COMMENTARY Failed Responsibilities My new hero is Tim King, the CEO of Urban Prep; the Englewood based all boys school where he recently made national news with the entire graduating class accepted to four year colleges. When I read this story, I immediately reached out to him to engage in hours of dialog. Even though we haven't found time due to his preparation for next fall classes, we've committed to chat it up during the summer. His example of commitment and dedication providing a great atmosphere and positive reinforcements for education to other people's children is remarkable. His example should be followed by my generation of selfish, unconscious and uncaring people who fail to stand up and attempt to leave a legacy we can be proud of. I will be the first to say my generation (25 - 45) has collectively failed the next generation. There are individuals who are in the fight everyday and of course we applaud them. Most are unknown, and unconcerned about being known. They're more concerned with their peers getting active in this fight to help change the perception being placed on hundreds of thousands of young boys and girls throughout urban areas across this country. TBTNewsService.com will provide these warriors who are in the streets trying to influence your children, your cousins, your nieces and nephews and your little brothers and sisters to consider alternatives to their unfulfilled lives. While my generation is concerned with shopping at high end malls down town, driving fancy cars and living in affluent neighborhoods and homes with over priced furniture, the hoods around us in Bronzeville, Beverly, North Kenwood and Lincoln Park suffers. These possessions are GREAT to own, especially if you worked hard and went through the process to educate yourself that provide opportunities to acquire personal items of pleasure. My point is someone most likely assisted you in your journey from high school, college and into your professional career. And someone walked you through and showed you how too become you. The main issue is how many people are you showing how to become you? How many young little nappy head boys and girls hanging on your block or in your alley ways have you stopped and exchanged positive words with? These young folks on the blocks may see you as someone they want to be like, but they don't have a clue on how to even began, because of their environment and dysfunctional home life. We are two generations removed from the civil rights movement, which fought and died for inclusion and equality. Our parents benefited from their parent's struggle. This allowed our moms and dads the freedom to live and work where they could afford or be hired. And in some respects, our parents (collectively) dropped the ball because they were busy sending us to school or disciplining us on being respectable members of society so white folks can look at us and not think we are lazy and ungrateful offspring's of our slave ancestors. In this struggle, they forgot to continue (collectively) teaching us pride, independence and unity at ALL cost. So, therefore we are spoiled little boys and girls who just take, take and take, without giving anything back for the struggles of our forbearers. Yes, we've obtained the American dream in large numbers nationally and globally, but what can we hang our fake hats on in terms of giving the next generation anything of value except neglect and greed. We have been greedy. Our greed has been material trinkets that we use as a value system with each other. We don't gather around talking how we can change the world if not just or communities and block, but how much you pay for that home or watch or shoes and what name brand is those slacks? For once I want to be invited to my girlfriend's houses for parties were we engage in strategies to clean up blocks or discuss experiences about the kids being mentored by each person present. For once when I get a text about meeting for drinks, I want it to be with the mentees so they can see how much we care about them, and not just about our fake lives drinking watered down cocktails at luxury watering holes on Michigan Ave. I mentor dozens of young people every year, and I hear their cries. Take my word for it; they want to know what we know! They really want to be like us and not Mike. I truly believe that if each of us took ONE person and adopted them for weekly or monthly gathering, we can change the face of America over night. Women, stop a little girl and rap with her. Brothers, stop by the playground where the boys are playing hoops and kick it and hear what they're dreaming. Ladies, take that little nappy head girl to the salon with you instead of buying those $300 dollar shoes and purses I hear you all talk about and treat her to some glamour. It will change her life. And men, instead of chasing cat from Evanston to Crete Monee, pick up a young boy and take him over your homie's crib to watch a ball game. These are simple things we can do without costing little to nothing, but can be priceless to those we mentor. This is very vital to our legacy. I don't know about you, but I'm concerned how my generation will be written in the history books. I don't want us labeled a do nothing generation or better yet, not labeled at all, because we haven't done anything worth being represented out side of collectively coming together to elect our one term first Black president. Peace and one love - CDW. Correspondent: C Dwayne West | 
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