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Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: Darryl, you sure we're not twins? I've been saying this for the longest, nobody seems to see or don't wanna see.

Name: McNasty

Comment: The subculture of the undereducated and the underemployed are there for the entertainment of the folks that make the decision to cut school funding! I think it makes them feel better about themselves to have those they consider to be the lowest common denominator. The black underclass that has always existed obviously got too boring - hence the addition. The u&u are an extension of the underclass - those that lost hope and any inclination to rise up and rise above. We can't act like we don't know why. So much emphasis is being put on things that never used to have commercials and the commercials themselves (I totally agree DJ) are so ridiculously stupid I wonder what are the requirements they now have for marketing execs and pr people. Its too bad that if you want to get more than 10 of us together there has to be a promise of alcohol, food and entertainment. Its even more disconcerting that those with kids will still be standing around wondering why their kids can't compete in the job market all while either trying to get a thicker johnson or a finger vibrator both of which I saw commercials for this morning with my coffee. Your kids see that shat too and since parents are just sending them out of the house - there is no way to be sure of the messages they are hearing without spending more time with them and less time wearing their clothes and trying to party with them. I like comedy as much as most but I agree its time to quit looking for the opportunity to skin and grin and put that energy into making a better impression for the next generation. We can't continue to go down this path because it leads to nothing.

Name: Exmun

Comment: Wonderful essay DJ. The fact that America spends more on building weapons and war than any other line item in the budget speaks volumes of where it's priorities lie. There is an old quote that says (paraphrasing) show me where one puts his money and I'll show you where his heart lies. It also follows where we choose to spend our money. If we spend the bulk of our discretionary money and time on entertainment rather than intellectual %*$ets (education, lifelong learning, service to others) then we've said all that needed to be said. Good article as usual.

Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: And this also reflects on our standing in the world. That's why America is on her way to be coming a third world country. Nothing was spent on truly educating these kids or investing in US as Americans. When I was in school we had music instruments we could take home and study, there were health stations in every park, in Harlem it was Marcus Garvey Park and a big ol' health station was smack in the middle of the park, still got my vaccine shot on my arm to prove it. I've always said that people got dumber and dumber as the decades went on. Get so now I don't even deal with but a select few, those with any grey matter left. Amercia didn't invest in her people, busying doleing out money to everybody everywhere and now this is the end result.

Name: TGen

Comment: Wow, this article is a 180 degree turn from your previous one (though I think you still need a hug after reading this, lol). But your point is well-taken, your phraseology biting and eye-opening. Personally, I can't help but focus on your political paragraph. This whole article harkens me back to the days of 2000, when pundits were focused on who Americans would "want to have a beer with" (Chris Matthews' phrase) instead of who was most qualified. I think about how Howard Dean, who was right on EVERYTHING he spoke about (and who's path Obama followed almost exactly, but who for some reason gets no love from the P-E) was demonized over getting excited in a speech, and John Kerry, a much weaker and more Bush-lite candidate was chosen to go up against Bush and his intentional distrations (ala gay "marriage). In each instance, Americans, consumed with fluff over substance, chose unwisely. The state of the country today is a result of an uninformed, "ADD"-stricken (lol at your term) electorate. You want to know why Americans are anti-intellectual? Look at the LEADERSHIP! When you have someone who brags about being a mediocre student and admits he doesn't read supposedly trying to lead the free world, this is what you get! It's not hard to figure out. But you're right, just because we know the root cause(s) doesn't make our plight any easier. We're in trouble.

Name: PEACHES4U

Comment: Thank You, Darryl for your prolific observations! Recall 'back in the day' when the U.S. would make the distinction of which countries were 'third world'???? Today, 'third world' countries take our calls pertaining to banking, finance, and computer technology. I've assisted high school graduates who don't know how to complete an application for employment. I work in literacy: most of the 50 states and probably a few of the territories' Department[s] of Education should be sued. The number of students in my program whom have graduated high school, but can't read or write beyond the third grade level is phenomenal! The first dumbing down tool was the television. Now it's specific computer games which focus upon varying levels of mindlessness and self-destruction. The so-called powers that be never were allowed to be held accountable for their questionable actions. Now amerika is satisfied with a watered down apology followed by bull---t, as usual. And even that no longer applies: Bernie Madoff mean anything to ya! For years now, my husband continues to state, '... black folk please hold on just a little lonber. Let's go back to how we use to do, watch, listen, but don't get involved. They are destroying themselve...' Think we're listening?!

Name: PEACHES4U

Comment: Apologies for misspelling: ...hold on just a little longer...

Name: blackdragon

Comment: Beautiful.

Name: HarrisThomas

Comment: DJ, we aren't becoming your apt descriptions: we are already your descriptions living under US Constitution lite . . . . . I agree with you know that the reasons for our plight are muliti-faceted including lack of personal or moral responsiblity for what we do or don't do but I have to point out religious influence: many of us have let religious people convince us that we have all that we need in a compiled book about man's evolution and since that book does not speak to science and technology, we don't need scientific and technological advancement . . . . . for instance, religious people have convinced many people of the concept that man walked with dinosaurs [Hollywood is so subversive, "Jurassic Park", a work of fiction has been on cable lately illustrating what happens when man walks with dinosaurs] . . . . . many of us have let religious people convince us that science and scientific advancements and paths to those advancements are repugnant wastes of our efforts, damning us for our pursuit as well as damning the teaching of such pursuit to our children . . . . . as long as we let religious people shape curricula and other cultural discourse, we will continue to fall behind industrialized countries . . . . btw, I am writing about religious people inclusively, of all persuasions, especially secular humanists [there aren't any secular humanist churches, but you know people who worship the dollar sign and its associated ideologies that which have contributed to classism and MadAve ads to be happy being stupid]

Name: SweetieDarlin

Comment: Amazingly enough, many of us are fine with the way things are, look how many of us encourage these things because we are too lazy to find things on our own or have an opinion that hasn't been given to us. Kinda of off the subject but going along the same themes, does anyone else think that the commercials for Tyler Perry's Meet the Brown sounds like a Minstrel show, I'm afraid that people will watch this dreck to so-called encourage a positive black man. I think Tyler Perry knows he is encouraging negative images but wants to be paid....

Name: NYCsoul

Comment: I agree with mostly everything with Darryl James stated in his essay except the part of the educational system in 3rd World countries. Actually, some school systems in those "3rd World" countries is better than ours, particularly in the Caribbean. The only difference is that in those countries, you have to pay school fees or pay to take entrance exams in order to move up to the next level in school. Other than that, I agree totally with the dumbing down of American culture. The part that scares me the most is how apathetic and void of conscience young people have become in regards to violence. As much as parents try their best to monitor what kids watch, as Darryl stated in his article, there has been a constant bombardment of all kinds of explicit images that kids are exposed to nowadays. It makes me glad that I grew up in the 70s & 80s. Having a child born in this day and age frightens me.

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