There was a child recently with the preservation of mind to proceed telling me where to go and how to get there after I attempted to correct him after some egregious act. This stemmed from a verbal reprimand I administered after seeing him disrespect a young female he accosted. Though my natural tendency has been and will always be to give counsel and impart good fortitude, I found myself on this occasion second-guessing my decision after the young man cursed and blasphemed me for telling him truths that any concerned adult in my position would have done. The very nature of this analogy brings to fore the gist of this essay – seeking those that are truly away from the wise and temperate ways of discernable discourses for doing what’s right and just. It’s about finding solutions and applying them for the good it would do in serving those who need it most.

Pundits of all things that are righteous and upstanding will implore you to just look around, and it definitely wouldn’t take long to see what need to be seen to know that we’re living a nightmare as our kids are following paths of decadence. How is it that our children can talk as they do with no regard or respect for the grown folk? What would possess someone old enough to be my son to say what he felt needed to be said with such contempt that colored him bad with dark hues? Why is it like this and what can be done to eradicate such behavioral maladjustments? In attempting to answer these queries I can only give my gut reactive reasoning, and it begins with a biblical scripture known and passed down from generation to generation for sage advice in dealing with the waywardness of the young. I reintroduce to you Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. You know it by heart and exhort it…but what is being done individually and collectively to stem this tide? I have a few soluble ideas that I will introduce and hope that the adhesive will stick closer if it’s applicable in any tangible situation.

First and foremost, I will approach this dilemma as I do all other social maladies by alluding to the fact that everything starts and stops with three major paradigms that, if not in place will invariably be the root of, if not the cause of the problems young and old alike face. It is my contention that self, family, and community are catalysts to keep tenets associated with them, inclusive and insulated. If any of the triumvirate is allowed to go awry, we’re in trouble. Let’s look at them one by one:

* Self – If there’s no inherent fortitude to have confidence in knowing that you’re respected when people see you innately or exteriorly, one invites depression and a defeatist-type mentality that affects drive and initiative. Low self-esteem begets dysfunctional behavior, which is the progenitor of bad decision-making and illogical mannerisms. We need our children to feel good about themselves, and have the confidence that they are still in the mode of being taught discipline and how to be accepted favorably from what has been structurally secured for a good outward appearance.

*Family – This aspect is the most important aspect for all three to work in harmony, for it’s within the strong embrace of bonding together that allows spirituality to play a major part for a collective mindset to prevail. It’s the warmth and nurturing of BOTH parents that help generate the concept of preparing children to deal with the world…and this training ground should have all the necessary tools to construct minds, build self-esteem, and bridge any gaps that tend to separate. It’s also about love – giving it and receiving it.

*Community – The one thing that continually undermines success for our younger set is seeing their community disenfranchised, broken and badly represented. If there’s nothing for them to contribute to its strength and vitality, and if efforts are continually manifested where resources are taken to and appropriated for other communities, erosion tends to be lasting and unproductive.

In assessing and tying all of the above together, all psychological and social barriers must be removed. A new thought process must be in place, formed by this cohesiveness. It’s about taking control of our immediate environs to seek out these kids and redirect them to greater heights. It may include turning off the television, stopping the music from being played any louder, regaining cultural awareness using an Africentric approach, and most importantly getting them spiritually discerned to know who God is and what role He is to play in it all. This Fountain of Truth springs internally within self, flows externally upon families, and cascades into communities. We the people therefore, can AND must pour out an old Proverb and new attitude to catalyze this generation, thereby recapturing our youth.