URBAN NIHILISM
The African American EpidemicHave you heard about the nihilistic threat that affects our African American community? Urban nihilism is a social disease that permeates African American communities and can only cause destruction to ourselves and youth. We need to stop the spread of this detrimental illness, which leads to the downfall of our society, for the betterment of our community. This disease is the "loss of hope, and absence of meaning" in our communities (West,458). "The self-fulfilling prophecies of the nihilistic threat is that without hope there can be no future" (West 458). Issues that affect our future, range from the glamorization of the street/gangster life, the absence of parental guidance, to the lack of education in the African American communities. Unfortunately in today's society, the gangster life is glamorized. Media influences such as; TV shows, movies, and music lyrics
They begin to sell drugs, steal, or commit other offenses in order to attain desired material possessions. The glamorization of the gangster lifestyle, absence of parental guidance, and the lack of education lead to a self-destructive and bleak outlook of our people. This means selling drugs or hustling for the quickest way to attain valuables. Many people growing up poor see this lifestyle and find a way to live it. There is an abundance of youth that hope for a real sense of family and belonging. This gangster lifestyle can only hinder their lives and cause crime and suffering in our communities. We as a society need to become conscious of the way we raise our youth. Some people believe that it takes too much time to gain an education. Instead of planning for long term goals, short term goals are thought of and much more desired. In the song "Str8 Ballin" by Tupac Shakur he states that he would "rather die making money than live poor and legal". This also causes us to have a weakened culture because there is no firm, solid family unit. If the media and parents would take responsible actions to teach the children and encourage them to have goals and live an orderly life, urban nihilism would be less of an issue in today's society and future generations. Many of our youth join gangs to fulfill this gangster or street life. This hinders the community by creating drug addicts and youth that end up in jail instead of high school and college.
Common topics in this essay:
African American,
Tupac Shakur,
American Epidemic,
african american,
african american communities,
today's society,
american communities,
lack education,
urban nihilism,
guidance lack education,
parental guidance,
absence parental guidance,
parental guidance lack,
guidance lack,
nihilistic threat,
term goals,
gain education,
|