"Dario Mobley" wrote on 07/17/2009 08:57:40 AM:
What do you think?
NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Barack Obama had a tough-love message
for fellow African-Americans on Thursday, urging black parents to push
their children to think beyond dreams of being sports stars or rap music performers. Obama's election as the first African-American president buoyed the black community. At the 100th anniversary celebration of the NAACP, the country's oldest civil rights group, he urged blacks to take greater responsibility for themselves and move away from reliance on government programs.
"We need a new mindset, a new set of attitudes -- because one of the
most durable and destructive legacies of discrimination is the way
that we have internalized a sense of limitation; how so many in our
community have come to expect so little of ourselves," he said.
Obama told a packed ballroom at a Manhattan hotel that blacks need to
recapture the spirit of the civil rights movement of a half century
ago to tackle problems that have struck African-Americans
disproportionately -- joblessness, spiraling healthcare costs and
HIV-AIDS.
"What is required to overcome today's barriers is the same as was
needed then -- the same commitment. The same sense of urgency. The
same sense of sacrifice," he said.
Obama said parents need to force their children to set aside the video
games and get to bed at a reasonable hour, and push them to set their
sights beyond such iconic figures as NBA star LeBron James and rap
singer Lil Wayne.
Education is the path to a better future, said Obama.
"Our kids can't all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United
States," he said. Obama noted that his own life could have taken a different path, had
it not been for his mother's urgings. 'SHE TOOK NO LIP'
"That mother of mine gave me love; she pushed me, and cared about my
education," he said. "She took no lip and taught me right from wrong.
Because of her, I had a chance to make the most of my abilities. I had
the chance to make the most of my opportunities. I had the chance to
make the most of life."
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:26 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: Re:
I think its true to an extent...
See, in a middle class neighborhood...we grow up with good role models...
lower class don't. So, I think there should be a movement where you
publicize doctors teachers etc...same way we do athletes and rappers.
let them identify with someone...for the work (job) they've done, not
so much for their civil rights.
"Dario Mobley" wrote on 07/17/2009 09:36:53 AM:
I want to make sure I am understanding you clearly. What do you me by
this?
"let them identify with someone...for the work (job) they've done, not
so much for their civil rights."
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: Re:
It seems like the only leaders to identify with on a national level are political leaders...jesse jackson, tavis smiley, etc. I think they serve a purpose.
But, I think teacher, doctors, lawyers, etc. should be publicized more, that way kids without role models can see the MTV crib of a African American Lawyer or Engineer...feel me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Broderick Moses
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley, Elgin Suggs, Jarrett White, Ray Jones
Subject: Re:
I totally agree with Obama, but that is way easier said then done! If the majority of african american households allow their children to watch rap videos nonstop from the time school lets out til they go to sleep, what else are they going to aspire to? Most of the time the parents are sitting right next to the kids while they are watching the videos. As far as aspiring to be a sports star; I feel like parents should encourage their children to do the best they can at sports, but be sincerely frank with them when it comes to the actual statistics of an athlete making it all the way to Major League Baseball, the NBA or NFL. I believe that af-am parents should educate their children, who obviously have their hearts set on being the next Lebron James to always make the grade in school, get a degree in college, etc. so they always have something to fall back on if they don't make it to the pros. I think that it should start at a very early age talking about highschool and college and professional school, and how you have a very low shot at getting a good job if you don't go to school. I also feel that some children in certain environments have such heavy influences on them outside their home life that it sometimes dilutes the effect of a good mom or dad trying to instill some good morals and guidance, so in those cases the kid needs to see something they can relate to. Show them that eventhough Lil Wayne and Lebron had great success at a young age they are still very intelligent business men and they learned how to use their talents to open door after door for themselves; they must also be shown all the hundreds and thousands of artists and athletes that were great in highschool and college and didn't make it and are struggling now because they never got their education. It should go hand in hand; education and sports or education and being an artist. "If you can't commit to school and make the grade, then you miss basketball practice today", "If you can't keep your grades up then you will not be allowed to watch videos, perfom in the talent show, etc." So that the kid, throughout his life couples education with outside interests. This would take an extremely great effort from af-am families across the U.S. to even make a small improvement because it is not the kids I worry about, it's the parents that are teaching them.
B
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:26 AM
To: Dario Mobley, Elgin Suggs, Broderick Moses, Ray Jones
Subject: Re:
The sports and entertainment excuse is overused and really is just a very small part of the problem. The problem is society as a whole. We tend to identify more with sports and entertainment because blacks are prevalent in those industries. The problem is the broken family structure. One can even blame it on the "Independent Woman" factor that has snowballed overtime. In the 50's and 60's, when the family structure for all American races was intact, men were the head of the household. They took pride in raising their children and the well being of there family. Once females became more independent, which you can't blame them for, the role of the man in the household became less important. What we see now is that this phenomenon has backfired big-time. Men take less pride in the importance of raising their families. Some don't even see the relevance of the two parent household. The bad thing about this whole situation is that there is no end in sight.
From: Dario Mobley
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:39 AM
To: White, Jarrett P
Subject: RE: RE:
That is an interesting point. However, Do you think the females were forced to “do what they had to do” because of all the black men dying and going to jail from the crack epidemic?
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:39 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: RE: RE:
The crack epidemic was the late 80's. This already started. That era might have accelerated it, but such is life. You could say Vietnam played a role in the 60's and 70's.
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:44 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Cc: 'Broderick Moses'; White, Jarrett P; rjones975@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:
I think its true to an extent...
See, in a middle class neighborhood...we grow up with good role models...
lower class kids may not. So, I think there should be a movement where you publicize doctors teachers etc...same way we do athletes and rappers....in commercials for example.
It seems like the only leaders (save celebrities) to identify with on a national level are political leaders...jesse jackson, tavis smiley, etc. I think they serve a purpose.
But, I think teacher, doctors, lawyers, etc. should be publicized more, that way kids without role models can see the MTV crib of a Af-Am (borrowed from B) Optometrist, Policeman, or Engineer...
-----Original Message-----
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley
Cc: 'Broderick Moses'; Elgin Suggs; rjones975@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:
With that said, I'm part of the blame because I don't make it a point to extend myself as a role model.
What do you think?
NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Barack Obama had a tough-love message
for fellow African-Americans on Thursday, urging black parents to push
their children to think beyond dreams of being sports stars or rap music performers. Obama's election as the first African-American president buoyed the black community. At the 100th anniversary celebration of the NAACP, the country's oldest civil rights group, he urged blacks to take greater responsibility for themselves and move away from reliance on government programs.
"We need a new mindset, a new set of attitudes -- because one of the
most durable and destructive legacies of discrimination is the way
that we have internalized a sense of limitation; how so many in our
community have come to expect so little of ourselves," he said.
Obama told a packed ballroom at a Manhattan hotel that blacks need to
recapture the spirit of the civil rights movement of a half century
ago to tackle problems that have struck African-Americans
disproportionately -- joblessness, spiraling healthcare costs and
HIV-AIDS.
"What is required to overcome today's barriers is the same as was
needed then -- the same commitment. The same sense of urgency. The
same sense of sacrifice," he said.
Obama said parents need to force their children to set aside the video
games and get to bed at a reasonable hour, and push them to set their
sights beyond such iconic figures as NBA star LeBron James and rap
singer Lil Wayne.
Education is the path to a better future, said Obama.
"Our kids can't all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice. I want them aspiring to be president of the United
States," he said. Obama noted that his own life could have taken a different path, had
it not been for his mother's urgings. 'SHE TOOK NO LIP'
"That mother of mine gave me love; she pushed me, and cared about my
education," he said. "She took no lip and taught me right from wrong.
Because of her, I had a chance to make the most of my abilities. I had
the chance to make the most of my opportunities. I had the chance to
make the most of life."
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:26 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: Re:
I think its true to an extent...
See, in a middle class neighborhood...we grow up with good role models...
lower class don't. So, I think there should be a movement where you
publicize doctors teachers etc...same way we do athletes and rappers.
let them identify with someone...for the work (job) they've done, not
so much for their civil rights.
"Dario Mobley" wrote on 07/17/2009 09:36:53 AM:
I want to make sure I am understanding you clearly. What do you me by
this?
"let them identify with someone...for the work (job) they've done, not
so much for their civil rights."
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: Re:
It seems like the only leaders to identify with on a national level are political leaders...jesse jackson, tavis smiley, etc. I think they serve a purpose.
But, I think teacher, doctors, lawyers, etc. should be publicized more, that way kids without role models can see the MTV crib of a African American Lawyer or Engineer...feel me.
-----Original Message-----
From: Broderick Moses
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley, Elgin Suggs, Jarrett White, Ray Jones
Subject: Re:
I totally agree with Obama, but that is way easier said then done! If the majority of african american households allow their children to watch rap videos nonstop from the time school lets out til they go to sleep, what else are they going to aspire to? Most of the time the parents are sitting right next to the kids while they are watching the videos. As far as aspiring to be a sports star; I feel like parents should encourage their children to do the best they can at sports, but be sincerely frank with them when it comes to the actual statistics of an athlete making it all the way to Major League Baseball, the NBA or NFL. I believe that af-am parents should educate their children, who obviously have their hearts set on being the next Lebron James to always make the grade in school, get a degree in college, etc. so they always have something to fall back on if they don't make it to the pros. I think that it should start at a very early age talking about highschool and college and professional school, and how you have a very low shot at getting a good job if you don't go to school. I also feel that some children in certain environments have such heavy influences on them outside their home life that it sometimes dilutes the effect of a good mom or dad trying to instill some good morals and guidance, so in those cases the kid needs to see something they can relate to. Show them that eventhough Lil Wayne and Lebron had great success at a young age they are still very intelligent business men and they learned how to use their talents to open door after door for themselves; they must also be shown all the hundreds and thousands of artists and athletes that were great in highschool and college and didn't make it and are struggling now because they never got their education. It should go hand in hand; education and sports or education and being an artist. "If you can't commit to school and make the grade, then you miss basketball practice today", "If you can't keep your grades up then you will not be allowed to watch videos, perfom in the talent show, etc." So that the kid, throughout his life couples education with outside interests. This would take an extremely great effort from af-am families across the U.S. to even make a small improvement because it is not the kids I worry about, it's the parents that are teaching them.
B
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:26 AM
To: Dario Mobley, Elgin Suggs, Broderick Moses, Ray Jones
Subject: Re:
The sports and entertainment excuse is overused and really is just a very small part of the problem. The problem is society as a whole. We tend to identify more with sports and entertainment because blacks are prevalent in those industries. The problem is the broken family structure. One can even blame it on the "Independent Woman" factor that has snowballed overtime. In the 50's and 60's, when the family structure for all American races was intact, men were the head of the household. They took pride in raising their children and the well being of there family. Once females became more independent, which you can't blame them for, the role of the man in the household became less important. What we see now is that this phenomenon has backfired big-time. Men take less pride in the importance of raising their families. Some don't even see the relevance of the two parent household. The bad thing about this whole situation is that there is no end in sight.
From: Dario Mobley
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:39 AM
To: White, Jarrett P
Subject: RE: RE:
That is an interesting point. However, Do you think the females were forced to “do what they had to do” because of all the black men dying and going to jail from the crack epidemic?
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:39 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Subject: RE: RE:
The crack epidemic was the late 80's. This already started. That era might have accelerated it, but such is life. You could say Vietnam played a role in the 60's and 70's.
-----Original Message-----
From: Elgin E Suggs
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 10:44 AM
To: Dario Mobley
Cc: 'Broderick Moses'; White, Jarrett P; rjones975@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:
I think its true to an extent...
See, in a middle class neighborhood...we grow up with good role models...
lower class kids may not. So, I think there should be a movement where you publicize doctors teachers etc...same way we do athletes and rappers....in commercials for example.
It seems like the only leaders (save celebrities) to identify with on a national level are political leaders...jesse jackson, tavis smiley, etc. I think they serve a purpose.
But, I think teacher, doctors, lawyers, etc. should be publicized more, that way kids without role models can see the MTV crib of a Af-Am (borrowed from B) Optometrist, Policeman, or Engineer...
-----Original Message-----
From: Jarrett White
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009
To: Dario Mobley
Cc: 'Broderick Moses'; Elgin Suggs; rjones975@yahoo.com
Subject: Re:
With that said, I'm part of the blame because I don't make it a point to extend myself as a role model.
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:23:45 -0700
From: Ray Jones
To: Elgin Suggs, Dario Mobley, Jarrett White, Broderick Moses
Everyone made some really good points especially the "independent woman" response. I totally agree with Obama it's like we don't have a sense of urgency. What is it gonna take for us to unite as a people. I don't think people realize that just 45 years ago it was legal to discriminate against us. It had to be signed into law to be treated fair, like a US citizen. Just like they gave it, it could be taken away. Is it gonna take for us to be in that position to get it together. > > I don't have problem with putting atheletes or rappers on a pedestal but I do have problem with not glorifying teachers, doctors, lawyers etc. And to piggy back on Elgin's idea, not only should there be a movement to glorify the people in those aforementioned fields but the story of their grind to make it where they are should be told also (atheletes & artist included). To show our young that it takes hard work, dedication, and determination to be successful. > > Now to touch on that independent woman point, I think that's a mindset that the media/society/the white man (lol) have programmer into our females heads to destroy the black families. Not the fact that they are indepent (I promote indepence), but the mindset that comes with independence i.e., "I got my own money.", "I don't need no man." and so on. I Believe that mindset causes more women to give up on their mariages faster than let's say two decades ago. It also results in our black women trying to "be the boss" of the household. I'm drifting a little but that's one of many factors destroying our families.
FIVEAUX
Date: Jul 20, 2009, at 9:53 AM
From: Broderick Moses
To: Elgin Suggs, Dario Mobley, Jarrett White, Ray Jones
Well fellas, I think that what Ray and Elgin are talking about is a good idea. Maybe we should think about trying to organize an effort like that one. An effort that highlights the lives and paths of african american professionals. It can be a small scale effort at first, (myspace page, facebook page, etc. each month that has a different african american professional highlighted for the internet world to read about; it may lead to a bigger audience later). Just an idea.
B
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 2009
From: Ray Jones
To: Elgin Suggs, Jarrett White, Broderick Moses, Dario Mobley
That's a good idea we need to get together on that. BET had two small segments similar to what we are talking about during the awards
FIVEAUX
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