorous or productive about being protrayed as a thug, or gangster, or a violent person. To often most of it seems to lead to death, jail, or permanent serious injuries, and disabilities. Not to mention the wasted talents,creative abilities and discoveries that our young men once had. Our communities suffer for it. Every family has to make a conscious effort to train our young men to stay from these kind of mental mindsets and behaviors. With Damned and incorrect Videos,Movies,Films,
Songs,etc, our destiny is tied into how we shape our communities, and not let someone define who we are ourselves. Till @12/27/2007 3:13 am

Just look in the media of entertainment and you will see the images of young black men being portrayed as thugs. Honestly, you can't tell me that they don't do it on purpose! Look at rap videos that glorify the use of guns and flashing large sums of cash and their sports cars and jewelry and woman who are viewed as their personal property for sex. The woman don't help themselves either by allowing themselves to be portrayed this way. There is too much emphasis on materialistic values in America's culture. We need to start placing the emphasis on getting a good education in high school and move into college and pursue a degree. American families need to spend more time around the dinner table at dinner time getting to know each other. Parents need to hold themselves accountable for the raising of their children with good values and discipline, i.e. no more of your pathetic excuses. Parents need to get off the couch, turn off the T.V. and engage themselves in their childrens lives.

Parents are allowing their children to carry on this b/s. Not stereotypes perpetuated by the media etc. Stereotype is defined as a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group. Nothing negative there. The problem is when you take a stereotype and apply it to everyone. Truth: Some black people eat chicken - Stereotype: All black people eat chicken. Truth: there are some thugs in the black community - Stereotype: the black community is made up of thugs. So, if we concentrate on getting "some thugs" out of our community, then the stereotype should disappear.

Last year, a high school kid in Chicago Blair Holt was killed by another teenage boy. A gang banger that his mother said, "Was a good boy that fell into the wrong crowd." Not sure about you, but good and gun don't really go hand in hand. At the end of the day, we need to take responsibilty for our selves and our children. We need to stop making excuses and actually do something about the problems in our community. The change has to start at home...

It makes me sick that this article has so many good points but still misses the point. I'm sorry but if you have to plead down from an aggravated assault charge, then to me your a thug. I can understand that you can be reformed, which is a whole other topic of its own. As for the rest of the article, it makes a point that is very true. I feel like the black upper middle class this the bastard child to this culture of Black debauchery. Peer pressure in my neighbor hood, was to be something, like get a college degree, and move along. That's what all us little Black kids did. But it seems to me that getting an education isn't a priority to anyone, Black or White. Once the athletic dream is gone, what are you let with??? I wish more people would stand up and say enough is enough. I think much of the sexualization of Black women needs to get turned on its head. No one will care, because If men believe that women think its cool and sexy, then it's ok. It soesn't seem to me that anyone (women) are saying no don't do that, on a large scale. We as Black women need to step up and say that's not cute. I want YOU to do and be more for me. I'm not a toy nor am I a playground. Respect me first, then I MAY POSSIBLY respect you. Maybe that will shake some stuff up.

2 FACTS 2 KNOW

#1. ???In perusing the annals of America???s Historical text and media offerings, it is readily apparent that America is conspiratorially willing to minimize the true lasting effectual stain of Racism on the Mind, Body and Soul of those subjugated to it???s debilitating grasp???.

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#2. ???As an African-American surveying the vastness of the entity which constitutes the African-American community, a most troubling ascertainment is the lack of commitment of our young to the continual pursuit of greatness. Which has been a constant in our painful yet purposeful navigation through American Society???.