This is a really important topic, whether people choose to recognize it as such or not. The mentality of African American youth has to change. Too many of them think that being smart and ambitious is a “white characteristic” while others think they have to strive to be rappers or ball players in order to be successful. Something’s gotta give. We have to set the bar higher for ALL of America's youth...

-oceal

I totally agree with BeTheChange. Being smart and successful and articulate is almost seen as lame in the African American community. It makes sense that people tend to gravitate more towards what they can relate to, which just proves that not enough African Americans are playing the role of scholar, intellectual, entrepreneur, etc. And those that are blessed enough to be in those positions have mostly turned a blind eye to the very ghetto that they were fortunate enough to escape. We've got to pull one another up, especially if we make it out. Black minds are just as capable of performing open heart surgery as they are of shooting a jump shot or rapping 16 bars. We've gotta want more...more for you and me!