TALK TO ME!!!!!!!!!

WHATS UP LIFERS? I WAS PLAYING XBOX LIVE THE OTHER NIGHT WITH SOME OF MY HOMIES IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA. THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY GOT SHOT, HOW BAD IT IS IN THIER CITY, ECT… AT FIRST I WASN’T REALLY PAYING ATTENTION BUT THEN THEY WENT ON TO SAY THAT ITS NOT ABOUT COLORS IT’S JUST HOODS THAT DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER WOW!!!!!!! THE LIL HOMIE IS 20 YEARS OLD SO ANOTHER THING HE SAID THAT BLEW ME AWAY WAS THAT HE THINKS ABOUT EVERYDAY AND ASKS HIS SELF ARE WE EVEN GONNA GET OLD CAUSE NOBODY HE KNOWS IS MAKING IT PAST 25 OR 26 DAMN!!!!!!! THEY WENT ON TO SAY IT’S ALL BECAUSE ITS NOTHING TO DO OUT THERE BUT RUN AROUND IN THE STREETS AND BEEF. SO THAT BROUGHT ME TO THIS QUESTION DO YOU THINK THAT CRIME AND SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING MORE BECAUSE THE YOUNGER GENERATION HAVE NOTHING TO DO IN THIER COMMUNITY? I.E. THEME PARKS, MUSEUMS, BETTER JOBS, ECT

TALK TO ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  1. i think crime and gangs have taken over, but all i can say is, within time the parents need to step in

  2. I really do think that the young people these days really don’t have VISION..they don’t have a goal or anything to look too..so with that that leaves the streets..and that aint good…I really hope that the Younger generation can do better WE need help and more role models to help us strive and be better!!!

  3. Lack o proper parenting & direction is the problem.. I have friends that live in the “hood” that expose their kids to bad things like bad language, smoking, drinking and even the stuff spoken about in front of the kids & parents dont seem to want to spend Quality time with kids & give them a proper up bringing.. Most seem to only care about a boyfriend or girlfriend

  4. In my city it’s stupid small, not shit to do so the lil’ homies go and get in trouble. Not purposely but since theres nothing to do they just be wildin’ out and get caught up. We do need more things to do. Thats the problem here, there’s really nothing for them tp get into besides trouble. No teenager is gonna go post up at the Boys & Gitls club and all the teen clubs got shut down because of shotings. If it wasn’t for my clothing line I probably wouldn’t be on as straight of a path as I’m on. But shit, hit me up bro bro. @binoFLYASME on twitter or my email.

  5. I think the lack of value some of these young men have is the problem. Self love is lacking if I don’t love myself I cld care less about taking the next mans life. Jobs,theme parks, community centers are all GREAT but I feel you can have all that and still have young men killing each other over colors hoods or boredom.

  6. I believe so, they are taking to much shit away from these kids..they have nowhere to hangout and just be kids..Not enough parks in tha neighborhoods, rec centers and if they do they wanna charge and most kids can’t afford it..I live in Phx,Az and all i see is new homes being built or shopping centers..smh it’s sad..

  7. I think that’s part of the reason, but not the whole reason. Yes I think theme parks, museums, better jobs will help, but as far as the young generation goes. I think it has some to do with lack of a family atmosphere at home. Lack of discipline at home. Being taught right from wrong. That’s my opinion

  8. i think bordem does play a role.. but honestly nowadays niggas don’t wanna work for nothin really… they want that fast life… money, hoes, cars clothes.. and in EVERY city when u got those thinks as a youngster u gon have the “green-eyed monster” on ur back..

  9. I really do think that the young people these days really don’t have VISION..they don’t have a goal or anything to look too..so with that that leaves the streets..and that aint good…I really hope that the Younger generation can do better WE need help and more role models to help us strive and be better!!!

  10. That’s how it is in my city, Baton Rouge, La. We have two major universities, Southern University & my school, LSU, but we don’t have any entertainment. We have 1 black owned night club downtown, which is as small as my closet in elementary school. We need other things to do, besides clubs. Entertainment complexes, concerts, better jobs, events, etc. Big cities have all of the above, but small cities have nothing. Not having a community with opportunities doesn’t excuse ignorant behavior or mentalities, but it does make the possibility of doing bad shit more obtainable.

  11. Jd what up bra down here in tampa its the same way see I’m 33 when I was coming up it was more to do more jobs and my moms stayed on my ass the youth these days don’t care about life they just in it to take or make fast money BY ANY MEANS NESSECARY

  12. HECK YEA… I live in Cali, and no matter which hood you go to, community centers are closed, programs funding have dried up, and there is nothing to do. So, these young men do their best for the most part, but fail because WE have let them down! I go to Church in Compton and the violence and death of our young soldiers has surpassed bloods and crips, but poverty, hunger, boredom, and frustration in a system that is paying nothing to them but takes everything. I say takes and not gives, be cause hip culture was taking from this generation and turned their everyday living and turned it into fashion trends, music, and commercial jingles, only to give them nothing in return.

  13. I think there’s something to do but alot of people don’t want to do right because they want to protect their name and rep as being a Gangsta or whatever they are. I grew up in a Milwaukee neighborhood where you couldn’t wear red and we used to beef with the blocks around mine but it was to the point where you basically had to. If you didn’t hold it down for your block and you live on that block then you are automatically a target.

  14. I think its all true, but the fact of the matter is this, we spend alot of time and money in other peoples contries tryin to help them when we cant even help ourselves. Im 24 and i have two kids so my time is always occupied, but for the ones that aint got a situation like mines it aint nothin to do. Like i like the concept of BEIN A LIFER, it gives me hope to do some of the stuff i want to do. But at the same time i think alot of it stems from INFLUENCE. Some of the biggest names in the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY have more influence on kids than thier own parents do. So when “STARS’ choose to talk about DUMB SHIT THAT DONT MATTER TO NOBODY BUT THEMSELVES, instead of talkin bout SHIT THAT MATTERS, then THE INFLUENCE is gonna go in the favour of those we follow WHICH ARE PEOPLE LIKE U JD. I appreciate chu bruh like real talk (even though yo ass dont be hittin me back on twitter, LOL) but at the same time i think before we can move forward we have to take a step back and say. HMMMMMMM Bently or another Community Center, $1,000 worth of shoes or should i help a family that has a $1,000.00 worth of debt. And starts say shit like NIGGA ITS MY MONEY, all i have to say to that is, NOT WITHOUT US IT AINT. We make yall niggas. If we dont buy the shit yall aint gone have shit, so shit help us out too. IDK, thats my take on it. HELP SOMEBODY ELSE BEFORE U HELP URSELF!

  15. no i don’t think that they don’t have anything to do. honestly ithink its because they to lazy to do anything in their community and its easier to just sell drugs and hang out on the street as opposd to getting a regular job and going to school. that takes to much time for them. its a ridiculous amount of things to do besides getting in trouble. but they watch all the rap videos , look at all the rappers and instead of being willing to work hard for what you get they want it the quick and easy way.they don’t see jd in the studio all day making records they just see him and they bently and thats what they want. i grew up on they southside of chicago now im a nurse in new orleans. i know alot of innocent people get killed all the time, but the majority of those guys was doing something they have no business doing and eventually those bad dealing catch up to them. its stupid for a young man to say i dont know if im going to make to 26 or 30 when u doing shit to ensure u wont make it to 26 or 30. how bout they put all the energy and expertise they put into the video games in to getting into college or a having a productive career. instead of hanging on the corner where you know the cop will bother you try going to the mall, th zoo, the park, a museum. its a great amount of things to do, just do it.

  16. JD

    EVEN IF U HAVE PLACES TO GO FOR THE YOUTH, THEY STILL WON’T BE ABLE TO GET ALONG!!! THEY STILL WILL BE FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS..I.E..HOODS NOT LOOKING HOODS!!! LOOK AT SOME OF THE RAPPERS SAME THING….

  17. I’m 21(i’m a girl by way lol) and right now, I don’t have a job and it’s hard to get a job where I live at, I do go to school. but after school. I don’t have nothin to do. I stay in the house all the time to keep myself out of trouble cause a lot of people I know and hang with any doin nothin but sell drugs, fightin, and partyin all the time and sometime it hard not to do what they do because it ain’t nothin to do when you broke and have not money. I mean I got my music keepin out of trouble. but it’s hard when you don’t have what you need to do stuff like goin to THEME PARKS, MUSEUMS, BETTER JOBS, ECT. but I’m doin my best to keep focus and make something of myself. but it is hard when you have very lil to work with. I’m just glad god brought me this far. I hope he lets me keep goin.

  18. I don’t think it has anything to do with parenting in some cases. My co worker’s son was on his way home from work and was murdered while waiting on the bus. His killer was 36 yrs old. The problem is the lack of activities and the feeling of thinking they must have all of these things rappers and singers talk about in songs. We already know a lot of children or teens don’t have parents at home because of a drug addiction or jail so what are we gonna do to change it for those children who need us? We all know it takes a village so why when a teen or young adult gets into trouble everyone wants to point the finger at the single parent doing the best they could. We need stronger families and self love!! Not expensive chains and video girls. For some its hard to do right when your community looks and feels like a war zone.

  19. I would attribute some of the happening to that, but alot of it falls back on the lack of guidance. Parents have to be parents. The example is not being set at home and the are only becoming products of their environment. True enough there aren’t enough programs and places for this generation to go, but if there were, Would they actually attend? My mom is a HS school teacher and she said in all her years of teaching she hasnt experienced the lack of ambition these kids have. They really are a different breed. I actually took my 16yr cousin in this year, bc she couldnt get along with her parents. WTF!!!! My moms wasn’t and aint going. It was her way or the hiway in her house. They lack respect for themselves and others. Its really, really sad. SMH

  20. JD – this wont be popular, but we got to attribute some of the lostness of todays youth to this rap music. Alot of this music is setting the backdrop, or theme, for the way these kids live their life.

    For me, I’m 28, I came up in the Death Row/Bad Boy/So So Def/No Limit/Cash Money era, I bought all the albums, and knew the lyrics, etc. I still like rap. BUT for me, it never changed the way I dressed, life goals, or outlook on my life. To me it was just…..entertainment. But alot of kids, especially those without good parental figures, listen to rap as their instructions for life. If the area they grow up in is already bad, they just completely lose hope. They say, “well (rapper name) say he sold crack….and he made it out…so I can too.” Whatever rapper they listen could just be lyin about all of it. Rap is an artform, sometimes semi-true entertainment, but not a guide for life.

    Heck, alot of grown black folks are influenced by rappers. Whatever liquor a popular rapper shouts out will be bought by the bottle in the club by us, almost regardless of how much it costs; whether we can afford it or not.

    Some young folks today can’t even speak properly….they talk like Plies….not realizing that in real life, PLies doesn’t even talk the way he raps. They don’t know how to separate the real from the entertainment. They dont even see they are limiting themselves in getting a real job in the future.

    Everything I said you may not agree with. But to a point I really feel (bad) rap music has contributed in some part to our downfall.

  21. I think that’s part of it. I think the bigger issue is the state of urban communities . The lack of family structure has torn communities apart for years. Too many fathers have forgotten about their responsibilities. So many young people are hurting because of this. I have so much respect for single moms. It’s hard to raise kids that want to do good and go to school. Especially hard when a lot of kids don’t see the benefits from it. If it take a community to raise a child, what happens to all those kids when the community fails? You just have to look at the drop-out and crime rates to figure it out.

  22. Very much so!!..That and the fact that parents are having to work harder..which means less time in the home..single parenting..the list goes on & on..everyones focusd on their own problems..not realizing WE ARE ONE as in WHOLE…These YOUTH need to see us working together & making a difference with our own lives to ENCOURAGE them to do the same…The problem is exactly that…they (YOUTH) have nothing to look forward to!

  23. Tsss I would have to say yes to some extent. It’s crazy because we were just having this convo in both of my youth groups that Im involved with here around my way. I’m from Newburgh, NY (4.4sq/mi)which is dumb small, but the crime rate, shootings, and killing is high like a big ass city.

    The city isn’t even trying to fund many projects with respect to the Youth. So, they are not given many options. No variety is equivalent to boredom. Even if they do attend a particular function and some of them don’t get along then it’s like did you really expect to have one event and alllllllllllllll these kids in one room?!. If they fight in school, then what makes you think they aren’t going to fight outside of it?!

    Even being a substitute teacher in the district, I see that they don’t have many people who even attempt to reach out to them. These kids are in need of many things.

    In only being 23, I can feel what they say. They feel like they don’t have anything to look forward to. I know here they put out an 11pm curfew around the time I went off to college. Now you already know on the weekends they look forward to hanging late with their friends. I’m not saying that their “just” in the streets, but when they come back from wherever it is that they were, they get harassed due to the curfew.

    So, it’s a lot that needs to be done, but I can’t solely blame it on the lack of activities within the community. But I do feel as if there was more of a variety given, then maybe we could decrease some of these numbers, ya know?

    Peace & Blessings,
    Nish

  24. thats the problem here in chicago. they have no community centers, no after school activities and the gangs recruit early and often. if there is a fist fight its a gang of people, but they rarely fight its mostly shootings…every night, all night. It gets lighter in the winter cause its cold and MF’s aint tryin to be outside but in the summer its not unusual to have 30-40 people shot on a weekend.

  25. I’m with Tongadude with this one. It comes down to parenting. And it’s not just Cally like the India Irie sang there’s a ghetto every damn where there’s poverty. But mere poverty is not an excuse. Kids seemingly spend more time in the street than at home because there’s nothing @ home to keep them out of trouble. Parents are too busy, don’t give a damn, or provide no alternatives. If you’re neighborhood doesn’t have a library, a park, a community center, go to one that does. But I don’t have a car? Buses run every damn day so do subways. Gotta a bike? How about read a book! I don’t like to read…that’s because you haven’t been introduced to any books that interest you. People who don’t like to read, generally don’t like to write, so information that’s right in front of them is missed.

    These kids and parents are limited by their minds not necessarily just surrounding circumstances. But again that comes back to the grown ups. Parents rely too heavily on outside sources to take care of and entertain their kids. They don’t even know if their own kid has an interest in music, art, sciences etc. And when they find out they don’t know how to cultivate it, show them something different than the hood. Parents MUST be willing to go a little farther, look beyond their limited neighborhoods. But what parents generally take the time to do the research or have the time if they are always working?

    The desire to bang, to shoot each other over some bullshit is not innate–they aren’t born with it but born INTO it. Parents have to be more involved with their kids PERIOD! However, if you’re the type of parent that’s just as ignorant as what’s in the streets never damn mind. Monkey bars and swings isn’t going to help.

  26. SO THAT BROUGHT ME TO THIS QUESTION DO YOU THINK THAT CRIME AND SHOOTINGS ARE HAPPENING MORE BECAUSE THE YOUNGER GENERATION HAVE NOTHING TO DO IN THIER COMMUNITY? I.E. THEME PARKS, MUSEUMS, BETTER JOBS, ECT

    YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE…NO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, ADULTS GOT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS JOBS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T FIND A REAL JOB OUT HERE, AND SOMETIMES THESE KIDS DON’T WANT TO LISTEN TO ANYONE…SOMETIMES ITS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SOMETIMES ITS THE KID’S MENTALITY.

  27. Im from the Bay and live close to Richmond. I think a lot of the violence is due to lack of jobs. People are not working or making money or just never had money. I think its also has other underlying issues that cause the violence. On sunday a man in Oakland was shot and killed in front of his wife and child.

    http://www.kron4.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/4498/reftab/536/t/Oakland%20Man%20Shot%20to%20Death%20in%20Front%20of%20Wife%20and%20Kids%20During%20Attempted%20Robbery/Default.aspx

    And people that just dont care, the people who commit these crimes are never found and it goes to the list of homicides for the year.

  28. What I think my genartion needs is to stop being lazy. It’s not the fact that we don’t have things to do is the fact that we just act like we don’t know how to do it. So they make excuses and say that the only thing we can do is shoot people. Which maybe in the hoods of the world there isn’t nothing to do. But if you have that one friend that is doing somehing positive in there life won’t you stay with them. We can make anything up to do. It’s just the community that doesn’t say we are going to do something about it because I believe that some of the community is scared. So to me I just believe it’s laziness and we don’t want to believe it but it is on our part. We are smart when it comes to the wrong things but when it comes to the right things you act like you can’t do anything but make excuses. So all i’m saying is that as of 1989 and up needs some help as learning different situations. We need the help.

  29. How come u never play under captainsoso gamer tag?

  30. Wuz good Ocean’s? I believe the issues start at home. How kids raised has a huge influence on their lives. I grew up in the hood on the westside of Atlanta, Ga. I graduated from Doug High. But I had an advantage over a lot of my friends…1)Because I had BOTH of my parents at home to guide me. A lot of kids these days have to do a lot of growing up on their own. Especially in the single parent enviroment. But the main thing I think that is causing this is that a lot kids & teens these days don’t know what they want in life…They have no goals at all. Im 24years old, I’m a Commercial Pilot, Music Producer, and plan on owning my own Corporate Jet Company & Record Lable in the future and try to encourage kids back in my community when I’m in the A to get into aviation. But recently I went to speak at a high school not too long ago and it was 11th & 12th graders that didn’t know what they wanted to do in life. And thats a major set back. THEME PARKS, MUSEUMS, etc would be great, but it all starts with the individual…I work with a aviation program for kids in Atlanta, Ga called (ACE) Aviation Career Enrichment. We do a lot for the community and try to inspire and encourage kids of all ages in Atlanta & around the world, that Aviation is a great and fun career. Check out this website for more info http://www.aviationcareerenrichment.org Ages 9-18. And if you know anyone that would be interested, let me know.

    Frederick ‘Flyboy’ Walker
    Commercial Pilot / Music Producer

    Ps- What Jonta & Cox said in that last vid you posted was 100% right. People that are thugs, don’t really wanna be thugs…

  31. I read a couple of responces……. I have to call Bull Shit on the initicial quote. The same the Theme Parks Museums and Good Jobs are still out there as from when I was growing up in fact there are better jobs now than ever before. Yes there are fewer because of technology…. But My thing is a lot if not most people are looking for a hand out. If the so called lil homie spent more time looking for a job or even trying to improve himself and his community he and most people would not be in the business of running the streets and beefing. Point blank period get up get out and do something!!!!!!!! How many success stories have we heard of dirt poor folks now being highly educated, highly motivated, and even successful. It wasn’t because they sat around and waited for someone to give it to them they went out worked hard and got it themselves. True not eveyone has the same talent to do the same things, but if you never try to find what it is that you are good at or even make your situation better you have no one to blame but yourself.

  32. Of Course, but my father used to say an idle mind is the devils workshop. The core of the family is the issue. There arent anymore parents playing catch in the black community, they are too busy trying to catch-up the bills. Im not from the BAY but its a universal problem. Kids dont have hobbies, dont play sports like they use to, or just chill. Its more about survival, but if you already living to die in your mind nothing can save you. Alternatives are there but crime infiltrates so many things and dictates so much, times you go for recreation, what mall, what street to turn down, its everywhere. We need to strengthen the kids who are wondering the streets and teach them that being a positive person doesnt makes you weak.

  33. I think its a lack of parenting or household problems and nothing to do bc its the same deal around my city bc us kids get so bored and most start to get smoked out like the other then all the bull crap starts, i think if there were celebs that can talk to them and share similar stories with the kids and if they had something to do such as parks and things to do with a lot more guideness. but idk every1 is differet

  34. it starts with adult and parentel involvement and influence for alot of ppl without father alot of young black males in my neighborhood are left searching for someone anyone just to be that person and they end up finding it in the gang member or dude on the corner selling drugs they get that sense of family and belonging start feeling like a man and instead of having that positive adult rolemodel or father their following wateva this person says or does cause their the only person offering them any type of love or feeling of belonging the fact that wha their doing is wrong sometimes doesnt even come into to play. then its passed through out generations, families, and friends and were taught younger and younger were being desensitized to the chaos and violence around us for us its like living a typical day seeing someone pushing drugs on the corner a dead body in the alley etc. but with this going on the crime and drugs it pushes out businesses which pushes out revenue after you lose that you start losing city services like rec facilities adequete schooling the proper police and law enforcement involvement and protection of the community. all of these factors coombinedd work against the community only pushiong them further into that mentality and that life because theres nothing left thats all they know and theres nothing there that shows them something better.

  35. I blame the parents it all starts at home and these days parents are failing. I think there aren’t any role models out there anymore and I do believe that an idle mind is the devil’s playground ignorance and nonsense are at an all time high right now. Its like the negative things like television and movies are raising our youth and it shouldn’t be that way where are their fathers their elders to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. There are alot of kids like this that are victimized and incarcerated for this. When I was younger there were PSAs and people emphasized on the importance of knowledge and intelligence. The more I hear about stipidity of my fellow human beings the more disappointed I become SMH.

  36. JD,what’s up man. What are/were you in the Bay for man? I hope I didn’t miss anything jumpin off. Anyway I’m from the TOWN, for those of you who don’t know that’s Oakland, ca. and let me say this, the circumstances of today has a lot to do with the choices of yesterday. Yes, there nothing to do for anyone, but that’s not just the issue. This is the end result of broken homes + violence + the WAR of Drugs of the 80 & 90. Man, these are crack babies out here bra and they don’t give a fuck becuz they never had anyone to love for them properly. Man, it’s a shame how a Latino husband just got shot in ESO (East Side Oakland) over the weekend in front of his wife and children in front of this home. Where they do that @? O-A-K-L-A-N-D. It messed up out here and the youngins are going wild and the adults don’t want nothing to do with them becuz they don’t respect nobody, shit they don’t respect themselves. so where does it start and end, who is going to take responsibility for this shit? Nobody becuz everyone is trying to stay out the way and live there lives and not come across any of these damn fools out here. I just wrote a post on this shit on my blog, check it out JD: http://www.bakerboi.wordpress.com. Town Business Baby.

  37. BTW it was never about colors in the Bay, it’s always been BLOCKS AND TURF. the shit is crazy in hindsight becuz I use to be on the block and doing the do, but I had people who prayed over me and for me and the Lord put the right people in front of me. I have no excuses becuz I came from that broken home, a crack head for a parent and shit, but I still did what I had to do to make it in the streets and in school. That bring to to this question, how can you give back to a community that has taken so much from you? My next blog, damn that’s a good one. Peace

  38. I think them not having anything to do after school is a part of the problem, but I also think that a bigger part of it is how these kids are being raised by single mothers, that have to work…therefore leaving the kids unsupervised for hours and hours at a time. I believe the communities need more YMCA programs and things that are FREE for the children to attend, where they can practice and develop skills that they do have. These kids are our future and we need to invest in them now like never before…I’m currently majoring in Human Services because I plan on making a positive difference in these children’s lives…we all have to step up and do our part.

  39. I agree with @Hollywoodlvwork and @stressfree27.
    It is a lack of ambition of the part of the youth. Parental support is also absent, as parents aren’t there for their kids anymore. It’s either their jobs are too important to spare time to be with their kids, or they aren’t even there at all.

    I am from Ghana, West Africa. Although it is one of the better off countries in Africa (peaceful and economically developed), there are still areas, particularly the village were kids have NOTHING. No recreational centres, no museums, no parks etc. (I am sure some of them don’t even know what these places are), yet these kids aren’t resulting to aimlessly roaming the streets and killing people.

    My friends and I used to be part of this community service programme were we used to go and teach in impoverished schools. What we gathered from most of these students was that they didn’t even have the basic necessities that Americans take for granted: running water and electricity. Some had to wake up early and go fetch water to be used by their families. Sometimes this journey was miles long, and these kids had to go more than one round. Even with all their chores, they still managed to hand in their assignments on time.
    Not once did anyone use their lack necessities as an excuse.

    I find it odd that the guy you spoke to can own and play on a Xbox. How about you buy yourself a computer and sign up for some online classes to better yourself? Go to a library nearby if Richmond has none. Read! You will be surprised that with the right book in your possession, you’ll be asking for more hours in the day just to finish it.

    They need to stop blaming everyone else, but themselves! Also stop making excuses as to why your life isn’t going anywhere and make steps into changing it!

  40. I think that its a mixture of a bunch of factors. One is bad parenting or lack there of parenting. Without someone telling them right from wrong the kids reality is swayed by whatever happens, basically parents need to be more careful about what their kids see, hear, and say. Ive seen way too many video on youtube and facebook of people taping their kids cussing, dancing like sluts and acting a fool like its funny when its disgusting and they should be ashamed of themselves.
    Second it takes a village to raise a child, so as is its gonna be hard raising someone in a horrible environment, making sure your kids are off the street and going places they need to go is tough but it needs to be done. and people need to understand that what they do in public affects the rest of this world as well.
    Thats all for now, I’ll give more reasons later lol

  41. Its like that because the younger generation thinks its good to be thugs, or that because they grew up in a bad situation that they have to stay like that forever. Also to many people are so quick to pick up a gun. I lost my best friend that way.

  42. I live in the hood and I seen people fall victim to their environment and also I seen others achieve their goals despite their environment. I believe its all in theot upbringing and the positive people that’s in their loves whether its a friend a grown up or. them having same way safe to go. We need more safe places for our kids to go and

  43. i’m from south east dc which is one of the roughest areas in dc and if it really wasn’t for after school activities that kept me busy i dont were i would be and the fact that my dad is in my life he kept me focus on music and things that i loved my dad lived that hard core life and he refused to let me live that way i think when kids have things to do it takes our minds off of negative things im only 19 and ive lost alot of friends behind bullshit and its just not worth it i took the positive way out and ima continue to do that

  44. Pray for Haiti

  45. What up JD, I work in the SC school system and in the town in which I work there is definitely quite a bit of violence, crime that can be attributed to both the lack of things to do in the community as well as the lack of opportunity in the area as well. I believe its was said that there is a 76% illiteracy rate among both students and adults, and unemployment is pretty much sky high. There is a need for good teachers, and aside from sports the school system doesn’t offer anything else that encourages, or enriches the lives of our kids. So they seek to join gangs, and try to figure out a way to get money and to get it quickly. I have started up somewhat of a gentlemans club to try to at least reach the young men that I work with and let them know that their circumstance does not define the type of life or future they can have and even that gets little support from the community which is the same one that complains about the lack of education, responisibility, and drive of the young men today. As one person I know there is only so much that I can do, especially in trying to keep my job and be effective within the boundaries, but its like for the few that do take it seriously, its almost seem as if it were not for me making an attempt at being an example they would truly have none. Even in my quest to break into the music industry I try to show them my grind and behind the scenes and let them know that everything is not always easy and that to get anywhere in life its takes, vision, hard work and perserverance but Lord knows I have hit my share of roadblocks, and I do not hide them from my students as they also need to see me continuing to fight for what I believe in and not throw my hands up in despair. It would be awesome to be able to have someone like you and others come to this little place in which they feel that no one else in the world knows exists, and show them that one person can make a difference or that their lives are worth more than the things they are willing to lose it for in the street. It’s a constant struggle to get them to even pick up a book, let alone understand the importance of coming to school, and respecting those that show you respect and that are even trying to help you. I work at an alternative school and it takes some special people go come to work everyday in a place that is full of what most regular school teachers would call “those kids”, when many of them feel overwhelmed when there is just one on their class roster. The sad thing is that the kids know that many of the adults feel this way about them which makes them feel even more so like the victory can never be theirs. I personally try not to point the finger as I know its a part of life and not everyone is going to see or admit to the potential or greatness within you. I feel we should all stop wasting time pointing the finger and step up and be about creating the solution for the long run and not just with temporary fixes for people to quickly give up on, and I have made that the purpose for my music career, to be able to come back and rebuild not only the education system in my area but to build up community centers and create organizations that do just what President Obama’s campaign did for our country and that is to give them hope that regardless of how things may seem, its does not mean it will always be that way, and to encourage them as well as others to be a part of the change they desire to see. It’s not all good to be thugs, gangstas, criminals, hard, or ignorant. I want to encourage them to believe in themselves by believing in them and shining the spotlight on the good things that they feel never gets noticed because its always easier for people to tear them down, than to lift them up, many times even in there own homes. As a writer and hip-hop artists who has perservered through the unjust killing of my rhyme partner to the devestation that is and was Hurricane Katrina. To my students, seeing me not give up, not give in, not point fingers, or try to place the blame, but to continue on, with the dream, with the fight, no matter how hard the road may be, makes them look to me with both respect and admiration, and I just want them to see that whats in me is in them as well. Pardon my making this lengthy I guess the topic just hit a little too close to home for me. Either way…I just want you to know that although it is bad out here and I am sure in many places, there is someone out here trying to make a difference in a place where its needed, and not just sitting back pointing the finger at anything or anyone. Change starts with those who really want it. Appreciate you and anyone else who is taking the time to read this.
    Sincerely
    Ron Royal from SC
    Right Arm Music Group

  46. hell yeah, if da did them my brother mike would still be here today

  47. Im 21 and i can say that there isnt a lot out here for young male adults to do. But on the other hand you have to have money to do certain things when your a young man. As a young man i feel the responsibilty to be a role model to my younger cousins and friends. So to make my point i think it comes down to how much responsibilty you have for yourself and others in your community……never forget where you come from but don’t put your life in a box……:RR:….

  48. I’m from Richmond, Ca but to answer your question JD I feel like young cats now a day do stuff just to gain stripes in their hood or just to prove that they’re not to be messed with. Its messed up b/c ppl are losing their lives.. A lot of my homies weren’t able to live to see 24. I’m currently 21, I’ll be 22 this June & its crazy that over 20 of my homies or homies associates weren’t able to make it past the age of 24. Just sad

  49. Hell yeah I live out here in Maryland and it’s nothing to do the only thing they have out here is Six Flags you got to travel down southern maryland or VA to go to a water park or nice park. It seems like these kids have nothing to do and some dont do well in school so they cant get into any programs which leads to other things. I’ll tell you this story not to long ago actualy a few days before christmas where my grandma live nothing ever happens around there but it’s so tiny it’s like a box and it’s far away from everything and these boy’s were sititng on this lady car and her daughters were talking to the boys and so the son comes out tell them to get off his mothers car or else he will spray them now the boy was very troubled and I have known the family for a long time. And as the boy was walking up the stairs they shot him and killed him had the whole area (complex) on lockdown checking who comes in a nd out which was crazy cause they did it for nothing PGC police was not playing

    @nico 90’s baby 1990 all day I’m from south east too grew up there and still go around sometimes cause I have family that lives there and it is one of the toughest rough neighborhoods that you can ever grow up in I dont even know how I survived there. I always got into trouble around there and fights but it was also a lot of fun but my mom and dad moved us away into Maryland fast!

  50. JD I think that is part of the problem, but I would go on to say it is only part of a bigger agenda for destabilization of the world. No for real. It’s a dirty dirty world and the powers that be have been doing some really foul stuff with corrupt under-the-table policies, lack of funding, zone restructuring, creatively polluting minority communities as well as ones in the upper to middle class, and countless other psychological monstrosites. Of course many would not believe that there are real evil forces behind it all and after they slap the waters, the results and the people (in this case the youth) run on autopilot to the point of where we are now. I think it will only get worse, imo. How youth come up nowadays is just different from 20 years ago because the world is different from 20 years ago. I grew up in the N.O. and we had parks and centers everywhere but that didn’t stop the madness, clearly.
    The influences of many youth have been compromised, be it from parents, ball players, the music, the atmosphere. Somebody doesn’t want us to win, but hey….Thank God for the one who saved us from a complete blackout!

  51. Really the only reason people are shooting up people is because there is a lack of things to do in their community???thats a load of bull. Go help a local homeless shelter, read a book, do something positive not STUPID. I think thats a lame excuse and we as people can do better. We are supposed to be leaders not followers. We can’t lead if we are the ones being lead. This younger generation is our way to bettering the world we have now if not its only going to get worse. We should not have to sit and worry whether we are going to survive the day because such and such has beef with me or always worry will I be that innocent bystander who gets shot by a drive-by. If you have to go kill someone because you disagree with them or they are from the wrong side of town, maybe they even direpected you in the worst way then you must not be right with yourself. God said forgive someone hurts you turn the other cheek because when it all boils down to it we as individuals are going to be judged by God not the person on the wrong side of town. @mezzo92

  52. Yes sir this is exactly right I know in Huntsville during the summer the crime rate elevates alot due to the kids being out of school and nothin takin up there time something as easy as giving a child something to do can save so many lives

  53. I AM A YOUNG LIFER, and there aint much to do that dont put a hole in our pockets with the recession we in. anything that dont really cost money gets you into trouble. I BLAME IT ON THE ECONOMY

  54. It’s as simple as this when ppl don’t “have” they don’t want you to “have”….So if these poor communities had other options then alot of this crime and poor education would not be at the level that it is…..Think about it, ppl who live in the suburbs don’t steal from each other because they both “have”..
    JD your not stealing or trying to commit a crime against B Cox because you both “have”.

  55. I Grew up in Inglewood,CA………. In the 80’s and 90’s…….. That speaks for its self…….. I’m 25 now. Things weren’t any better then from now in the Hood. I went to college, and do very well for myself…. I no longer live in the hood either…… Its a few just like me. And the rest are dead or still in Jail……..

    If you don’t have anything to look forward to most will not try. If your parents aren’t involved, if your not interested in reading, if your not comfortable communicating, if your not socially active with people who want more; How will kids grow up to be successful………. Role models are so needed. Parents, Teachers, Business owners, celebrities, or just simple dreamers……… TV and video games are cool. But we cant rely on them to teach are youth…….. I was taught to be good at all I did. Sports, speaking, music, writing and to strive to be better than my peers……

    Peace and God bless,
    -Charm

  56. JD,

    There are always better things to do than kill each other. What has happened are that many of those of us in our 20’s were abandoned by our parents. Our parents were either out to get us everything they never had which created latchkey kids like myself. Or parents were strung out on crack. The affects of the crack generation of the late 70’s and 80’s is still affecting our community.

    I listen to Michael Baisden on my way home from work and he was talking about this on Tuesday. Parents abandoned those below age 30. Sitting down and having dinner with your kids and finding out how their day was, setting goals, checking in to see who your kids friends are. I was lucky to have a great family around me but many were not.

    Our previous generation of parents slacked up too much and now we have slid back and it will take another generatin to make up for their lack of effort.

  57. @princessashleyj

    thats what happen to me my dad moved to maryland when i was 14 i still didnt c the difference but it was a little better not to much caused we moved to pg

  58. yes thats the problem we are bless to live in places like miami atl and others etc maybe we can fund some fun things in those cities that are lacking maybe low cost things like block parties etc like when i was growing up in miami i saw many people that are celeb now in the park or just in the hood making the best out of what we have each one reach one

  59. Saying that there’s NOTHING to do but…is just a convenient,lazy, half-handed EXCUSE for people that don’t have the motivation to want to try to do better!
    I grew up in an area where there was “NOTHING TO DO BUT…” too, or so I thought, yet somehow I managed to find some more productive things to do with my time to better myself & my situation. If these young kats would try to take the initiative to actively seek out positive things that they can do, I’m quite sure they would find them. It is more likely that there are things in their community’s for them to do, but I bet that they are things that these kids consider CORNY or LAME & they just don’t want to do them because they’ll lose cool points wit their boyz *smdh*.
    My mother always taught me that whatever I want, I have to go get for myself because it’s not just gonna be handed to me on a silver platter.Maybe that is part of the problem; There are far to many absentee parents these days. They find no problem with not giving their kids enough positive attention because they are too busy, too tired, too overworked, or just plain old DON’T CARE. & Charm is right, other people that can potentially be mentors to these kids are likewise too busy, too tired, too overworked, or just plain old don’t care to…but they’re not really obligated to do that anyway, now are they???

  60. @nico 90’s baby 1990 all day Yeah thats where I live now in PG but where I’am now it’s very quite calm at first when we first moved to maryland we lived in landover that was crazy and then we moved out to crofton and then upper marlboro area and I have been living in this area ever since. Very nice and calm but things happen ever where so there is no escaping it but nah PG not too much better in some places

  61. It is true to state that youngsters are running the streets because there is nothing to do in their communities but I do not think that it is the lack of infrastructure that makes them turn to violence. In the past whenever there are economic downturns people become more frustrated and hence tend to act out these feelings on each other because it is more localized. They really cannot get to the root of the problem i.e. Government overspending and so forth so they go out on the street and hence have “beef” with their fellow compatriates.

    It also depends on the ethinicity of the individual and how they were raised if they are raised to seek hand outs as oppose to working for them, yes they are going to behave irrationally if hand outs are not forth coming. I think it is at this time that parents should play a pivitol role in the lives of their children because when society fails us as individuals we usually look to institutions such as the church or the family to help us cope. If these youngsters are not grounded and rooted in spirituality and their home life is shattered they will have no where to turn but to the streets.

    In this free market econony it is essentially the interest of a particular set of people who benefit, the man at the bottom is suffering and really hard too. The only socially mobile tool is that of education and even that is becoming more of a challenge with financial aid problems and these big banks giving these students’ loans at ridiculous interest rates and they are not even guaranteed a job. Its funny that this topic came up because in our reading for class this week it spoke of the idea of getting into higher education to “better yourself” but essentially when you get out you are fighting for that “good job” and essentially end up taking a low paying job just to get by. With things like this people do get frustrated and if you are not grounded you may fall into the trap of slinging guns on the street.

  62. I’m from northern cali and very familiar with Richmond, CA. Richmond has always been known to have the worst crime rates. From what the young brother says is true, but this has been going on for years, since my parents grew up in the bay in the late 70s. It is a revolving cycle and all I can say to those who are motivated to do something with their lives…stay positive…go to college…aspire to be great. Stay off the streets if you can!

  63. WHATS GOOD JD THE NAMES JIZZY AND IM FROM AIKEN, SC JUST TO GET TO THE POINT I BEEN SPITTING IN MY AREA FOR A GOOD 6YEARS NOW AND I JUST TURNED 19 IM NOT GETTING HEARD BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE I LIVE WITH A STRUGGLING MOM AND 6 SIBLINGS MY BROTHER IS 16 WITH 2 KIDS AND MY SISTER IS 15 WITH ONE IM THE BEST AND I KNOW IT AND MY CITY KNOW IT IM READY PLEASE CAN YOU HEAR ME THIS IS A BUSINESS AND I KNOW IT AND YES YOUR RICH BUT I SWEAR GIVE ME 3 MONTHS AND I CAN BE YOUR BIGGIE JUST HEAR ME OUT PLEASE MY NUMBER IS 1(803) 641-6574 IM ABOUT MY WORD AND LIKE THEY SAY YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND

  64. @TONGADUDE you said it all

  65. oooo now we talkin my area. and LIFERS THAT ISNT FROM THE BAY. thats real talk. thats why most folks out here rep area codes. its crazy tho. oakland, hayward, richmond vallejo fairfield san jose, any of those cities in between in minus frisco u goin down (my bad hunters point will kill or jump damn near anyone who visiting damn near) (hunters point is south frisco) and let me change what i said early. area codes cant really be mentioned anymore. now its about north bay which is santa rosa area, south bay san jose area, bay bay is oakland frisco hayward richmond pinole and east bay which is vallejo to vacaville.

    tuesday night someone died right off highway 80 because he was reppin fairfield and in a town called crockett. its crazy. and on REAL TALK level. JD AND EVERYONE WHO DOESNT KNOW. thats the real hyphy lifestyle. see the media mixed that word around with dumb and retarded. (which is actually club hit dancing ghost riding stunting having fun and whatnot) hyphy is always strapped hustlin fighting all that. so when someone out here is saying hyphy. something is gonna go down. its no joke out here. just like la, when u walk down 1 street u in the wood and a maybe what 10-15 blocks down ur in compton. well its the same way here minus no beef with colors clothes but where u from.

    its really sad its like that. when i was younger i dont think i ever gone a week without see folks get shot, jumped and beat down just because they from a city thats 2 miles down.
    now the reason i think its hard to survive at a young age. the most schools out here dont care. teachers dont keep there students in the books, making it kids fail drop out and have to fun the streets. parents out here do worry and care but theres only so much u can do, when u comes to keeping a real job and that good example up. slangin is the main thing kids be seeing and whats to copy that hyphy lifestyle.

    i mean back in the day (for me 5 years ago) street racing was a good event to go to. party before the race, race and then party after the race, now a days u gotta be packin heat or u may not leave on ur own power that night.

    and @Ravin trust me it isnt all the young people thats making shit go off. its alot of the ol gs out there too.

    richmond folks i give it to them, for the ones doing good out there and knows how to survive thats whats up, but its hard. everything in the bay is random. dont get me wrong i love my home, but shit is real crazy out here.

  66. oh sorry for not spell checkin lol i know yall lifers on twitter is gonna bust me out on that. so im ready for yall lol

  67. i forgot to add. for as big as the bay area is. everyone know someone that knows everyone. sometimes u dont have to rep a city but by the way ur street talk or just speech in general can come out folks will know where ur from. when people out here call out yeee. u will be able to tell where they are from by the way they say. i just had to add that in

  68. @Daniel Richerson
    we have all that. the theme parks museums, we have high paying jobs, the lack of parenting i cant even diss because parents get caught up in random stuff that doesnt even affect them. i wanna blame our majors and governor. they taking our parks and events away.
    @Casarae since u grew up here u know how much change has been going on for the worst.
    remember the bart cop that killed dude. since then folks been killin cops like nothing. and i duno if u heard but one dude killed like 4 cops and damn near all of oakland was praising him. that was what early last year

  69. OH YEAH MY LAST STRAIGHT RANT. WHY DONT U THINK VEGAS MAY NEVER HAVE ANOTHER ALL-STAR WEEKEND. (bay area folks startin reppin and shit started happenin)

  70. That’s how it is in CHICAGO AND THEY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO….. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ACTUALLY SEEN KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 OUTSIDE JUST PLAYING ? Now OF DAYS THEY JUST STAY IN THE HOUSE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND TRY TO LIVE OUT THE LIVES OF SOME RAPPERS..I DON’T UNDERSTAND IT , THEY REALLY THINK BEING A THUG IS COOL AND REAL THUGS DON’T LIKE BEING THUGS !!! IT IS CRAZY AND I ALWAYS WONDER WHY IS IT THIS WAY BUT THERE ARE REALLY NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO.. WE NEED MORE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS , COMMUNITY CENTERS , MENTORS AND PROGRAMS TO LET THESE KIDS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LIFE IS !!! REAL TALK !!

  71. IM FROM THE BAY SO I KNO ABOUT RICHMOND AND THE OTHER CITIES UP THERE. IM FROM BERKELEY AND NORTH OAKLAND AND I TOLD MYSELF WHEN I GET THE MONEY IM GOING TO OPEN UP TUTOR CENTERS AND A MUSIC SCHOOL TO HELP THOSE GET OFF THE STREETS. MY MOM MOVED US OUTTA THE BAY CUZ IT WAS SO BAD. YEA JD ITS REALLY BAD BACK HOME IN NOR CAL BUT I STAY PRAYING FOR THOSE UP THERE CUZ THATS MY HOME.

  72. I work in Richmond and yes what this young man is saying is sadly true though there are many new opportunities opening up for the youth in West Contra Costa County. At the center I work at we provide a safe and welcoming space for all youth. We have programming that was created for the youth by the youth of Richmond. Our programming is grounded in social justice values so we are not just getting the youth off of the streets but we empowering them to make positive change for themselves and their communities. Check out our website for more info http://www.RYSECENTER.ORG also in the bay are are organizations like youthtogether.net that do similar work in Richmond, Berkeley and Oakland. So change will come through the work of the youth. We will RYSE UP!!!

  73. I’M FROM OAKLAND, CA USE TO STAY IN RICHMOND TOO…N THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING TO DO AND ITS GOT SO BAD THAT THINGS DON’T SEEM LIKE THEY CAN GET BETTER…THE KIDS DON’T CARE N THE MANY ADULTS DON’T EITHER ITS SAD…I SUNG AT A PEACE RALLY IN RICHMOND ABOUT 30MINS AFTER 2 PPL WERE KILLED AROUND THE CORNER..WE NEED TO GET TO THE YOUNGER KIDS AND SHOW THEM NEW THINGS AND THAT IT IS HOPE N OTHER WAYS OUT…BUT THERE IS LIL TO NO SUPPORT OUT THERE….WE NEED MORE POSITIVE PPL LIKE U JD IN THE HOOD SPEAKIN TO THE KIDS PPL FORGET ABOUT THE BAY THO AND WE GOT. SOME OF THE WORSE CITIES IN THE AMERICA…WE REALLY NEED HELP OUT HERE IT AIN’T LIKE IT USE TO BE WHERE WE HAD PPL TO FIGHT BACK EVERYONE NOW IS EITHER SCARED OR DON’T REALLY CARE….

  74. that is def. the reason..there is only a certain amount of activities that are available to young people.
    i graduated h.s. two years ago and i can def. see the difference in the students from just 2 years ago!
    if your not on a sports team,popular or got something great going for you your chances of fucking up has just multiplied. i thank god i played basketball in h.s. so many more opportunities presented itself just because of who i know.

    and lets get on jobs…the recession is in full effect! so instead of the young people being able to get these minimum wage jobs after school and during the summer you have the older people on these jobs. no room for young people!

  75. @damemuzik
    thats mad truth right there, but dont forget how hard it is for ppl to listen out here too. i think the easiest way to get thru ppl out here is music. i mean thats only my opinion

  76. Hey JD,

    I’m from the Bay as well and I reside in Oakland, CA which is not too far away from Richmond. I honestly would blame it on the family structure that these kids are exposed to on a daily basis. Prime example my little nephew has just been arrested and sent to juvenile hall. He has just started high school and I think that he is at that point where he is trying to find himself. His dad passed away when he was a baby and his mother isn’t really tending to his needs. I think that she doesn’t realize how much he needs her right now. I don’t know if he is just crying out for attention, but if she tended to his needs a little more then he’ll probably be on the straight and narrow. It’s like nowadays parents only check for you when you get in trouble or go to jail. I’m like we already know that the powers to be don’t want Black men to succeed period, but we can’t give up on our Black men. We need to keep motivating them to succeed. Everytime I saw my nephew I always reminded him that he was going to college. I was even going to help him enroll in a Summer job program sponsored by the city of oakland. I just won’t give up!!! Point blank we can’t give up on our Black men. To get back to your original question I don’t think that it’s because they have nothing to do. That’s just an excuse. It goes back to the family dynamics and whether that person is pushed to succeed. I think that Oakland/Richmond area need more programs that offer mentorship/role models to young males. Obviously their role models aren’t your local postman’s or teachers.

  77. As I write this I hear shooting so close I want to put my kids on the floor. Yes a lot of killing goes on in the hoods because kids have no places to go, people who care and some are force to eat. Some don’t have parents who care or some just on drugs ,it can be many reasons but most of the time its kids that have it so bad in life and just stop caring! Its like in cities like Detroit people don’t care about us, how we live and kids see that so they give up! I have for kids and they never walked around the corner from our house, we been here 6years and the reason young kids waiting to rob other kids! Like baby gangs I no it sound crazy but its so real! People talk about helping other countries but what about the one they live in now? Money never get to the bottom, the gutter or ghetto as some may call it, it don’t reach us but when you turn on your t.v the famous people always talking about they helping us (where) I don’t see it! Its heartbreaking to live this everybody not looking for a handouts just a hand up! They say follow your dreams,go to school,you can do it all that but if you can barley eat, no clothes to wear and dam near homeless, how do you stay focus how? Its not many jobs some parents trying hard like me but still losing everything and the little we do have somebody ready to gun you down to take that because they are hungry! Soon my kids and I might be in the dark, homeless I ask for help but I can’t get nothing no kind of handup but do you think anybody listen that’s how some of the kids feel nobody listen! Nobody hear the poor its like we live in our own world but I say to all the rich folks when you die you can’t take your millions with so why not help the poor? Yes its your money but everybody can’t be rich you have a gift ,use your gift to help people who’s in need! Its like the poor heart beats but we ain’t living !

  78. Warning: I did not read previous comments… Too many lol
    Yes I think the raise of violence is because there isn’t enough for ppl 2do in their community that they can afford! Even when there is some kind of events planned for the minors they manage to start a fight that may end up in a shoot out day & night! Smh! I think there is so much lack of motivation… Parents losing jobs & acting cranky to the kids so kids leave the home & take their anger out some where! Parents need to remember they should set examples for their kids no matter how old the children are! Its hard to consider investing in smthing for the kids to do in my city bc the purpose of the event always end up derailed! I think if there were better relationships with parents & their kids it wouldn’t be so bad! But money is the root to destroying households & communities these day! Seriously!

  79. I really cant say to much about this topic because i come from a small ass town where there are more whites then blacks..im from tennessee in a lil town named harriman and its about 30min from knoxville(UT VOLS) and on the east side of knox is where the gangs and shit b really poppin off ppl die up there everyday on a street called Martin Luther King aint that some shit…but lil niggas where im from b tryna claim shit i guess tryna b like the knoxville niggas and i b shakin my head like why u really b in a gang for? they have the rags and everything and the dudes are around 17-18 years old and most of it i think is involved with family being in the gangs so the young cousins think they should b in it 2 but also some of the ppl claimin dont even know what the fuck they talkin bout and will prolly get they self killed doin stupid shit…i dont know if niggas wanna b hard or they think its cool… my question is whats so good about being hard?? plz answere that for me…

  80. @kinglovejoy Thank you!
    As one of the younger lifers, I really never feel the need to comment on any of the Talk to Me’s because most of it, I dont have much wisdom or insight on it to give a valid response. However, since im from Oakland and spent alot of my childhood in Richmond and Oakland and for most of my life, never even LEFT the bay area, I felt like I had to leave something. ITS NOT A LACK OF PROGRAMS, MUSEUMS, PARKS or any of that because those are EVERYWHERE in the bay. However, you cant go to a park in Oakland without seein somebody sellin drugs, seein dope fiens harrasing the kids or seein kids tryna have sex in the bathroom. EVERY SINGLE PARK! Programs are available, of course, but nobody goes to them unless its legit and not just another tax write off so people can say they did somethin “good for the community”. Even in the afterschool programs, the people that work there try to hang out with the kids. TRUST ME, I’ve been there. They’re just trying to get a paycheck. The thing is, people who are my age just dont give a damn! Why? because no one gives a damn about them. Most of the people I know, who are my age, 14-23, have family members and parents (If they even have two) who treat them like their just some person from down the street instead of their child. When I was in high school, alot of my friends would leave the campus just because they knew they could and nobody would care. They went to all the parties, sideshows and did whatever the hell they wanted to cuz they knew they could and half of their parents were right there with them, doing the same thing. I even know people who smoke weed and drink WITH their parents… Poppin pills and all of that. No one cares. You aren’t even really safe unless your in an area where people know you or you look like your from there. I remember one Christmas about 2 or 3 years ago when my neighbor had just came over to my house and an hour or two later, some kid across the street shot him just because he didn’t get anything for Christmas…. And the boy’s family was sitting right there in the house not caring that their kid was yellin at a grown ass man until they heard the gun go off. The MAJORITY of the deaths that occur in Oakland and Richmond are by gunshot. The sad thing is that Oakland is so much more popular than Richmond that people in Richmond started shootin random people to get their reputation up. I can’t go to Richmond and claim that im from Oakland because I’ll be an instant target. Nobody really knows how to stop it because its everywhere. There are those small amount of people who get out of that lifestyle but the young ones are so eager to get put on (sellin, gangs, prostitutin, everything) that its never any progress made. I know a 15 year old girl who said “I might as well do it for money” (yes, prostituting). People are too afraid of them to care enough to try to help or they just feel like its a lost cause and only worry about themselves.

  81. Oh, and I’m 19 by the way.

  82. Oh and let me correct myself.. The theme parks and museums are usually in the better neighborhoods =/…. Parks are all we have in the hood though and those are occupied with everything BUT kids.

  83. @damemuzik
    You are so right. People dont even fight anymore; they just shoot. Fighting shouldn’t even be condoned, but now its like everyone is praying that its all that it escalates to.

  84. Personally, i think that there are multiple reasons as to why children are running to the streets and beefing, but I think it all falls down to the lack of attention from parents. In the world today, with all the recession talk, parents are always thinking about making money and stressing about bills and work, and so they end up spending all their time at work and putting all their efforts into their work that they unintentionally brush their children off to the side. Children need to feel loved and be loved, they will always lack attention, and if they can’t get it from the parents and the parents cannot find the time to show interest then youth is gonna go get attention from elsewhere and unfortunately elsewhere is the streets…..YOUTH OF TODAY ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT MORALS OR VALUES.

  85. i think that happens all over the world in australia we dont have alot of shooting but u do see alot of teenagers in the streets at night up to no gud and i use to be one of them until i realise that it aint the way u shoudl live life……..if theres more things for teenagers to do theres most certain in my point of few that the crime will drop even if it is just alil bit

  86. I agree that in Australia we don’t have the everyday shootings but there is still the violence and the drugs and the kids just not caring about any one or anything.

    i have read most of these comments and all the stories are just blowing me away!

    It seems like it’s not about living for kids anymore,it’s just about surviving…

  87. What up JD. I’ve been waiting for you to bring something like this up for discussion.
    Check this out. JD you said that your “Idol” is Quincy Jones and when you were on the Monique show, you explained how much you wanted to be like him career wise. You had a dream and chased it you still feel that you haven’t reached your full potential yet. My point with that is, these young boys don’t have any aspirations anymore. I’m only 23 and I live in Kansas city. It’s mad boring out here. It’s alwasys the same thing going on out here, nothing to do, and niggaz be out here shooting and fighting because they think it’s the cool thing to do.
    Like you said JD in your last “Talk to me” video, what happened to niggaz wanting to be executives and all that? I remember when it was cool to want to be a lawyer, doctor, cop, in the millitary, dancer, teacher, writter, and so on. Now it’s cool to want to be a drug dealer, and killer? I never found that cool.

    Is it due to bad parenting? Not all situations because I’ve seen kids make it out of that and kids who don’t have parents making it to a better life. We can’t blame our enviroment either. I blame those who get out the hood and don’t come back to the hood because they feel that they are better than that. Where are the positive role models at? Seeing how tv and music is rasing the kids these days… eh enough said on that. Cats wana be rappers and moguls, but you don’t have to sell crack or shoot anyone to get to that point. Will Smith for example, LL Cool J, Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Dr. Dre. Or what about the inttlects, Erick Dyson, Cornell West. If tv is raising the kids then why aren’t they following these examples? Well thankfully no one is blaming hip hop. Well it’s just a matter of time.

    I can go on for days about this.

    Good one JD.

  88. monkey see monkey do. Point blank period. 9 times out of 10 if its in your surroudings growing up and your parental guardian allows you to be in such an enviornment then that’s what you going to end up doing when you get older.

    The jobs suck, and if you don’t sing rap or ball then niggas lose hope. College aint for everybody and the streets is always gonna be there so they choose the streets.

  89. Most importantly you gotta want it for yourself! your parents could do the most amazing job, but if u dnt wanna kno u gon end up on the negative side of things anyway.
    parents have an influence, yh children need stuff to do (read a damn book, if they aint no park), role models have a role in this too (nba stars on crazy money wit guns, rappers swapping jail cells, )

    the black community said there would be no excuse to screw up if we got a black president. but yet still yall got excuses!! if a kenyan black male can make president of America, wat odds are against you!

    education, is free ( quallity of it mite not be the best, but do the best get a scholarship)
    thik bout the young boy in rwanda without parents looking after his 3 sisters and tryin to attend school everyday! 10 yrs onhe succesful and accomplished. wtf is your excuse american child in the first world, with a roof over your head !!!!

  90. Yes, young folks don’t have enough positive activies available to occupy their time…and this recession isn’t helping because nothing is FREE for them to do or even being offered at cheap rates. Not to mention this perception that’s it’s “cool & the thing” to do messing around in this foolishness that’s goes on in the streets. Just unfortunate how many of our young men we lose every year to the grave and jail and then you have nothing but a bunch of broken homes and single Black women….when will the cycle end??…it IS 2010 and after all

  91. Im sorry to say,its not just over in america, im from Ireland & theres a big gang war going on at the moment. Its not only in Dublin now, the whole country is gone gun crazy. And its got worse since the recession. I dont honestly know if its about nothing for the kids to do. I come from a dangerous part of the northside of dublin, but i didnt get involved in anything like that, i played soccer & went to the gym, theres lots to do if you put your mind to it, dont always have to turn to crime. It depends on the upbringing & the type of person you are.? I know theres a big difference between here & there, but thats just my opinion. Just want to say R.I.P. to all the people who died in the Haiti earthquake yesterday. Im praying for you all.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  92. i forgot to add early.
    i see alot of people talking about join after school activities and sports. as a former football player in highschool that hasnt stopped the streets from entering. ive seen shootings happen in football games, gangs will come to ur football practice and wait for u get out.
    i mean check this out. last year a kid that was going to be on the city board was shot and killed
    for goin on a date with his girl in fairfield california. the man had no problems with no one. some dude just picked him out on random and killed him.

    the gangs out here always want someone thats active, and if you rejected them it can get personal.

    just like what @kuhmilLTL said
    all the parks have some type of crazy activity going on. it could be mid day
    u still will see something happen. cars get stolen right out ur garage even.
    ive lived in the bay area most of my life, im not old only 24 but as a 80s baby, and
    90s kid, i think can ive seen a lot goin on out here.

    i remember when i was younger i used to fight right infront of my house with my parents inside. until someone broke it up.

    @9090bt
    ur right education is free, but out here a ass whippin is free to. its hard to plan things out here. lot folks dream about college but we have the teachers that doesnt give a damn about there students, they just want the pay check. some teachers just pass there students with ds just so they dont have to deal with the stress of seeing them the following year.
    i really wished my parents put me in private school so i could of got out of here.

    oh yeah im a biker. and even for us riding the streets is dangerous. ive seen folks throw pips at those riders for wearing patches, i think the only people that really dont get messed with is what the hells angels and the triads.

  93. I think having nothing to do is a part of the reason for a lot of crime but what also causes alot of crime is education,when there are poor education systems it breeds violence and negitivity like drugs,gangs etc.If you look at the cities with the most killings/violence,gangs,drugs and just all around crime 9 out of ten chances the school system is messed up.A failing education system on top of a failing goverment mixed in with lack of resources is the recipe for self destruction.When you have kid who is not properly educated they cant compete with the rest of the workforce with jobs,whichs means they will go to what they know best gangs or drugs.So i think if you want to stop a lot of crime start with the schools.

  94. Man JD I’m from the bay and I see it everyday Vallejo, CA And I definently agree that, that’s pretty much what it is, is that these youngsters is bored, and tryna get money. They don’t know how to get it the regular 9-5 way, so they have to hustle, but because hustling can get boring, because you not supposed to be doing it anyways then that causes them to do so! Too much Idol time, and not on that Ocean’s shit! Everybody tryna be hard, instead of taking care of their buisness, and getting right wit the man upstairs!

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