Rum Punch was right! “I’m So Hood” is a catchy little song…and the video, well that was just classic! I haven’t really listened to hip-hop since Lil’ Jon and ‘em helped usher in the reign of all things diiiirty and southern. Sure I heard "Shoulder Lean" in passing to the classic soul station, but it’s amazing to me that this was the next step in the evolution of hip-hop music. Folks are so creative! Who would have ever thought there’d be a song about the tender delicacy of chicken flavored Ramen noodles and soda? And now I’ve learned that brown paper bags are used for more than carrying lunches and malt liquor.
But this isn’t about how I feel about the music that’s being played on corporate radio playlists. This is about me trying to understand the Hood. And not in the Dr. Bill Cosby-I’m going to beat you over the head Black people with my dogma and love-way. But in the how did a place of extreme lack invent a mentality that is both coveted and celebrated.
Historically Black folks have always been able to make the best of a bad situation (cue Ms. Gladys and the Pips) . Just give us a twig, a bucket with a hole in it and some dirt and we are going to figure out a way to make a house. Oh, how Masta probably thought it was funny to just give us the left over parts of the pig while he dined on cured ham. But didn’t we invent a way to make those feet, snouts and intestines tasty? Ha! Our resourcefulness in need has served us and this country well.
But maybe we are getting to a point where we need to stop making up some of this s--t!
My mom, a property manager in public housing, told me that a fairly new neighborhood grocery store has decided to close. This store serves a lot of people living under the poverty line and its closure would result in people who rely heavily on public transportation to travel nearly 15 miles to purchase food. Now this is in the Tidewater, VA area folks, not at all like the DC metro…sure they’ve got buses but those aren’t going to take you everywhere you need or want to go. But the reason that this store is shutting down is so ridiculous and so upsetting. The store (and I don’t want to say “of course”-but of course) has experienced high volumes of theft. Shoplifting included bags of steamed shrimp. Someone thought up a way to eat bags and bags of shrimp without having to pay…and of course they told their friends about it. Folks had figured-order a bag of shrimp and then go into the bathroom to peel and eat! Dinning in a stall? Leaving the shells on the bathroom floor. WTF? Who thought up that?! And why? Just to get over?
I just don’t understand it ya’ll. I would have never thought of that. And sometimes I want shrimp and can’t afford to get it. So I’ve been there. I understand the “struggle”. But because of this Hood mentality many people are going to be disserved. There is now an even greater need in an already struggling community. And I hate that we have to keep coming up with stuff to make living with lack bearable. We should be curing the causes of our needs, not putting a band-aid over it. No one should have to figure out a way to get groceries from the other side of town, there should be a convenient place nearby-period! But I’m sure someone is going to come up with something…we always do.
See You In Seven
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
They couldn't just get better security? See that's that BS and folks(including you) are buying it. I can't even imagine what their real excuse for leaving the neighborhood is, but its almost inexcusable to hang those folks out to dry like that.
BTW "So Hood" is my current ringtone. I love that song!
ooohhh. . . testy, testy. Not sure what's Amaretto take, but you know Bellini has 2 cents for ya. Now we don't know the whole story, could be the owners weren't moved by the location or its not financially viable. It's really up to the City Council, state, and congressional representatives to look out for their residents (i.e. Uncle Sam could provide concessions as a business incentive -- who's to say the gov't didn't??) -- so maybe there is a plan b for the community -- time will tell I'm sure Amaretto will keep us posted
Added security? We are talking about a grocery store not a bank! Next are you going to suggest that they install metal detectors? There is no reason to have a guard trolling the aisles of the market while you ask them to open the case so you can get some cereal out.
Marauder-There is no hype when there is a bottom line. Like Bellini said, the city has plans for this area and its original plan (at least what they told the public) was to bring businesses (other than the carry-out) to the area. Now I’m sure the grocery store was like naaaaw, we’ll stick to the ‘burbs-until they saw the money potential since there were no other markets in the area. But two years of constant losses I think clearly out weighed the warm and fuzzy feeling of helping folks out, and more importantly the profits. And as good business dictates they are closing.
My point is that it didn’t have to be this way. Like Chris Rock said there are n*ggas and there are black people…and n*ggas f*ck it up for everyone. I was also saying that historically our creativity and inventions has served us and others well. But now we are just coming up with crap that I don’t think is helping us to move forward as a people. Why are we celebrating carrying drug money in brown paper bags? And why are we eating shrimp in bathrooms? Just to show how we can get over and around doing what’s right? That’s dumb! And that’s the Hood mentality that I don’t understand. Now the city can say they tried to help and have a justified reason to move on to their plan B (or maybe it was their original plan) and revitalize the area without us and our money…but with the help of gentrification instead.
But enjoy that ring tone though...
Post a Comment