A woman asked Plato why are youth out of control ? He replied
that youth are out of control because adults are out of control and youth observe then
emulate their behavior.
Even during the revolutionary 60s, the militants, who are the
fathers and mothers of today’s youth, were guilty of
contradictions, or saying one thing but doing another. They talked black power
but went home to beat their wives and women. They preached discipline but were
guilty of drug abuse and abuse of power. Much of our behavior was
patriarchal white supremacy actions that debased women, considering them less
than human.
Of course we learned this behavior from our white supremacy
socialization. True enough, there were many good things we learned and achieved
during that time, and many sincere and honest people gave their lives for the
cause of freedom.
But if we had been of sober minds, we would have been able to
detect agent provocateurs and snitches. We would have been able to see through
the US Government’s counter intelligence program or Cointelpro. With sobriety
and discipline, we might have been able to show our children
better examples of male/female relations, and perhaps today’s youth would be
more respectful of women, elders and peers.
The woman asked Plato what can be done today to reconnect with
our children ? Plato said we must embrace them with unconditional love and do
not abuse them, physically, sexually or otherwise. Do not show them
contradictory behavior, saying one thing but doing the opposite.
We must not say we are about freedom, yet make their mothers
slaves in the home, treating them with abuse that the children observe. Many
children have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves. They are without
mother or father. Many are living in foster homes, the result of parental drug
and sexual abuse.
Adults must stop being predators and instead be mentors and
guides. The youth want and seek our wisdom, but we must reach out to them
because many are terrified of us just as we are terrified of them. It is communal
insanity when we allow children to rule our community, making us afraid to go
outside at night, afraid to go to the store.
But we can only take back control of our community by
reconnecting and embracing our children, no matter how painful it is for us and
them. We must make amends to them for our wickedness and then demand of them
the same.
Yes, they must apologize to the elders they have harmed and
disrespected. What we are talking about is the urgent need for a healing
session between youth and adults, a time and space where we can gather to admit
our mistakes and promise to do better now and in the future.
We must, youth and adults, swallow our pride and reconnect. We
cannot allow the chaos to continue because we know things go from bad to worse,
if we do not address the issues. Nothing is going to change until we change our
thinking and actions. We must rise up from animal to divine. The tide
is turning because you are turning the tide!
Mothers and fathers who are separated must come together for the
sake of their children, if only for a moment. When children see parents
reconciling, they will do likewise. No matter the pain of the past, adults must
show the way to community unity.
Why shouldn’t youth resort to violence, after all, they see adults resolving
their conflicts with violence? Adults cannot get out of our responsibility to
show the way, to guide and mentor. Every youth is our child, thus our
responsibility to show the right way.
Give youth a chance, support them when they are selling items
other than dope, such as DVDs, CDs, gear and other items to get their hustle on
in a legal way. At least they are not killing to make a dollar, so reach out to
them. Hug a thug before the thug hugs you!
The woman seemed to understand the wisdom of Plato. Although
frustrated to the max, she said she would try to reach out to youth, rather
than simply complain about their behavior and shortcomings.
from The Wisdom of Plato Negro, parables/fables, Marvin X, aka
Dr. M, Black Bird Press, Berkeley, 2012.
Why not invite him to your city for a reading/conversation?
510-200-4164.
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