The end of 2024 is approaching exceedingly quickly. The gift-giving and good cheer that comes to the USA during the month of December will soon evaporate. New Year resolutions will be made and broken. There is one train of thought that African Americans need to accept and take forth into 2025 and beyond. The fact that the way the teens and children are today is the fault of the adults who raised them.
I was on Instagram and saw a clip of some NBA action from the 1990’s. I read some of the comments about the clip. It seems as if people who are in their 40’s and up view 2024 NBA players as soft. I chuckled and closed the app. A few days later I was talking with a guy in his early 40’s. He was complaining about his nephews who were in high school. He said that they were lazy and couldn’t stay off their cell phones. I listened to him as he ranted about how things were when he was young. After he finished talking I asked him these questions. “Who raised the children? Who are their role models?” The man grunted and proceeded to go off on a tangent about the white man. He didn’t want to admit that if the youth of today are inadequate, then it is because their parents made them that way.
The youth of today are a reflection of how African American culture has changed in the last 40 years. How can I expect someone to know algebra if I haven’t taught them simple addition? That is the status of today’s African American youth. No one has taught them, as a whole, to be anything but what you see. There are exceptions to this rule; namely the people who stress black history and pride in their families. Overall, African American people have assimilated into US culture at the level of the poor white. Why are people so shocked when the youth act, dress and have the mindset of poor white people? What was taught by the parents and who are the role models in the African American community? These are two of the factors that carry the blame.
A teenager saw a skit by Robin Harris where he was making fun of hair weaves. They asked me about it. I told them that wearing wigs and weave was a not as prevalent in the past as it is today. Women had different concepts about their hair. The teen then asked, “Are you one of the people who think today’s youth are not on the level with the previous generations?” I was taken off guard by the question. When I answered I let this teen know that I understood the issue. The issue is not with today’s African American youth. The issue was, and is, with the people who are raising the children. African American parents in their desire to assimilate and make money have sold out their children.
How can Junior know how to dress appropriately for different occasions when Senior wears a t-shirt and gym shoes to formal events? Why would Karen want to take the time to comb and roll her own hair when Mama has red weave to her hips on her head? Why would Deon want to be an upstanding, citizen when all his rapper role models stress street life? Why would Annie want to get a college degree when the music/social media tell her that her body and sexual prowess can make her a millionaire? These questions and answers lead to the trillion dollar question. Where are the parents? Sadly, many African American parents are caught up in the same web of foolishness as their children.
Keep this article in mind if you see an African American youth or young adult who seems to be soft or ignorant in 2025. Remember, it is not their fault.
Frank James IV © 2024
beingfrankwithfrank@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the writer and not of the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper or HT Group, LLC, its staff or management. “Being Frank” is a bi-weekly column exclusive to the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper.
