It's no secret that I like J. Cole's music ( #FRFR). J. Cole's music for me takes hip hop to level of the griot experience. But this isn't a review. It's a reminder.
Our urban youth are facing challenges every day that some try to pretend are invisible. Many of us are more concerned with whether Nene from "Real Housewives of Atlanta" will return next season. We're more concerned whether Olivia Pope (a fictitous character) saves the "Grant" presidency. We can't wait to here Wendy Williams do "HowYouDoin" and bring us up to date on today's juicy celebrity gossip, I mean that's cool, we all need entertainment.
So when I see an artist like J.Cole make this great song "Micheal" and David Simon makes a great show "TheWire" and this videographer TEEMONG all bring pieces together to remind us of those who are facing real challenges (not Olivia Pope challenges), our youth, I really have to bring that to yalls attention.
This scene where the young kid (Micheal) turns down money for school clothes from the area kingpin (Marlo) is a telling statement of the day to day goings on in American urban communities everyday. Micheal (who is a drug dealers out of survival) has to take care of 2 small kids with a friend. He makes it a point on the show that the kids see him go to school to make sure they continue to want to go to school. This scene of him walking with the young ones to school is a reminder for me (and hopefully others) of the real Micheal's (and Michelles) out there who do this in real life every day as they strive to rise above their situation.
As we see more young people attacked by the police, not out of racism but fear, ignorance and meaness, we as a community have to make it a point that we give the Micheals and Michelles their chance to be rewarded for their perseverance.
Let's come together as adults to at least one day out of the week celebrate and assist the Micheals and Michelles of the world in helping them rise above their situations. If all of us just notice one at a time, guess how much of a difference that will make. And then you can go back making sure "Olivia Pope and her Gladiators" save the fictitious Grant presidency.
I'm ReggieRedd and (#IHope) this is #CommonSenseOnComplexIssue
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