Many historians accredit Henry Ford's assembly line concept as one of the greatest innovations of the 20th century.Sure, the process is beneficial for many institutions - but not for all.
Mr. Ford's model maximizes profits but minimizes creativity.
The model suggests a "one size fits all" approach that may be the root cause of poverty in America.
The hood/ghetto/slums exists in every metropolitan area throughout the world.Even many once great cities ultimately fall into a state of poverty.
Por que?
Is it because there is suddenly a large influx of Mexicans?
Is it because these areas are often overrun by Blacks?
Don't these people know how to run a business?
Are they unable to innovate?
The hood has always had a sub-economy that relies very little on most large institutions for their funding, advertising or patronage.Where else but NOLA would one find a barbershop painted Mexican Blue, with iron bars on the windows, Greek-style columns, all on a home that would barely pass municipal building codes?
Where else besides Compton, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta or any other urban area.
Now some well intentioned guys out West are offering tours of the hood.
http://lagangtours.com/
I thought this was funny - but do the locals benefit?
Do the buses stop so that the tourists can shop at the local swap meets or eat at the local restaurants?
Or are the locals just being exploited?
I hang out with a girl who once attended our local Catholic High School.
One of her school's field trips was to "The poor side of town".
As the bus toured the area - she saw her mother in her front yard watering her flowers.
As the other kids laughed, she just sank into her seat in embarrassment.
Now that ish is funny - effed-up, but funny.
She can laugh now but I know she felt bad at the time it happened.
But maybe the hood deserves itself.Maybe the hood cannot be helped at all.
Maybe the hood wants to be the hood.
People often say that something is "Nigga-Rigged" when it is seen as inferior workmanship.
But lets call it what it really is; "African-American Ingenuity".
It takes mad skill to come up with something such as a pair of 'Likeeze" (Just like Nikes - but different).
The common mistake is that people try to change the nature of the beast.
Society believes themselves to be Dr. Moreau ("No spill blood").
Maybe one size (or way) does not fit all and we should come to this realization.
How does the hood treat an arrogant white nerd?
The same way suburbia treats a ghetto rough neck.
(One way or another - the outsider gets punished.)
It's not really about ones race - it's has more to do with respect.
The respect to learn the language, culture and traditions of the dominant culture for any given area.
The respect to know that ones own way of thinking doesn't apply to everything and everybody.
The respect to know when it's time to offer an opinion and when it's time to shut the eff up.
The respect to understand that another's way of life is just as valid as ones own.
The respect for oneself in that he will not destroy another man's way of life just because it is dissimilar to ones own.
The more I think about it - there is nothing wrong with the hood, there is only something wrong with the oppression.
this is a different take from you. Getting more sentimental in your old age?? ha ha! Just joking. You are correct about N-Rigged that is thinking on the fly..
ReplyDeleteThere is a difference in ignorance manifested and another way of life. Another culture would eat tacos instead of fried chicken. Another culture will change the signs to Spanish instead of English. What we have in the hood is ignorance manifested and it looks like another culture but it's just wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe barbershop that wouldn't pass city code is not a expression of a culture but really the expression of ignorance in not realizing the roof might collapse when you walk in. In the hood ignorance is so rampant any introduction or even a correction is shouted down.
So let's not call it a culture but really rampant ignorance. Now if the people choose to eat shit all day that's a choice but a building that might collapse being painted and asked not to be demoed is ignorance.
I'm just tired of trying to change people who have no desire to change themselves.
ReplyDeleteIt's as though many have accepted the scraps as their only way of being.
Many may be doing the best they can - but if their best is sub-standard so should be their reward.
I think sometimes you need to go to Miami or Key West and take a extended vacation. You don't see the fruits of your labor and that's understandable. I think you want to see the change in the person and I operate wanting to see the change in the community. You are the guy I didn't want to become because sometimes being to close is disheartening.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion you need to join or partner with someone who can share your load. Sometimes we need to focus on one part instead of the whole. I think you are doing a great job but you want to succeed and win and that might require creating a collective to execute the plan.