To live an American dream, means that we are living in a world where anything is possible. From becoming a superstar, to being the top Surgeon in the country. But it also a means now, that we as Americans, especially the minority, aspire to be the “baddest” chic, or even worse, the most hardcore, hood person the world has ever seen…something we’ve all come to know  too well in Chicago.

As we await to hear the verdict on the teacher’s strike, we also await to see what will be left to occupy the children as the push for the only thing they have left to keep them from turning to the streets…

well…

at an earlier hour.

We are a known city. For our skyscrapers, artists, President…and our violence. But the violence, unfortunately, trumps everything. For those who’ve had the horrifying pleasure of waking up to bodies on their front porch of those who they’ve never seen until that moment, to others who were innocently attending a party, football game, or even playing in the park. What people outside of Chicago have yet to realize is that what happened with the young rapper last weekend, happens on a daily basis here in Chicago. People that make remarks like the now known rapper, Chief Keef, are also an everyday response…the lack of empathy for something that is greater than either of them.

The point, the hood isn’t where you should aspire to live. To showcase the worst areas in America, and explain  why people act the way they act, and why they have seen the things they have seen, were used to encourage the world and unify a community in the 80′s and early 90′s. But for instance, when NWA showed exactly what it was they were dealing with, and how they dealt with it, it had a two-fold effect on America as we know it, as well as the rap game in itself. To show what the “system” has thus instilled, or lacked in, thus achieving respect through fear. The plus and the minuses of a lifestyle. Go figure.

Violence has become a sense of valor and honor…but you get mad when a teacher scolds your child? Tries to instill the morals and values that most of us were raised up on, and even trying to give your children a dream comes at a cost. A teacher, will always be a second parent to a child. They WANT you to be better, well…most do. The want you to be GREATER than where you are now. Teachers PUSH you, because someone PUSHED them. Why are the teachers on strike? Its simple. The city isn’t paying them enough to put up with the insolence, nor be evaluated on what the child isn’t ALLOWING them to do.

I’ve had the opportunity to be a mentor, but to also watch children interact in a school setting today, and its not easy. Its not. Not every kid gets the encouragement they need, so they seek that at school, or are too hurt and frustrated to realize that someone at school does care. SO again, its two-fold.

Either way, spend time with your kids. You’re upset about this strike, go stand with them and find out what the issue is. You’re upset about the violence in the city, use what happened to your cousin, your daughter, your brother as a means to clean this up. I read an article in reference to the deceased rapper, and in the article the mother stated she didn’t really even know what he was out here doing. True or not, I encourage you to be better…today.

***********PHOTO CREDIT- courtesy of google images, nymag, vintechnology, Salon.com************