It is a new day in America. An African American has risen to the highest position a person can have in the United States. As a people we must follow the example set by Michelle and Barack in order to restore our greatness. That said, here are The New Rules For Blacks in The Obama Era.
1. Leave the Guns and the Knives Alone MC Lyte, Self Destruction
Black on black crime has been a problem for some time. In some ways, we can blame the government for allowing so many guns in the community and creating the social factors that create drug dealing and gangs. We must pressure the government to stop the the gun trade that stems from Virginia and the poverty that breeds violence, but also pressure our young people to stop turning to guns and violence. We must value the lives our fellow African Americans so they can not be taken away. We can no long glorify people who kill or are involved in violence. The word gangsta should be replaced by murderer, the word hustler should be changed to community poisoner. We should no longer glorify criminals who harm our community.
2. Time to Heal Our Women, Be Real to Our Women Tupac, Keep Your Head Up
Misogyny is a problem in the black community and the Hip Hop community in particular. We should not refer to our women as words that mean prostitutes or female dogs. Women should not be valued simply as sex objects. We have seen the the accomplishments and shining light that Michelle Obama has presented and should realize that any African American women can reach those same heights. Women should longer be valued as strippers, video girls and jump offs but as partners, mothers and sisters.
3. Put a Ring On It Beyonce
Way to many black men are judged by the amount of women they fornicate with. Men are glorified as pimps or pimpin when they get a lot of girls. A pimp is someone who demeans and demoralizes women to use them as commerce.
“Pimpin ain’t easy it’s sleazy, grimy, slimy, slouchy sleazy.” Intelligent Hoodlum, Arrest the President.
Men should be judged by how they take care of their women and children. Barack and Michelle were stronger as a team of equals then any man could be by themselves. In order for black people to move on the black family must be the core unit. We should have wives and partners not babymothers and wifies.
4. Don’t Be a Fool Like Those Who Don’t Go to School. Slick Rick, Hey Young World
No longer can we say the only way for black people to succeed is slinging crackrock or having a wicked jumpshot. Education and knowledge are the key to success in life. We must fight to make sure our children have the best education possible and make sure they are willing and driven to accept that education. John McCain said one thing I agreed with during the campaign, that education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. We must fight for our education as hard as we fought for our right to vote. The high school drop out rates in the black community is hovering around 50%. This is unacceptable. If were are to change this, we must fight on two sides. We must fight so to make sure our children are provided with the education they deserve and we must fight to make sure our children our ready and willing to try their hardest to take advantage of it.
5. Give Something Back to the Place Where You Made it From Ice Cube, True to the Game
Many in the black bourgeoisie attribute African American problems to the lower class. Still the black upper-class is partly responsible for the state of black America. Too many of our talented bright, African American professionals abandon any choices of working to develop the black community to get high paying jobs in the corporate world and integrate themselves into white society.
The African Americans lucky enough to get an education should follow in Barack Obama’s footsteps and work to make the black community better. After graduating from Columbia, Barack Obama bypassed a chance to make six figures on Wall St. to make $12,00 dollars as a community organizer. WEB DuBois had the idea of the Talented 10th that would uplift the black community. Unfortunately, many of the Talented 10th have used their privilege to line their own pockets and not help out their fellow African Americans. If we are to succeed as people, those who have become educated help bring up those who aren’t. If we had more qualified teachers, community organizers mentors to help out underprivileged African Americans, we would create many Michelles and Barack’s to lead our people
6. Stop Being Greedy, DMX
Materialism is big problem in the black community. People feel they are defined by their chain, car and clothes rather than what they do as human beings. To many parents make sure their kids are dipped out in Jordans and Prada without investing in a college fund for their kids. Too many men have rims on their car but do not pay their child support. We need to value education, property and our children’s future more than we do name brand name clothes, jewelry and cars.
