by Todd Hoffman on Wednesday, 08 September 2010 at 15:52
Shifts in social standards, job opportunities or lack thereof, the economy, global interaction and awareness, tradition, and human nature have ultimately provided us with the world we see today. Most notable for the Clinton Hill area and the South Ward of Newark, it was the riots in the late 60’s early 70’s and the onslaught of the “Drug Era”. After the riots the city overlooked some aspects of living being either severely damaged or completely compromised as a result of the riots and the following era in which local economies were based on illegal drug trade and public assistance. These two things in particular damaged the psychology and standards of living for so many. With advertising on the radio of music glorifying these acts, it lives on today as if it were a lovely time that one reminisces over, lusting for its greatness and return.
How?
Crime and dehumanization was built into a culture, tradition, and moral value system so that generation after generation, poverty is kept as culture, financial illiteracy and addiction becomes tradition, and base ideals become social values. Forty year old men yearn to be drug dealers who stand on corners making hand to hand sales. Our youth, the brightest and most talented of any previous generation, are handed a world where doing wrong is rewarded and pursuing higher education is ridiculed. A fascination with the melodic enchantment from a generation of music glorifying and thus hypnotizing people in masses to believe that doing horrible things to one another is mainstream. This creates sub-cultures and a hierarchy of careers based off of these concepts and affects a multitude of various classes of life echoing its messages subconsciously. Kill as though there are no consequences. Have sex as though it were casual and remove Love from the human psyche. Our value system has changed gradually through the years from peace and love to having a nice car and “Money over bitches.” The results are: unprecedented numbers in sexually transmitted diseases, an exponential growth in homosexuality, an increase and main stay of poverty and public assistance dependence, an abnormal continuation of the rise in homicide, and an uncertain future as we move forward.
Why?
For the sake of the people is why non-profits, community organizers, activists, and politicians are striving for change and a better future. Equality of life is why we work with ferver long days and grueling nights. For our love of humanity and knowing that failure means the unimaginable, unequal opportunity for life being chosen willingly by our people and hope being lost forever. We all deal with the repercussions of failure if we do not work together for REAL. Our generation has to succeed substantially, by any and all means and across all boards. Music, Arts, Commerce, Lifestyle, Media, Education, Community, Politically,....fundamentally. Donate, Volunteer, Mentor, Think, Act, Understand, Unite. Peace & Love.
Written by Todd Hoffman
facebook.com/DrHoffman
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