My time at Southern University has been a wild rollercoaster ride at minimum. From being up late during layout nights with lifelong friends, to learning my role as an educated black male, Southern has had a big impact in my life.
With that said, Southern also has unfortunately fed into my Nihilist view of society.
Like I said a few issues ago in my opinion “Obama is neither MLK or God: he’s a Politician,” I feel that the U.S. government is BS and I’ve come to realize that maybe a career in U.S. government corruption starts in student government.
For example, while George W. Bush and company have bent over backwards for the oil industry and even started a war for it, Southern’s SGA president has done the same for an attempt at Greek letters through a certain appointment and e-mails promoting their events.
Here’s a better example; while our U.S. tax dollars go to exotic beach paradise vacations and multimillion dollars houses for many politicians instead of helping make better schools and roads better, SGA, through the years, have paid people’s rent and insurance, and sent their significant others to conferences across the nation, instead of giving students a better homecoming or more events for students who stay on campus.
What’s even crazier to me is that no one has the testicular fortitude to stand up against the corruption and those that do are seen as nut-jobs anyway. Look at Cynthia McKinney, who introduced articles of impeachment against Bush and the dude that tried to do the same against our SGA president.
It’s also interesting on how the media that exposes the BS of both governments is seen as unbalanced or bias.
With all of this, my distrust of both SGA and the U.S. government has long been justified and being at Southern has only deepened this.
Being the urbanite and hood boy I am (raised on 82nd and Crenshaw which is Inglewood Families gang area), Greeks in my opinion are gangs, especially with colors and signs plus hazing—where I’m from is called gang initiation. Hell, they both have dances; Crips/Bloods have the Crip/Blood-walk, and Greeks step in their own way.
Any OG from way back will tell you that the purpose of black LA gangs back in the day were to protect it’s own people from police corruption and take over from other ethnic groups. With that said, I don’t have to tell you about what they’ve become. To me, the same goes for Greeks too; they started as a way to bring collegiate blacks together and now have divided so many—plus they seem kind of elitist.
Even teachers have taught me something: either fall in line or fail. This works the same way in the real world when you get that first post-graduation job. No matter how wrong a teacher is, let it go and move on, because unless there is another teacher who teaches that class, they hold the key to you graduating. This works the same way in the corporate world; do what the boss says or get fired and it’s easy as that. Unless you can find another job easily, fall in line. You can’t win every battle in the real world.
It’s interesting how we live in this bubble of being an undergraduate and not understanding how we mirror the real world until graduation. Because to me, some of the things that go on at Southern really worries me about the real world. But like the real world all is not hopeless, there are good people here who really care which gives me hope.
As my final advice to students, don’t be afraid to be different and speak your opinion but sit back and think about your approach. Don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid to expose the corruption in your government. Don’t be afraid to say enough to the violence in our community and don’t be afraid to even fight against some of the worst teachers this school has to offer….. just be smart about your approach.
I will miss Southern, but...
Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2008
13 comments
Legions of young African-American males matriculate through every facet of society clad in oversized jeans and slacks, hemlines situated well below their waistlines unabashedly revealing undergarments that were originally designed for hygiene purposes. I recently was met by a food service worker at a local Burger King who wore his pants well south of the border with his behind covered by his BK shirt that was anchored by a belt fastened near his knees, and with a visor that adorned his head turned southward. In a droll, flat voice, he intoned, “Kin I hep you?” I assured him he could help me by finding someone who was more appropriately attired!
That said, I submit that when ‘sagging’ first appeared on the horizon many of us viewed it as a fad. We thought it would turn out to be a transitory blip on the radar. The fashion statement fomented by urban music mogul industrialists has endured for more than a decade and has found sanctuary in communities marginalized by socio-economic constraints, low achieving schools, sub-standard infrastructures, and unemployment.
Somewhere along the way a sub-culture has been created. We are hapless witnesses to a social experiment gone awry. Ensconced in our collective social experience is a generation of youngsters whose value systems are so skewed and moral compasses so subverted that they see nothing wrong with adorning $200 vehicles with $2,000 wheels, and $4,000 sound systems that blare misogynistic lyrics that degrade and debase black women.
I suggest that local governmental and educational entities have the wherewithal to address this lamentable situation. Blacks hold majorities on both the City Council AND the School Board in my hometown of Monroe, Louisiana and as such control the purse strings on millions of dollars. Pro-active governance could conceivably contribute to the reclamation of neighborhoods that have been disenfranchised by the disparate dispensation of revenues. Use resources to prepare our babies for a global economy that has become so diversified that only those with an education can successfully compete. Use legislative will to create environments that are conducive to economic development initiatives. Create safety zones where people can walk and bike without having to negotiate with vehicular traffic.
Empirical research has shown us that the centerpiece of any attempt to develop viable economic communities has to be EDUCATION!
When unemployment goes down, the britches will come up!
I do know, for a fact, that Southern's nursing program is one of the best in our nation. Why ? Because the nursing program's teachers know how to teach ...and nursing is a very difficult profession.
The whole is equal to the sum of it's parts. It's easy to write an article placing blame, but it takes more than guts to change an entire system of government....."Southern" is simply a microcosm of our entire state.
Remember Blanco's saying " Louisiana...Come as you are...Leave different". That statement can be taken many different ways. Many are doing just that...LEAVING. It's not just "Katrina" that is forcing the issue,but our entire way of thinking here.
Be a beacon in your field...lead others. Take what you have learned and keep learning. Nobody is forcing you to stay in Louisiana. Expand your horizons,and yes, one man CAN change the world..but it does take guts.
Find your niche.....and always reach beyond what you feel that you can actually achieve. An education does not guarantee us anything any more.
"To thine own self be true". and if you can read this, thank your English teacher. The one in elementary school....the one who tried to give her all so that you would have this opportunity.
I agree with the New Orleans teacher..."All is not lost". Continue to learn,as college is just the beginning. Now the school of life begins....and it's not pass or fail...but it is difficult and challenging.