Ricky Donnell Ross, better known as “Freeway” Rick Ross, is a convicted drug trafficker best known for the drug empire he established in Los Angeles, California, in the early to mid 1980s. As far as African American urban male culture is concerned Mr. Ross is a legend. This is despite the fact that the money he made was a result of exploiting his own community.
While a few will benefit from drug dealing, the whole community will suffer at the hands of the drug game.
Autonomy and Entrepreneurship are positive components of African American urban male street culture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with young African American men not wanting to conform to society’s standards. African American males are not wrong for wanting to start businesses and wanting to be their own bosses. That should be the wish of every man and woman.
The adoption of capitalism in order to accomplish their goals of business ownership is wrong. The idea of exploiting others for individual gain is wrong and should not be justified.
If a community is to embrace and practice non-conformity, we have to give kids legitimate, legal alternatives. Currently one of the avenues to generate money for non-conformist in African American urban neighborhoods is, drug dealing. Although an individual, or a small group of people will benefit. The overall impact on the community is negative. Incarceration, drug addiction, and death are three aspects of drug dealing that should not be glorified. What is needed in actuality is proper guidance for the community and moving it towards a drug-free environment through therapy and treatment at rehab centers like Arista Recovery (https://www.aristarecovery.com/treatment-programs/medical-detox/) or similar others.
The idea that one has to do harm to others in order to make money is not a urban male street culture ideal. This idea was embraced by the imperial powers of Europe that terrorized the Earth; This ideal is embraced by our own U.S. government. In some ways, some African American males are conforming without even realizing it. Some African American males adopted the very mindset that was responsible for enslaving our African Ancestors. African American males who sell drugs, hold the people in their own communities hostage. Just like the Spaniards, English, Dutch, and Belgians did to various indigenous groups all over the globe.
One might wonder as to how selling drugs can be equated to holding people hostage. Drug consumption has both physical and mental implications. Furthermore, it gives rise to other complications related to finances and legal issues. This means that the victims can never move forward in life. Besides this, drug addiction also requires victims to visit healing centers. For example, those trapped in the vicious cycle of substance abuse might have to visit a drug rehab in Pasadena or nearby places. Hopefully, by this example, it would be clear how selling drugs can lead to holding the community hostage.
King Leopold the II was the second King of the Belgians, and is chiefly remembered for the founding and exploitation of the Congo Free State as a private venture. He killed more than 10 million Congolese natives. He embodied the term M.O.E.(Money Over Everything) a common term used in African American urban male culture.
As a community African Americans have to embrace the non-conforming young African American kid with dreams of autonomy. We have to create avenues for these kids and their aspirations. The African American community as a whole should strive for autonomy. The African American community should encourage and support African Americans that start businesses. Supporting and encouraging kids as well as adults to get money by any means necessary needs to be revised somewhat. If kids or adults embrace this ideal at the expense of another person, especially if that person comes from the community in which the kid lives, than it should be frowned upon, not praised.