In this world of infinite possibilities, there exists a place labeled as the ghetto. It’s a place where young boys & girls, men & women are educated in every conceivable lesson on being cool, being in love, having sex, hustling and having swag but are kept ignorant of the way the larger world works. Too few in our inner cities are giving instruction on how to graduate from high school in position for an academic scholarship, how to network with people of success, how to delay gratification in order to provide the opportunity for their best future. After my article about young adults having children too soon I was made aware of the video of a 2-year old boy in Omaha, Nebraska cursing like a full grown adult. The video exemplifies all that is wrong in the ghetto.
Many people have weighed in and given opinions about the child, the mother and even the legality of the video being exposed in the first place. As usual I come from the standpoint of a “Cycle Breaker.” Remember a “Cycle Breaker” is a person who identifies a negative situation in their own life or the community and makes the decision to change that negative situation. Here is my “Cycle Breaker” analysis of the 2-year Nebraska boy.
Some Behaviors Are Learned Only in the Ghetto.
The video of this 2-year old boy being prompted to curse is really sad, however, I am not surprised. Growing up in East Cleveland and spending a lot of time in Cleveland I have seen this video play out in real life many times. After watching the video I was promoted to call a friend of mine to ask if he remembered this type of activity while we were growing up. His answer was yes and we recalled many situations were older kids would prompt younger kids to curse but the difference was that the prompters were kids also.
The video of the Nebraska boy is just a small view into what is taught and learned in the “ghettos” across America. Cursing, drug dealing, stealing, sexual activity and more are taught in “Ghetto College.” Old G’s pride themselves on “schooling” the young people on how to make money and survive in the hood. The problem is that no one is teaching about success, the value of education or the honor of being disciplined.
When You Know Better You Must Do Better and Become a “Cycle Breaker”
This situation is beyond embarrassing for the family because, as a Judge, I know that criminal charges could be a result of it. However, the video presents an opportunity for us to be Cycle Breakers! Now that this video has gotten our attention, what can we learn from this sad situation? First, parents must be aware and protective of who is around their kids. This mother, though she claimed that she is a good mother, allowed her young boy to be surrounded by adults who found entertainment in provoking him to cursing and violence. Second, parents must do everything that is necessary to create an environment of success. This same mother was recently in trouble with the law when a fight broke out at her home. Police officers were called to the scene. Fifteen people were arrested and several guns were found in her home. So while we were shocked as the world watched the viral video of her son cursing, imagine what could have happened if this same child found one of the several guns in the home. In 2014 we have to do better. In the past, when neighborhood kids found entertainment in making younger kids curse, there was enough of a strong family structure in place to counteract the negativity from these actions. When the Old G’s were telling the youth about the value of hustling and surviving in the street there was enough of a strong family structure in place to counteract that negative advice. Today the family structure is disappearing. Many homes consist of single mothers who are working more than one job or in school trying to make a better life for their children. The ability to counteract every negative influence that our children face is challenging but you have to do it. It’s the price you pay for the decision to be a parent. Today parents know that cursing kids most likely turn in to juvenile delinquents who turn into young adults in jail, who turn into adults in prison. We know better so we must do better.
For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court. East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
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