Shock Value: Entry 85 "Ghetto"

Today is a venting day for me. Today's topic: Ghetto.

Now I want to pose a question to each and every one of you. When did the word ghetto begin to mean something black, dirty, hood, or nasty? I am so confused. Perhaps last night I went to sleep in the 21st Century but woke up this a.m. back in the 19th or 20th. I am shocked how people of other races and ethnicities frequently misuse the term ghetto. They see a person dressed a certain way and refer to them as ghetto without even engaging in a conversation with the young lady or young man. They say they don't want to visit a certain part of town because it is ghetto. Or my personal favorite, they refer to restaurants or other establishments as ghetto.

You no what, forget it! I got it now. While I was typing it came to me--THEY GET IT FROM OUR IGNANT AZZ! Our culture is advertised, packed up and sold (out) to the masses. People only define us and our behaviors as we do. To think that I was actually upset at other races of people for a moment. What was I thinking? Those people only emulate, copy, and proscribe to behaviors they see from those they encounter, read about or see on T.V.

Thank you! No seriously, I mean it. Thank you for destroying any chance our children, or children's children have at being defined as young, gifted, and black, instead of young, dumb, and ghetto.

Thanks again for being---GHETTO! That's exactly what we all need.