Giving War a Chance
I admire people like Errol Lewis, who, in this piece, calls on black leaders to conduct a culture war within the black community against counterproductive attitudes that retard black progress. It's brave, because he's arraying himself against the likes of Jesse Jackson -- the perpetual big-mouthed "poverty pimps" who couldn't care less about the plight of their people, so long as they themselves remain "influential" and well-to-do.
Here's Lewis' call to arms:
Specifically, we need aggressive, concerted action by members and institutions of the respectable black middle class to do open combat against the rise of an ancient enemy: a bold, seductive street culture that exalts lawlessness, addiction and anti-family behavior like pimping, sexual promiscuity, ignorance and personal selfishness.
And for those who think this is just a "black" problem, it's worth noting that many of the attitudes and poses popularized by rap music and street culture spread far afield; even today, they are hardly restricted to the African-American community.
Here's Lewis' call to arms:
Specifically, we need aggressive, concerted action by members and institutions of the respectable black middle class to do open combat against the rise of an ancient enemy: a bold, seductive street culture that exalts lawlessness, addiction and anti-family behavior like pimping, sexual promiscuity, ignorance and personal selfishness.
And for those who think this is just a "black" problem, it's worth noting that many of the attitudes and poses popularized by rap music and street culture spread far afield; even today, they are hardly restricted to the African-American community.
posted by LadybugUSA at 8:39 AM
2 Comments:
Anyone heeding Lewis’s call faces an uphill fight. White liberals and the black leaders covered by the mainstream media will cry “victim-bashing.” The truth, however, is that blacks are most often victims of our own attitudes, not of racism. A culture war is what we need, but it would be long and difficult. Frankly, I’m not sure it would be won.
Fear of losing the war isn't always reason to avoid it. This type of war will of course be a long one. But the cost of not fighting is already being realized. I can handle attacks on my motivations, as faith and religion are often berated by those on the other side of the culture war. Yet, it's a fight that needs to be waged, not only within the black community, but within the borders of this nation.
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