ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997 TAG: 9702250053
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF ARTIS
AS THE END of Black History Month approaches, the Roanoke chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference is hopeful that young people of all ages, races, religions and socioeconomic levels will take the time to re-evaluate their role in the development of America's social, economic and political thought.
We are particularly hopeful that young African-Americans engage in this self-examination. It is our hope that our young people will focus on the roles that self-determination, personal responsibility and accountability, the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, and the refusal to engage in self-victimization play in determining the future of the black community.
We call upon our young black brother and sisters to stop the drugs. Stop the killing. Stop the gangs. Stop using guns. Stop dropping out. Stop engaging in the many forms of self-destructive behavior many of you engage in. Stop using race, poverty and single-parent households as an excuse to fail. Stop calling those young black men and women who are striving to be successful, sell-outs and Wanna-Be-White-Kids.
Most important, stop listening to those who tell you that you are no good, that you are doomed for failure, that you can never be successful. Stop listening to those who never want you to leave the cult of irresponsibility.
It is the hope of the SCLC that our young black men will understand that carrying a gun, making a baby, cursing out the teacher, selling drugs, robbing someone or bashing in someone's skull does not make them men. We hope our young black women understand that having a baby, being rough and tough, having a filthy mouth, hanging out on the corner or getting an attitude at the drop of a hat does not make them women.
Being a man or a woman means being responsible. It means being accountable. It means promoting a positive lifestyle. It means helping those who need help. Those who tell you otherwise are your enemy. Their only goal is to make sure you fail, to make sure you never reach your full potential as a man or a woman.
To the young people of Roanoke, we want you to know that the limitations you place upon yourself will always be greater than the limitations others place upon you. Whenever you are faced with adversity, whether it's racism, sexism, poverty or a feeling of hopelessness, never give up. Grab your adversity by the throat, choke the life out of it and keep on getting on.
Jeff Artis is second vice president of the Roanoke chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
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