An Editorial Rebuttal

In response to last week's editorial, I feel it is my duty to respond and rightly put a face to an oft-ignored group of Black males. I appluad the Banner for taking an counter-perspective at the youth 'epidemic' by honing in on the root implications a sound educational foundation provides and highlighting some of the good that comes out of the local Black community. Yet, with every brush stroke there are bound to be errant drops of paint. If we paint of picture of youth that uses the word "some", but essentially seems to apply to everyone, then its meaning loses impact, in my humble opinion.

I am hip-hop. I live it and breathe it. But I also studied hard and sought out academic success. I recited lyrics and wrote essays into the wee hours of many a night. I love how the invocation of self-awareness and academic achievement is suggested as the key solution to stemming the tide of inferiority complexes of disillusionment pervasive throughout the community. However, in the accompanying editorial cartoon, the premise that the two worlds of hip-hop/streets smarts and academics/book smarts do not converge is grossly off-base and not an accurate reflection. I have come to expect - not tolerate - such misrepresentation of hip-hop culture from the larger media outlets. But the Banner shoudl know better. I do not think it is a matter of taking a different road, but more of taking the road less traveled. It is a cliche used many times before, but the two worlds do co-exist. Just like not all Black people are criminals or good dancers, not all Black and Latino youth are ill-informed, illiterate gangsters. Only proper representation, awareness, and acknowledgement of the youth voice will enable us to work collectively on addressing the face our communities.