A young African-American male with cornrolls and a love for basketball walks home from an inner-city school in a south Chicago neighborhood and gets killed in a gang fight. What is the first thing that comes to your mind?
What if I told you that the young African-American male was an honor roll student, went to church Wednesdays and Sundays, and had planned on going to college? Now, what comes to your mind?
16-year-old Derrion Albert was walking home from school to a bus stop when he was brutually beaten by a group of youth as people sat and watched. Young Derrion was an innocent bystander who was never involved in gang activity. Furthermore, he did not even comprehend what was taking place. Three of his peers have been charged with first-degree murder for the crime.
Derrion Albert was a junior at Christian Fenger Academy High School. He loved wrestling and basketball. He also made good grades and was planning going to college in the future. Now what could have been a person beating the statistics, has become a statistic himself. How many of our youth are we going to let succumb to this type of action before we make a stance? Over 30 students were killed in Chicago last year, and the number might be surpassed this year. Hostile surroundings and negative living environments that foster the conditions for these crimes are just subject to this community, but all of our communities across America.
This story touches me so because I was Derrion Albert. I was that honor roll walking home on the east side of Jackson, Tennessee and the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. If you didn’t know, these two cities were in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the United States at one point and time. I know how it feels to try to get ahead and to be surrounded by those who are not. It is time that we stand up and make ourselves available to those who are trying to do better with their lives. Imagine if young Darrion Albert had a mentor picking him up from school and spending time with him? Imagine if those three youth who are being charged with that heinous crime had been too busy with after-school activities to partake in gang-related activities?
I hope this is a wake up call to our communities. Some blame the parents, the school, or the children involved in this crime. The real answer is we all are to blame. We all sit and ignore these problems in our communities. If you are waiting on the President to fix our problems, you are waiting in vain. The change has to come from the bottom up, not the top down. Our youth are in trouble and no one can save them but us. Children like Derrion become victims of violence or become disheartened everyday in a system where you cannot win. The only difference between Derrion and I is that I made it out alive and he did not.
Reach out your hand to the youth trying do better with their life and don’t be a bystander.
Be a part of the solution
--Written by Romane Goodlow
Murray State UniversityPublic
Relations Major
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Big Test
A girl spent her entire night with her nose driven into a book. By the daybreak, she was able to recite the theories of Freud, Marx, and Weber as if she had sat alongside the scholars as they added their sociological gospel to our society. So, she is confident and has reason to be so. Then, she goes to take her exam.
As she sits down in her seat, she reaches for a pen and her notes in order to do a final review. The professor comes in and, wasting no time, says, “Alright class, put away your materials. You know what time it is.” An uncharacteristic smirk followed those words, the kind of smile that gives a person hope and fear at the exact same time. Swallowing both emotions, the girl puts her notes away and waits for the test to land in front of her.
Once in her grasps, it becomes as if the official fired the shot and the derby began. She raced through the beginning questions, spilling all her preparation onto the paper and soaking up confidence with each stroke of the pen—an academic display of photosynthesis. She sees Freud and hurdles right over him. Next, there is Marx, and she slides right past him. Then, she pushes through Weber like the double doors of an old western saloon. However, another obstacle stood in her way.
All of a sudden, the hurdle got higher, the gap got smaller, and the double doors would no longer swing. She saw something she did not expect to see, and this sent her photosynthesis into shock and deactivation. Next thing she knows, the only thing leaving her pen and reaching the paper is the sweat frustration sent to her hand. If only she had realized she needed to study Emile Durkheim too.
It is important to work hard, but we must also work smart. Be a part of the SOLUTION.
OxyJon
As she sits down in her seat, she reaches for a pen and her notes in order to do a final review. The professor comes in and, wasting no time, says, “Alright class, put away your materials. You know what time it is.” An uncharacteristic smirk followed those words, the kind of smile that gives a person hope and fear at the exact same time. Swallowing both emotions, the girl puts her notes away and waits for the test to land in front of her.
Once in her grasps, it becomes as if the official fired the shot and the derby began. She raced through the beginning questions, spilling all her preparation onto the paper and soaking up confidence with each stroke of the pen—an academic display of photosynthesis. She sees Freud and hurdles right over him. Next, there is Marx, and she slides right past him. Then, she pushes through Weber like the double doors of an old western saloon. However, another obstacle stood in her way.
All of a sudden, the hurdle got higher, the gap got smaller, and the double doors would no longer swing. She saw something she did not expect to see, and this sent her photosynthesis into shock and deactivation. Next thing she knows, the only thing leaving her pen and reaching the paper is the sweat frustration sent to her hand. If only she had realized she needed to study Emile Durkheim too.
It is important to work hard, but we must also work smart. Be a part of the SOLUTION.
OxyJon
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Definition of Tradegy
A mother cries and is helped away by men dressed in dark suits. One of the men was the father doing all he could to maintain strength. To their left, a group of three young ladies huddle together—tied by a spiral of moans and tears. Downward, their corkscrew of bereavement seems to flow to a small memorial composed of flowers, signs, and a stuffed animal. This is a scene that accurately captures the word “tragedy”.
Tragedy is the most accurate way to describe what happened to Jasmine Lynn. She was a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, and on Thursday, September 3rd a series of stray bullets were fired—one bullet landing in her chest and taking her life. Jasmine’s death occurred on The Promenade, a popular hangout spot for students of the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark-Atlanta University). Moreover, the shots were fired as a result of a confrontation between some young men, a dispute that had absolutely nothing to do with her.
A look at the maliciousness and senselessness behind her death is where we begin to understand tragedy. Then, we begin to apply a concept called “empathy”, and things appear a little clearer. Before that night, Jasmine Lynn was more than a college student, a colleague, a friend, a sister, or even a daughter. She was a normal human being.
She got up in the morning, brushed her teeth, and picked out an outfit for the day. She had meals in her room, a restaurant, maybe even the school cafeteria. She sent text messages to her friends, probably checked her e-mail. She could have watched some television, checked her Facebook page, or got some studying in. Then, she decided to go hang out.
The next thing we hear of her is what the rumors speculate and what the Atlanta Journal Constitution(AJC) reports, but, in our minds what do we see? We see a young lady out in the casual flow of social interaction. We see bullet burst from the mouth of a gun. We see her look death right in its face, the last thing she would see in her life. Afterwards, her eyes close and never re-open—tragedy.
Jasmine’s death is a tragedy, not simply because it was a killing. It is sad to say, but killing and death occur around us all of the time. The tragedy comes from the fact that this happened to a normal young lady, and it could have happened to anyone standing her exact spot at that exact time. It is a tragedy that a person went through her normal routine, just as we do every day, and, at the end of her routine, that person’s life was over.
Maybe, things would have been different, if the shooter had realized the true definition of tragedy beforehand. Possibly, it was our job to tell him. Maybe, Jasmine Lynn was just unlucky, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, it is possible that we failed her. Regardless, tragedy is a problem. Be a part of the SOLUTION.
OxyJon
Tragedy is the most accurate way to describe what happened to Jasmine Lynn. She was a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, and on Thursday, September 3rd a series of stray bullets were fired—one bullet landing in her chest and taking her life. Jasmine’s death occurred on The Promenade, a popular hangout spot for students of the Atlanta University Center (Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark-Atlanta University). Moreover, the shots were fired as a result of a confrontation between some young men, a dispute that had absolutely nothing to do with her.
A look at the maliciousness and senselessness behind her death is where we begin to understand tragedy. Then, we begin to apply a concept called “empathy”, and things appear a little clearer. Before that night, Jasmine Lynn was more than a college student, a colleague, a friend, a sister, or even a daughter. She was a normal human being.
She got up in the morning, brushed her teeth, and picked out an outfit for the day. She had meals in her room, a restaurant, maybe even the school cafeteria. She sent text messages to her friends, probably checked her e-mail. She could have watched some television, checked her Facebook page, or got some studying in. Then, she decided to go hang out.
The next thing we hear of her is what the rumors speculate and what the Atlanta Journal Constitution(AJC) reports, but, in our minds what do we see? We see a young lady out in the casual flow of social interaction. We see bullet burst from the mouth of a gun. We see her look death right in its face, the last thing she would see in her life. Afterwards, her eyes close and never re-open—tragedy.
Jasmine’s death is a tragedy, not simply because it was a killing. It is sad to say, but killing and death occur around us all of the time. The tragedy comes from the fact that this happened to a normal young lady, and it could have happened to anyone standing her exact spot at that exact time. It is a tragedy that a person went through her normal routine, just as we do every day, and, at the end of her routine, that person’s life was over.
Maybe, things would have been different, if the shooter had realized the true definition of tragedy beforehand. Possibly, it was our job to tell him. Maybe, Jasmine Lynn was just unlucky, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, it is possible that we failed her. Regardless, tragedy is a problem. Be a part of the SOLUTION.
OxyJon
Monday, September 7, 2009
Homeless Heckler or Hero???
Guy is driving and gets lost.
Guy decides to go stop at gas station and ask for directions.
Guy gets out of car and passes a homeless man sitting outside.
Homeless man speaks.
Guy instantly replies, "I do not have any change."
Homeless guy, yet and still, decides to ask for change.
Guy ignores him and goes into the gas station.
Guy asks guy behind the counter for directions.
Guy behind the counter is absolutely no help.
Guy walks back outside of gas station and asks another guy getting gas for the directions.
Guy ends up with another failed attempt.
Homeless guy overhears the dilemma and gives guy directions.
Guy says thank you, but still does not give away any change.
Homeless guy's directions turn out to be wrong
However, Guy still ends up at place he was looking for, just a different branch location.
End of the day, Guy cannot help but realize that the only person willing to help him was the homeless guy.
Guy shakes his head...
Be a part of the SOLUTION
OxyJon
Guy decides to go stop at gas station and ask for directions.
Guy gets out of car and passes a homeless man sitting outside.
Homeless man speaks.
Guy instantly replies, "I do not have any change."
Homeless guy, yet and still, decides to ask for change.
Guy ignores him and goes into the gas station.
Guy asks guy behind the counter for directions.
Guy behind the counter is absolutely no help.
Guy walks back outside of gas station and asks another guy getting gas for the directions.
Guy ends up with another failed attempt.
Homeless guy overhears the dilemma and gives guy directions.
Guy says thank you, but still does not give away any change.
Homeless guy's directions turn out to be wrong
However, Guy still ends up at place he was looking for, just a different branch location.
End of the day, Guy cannot help but realize that the only person willing to help him was the homeless guy.
Guy shakes his head...
Be a part of the SOLUTION
OxyJon
Sunday, September 6, 2009
BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION
Almost 50 years ago, there was a problem. In response to this quagmire, five students from the Atlanta University Center came together, sat down, ate, talked, and mapped out the blueprint to the solution of a politically plagued nation. In 1960, the city of Atlanta was seeing a transition in power within the leadership of the civil rights movement. The college students of the Atlanta University Center began to take the lead over the seasoned activists of the Auburn Avenue circuit. A group of young people had become conscious of the issues facing a people and decided to do something about it—to be a part of the solution.
Deciding to act, the five college students ushered in a new approach to civil rights activism—direct action. They published “An Appeal for Human Rights” in the Atlanta papers and eventually the New York Times. They led the development of their own newspaper, the Atlanta Inquirer. They organized major sit-ins in local Atlanta department stores, and were arrested alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Moreover, they moved with that spirit of action; be a part of the solution.
Therefore, as we begin our academic year here upon the sacred campuses that comprise the Atlanta University Center, it is important that we embody this same spirit of our predecessors. The problems may have changed form, but they are still problems. Thus, it is our responsibility, people of strong academic pedigree, to be a part of the solution.
We no longer have to organize sit-ins outside of places such as Rich’s Department Store. However, we must change the fact that people of color are highly underrepresented in almost every professional field; law, medicine, education, politics, business, ect. We no longer have to protest, but far too many college-aged Americans of the African Diaspora are not pursuing degrees. In addition, many of those, who are pursuing degrees, are doing so without adamantly aspiring to receive an actual education.
Then, when one incorporates the fact that we now live in a globalized society in which the vastness of the globe has been reduced to the touch-scroll of an Iphone or the push of a button on a blackberry, the problems begin to junk pile. Not only are we seeing killings in our inner cities. We now see carnage in Sudan, Darfur, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Mexico. We no longer have to fight for our legislative rights, but somewhere, someone does.
Unfortunately, there has been a misconception spreading through our communities and even our campuses. There seems to be people, who believe there is an age requirement on action. Also, there are those who seem to think that the problems are not their responsibility and maybe they will be solved by a people of a different time. Clearly, some of us have been led astray.
For, we are the solution to that we have been waiting for! We are the answer for which we seek. History has shown us that we do not have to try and do the impossible in order to make a difference. Sometimes it takes a few hours at an afterschool program or a homeless shelter. Sometimes it takes a few extra hours of studying. However, sometimes all it takes is five college students sitting around at Paschal’s Restaurant eating, planning, and organizing. The methodology will be different, but the spirit is all the same. It is that spirit that makes you identify a problem and decide not to sit by idly and let the issues build. Now, let that spirit guide us through this academic school year, and let us now do all we can to be a part of the solution.
OxyJon
Deciding to act, the five college students ushered in a new approach to civil rights activism—direct action. They published “An Appeal for Human Rights” in the Atlanta papers and eventually the New York Times. They led the development of their own newspaper, the Atlanta Inquirer. They organized major sit-ins in local Atlanta department stores, and were arrested alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Moreover, they moved with that spirit of action; be a part of the solution.
Therefore, as we begin our academic year here upon the sacred campuses that comprise the Atlanta University Center, it is important that we embody this same spirit of our predecessors. The problems may have changed form, but they are still problems. Thus, it is our responsibility, people of strong academic pedigree, to be a part of the solution.
We no longer have to organize sit-ins outside of places such as Rich’s Department Store. However, we must change the fact that people of color are highly underrepresented in almost every professional field; law, medicine, education, politics, business, ect. We no longer have to protest, but far too many college-aged Americans of the African Diaspora are not pursuing degrees. In addition, many of those, who are pursuing degrees, are doing so without adamantly aspiring to receive an actual education.
Then, when one incorporates the fact that we now live in a globalized society in which the vastness of the globe has been reduced to the touch-scroll of an Iphone or the push of a button on a blackberry, the problems begin to junk pile. Not only are we seeing killings in our inner cities. We now see carnage in Sudan, Darfur, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Mexico. We no longer have to fight for our legislative rights, but somewhere, someone does.
Unfortunately, there has been a misconception spreading through our communities and even our campuses. There seems to be people, who believe there is an age requirement on action. Also, there are those who seem to think that the problems are not their responsibility and maybe they will be solved by a people of a different time. Clearly, some of us have been led astray.
For, we are the solution to that we have been waiting for! We are the answer for which we seek. History has shown us that we do not have to try and do the impossible in order to make a difference. Sometimes it takes a few hours at an afterschool program or a homeless shelter. Sometimes it takes a few extra hours of studying. However, sometimes all it takes is five college students sitting around at Paschal’s Restaurant eating, planning, and organizing. The methodology will be different, but the spirit is all the same. It is that spirit that makes you identify a problem and decide not to sit by idly and let the issues build. Now, let that spirit guide us through this academic school year, and let us now do all we can to be a part of the solution.
OxyJon
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