Why in the hell do young inner city black males know who 50 Cent is, but don't know who W.E.B. DuBois is?

There was a time when African-Americans would lay down their lives to overcome the persecution of racial injustice and prejudice in America. Each generation worked hard to make sure that future generations had more opportunities than the ones before. In particular, inner city America was made up of close knit African-American families, who each had the other's back, and "black on black" crime was at all time lows. In the past, education was believed by many African-Americans, to be the foundation to achieving "the advancement of colored people."

Fast forward to present time, and the state of inner city America. Young black males seem more concerned with being "thugs," selling drugs, and killing each other, rather than doing anything constructive with their lives. Murder in the inner city has reached record highs, and young men are finding refuge in street gangs. Instead of learning from the writings of prominent African-American scholars like W.E.B. DuBois and Carter G. Woodson, and from community leaders, many of these young men learn from the writings of 50 Cent, Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, and others who perpetuate misogyny and violence amongst those in the urban African-American community. They walk around with their pants hanging around the bottom of their asses and showing their underwear, like they're saying something.

Listen up "thugs!" Pull your damn pants up, learn your history (and not rap lyrics), educate yourselves, and become productive members of your communities. Be kind to your fellow "black" man, be good fathers, and respect women (especially your mothers)!

3 Comments to Why in the hell do young inner city black males know who 50 Cent is, but don't know who W.E.B. DuBois is?:

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LaTonda on Monday, April 11, 2011 1:16 AM

Amen to this! You speak the truth. As parents, we need to first teach our children that there were great African-American scholars, as well as educators, scientists, leaders, business people, entrepreneurs, inventors, writers, poets, etc. so that they know our history. Each generation seems to know less and less about our struggles and our successes. The schools are certainly not teaching them, so the responsibility lies with us. If someone took the time to expose them to the great scholarly writings you mentioned, or even those of the brilliant minds of our present, they would find positive inspiration instead of negative influences. As parents, we need to plant good seeds in the minds of our children, such as a love of learning and reading, respect for themselves and each other, and the belief that their destiny is far beyond a street corner. It's never too late to start. Great words Mr. Worthington!

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Joelle Valente on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 6:44 PM

It baffles me to see a percentage of the new generation taking a step backward instead of forward. They will unfortunately regret it when they have to become the new role models that the next generation is depending on!! Bravo to you, Michael, for shining a light on this tragic issue!!

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Maureen on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 9:38 AM

In today's world you have good parents and then you have the "friend" parents. That is part of the problem, respect and morals begins at home. If the parents are "street", the child/ren will be the same way. Majority of the rap music today is pure garbage. The sad thing is that our youth want to make this fast money or become a overnight celebrity, instead of working hard and appreciating what they have. There are a small percentage of young men that step up to the plate and taking their position as a brother, father and son. The fashion of today with the drooping pants is a disgrace. I call the young men with drooping pants "penguins" by the way they walk. They don't realize that they are making their legs work harder by trying to keep their pants up. By the time they get old, they will have hip problems. And the language young people talk gives me a headache and my brain shuts down. What ever happened to "each one, teach one".

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