Urban America at the Crossroads

Years ago, the then popular Hip-Hop rap group, "Bone, Thugs and Harmony" released a song called "Crossroads". The opening line of this song says, "Tell me what ya gonna do when there ain't no where to run when judgment comes for you?" In reflection and at the risk of sounding less than spiritual, this line spoke prophetically about the need for direction in Urban America.

As we all know, many of the residents of our inner cities tend to be minority, either Black or Hispanic. The conditions of these communities affect residents on a spiritual, social and economic level. Many inner city residents struggle to make ends meet, have difficulty finding gainful employment and often live in areas where self-preservation is an everyday concern.

Honestly, this is not a new circumstance for urban areas. Urban decay and the decline into decadence, along with anti-social behavior appeared nearly forty years ago on the sociological radar of our nation. In the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, the decline of basic human morality accelerated at an alarming rate.

All of this leaves American cities with a huge problem. One would need to be living on Mars to be oblivious to the fact that our cities are in ruin. Gang violence, hopelessness and despair produce a people hardened by life, crippled by dependency and seemingly indifferent toward changing their own lives. In addition, the emotional pathology of the city unravels before our eyes in the defense some city residents make concerning anti-social behavior. They say, "Lay off the dope dealers; poison for profit is all THE MAN has left them", while others defend the poor sexual choices of men and women as the result of society leaving them without hope, but with time to irresponsibly procreate.

I say the moment of decision for those in our cities is here. In fact, the call for decision rang for us long ago. We are, and have been at the crossroads in urban America.

It is time to decide just what we will be. If thuggish, moronic, predatory antisocial behavior is ok with us; then let us stop moaning and groaning when a young thug dies being a thug. After all, is not that what happens to thugs in the end? They go out in a "blaze of gunfire, true to the homeboys and the 'hood". Please show me the retirement home for thugs. Where does one go after a lifetime or mischief and miscreant behavior?

Factually, thugs come, they agitate and they often die violently. Sure, sometimes they look good with a mouthful of gold teeth and fake "bling" around their necks. Nevertheless, dead is still dead and the funeral business is booming.

Politicians seem to have no plan for the repair of our cities. The reason is they will not readily admit there is a problem. Most political leaders seem content to conveniently overlook these issues, or scold the federal government for not rearing OUR children strictly enough.

No doubt, in the cities of America we are at the crossroads. We must choose to be better, pray better, behave better, live better and vote better. We must rear our children better. This will bring needed change.

Judgment has come for us.