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Young people need to act more like role models

By on February 15, 2010 1:40 am in Columns / 13 comments

 
Young people need to act more like role models
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She wants to be the best you ever had, to be licked like a lollipop, to blame it on the alcohol and, yet, she’s caught up in a bad romance.

She complains that there aren’t any good men out there to take her on a date. But she “ain’t a gold digger.”

On the other hand, he wants to make a “milli,” have every girl in the world, be independent and not have 99 problems.

Yet, he can’t seem to find a way to accomplish any of these things successfully and ponders over his ideal lifestyle.

Something is wrong with this picture.

The music — which some of these famous lyrics are from — that we enjoy to stuff our ears with may be appealing, but the subconscious messages that we don’t pick up seem to deteriorate our minds and demoralize our values as a youth.

Our music doesn’t really have any meaning to it. It seems as if our generation has taken our feet off the gas after it took decades just to get the black movement in motion.

We gleefully honor the legacy of our Civil Rights leaders, but we don’t make strong efforts to continue their legacy.

We also need our own chapter in history.

Our people have been lynched, raped and murdered for our freedom since we’ve been on this land and yet we think that the struggle is finally over.

The battle is far from over.

Black people are still starving, living homeless, dropping out of school, selling drugs and ending up in prison.

We still have to fix this perpetual problem. Just because we have a black president doesn’t mean he can fix all of black America’s problems.

Televisions stations such as BET, MTV and VH1 continue to portray fellow male artists as thugs and hoodlums and females as sex objects.

Rather than correcting this problem, we embrace it and emulate these lifestyles at all costs.

They can’t go to jail for influencing crimes to a beat, but you can go to jail for committing those crimes.

That’s one reason why our brothers are in prison instead of in the classrooms and our sisters are tantalizing our brothers with their flesh in search for love and affection.

This isn’t everybody, but it’s a major problem.

The artists can’t be entirely at fault.

Some want to put out good music, but the record companies don’t promote it.

The more obscene lyrics, the more records that sell.

Once we let go of the influence of the media and re-evaluate our values, then maybe some of our problems can finally be resolved.

If we are going to continue to prosper as a whole, we need strong leaders who can think for themselves.

We need to tell our peers to pick up a book and sign off Facebook.

I’m sure nobody wants to live in poor conditions their entire life, so why glorify it in what you listen to?

Remember, you have a generation after you to set a path for.

 

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  • Student

    Why does CM-life continue to let this timbankful character leave racist messages on every story he feels necessary? For those who don’t leave comments, it should be known that comments require moderator approval, meaning someone at CM-Life finds a comment like the one above entirely appropriate. I’m all about freedom of speech, but the trash I’ve seen this bigot leave on here is rude, tasteless, and offers absolutely no legitimate content or thought.

    The sad part is timbankful uses the internet as a safety device. It’s obvious that he wouldn’t say such a rude thing in person to this reporter. However, since he can hide behind his the comment box he has no problem making ridiculous statements, partly due to the lack of discretion from CM-Life’s moderators. Shame on both of you.

    With that said, I enjoyed the article, James.

  • Lloyd Duke

    I am not entirely sure what Lady Gaga has to do with this. “Bad Romance” does not promote a “thug” lifestyle. It’s just about wanting some and getting some, which for a 23 year old isn’t that abnormal.

    Also, how did you not mention Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok”? It is possible the most offensive song on the radio right now, and it is the number one song and album in the nation. And it’s not even parental advisory. What does this say about America’s youth?

    Finally, there is nothing wrong with listening rap music. Or any offensive music in general, for that matter. People should be smart enough to know that the image put on by artists is usually a facade and should not be emulated. I listen to Slayer, Wu-Tang Clan, Minor Threat and Mos Def, but I am not a nuclear weapon wielding thug who hates the government.

    The artists are not to blame, just the ignorance of human beings.

  • timbankful

    Hey student! I have a first amendment right to free speech! Which I will once again exercise. I am tired of self-righteous minorities and (their guilty white followers) condemning the white culture in all its diversity. If you criticize black etc culture “OR OPINIONS” they scream racism as they unfurl their diversity flag. Get a clue moron. Get a clue.

    Hey, Mr. Falls. The black culture is broken because of the policy implementation of the Democrat party not technology. The black culture is broken because of RACISM, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM.

  • Phil

    The First Amendment only protects your free speech from the government. CM Life or any commenter can you tell you to shut up all they want.

  • Rob Hayes

    “The black culture is broken because of RACISM, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM.”

    hmmm…all of which is attributed to poverty, is it not? Do not think for a second, Timbankful, that these are vexes reserved only for minorities in America. I know plenty of my white peers who also suffer from the disease of racism, engage in sexual promiscuity, and use drugs and alcohol as their release from the real world. To assume that the “black culture” is the sole perpetrator of these acts is either ignorance or blind hatred. Which is it?

    Also, how dare you presume that if a white person sympathizes with the progression of minorities in society that they are doing so only out of guilt. I am an American, and I would feel the need to assist those in need REGARDLESS of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political ideology, class, etc…

    I hope you find your way soon, because our generation is going to continue to progress with or without you.

  • Jim O’Bryan

    http://www.hockeydrunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/history_of_black_music.jpg

    Face it, there are ignorant people of all races. I’m not too proud of the white community’s musical advancements either, but we all have to realize we live in an “idiocracy” (check out the movie) and our lives are just entertainment and advertisement filled. Our (western) culture portrays an image of defiling women and spending money; then women buy into the image that they are objects by buying plastic surgery and cosmetics to look as “unhuman” as possible. Then men treat women like the objects they want to be. Men get off on being dominant, women apparently find it ok to dehumanize themselves to be accepted by men. There is hope though, because we all share the same traits: we are become complacent consumers who read less and are less educated, and that is quite alright by us, as seen in our music, our movies, and in our entertainment filled lives.

  • Jill

    Jim, I LOVE that movie it is supposed to be set in the future but it resembles the present. It is a funny satire but also SCARY.

  • Jim O’Bryan

    Jill, thanks =D
    I think it says wonders about our culture. It doesn’t even bring music or movies into it, but you can only imagine what kind of noise would be peddled for music then. My favorite line is when they walk into the huge super store and the greeter says, “Welcome to CostCo, I love you. Welcome to CostCo, I love you. Welcome to CostCo, I love you….” To all the people walking in.

  • Rob Hayes

    Quit kidding yourself, you haven’t found your way. With as many anger and hate problems that you obviously have, you clearly need professional help, so I suggest you get some.

  • Timbucktu

    “Our people have been lynched, raped and murdered for our freedom since we’ve been on this land and yet we think that the struggle is finally over.”

    If you mean “our people” as AMERICANS…remember Nathan Hale! “I regret that I have but one life to give for my COUNTRY (not race, or gender, or any other such subset of AMERICANS)

    I dream of a day when ALL people will be judged on the content of their character, not by the color of their skin….whether that is black, white, red, yellow, or any shade in between!

  • Buddha

    You people get so uptight on this thing – It’s so funny. Imagine when actually get out a little bit and learn things outside of CM-Life…your brain just may explode.

  • Timbucktu

    Last time I checked, “buddha”, we are all people. Why the artificial barriers and racism? Just who are the “you people” to whom you refer?

    If you think of yourself as “the enlightened one” or “awakened one”, as your nickname implies, I suggest that you are suffering in your ignorance

  • Buddha

    Ok Timbucktu-
    Have a good night on cm-life.com !