What Have We Learned About Culture, Disadvantage and Black Youth?

What Have We Learned About Culture, Disadvantage and Black Youth?
Orlando Patterson
September 14, 2016
Sponsored by the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities

[@c.l260]

im a black male ,I use to run the streets , do drugs , commit crimes , I have done time in prison and I'm a high school dropout . I'm 33 and was born and raised in Louisiana (republican state) . Things didn't change until looked at myself and realized that I was the problem it was nobody's fault but mines so I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and surrendered my heart , thoughts and will over to Him . First thing first I stop doing drugs , second thing I disassociated myself with the streets and anyone still in the streets, I applied for a job at McDonald's and was denied because of my criminal background at that point I could have given up but I was determined to do something better with my life I eventually landed a job that payed double what McDonald's had offered I also picked up a 2nd job and I worked and saved my money I was able to get my license reinstated I bought a new car i started building my credit up and last year I became a homeowner (if I wouldn't have saved my money I wouldn't have had the money for the down payment) I also enrolled in college and I graduate in 2 months and I'm still working 2 jobs and I'm 4 years clean , also I was paying child support that whole time . Look at how much my life turned around in the last 4 years and the government didn't assist me in anyway whatsoever . In the United States of America you are the master of your own destiny

[@Fr0sty4242]

according to Democrats, you are the Black Face of White Supremacy!

[@Fr0sty4242]

congrats though man it feels great to hear stories from black folks like this. shows me that their is hope after all

[@c.l260]

@@Fr0sty4242 thank you

[@edaccura]

Black Youth Culture is about to make the biggest change in our history for generations to come . MARK MY WORD 👨🏾‍🦲👀

[@stephaniesmith6643]

@Ed Accura: and what might that be? Is it something other than the furthering of the STATE OF EMERGENCY that has been going on for years in our Black community?