Recently a former student of Austin Weekly News columnist Frank Lipscomb contacted him and wanted someone to sit and talk with him about the black community. Yes, you got it?”I sat down with the young man, known as Brother RBG.
Frank was his former teacher in the Austin community and obviously left a strong legacy with many of his students. As a black male teaching other young black males, Frank’s influence has probably meant more then he could ever realize. If a
student contacts a teacher
some 15-20 years later, it is obvious this teacher has had a profound impact on that young person’s mind.
RBG said he is a very avid reader, and always reads the Austin Weekly News. Following are his views, which he refers to as “Good” and “Not So Good.”
Good
? Gradually, we’re coming together. A narrow awakening to young minds can be seen. Black folks as a whole have to unify all over Chicago.
? We need to communicate better and give back the respect to the elders.
? Brothers and sisters, pull up your clothes, pull up your baggy pants. You will be accepted as a people of moral standards.
? More emphasis on faith, which is God. Respect your parents, grandparents and all elders as well as yourself.
? We can change by stopping the demoralizing of each other. Don’t complain about bills, your friends and neighbors. We can change our behavior and ways of thinking. And we’ll see unification in these close-knit communities. We as a whole need more emphasis on our heritage and culture.
Not So Good
? A lot of young people are lost due to economic structures and have been blindsided by false hope and disbelief in the system.
? Generations have been bamboozled by trendy fashions and fancy clothing, but there is no substance of character.
? The media stereotyping how they classify us as people?”such as gangbangers, drug dealers and lost souls?”has only made some young folks play into this, not realizing this is an early way to death. We don’t have to be these things just because the media states it.
? As for politicians, do not put emphasis in all that you see and not all you hear. They should be held accountable for their actions as well as their wards. The political machine has long been dead.
? Soon there will be a mayoral election. What do we as black people want? Or are we sitting around being part of the status-quo?
RBG ends his views with the following: “From 2005 henceforth, let this be the seed throughout the next century?”one of unity.”
