Culture of disrespect

Self-respect and self-hatred cannot co-exist. Our own self-hatred has created and sustains the current "culture of disrespect" in which wr find ourselves entangled. The "culture's" roots lie deeply embedded in the soil of slavery, segregation and its aftermath. But the simple (and not-so-simple) truth of the matter is that, while we may no longer be enslaved in chains and shackles, we are more spiritually, mentally, psychologically, financially, socially and emotionally enslaved than ever before.

We have lost our moral compass. We have severed our spiritual connection--the one value that sustained our ancestors and has fueled our resilience, no matter what monumental challenges we faced. The loss of that moral compass has left us, like "them," believing that "money is God" and worshipping our bank accounts or 401k's or cars or houses or "bling."

Cynthia Drew Barnes

Matteson, Ill.

It's great that EBONY did a section about how Black people need to demand more respect for themselves and others. But I do have one complaint; much more needed to be emphasized on women respecting themselves. We cannot blame everything on rappers. Some women have no respect for themselves. We as women must take responsibility and not blame everybody else.

Kay Smith

Los Angeles, Calif.

How did language and the hip-hop culture become the foremost crisis in the African-American community when AIDS & HIV-related deaths are growing at an alarming rate? The rate of incarcerated Black men is growing; more of our people are becoming addicted to drugs; violence and death run rampant in our neighborhoods; and aren't Blacks in New Orleans still homeless or displaced and devastated from Katrina?

When we were children, we said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" Let's focus on the sticks and stones.

James L. Shorts

Columbus, Ohio

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning