Sharpton Wants More Black Politicians (Decries Gangsterism)

[RamboLiberal]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SHARPTON_BLACK_LEADERS?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-08-17-22-38-24

Many black youths fall under a spell of "gangster mentality," preventing them from becoming leaders and making a positive impact in politics, the Rev. Al Sharpton said.

The civil rights activist faulted Hollywood and the record industry for making "gangsterism" seem cool and acceptable.

"We have got to get out of this gangster mentality, acting as if gangsterism and blackness are synonymous," Sharpton said Thursday at the annual conference of the National Association of Black Journalists.

"I think we've allowed a whole generation of young people to feel that if they're focused, they're not black enough. If they speak well and act well, they're acting white, and there's nothing more racist than that."

The key to leadership is taking the initiative to change things, said Sharpton. He said his National Action Network is just one group willing to help young black leaders get into politics.

[Alacrat]

1. Good for AL, but he should have said it sooner and more often

Bill Cosby has been saying this and been criticized for it, when he should have been defended. This keep it real mentality has cost many lives, and destroyed many more, through incarceration, illiteracy and poverty. Stick to this message, and don't back off. I'm proud of Al, and hope he keeps it up, we can't afford to lose any more of our youth to this mind set.

[qanda]

2. Oh, give me a break!!!!!

He's not saying anything that any responsible black person hasn't been saying for years. What Cosby did was try to equate being poor with being a thug. He was acting like the majority of poor black people have chosen their circumstances. Some of what Cosby was saying *was* well received, it was when he started talking crazy that black leaders and people *correctly* called him on his crap.

[dionysus]

3. "gangsterism" isn't confined to just black kids either

in the middle class white suburbs out here, the "gangster" way dress and speak is prevalent. It used to be just high school kids but you'll even find people in their 20's dressing and speaking like kids from the inner city.

it makes me wonder what happens when they need to do job interviews and stuff... this is the next generation, wtf...

[FormerDem06]

4. A kid was beaten up in a local middle school for getting A's

by a bunch of his "gansta friends". His mom says he gets Cs now and they leave him alone. She's trying to get him moved to a new school so he doesn't feel discouraged to excel and go to college.

It's a mess really, but the poster above is right, now white and hispanic and asian kids are all doing the same thing.

[dionysus]

5. i had my own "gangsta" phase back in 92

when the gangsta rap first came out. it lasted like 6 months.

but today it's like a total immersion in that "culture", the most astonishing part to me is how these kids learn gangster speak until it is so ingrained thats how they talk, and they can't snap out of it.

hopefully it's just a fad that goes away eventually

[RamboLiberal]

7. I've been waiting a long time for it to go away

Sharpton's right - it's gotta start from within but it sure could use some help. I live in the Mon Valley area of Pittsburgh (area where steel mills and other industry once flourished). I took a ride last night in an area of my city where I haven't been for awhile. I despaired as I saw all the boarded up and unboarded vacant homes that should either be fixed up or torn down for new affordable housing. But the city where I live lacks the money for this. Lord knows the new mayor is busting his butt to get the city cleaned up but he only has so much money and not much of a tax base.

Across the river from me the Duquesne school district is falling apart. Teachers are leaving in droves. They had to go to the Pittsburgh school district (which isn't even that close to Duquesne) to even survive and teach the children in the community for another year.

Meanwhile Bushie is pouring billions in to that blackhole called Iraq and to the f'ing defense industry.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Yep and what I find troubling with many young men and some

young women is this idea that if someone "disses" or "disrespects" you, then you have to blow them away with a gun.

Anyone notice the crime rate is going up, many young people here are not employed, learning is dissed, etc?

Nope, Bush is too f'ing busy talking about the Iraqi people this and the Iraqi people that, and I'm protecting the 'merican people from terrorists, etc while a whole generation sees their future as death or a jail cell.