Can't Knock the Hustle.... or Can You?
Our young Black people have recently started a movement and I must admit that I have in the past, seemingly given up on these babies. I’ve told myself at times, “the youth these days have no regard for life”; and while I may still find that to be the case, at some point we must ask and figure out why. Once we can figure out that mystery, we can then begin to resurrect this regard for life.
In my opinion, the consistent factor behind all the senseless killings and violence taking place in our communities is money. There’s too great of a demand for it, but not enough of a supply of it; and in the slums and ghettos throughout America, people are looking for a way to eat (see hood definitions coming soon). Without legit jobs to provide a means of living for our families, young Black males and sometimes females too, resort to “the game”. This game of which I speak is one where unlike most games, such as an athletic contest, game of poker or chess, or even this game of life, there are no clear winners. Although the drug dealer may appear to be winning, as he is making a means of providing for “him and his”, it comes at the cost of putting poison into someone else’s body, leading to their demise.
But, it seems like “the trap” (hustle) was created within this game of life, and for hustlas (drug dealers), it’s just like any other 9-5 gig in corporate America, in their minds.
The position in which many African Americans inherit in life is one of struggle. In a way, resorting to dealing drugs is being somewhat resourceful, but it’s just using the wrong resources to hurt the wrong people; all people. Many people say they can’t respect drug dealers because they are killing their own people, but typically in their circumstances they don’t even internalize the hurt they are imposing upon others. They are just making a living. They need to wake the …. up though!
But, you ever choose to think about it like that America; that these young “thugs” as they call them are surviving the best way they know how, given the lack of resources to which they have inherited? And no, no, no, I don’t condone the hustle not one bit, but it exists, so rather than so quickly dismiss those that choose to live this lifestyle, why not delve deeper and figure out why and if there’s a possible means to alleviate the “why”.
At this point though, I wonder if we’re too far gone to give up the hustle. After being afforded a certain lifestyle for so long, which is afforded by the game, diverting back to a legal hustle, aka 9-5 job may not be so desirable to some. Will these most times, decent human beings be willing to accept a new lifestyle, void of the constant paranoia associated with the game?!?! That’s a good question! Some will be too addicted to the money, excitement and lifestyle that it affords. Others may decide to take advantage of this escape from the lifestyle; but who knows!!!
Now of course, we as a people have many systemic conditions that are rooted in the self- hatred to which we have been subjected over centuries of legal abuse, but besides that to me, basically the only other factor that could get someone so angry that they feel the need to shoot the next man, is money (well…. also love, which is another drug and we can’t forget mental illness too). But, if we could only take away the need for the hustle and put Black people back in positions of wealth, equal to our (cultural? ethnic? counterparts) and in a regal manner imitative of our rich and royal African History, we wouldn’t need the hustle.
Whether this type of change happens through the award of land, jobs or overall opportunity, it would create a lot less criminals and therefore crime on our streets (not all, but less). When people aren’t so concerned with knowing if and from where their next dollar is coming, they won’t need to engage in so many divisive acts.
