This Isn't About Black...or Any Race

[the real grad88]

Dodge has a real struggle on his hands. It's a battle for the culture of the team. Dodge wants to prepare young men for a successful life of work and citizenship, and the current hip-hop culture, I'm afraid, does just the opposite. Kids must learn how to talk and how to dress in the professional world. This is college, it's isn't a dance or a party. I was a little worried about this with his coming from SLC...a very different culture that what is in vogue now among youth. I teach at a community college, and I and other instructors are shocked every day by the behavior, standards of dress and mannerisms of many of todays young people. If this ship does not correct its course, I truly fear for the future of our nation.

Don't tell me this is no different than the hippie generation. The hippies still performed academically in school and got an intellectual foundation for life. They eventually cut their long hair and put on suits and got busy running the country...they even made it to the white house! This generation of young people is different. The hip hop culture loathes academic performance and works against it...slacking is in! Sadly to say, it shows in their intellectual ability (or lack thereof as well).

[UNT_92_Fan]

[DeepGreen]

Dodge has a real struggle on his hands. It's a battle for the culture of the team. Dodge wants to prepare young men for a successful life of work and citizenship, and the current hip-hop culture, I'm afraid, does just the opposite. Kids must learn how to talk and how to dress in the professional world. This is college, it's isn't a dance or a party. I was a little worried about this with his coming from SLC...a very different culture that what is in vogue now among youth. I teach at a community college, and I and other instructors are shocked every day by the behavior, standards of dress and mannerisms of many of todays young people. If this ship does not correct its course, I truly fear for the future of our nation.

Don't tell me this is no different than the hippie generation. The hippies still performed academically in school and got an intellectual foundation for life. They eventually cut their long hair and put on suits and got busy running the country...they even made it to the white house! This generation of young people is different. The hip hop culture loathes academic performance and works against it...slacking is in! Sadly to say, it shows in their intellectual ability (or lack thereof as well).

I'm probably older than many on this board, so it's hard for me to relate to what is going on with the youth of today. I see this "hip-hop" culture as a cancer that is hurting this country's youth. You can label it the "Dumbing Down of American". No morals, no respect, no dignity, and certainly no future. Pretty much the same as a 3rd world country.

[edcollopy]

These kids need to go in the military or get a job. Anytime you have someone paying your bills, you have to abide by their rules. If he tells you to turn your hat around then turn it around. If he tells you to wipe your ass 3 x instead of 2 x...you go for that extra wipe. I grew up getting my hat slapped off my head anytime it wasn't sitting properly. Too many of these kids have never been told no....guess what....you've got a long life ahead of you and someone will be telling you what to do every step of the way. If you don't like it...go live under a bridge and beg for money.

Read it and print it boys...it's the truth.

[Green Lantern]

Funny.

[MeanMag]

Dodge has a real struggle on his hands. It's a battle for the culture of the team. Dodge wants to prepare young men for a successful life of work and citizenship, and the current hip-hop culture, I'm afraid, does just the opposite. Kids must learn how to talk and how to dress in the professional world. This is college, it's isn't a dance or a party. I was a little worried about this with his coming from SLC...a very different culture that what is in vogue now among youth. I teach at a community college, and I and other instructors are shocked every day by the behavior, standards of dress and mannerisms of many of todays young people. If this ship does not correct its course, I truly fear for the future of our nation.

Don't tell me this is no different than the hippie generation. The hippies still performed academically in school and got an intellectual foundation for life. They eventually cut their long hair and put on suits and got busy running the country...they even made it to the white house! This generation of young people is different. The hip hop culture loathes academic performance and works against it...slacking is in! Sadly to say, it shows in their intellectual ability (or lack thereof as well).

This is no different than the hippie generation. This generation, like the hippie generation will figure out that they will eventually have to cut their hair and act right to make it. That hippie in the white house sure did perform in school and has a great academic foundation...

Old guys...

[the real grad88]

This is no different than the hippie generation. This generation, like the hippie generation will figure out that they will eventually have to cut their hair and act right to make it. That hippie in the white house sure did perform in school and has a great academic foundation...

Old guys...

No sir, I beg to differ, with all due respect of course. I teach this young generation in college, and it is NOT the same. The hippie generation still learned and performed academically. They learned how to read and write at a level needed to be professionals and leaders some day, even though they wore clothes and hair that made their parents do a double-take. It's not just about clothing preferences or music, it's about the attitude they have toward learning and common respect. You can put off offensive mannerisms, but you can't just make up for a lack of learning basic academic skills over night. Hip-hop culture is destroying the intellectual foundation of our youth. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING, period and their culture shuns learning and rewards SLACKING. Social psychologists are studying this trend, and it ain't pretty. We have an entire generation of young men who ARE NOT going to be able to participate in normal society much less get professional jobs. My classes are 70% young women. Do you know why? Because the guys are hanging out with their buds because they never learned to read in school!

[untbowler]

HAHA!!!! You gotta love a Social Welfare state rewards laziness and popping out babies.

Screw the middle class tax them to pay for the poor.

Until that changes society will just continue to need government welfare more and more.

Personal responsibility is a thing of the past for a majority of society now days.

...... Sorry for the rant...... For the record I can not stand Democrats or Republicans or Green or other political affiliations.

[emmitt01]

Is it really such a stretch Justin? Let's take a look at the most popular, influential rappers of today...at least as far as album sales.

Young Jeezy

Jay-Z

Lil' Wayne

Plies

T.I.

The list goes on.

What's the common denominator? There is virtually a "recipe" for success built into every one of their albums and it goes a little something like this:

1)Begin life as a dope dealer (preferably crack)

2)Hone your rap skills.

3)Sign a record deal.

4)Rap about your life as a dope dealer.

5)MAKE MONEY

I capitalized the last part because that's the portion of the lifestyle that draws in youth. The logical fallacy that a life of being a thug will somehow lead to a life of lavishness is never called on the carpet. Instead we have a generation of young people putting $20,000 rims on $5,000 cars. And it's not a black thing. Or a white thing. It's an ignorance thing. And let me pre-empt the counter argument that I am sure many of you are just itching to begin typing out. No, rapping about murder, dope sales and being a hooligan does not cause listeners to do the afforementioned activities. I listen to rap music and make my living incarcerating those who participate in this lifestyle. But ask yourself the more pertinent question. As a youth growing up in a situation where you do not have a silver spoon in your mouth what is your first instinct? To rise up, is it not? And where do you turn for inspiration? Role models (or lack thereof). If your favorite rapper, your favorite athlete, your favorite actor/actress wear baggy jeans, oversized t-shirts and platinum chains what are you going to aspire to attain? And how will you get it? It would seem that the vacuum left by Dr. King and his generation has been filled by A.I. and Jay-Z. So your way out is sports or dope...or so it would appear. Will Smith bragged about his ability to sell records without cursing...and it landed him in the midst of a cacophony of "sell out" and "white" labels cast upon him by other persons of color (and Eminem who has profited from affecting the assumed mannerisms of persons of color).

So, yes, hip hop culture does bear discussing in a relevant conversation about the possible chasm that exists between Coach Dodge's world view and that of one of his athletes. Though it does not, in any form or fashion, imply racist undertones or motives on Dodge's part.

Edited November 2, 2007 by emmitt01

[Eagle1855]

great post, Emmitt.

[MeanMag]

No sir, I beg to differ, with all due respect of course. I teach this young generation in college, and it is NOT the same. The hippie generation still learned and performed academically. They learned how to read and write at a level needed to be professionals and leaders some day, even though they wore clothes and hair that made their parents do a double-take. It's not just about clothing preferences or music, it's about the attitude they have toward learning and common respect. You can put off offensive mannerisms, but you can't just make up for a lack of learning basic academic skills over night. Hip-hop culture is destroying the intellectual foundation of our youth. THEY ARE NOT LEARNING, period and their culture shuns learning and rewards SLACKING. Social psychologists are studying this trend, and it ain't pretty. We have an entire generation of young men who ARE NOT going to be able to participate in normal society much less get professional jobs. My classes are 70% young women. Do you know why? Because the guys are hanging out with their buds because they never learned to read in school!

You didn't teach in the hippie generation, so how in the world can you compare them? In the hippie generation you were probably the young guy and as such, are assuming that is what was true for you then was true for the whole.

With respect to what you are doing, I think that you still assume that what you see in your job as a CC teacher is true across all academic institutions, and it's plain wrong. You aren't going to find tomorrows leaders in a C.C. unless they are transferring out In my opinion. There will be a 'coming to jesus' for the homeboys that don't want to do anything but hang with their buds. Just like there was back then.

Edited November 2, 2007 by MeanMag

[flyeater]

The Southlake Carroll card really doesn't hold up. Many, many of their players listen to hip-hop and probably wear baggy pants and sideways hats when not in the locker room or around the coaches. I eat and entertain in Southlake all the time, and you see white (or even black) Carroll kids looking like Jay-Z, Eminem or Vanilla Ice (God help us never hear from him again). Some are athletes, some aren't. They do what they do on their own time, but at school or in a particular school activity, the teacher/coach sets the rules of decorum. This is not some kind of hip-hop culture clash, as Green/Chatman want us to believe. It comes down to the expectations of authority figures in/on their class/field/arena/time. It's not a Carroll thing. It's a UNT, Carroll, Fossil Ridge, Haltom, wherever else thing.

Pretty disgusting to hear those guys complain about a hat policy. Apparently how they wear their hat is more important than winning games. Gotta luv Dominique out in the driveway with his Caddy on the cell phone. What a bullshit, phony playa wannabe.

Don't give in, coach.

[GreenBat]

Pull Your Pants Up Man

Green needs to follow Dooney da Priest!!

[GreenMachine]

And it's not a black thing. Or a white thing. It's an ignorance thing.

Emmitt, you are a brilliant man.

[the real grad88]

You didn't teach in the hippie generation, so how in the world can you compare them? In the hippie generation you were probably the young guy and as such, are assuming that is what was true for you then was true for the whole.

With respect to what you are doing, I think that you still assume that what you see in your job as a CC teacher is true across all academic institutions, and it's plain wrong. You aren't going to find tomorrows leaders in a C.C. unless they are transferring out In my opinion. There will be a 'coming to jesus' for the homeboys that don't want to do anything but hang with their buds. Just like there was back then.

Community colleges ARE seeing a good representation of today's youth. With the cost of tuition, most middle class kids are coming to the JC first and then transferring to the university. I think if you would hear the profs at UNT talking amongst themselves, you would hear the same thing. When you go to higher ed conferences, you get an ear-full, I can tell you. We are worried about the future of this nation, my friend.

No, I did not teach the hippie generation, but it is obvious that they learned their academics, or they could not be doing the things and occupying the roles in society that they do, without intellectual ability. I am telling you that my 6th grade son reads better than most of the young men I have had in my classes over the last 5 years...no exaggeration. And, those are the young men who are actually enrolled in college!

[Guido]

Those "gangstas" ain't got nothin' on my crew.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Guido

[FirefightnRick]

'88, I completely agree. One of the things I see in discussing the difference between those generations and now are the communities and their decline. Emmitt and I invite anyone to come to our office sometime and see the decline in many areas of our cities and compar them today to how they were in the 60's. The shocking numbers of healthy looking, abled bodied young men in their 20's and 30's sitting around in various places on the streets today where I work is deplorable. How do they survive without jobs and education? I'll tell you how. They know how to take advantage of the systems in place, paid for by you and me and it all evolves around crime of some kind or another.

Again, I invite anyone, anyone to come for a visit some time. I would be happy to drive you around and educate you in a bit of reality as to what the next generation holds for our country's future.

Rick

[UNT_92_Fan]

I agree 100% with your post emmitt.... I just don't think that everything can be thrown on rap music and murder movies.

I wanna get deeper into this but my boss is eyeing me since i have been on GMG.com for 3 hours now...

[KingDL1]

You didn't teach in the hippie generation, so how in the world can you compare them? In the hippie generation you were probably the young guy and as such, are assuming that is what was true for you then was true for the whole.

With respect to what you are doing, I think that you still assume that what you see in your job as a CC teacher is true across all academic institutions, and it's plain wrong. You aren't going to find tomorrows leaders in a C.C. unless they are transferring out In my opinion. There will be a 'coming to jesus' for the homeboys that don't want to do anything but hang with their buds. Just like there was back then.

I saw a paper that was distributed though some of the state law enforcement offices, this on this subject, it was given to the State Constables. This paper showed the change in attitude and current trends by race, age, income levels and so forth as it related to crime and arrests. It made some comments on hip hop and the set backs it has caused. To read this paper based in stats and reported in the break down by Race, age and income you would think that the facts were the most racist things you ever read. In the comments side they felt that hip hop was really setting a whole generation of the black race back, plus its affects on other races and income groups. I read this about a year ago, it was pretty interesting, I don't think it was publicly published as I remember it was a report done for the government. So it pretty much supports grad88's arguement.

[Eagle1855]

This really is a microcosm of what is going on in our society today. It's just unfortunate Dodge's name is getting dragged through the mud. I imagine he had no idea this year would be this tough. My hope is the team really comes together (tap the breaks, Quoner) like a family (resist the urge, please) and really gives Navy all they've got (ok fine, have at it).

Again, I invite anyone, anyone to come for a visit some time. I would be happy to drive you around and educate you in a bit of reality as to what the next generation holds for our country's future.

Would we get to ride in a fire engine? If so, Im in!

(and before anyone asks, yes, my plan is to never grow up)

[meangreendork]

I agree 100% with your post emmitt.... I just don't think that everything can be thrown on rap music and murder movies.

It's a parenting issue, too. My younger brother used to listen to the same "rims/shoes/clothes/hoes" music that the guys on his HS BB team listened to but he never fell into that trap. Actually, I came home for his HS graduation a few years back and after he got home from that graduation party he went to, he actually complained about those same kids that fell into that trap. Him and his roommate love hip/hop and rap music, but to them, it's just music, a clothing style, but NOT a lifestyle.

What kept him from following that path? Mom and Dad raised us to have more ambition and more discipline than that. Our parents set a good example in almost everything they did. They started when we were young and as we got older, they were able to let go a little bit more each year until they stopped worrying about us (except for being broke college kids or getting sick) altogether.

That's the difference- parenting.

Edited November 2, 2007 by meangreendork

[MeanGreenEngineer]

Yes, Hip Hop turned people into drug dealing thugs just like Rock N' Roll turned people into reefer smoking sex fiends and Heavy Metal turned me and my friends into baby sacrificing satanists.

Why is it people have to search for scape goats?

[rcade]

Yes, Hip Hop turned people into drug dealing thugs just like Rock N' Roll turned people into reefer smoking sex fiends and Heavy Metal turned me and my friends into baby sacrificing satanists.

My kids killed a neighbor with a concussion grenade after they completed Halo 3. Damn videogames!

The issue here is parenting. A lot of kids today were raised by absentee or non-existent fathers, drug problems and imprisonment for drug crimes put more parents out of home, and that has devastating consequences. One of the upsides of college sports, when the coach is good and the support system is solid, is that they can bring some athletes out of a terrible background and give them a college education they can use as a foundation for the rest of their lives.

Edited November 2, 2007 by rcade

[Eagle1855]

Yes, Hip Hop turned people into drug dealing thugs just like Rock N' Roll turned people into reefer smoking sex fiends and Heavy Metal turned me and my friends into baby sacrificing satanists.

Why is it people have to search for scape goats?

I think the hip hop culture is one of many symptoms of a larger underlying problem. I don't believe it's an excuse, rather an example of what happens when you let go of certain moral convictions, expectations, family value, etc...

And it's just one example. I could get on a soap box and go on and on but I'll save it for my own blog, spare you all the dissertation.

[TIgreen01]

It's a parenting issue, too. My younger brother used to listen to the same "rims/shoes/clothes/hoes" music that the guys on his HS BB team listened to but he never fell into that trap. Actually, I came home for his HS graduation a few years back and after he got home from that graduation party he went to, he actually complained about those same kids that fell into that trap. Him and his roommate love hip/hop and rap music, but to them, it's just music, a clothing style, but NOT a lifestyle.

What kept him from following that path? Mom and Dad raised us to have more ambition and more discipline than that. Our parents set a good example in almost everything they did. They started when we were young and as we got older, they were able to let go a little bit more each year until they stopped worrying about us (except for being broke college kids or getting sick) altogether.

That's the difference- parenting.

DING DING DING! We have a winner here.