Black People : What is your idea of a stronger, black community?

[Queenie]

Peace,

If you want a stronger black community then start by teaching the babies. Not the nonsense taught to our babies by people who don't act or look like us, but the truth. Old people are not going to change so the change has to start with the young. Learn the truth then teach the truth to the youth. If they can reach adulthood and have full understanding of how things work in this country and the world then you might start seeing the results you're looking for.

Peace

I was with u up until the highlighted sentence. Don't assume that "old people" won't change. It's not about age but a mindset and older people are capable of changing through increased knowledge and understanding. Also, who did you have in mind would teach the "truth" to the youth? Like our youth, old people should not be throw-aways. Many of us have wisdom that is important to pass on to our youth and I strongly support a culture that values and respects its elders. IMO, the young and the old are extremely beneficial and necessary to each other. Until science and medicine prove otherwise, you can't have one without the other.

 

[houserunner]

If you want a stronger black community then start by teaching the babies.

This is what I am definitely in agreement with. Make sure your own is on the right path before trying to conquer a collective.

 

[Precise Allah]

I was with u up until the highlighted sentence. Don't assume that "old people" won't change. It's not about age but a mindset and older people are capable of changing through increased knowledge and understanding. Also, who did you have in mind would teach the "truth" to the youth? Like our youth, old people should not be throw-aways. Many of us have wisdom that is important to pass on to our youth and I strongly support a culture that values and respects its elders. IMO, the young and the old are extremely beneficial and necessary to each other. Until science and medicine prove otherwise, you can't have one without the other.

Peace,

We all have our target audience. It's a numbers game and in the interest of using time wisely, I target the young, where the opportunity to teach is more prevalent. Sure there may be 1 or 2 old people out of a thousand who might have some interest in growth and development but lets keep it real, that's a small minority. Most people of considerable age (and even many younger people) feel like they know enough and in some cases feel like they know it all. These are not the people who're going to fix anything. They'll maintain the status quo either by desire or straight up ignorance.

You are correct in that it is a state of mind however that state of mind (which is actually open to expansion) exists in much higher numbers among the young. This isn't to say that old people should be left to their fate if they want change. That's not what I'm saying at all. What I'm saying is you won't meet many who feel that way, and you'll meet even less who are willing to work for it if they do feel that way. That's my experience anyway. If they want what I have I'll show them the way but I'm not kicking over rocks and pulling up logs looking for them.

Those who will teach the truth are the ones who know the truth. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages. One thing they all have in common is a consistent desire for growth, development and self mastery. Another thing they have in common is a desire to pass it on. Again, in my experience these are traits much more easily found among the youth. So ultimately I guess it comes down to who you want to deal with. If I had to choose between a success rate of 1:20 or 1:1000, I'm going with the better odds.

Peace

 

[Destee]

We all have our target audience. It's a numbers game and in the interest of using time wisely, I target the young, where the opportunity to teach is more prevalent.

Brother Precise Allah ... Peace and Blessings,

I have to agree with Sister Queenie above, and am wondering if the youth are your own personal target audience, or the target audience of the NGE. I realize that this is not an NGE thread, but you are (along with Sister Bootzey) the "go to" people for the NGE in this community, speaking on it often ... and i'm wondering ... is this position one that the NGE encourages and supports ... targeting primarily the youth.

I think it's a flaw not to try and embrace all of us, young and old, rich and poor, all of us.

That is, if the endeavor is meant to help us all.

I mean ... how can we create a stronger black community, leaving out any major group of us.

I agree that it's more challenging to consider everyone, trying to embrace everyone, but if healing and embracing the whole is the goal, there's no way around this hard work.

It makes me wonder if there are elders in the NGE, if only the youth are targeted.

Is there no place for the elders, if you have such negative preconceived ideas about them.

How can you target the youth, when they come directly from the elders, while pushing the elders to the side.

It just doesn't seem like balance to me ... youth would not exist ... without elders.

I agree with NNQueen ... and am really just talking out loud i think ... no need to answer all of my concerns ... it's just that there is always such balance to your responses, presence, sharing, etc., and this doesn't seem to match that ... but i could be wrong and i'm sure you'll correct me if i am.

Love You!



Destee

 

[Keino]

more building, less destroying