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| Professor Locs |
Recently, some Wisconsin youth at a state fair participated in a flash mob scene. Eric, who asked News radio 620 WTMJ not to use his last name, recalled incidents he witnessed that night: “I looked toward the bridge, right before you get on the freeway, and all I saw was a road full of black kids, jumping over people’s cars, jumping on people’s hoods, running over the top of them.”
It seems most of the violent behavior at the fair was being directed at white patrons. Some say the incident was motivated by hip-hop music being played at the fair. I found this to be ridiculous that people actually think that black youth have some Pavlovian response to rap music, especially considering that the featured artist at the Wisconsin State Fair was M.C. Hammer, an artist known more for his mainstream appeal. (“Don’t Touch This” and genie pants do not exactly inspire an enraged state of mind.)
Philadelphia has also seen a recent rise in flash mob activity. More than 50 teens were arrested there after a city curfew crackdown was implemented. This was Mayor Michael Nutter’s response to prevent future incidents. The curfew sweep in Philadelphia included the arrest of youth as young as 11 years old.
Really, people, where are the parents and how and why is an 11-year-old child roaming around the city after 9 p.m., unescorted by an adult?
Mayor Nutter berated the out-of-control black teens in a public rant: “You have damaged your own race,” he said. “If you walk into somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won’t hire you? They don’t hire you ’cause you look like you’re crazy.”
We have observed similar behavior right here in Charlotte as black youth chose to show up and show out during an uptown event. There have been some positive initiatives like the one by a local group of African-American men calling them selves “Men Who Care Global.” They want to model the behavior of how a group of African-American men can and should act in public.
While I applaud their efforts, I must also ask is this enough?
According to dictionary.com, a flash mob is defined as: a large group of people mobilized by social media to meet in a public place for the purpose of doing an unusual or entertaining activity of short duration.
The term “flash mob” has historically been linked to a group who wants to gather and make political and cultural statements and/or share artistic exchanges. So when did this concept get warped into the act of rebellious youth acting out in violent ways? And more specifically, when did the term become synonymous in the media with black youth showing out like they have absolutely no home training?
I spoke with my colleague, Professor Thomas Cooper, who teaches sociology, and he explained that we have seen this type of flash-mob behavior before, beginning in the ’70s when urban youth would go “wilding.” Wilding is when a group of youth would go out and participate in aggressive and destructive behavior. It’s kind of like spring break but without MTV as a sponsor.
Professor Cooper went on to explain that there should be shared responsibility between judicial agencies like the police and grassroots leadership within the community. This reinforces the community as advocates rather than adversaries.
I have said before that some black youth not only understand the “thug” stereotype but also have chosen to embrace it. Why? Because they know that people fear them and it gives them a warped since of power. Think about it; if they are young and feeling disenfranchised, receiving even negative attention is better than feeling invisible and hopeless.
There needs to be a revolution of thought and action, especially among African-American adults.
I recently read something someone posted on Facebook concerning the flash-mob mentality. They suggested that adults should use similar tactics. Now this strategy is not for the fainthearted, Dr. Spock, time out, get in touch with your inner child, Maury Povich help me my child is out of control type of authority figure.
No, guys, we need to tap into our community and cultural resources. We need to bring back the belt-wielding Uncle Shortys, Aunt Lucilles, Big Mommas and old-school paddle-packing teachers, principals and coaches. So the next time an unruly group of youth decides to organize a flash mob scene, they are met by a seasoned flash force of disciplinarians ready to take it to the butt.
Maybe if the youth see that not only are we unafraid but that we are also prepared to execute some public home training, maybe then they may not feel so disenfranchised.
How is that for a brief but culturally entertaining exchange?
I am being somewhat facetious, but I welcome your thoughts on how best to take back our children?
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