Black America: WNW - Ep. 7 - Is the Black Community Too Far Gone?

[iloveblack101]

You should up more vids...your channels awesome

[cougarsmarque]

@iloveblack101 Thank you! I'm wanting to do more videos, but I want to upgrade my setup first. I've been experiencing "technical difficulties" as they say. ;)

[dmalooly]

I'm just so sick and tired of the way our collective American Culture is progressing. Neither blacks or whites are even having enough children to achieve replacement fertility. People think it's OK to stick 6 month old babies in day-care, and drug use has reached epidemic levels. Everyone complains about money but everyone's got a damn cell phone and a car and cable television and high speed internet. People that never bothered to read to their kids at a young age complain about our schools

[cougarsmarque]

Great comment! You're hitting some real issues here. The day care thing is really a sticking point with me.

[dmalooly]

40 years ago the black community had great artists like Otis redding and marvin gaye. Before that there countless great blues and jazz musicians who really revolutionized music. Compare true greats like those to the black artists of today. It's really sad, and even as a white person I find it depressing.

But If it makes you feel any better, white culture is going down hill just as fast. White girls used to be able to look up to artists like Carol King... now they've got Ke$ha.

[cougarsmarque]

It doesn't make me feel better at all. In fact, you're right. America as a whole is suffering from a malaise that rewards mediocrity while real talent and real issues gets pushed aside.

I've also looked at past greats and wondered where are the new ones. I'm a movie man. I see the classics and I wonder, with the drivel that's coming out today, what will be the new classics, if any? The Oscars are Sunday, and more than anything, they remind me how far American cinema has declined.

[cougarsmarque]

Thank you!

[cougarsmarque]

Great post!

[mhoussel]

We had a saying in the Army, "Show them what right looks like". Translation, lead by the right example to impressionable minds. As black males within a biased society with a more biased financial and judicial system, we can not afford to make any mistakes like our counterparts from other races. We cannot sell dope and get a second chance; we cannot apply for a decent job without education; we cannot abandon our women and kids and expect them to be successful without us. Its gut check time men!

[cougarsmarque]

Amen to that!

[mhoussel]

Whats up Bro. Sorrell! I've been waiting for you to address another issue in the forum but you've taken a break on us! I watched this video again and now that I have my teaching certification in science and social studies, I know that education is the key. As a matter of fact, it has always been the key. Like you am frustrated that our brothers and sisters cant see the light. It is going to take more black male teachers to be that dad, coach, mentor to these kids that dont have it.

[cougarsmarque]

Thanks for your comments. I'm sorry about my long absence. I've been trying to stabilize my household financially and have been putting my time into a business opportunities that's realy starting to pay off. I'm hoping to get back to making videos soon - or I may move this series into a different format.

Either way, thanks for your concern!

[cruxshadws]

I understand where you are coming from. I wanted to leave a while back from my community in LA... but I came back to help with the educational system. However, it is sooooo HARD because of the issue of self-hatred in our community. It is so hard to be a part of the solution when so many black ppl have been trained to think in this "slave way" that they are inferior and that they can't change. It is hard to move our community forward because of this constant identity crisis we suffer with.

[cougarsmarque]

For what it's worth, keep fighting the good fight. I know when I'm frustrated sometimes, the kind words of another person can really make a difference. You're a hero to me, working in the educational system, because it's something I just don't have the patience or tolerance for.

I think the hardest thing about being Black for me is seeing the amazing power and potential we have being squandered on a daily basis. Extremely frustrating.

[ThinkTank93]

you should do a video on latino and african american relations..being mexican I often feel like my community is somewhat racist to the black community..I often feel like there is so much tension between the mexican community and black community. My best friend is african american and he agrees with me...just making a video suggestion

[cougarsmarque]

Oooooh... I don't know if folks are ready for that one. It's a great topic, and I definitely have my opinions on it (I agree with you and your friend, and I'd like to know they "whys" behind that tension), but I'm concerned that someone will take it the wrong way and make me out to be a racist. Though I've come across several open-minded, thoughtful adults on YouTube, the place is lousy with immature people who jump before thinking (or watching the whole video). I'll give it thought, though.

[sjyarbro]

There is no Black Community just a bunch of underclass zombies running around being IDIOTS!!!!!!

[Vash123873jr]

I know how you feel. Im a Puerto Rican, but i dont look it. Back here, where i live, Puerto Ricans are the majority, and most of them are "ignant". Especially in my neighborhood, they love to star at me, gawk at me, and call me names, and its not like im the new kick, ive lived there for 10 years. When people bash us puerto ricans, i just feel horrible that i cant defend us, because what people usually say when they bash us, is true!

The Perfect Storm

[cougarsmarque]

Thanks for your comment!

[mhoussel]

Bro, Sorrell,

These are my last comments for today. In handling the state and purpose of the BGLOs, you are right, you are going to piss people off, but Ice Cube once said if the truth hurts, say ouch! Im sorry but I just cant see Martin Luther King Jr, Thurgood Marshall, or Charles Drew "swingin' wood". This is not a Greek bash because I feel there are some wonderful Greeks doing great things, but as a WHOLE, have the BGLOs become a wood swinging, party machine out of control?

[cougarsmarque]

Horribly sad, but 100% true. If I were in your situation, I'd be hard-headed and try to make a change in a "bad" school anyway. But I most likely wouldn't last long before that fired me...

[mhoussel]

Bro Sorrell,

You are one of the most intelligent and thought provoking cats out here in Youtube land. Do you think the Black race is dividing itself as the blacks begin to seperate from the "niggas". I dont want to live in the "hood" . I want to be around working class blacks who maintain their lawns, are respectable, raise their children, have common courtesy for their fellow man. Since moving to GA, I haven't seen this black utopia I speak of and live in a city (Albany) that is 87% black!

[mhoussel]

Bro Sorrell,

I must again respond to your segment because they focus on what we as a people must focus right now! I will graduate from Albany State U in Albany, GA next year as a school teacher and I must say that while I'm needed in the "bad" schools, I do not want the headache and put myself at risk for losing my job. I can deal with the kids as long as the black parents or guardians form a partnership with the educator to help the child learn and prepare for success, but it doesnt exists!

[mhoussel]

Brother Sorrell,

My comments on segments 2 and 5 didnt seem to post but I appreciate your intelligent insight on our race. It is like Chris Rock said "it is a civil war between black folks and "niggas" and the "niggas" have got to go. My question to you and all of us is "How can we as people have accomplished so much working with so little and now we have everything and do not accomplish today?

[cougarsmarque]

Your responses should appear soon, if they aren't visible already. I have to approve the comments on most of my videos before the comments appear. Apparently, I forgot to set that option for this video.

I just do it to make sure I read every response - and to provide a little quality control, if need be, because everyone doesn't know how to act in a civil manner online.