Everyday They Hustlin'

  "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to disturb you.... I'm on this train selling candy... not for no baaasketball team, just to keep some money in my pocket. Each candy is a dollar......"

  "Newports... $5 .... Newports $5....."
 
  " I got all the new releases y'all.... right here.. five dollars.. "
  
   "I got those warm ladies gloves... twenty dollars ma.. right here"

             These chants have become well known in our lives in New York City; the sound of the ever revolving world of street hustling. Much to the dismay of many, the large population of street hustlers are African American men.  These men go through great lengths to keep a dollar in their pockets.  Some have inside connections to friends or family that work in big named retailers, such as Macy's, and get stolen merchandise to sell on the streets for below retail price for an astounding profit.  Many receive their merchandise from the local BJ's or Costco and sell the wholesale quantity for individual profits.  There are even those that will get their merchandise from another state for dirt cheap to sell at a price for a profit.
   Is this what the state of our African American males have come to??

   Here are a couple of scenarios to consider:

     I was astounded one afternoon, while on the train coming home from school, when a young man got on the train selling candy.  He proceeded to give his usual pitch of how he's selling the candy "not for no basketball team, but to keep money in my pocket.. and keep me out of trouble."  The young man looked to be about sixteen or seventeen with his pants in the fashion crazed "sagging".  As he walked amongst the crowd on the train, many people turned their heads in disgust while one or two people actually purchased candy from the young man.  As he passed, I began to wonder who he was working for; was it some head honcho that collected the money from these boys and gave them a percentage, or did they do this on their own in a desperate attempt to do for themselves financially.  When I asked the question to a fellow college classmate that was on the train with me, a gentleman proceeded to tell me that many times the parents purchase the candy and allow the children to sell the candy on the trains.  The father then explained to me that  his child does this also, but he is present when he does because he was robbed twice. He proceeded to state that he goes to Cotsco to purchase the boxes of candy, which usually come assorted, and gives them to his son.  His son then goes out and sells the candy for a dollar a piece, usually earning about twenty dollars per box.  His son has to give his father back the money that was spent on the candy and he keeps the profit.  What disturbed me the most is that the father seemed proud of his son's "accomplishments" by stating that at least his son "isn't selling drugs or getting into trouble."

     An African -American male, about in his late thirties, enters the local Check Cashing place in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He has a carry-on luggage bag filled with paraphernalia.  He pulls out five DVD's, three of the movies were still playing in the theater at the time... and most disturbing, one was a Tyler Perry movie.  He walks up and down the aisles showing the merchandise to the waiting customers on the line.  He begins to announce the names of the movies that he currently has in his inventory.  The customers on the line begin to throw movie titles at him in hope that he would have it on hand for purchase.  The man then stands off to the side as person after person file toward him and make a purchase of several DVDs at one time.  The man then walks out of the Check Cashing place happy as he makes his way towards his next hustling destination.

    After being severely beaten in jail, a man, about in his late forties, gets dressed every single day.  One would think that he's going to a rehabilitation clinic to try to regain some feeling in his legs and hands.  Instead, his location is in front of the local bodega to sell cigarettes from cartons that he purchases from the barber shop around the corner.  He sits there everyday and all day talking about nothing and drinking with the local drunks that also have taken residence in front of the store.  Most of his conversation is complaints, about this and that that he has experienced in his life. When asked about taking charge and doing something about it, his response is simply "I can't do anything or go anywhere..these streets are all I have left."

     I would like for our local, state, and national politicians and community leaders of African American descent to take a good look at the three scenarios presented.  Our African American men feel as though they are "damaged goods" because they have been incarcerated, been on drugs, or simply don't have the education that's required to obtain steady employment.  What happened to the African proverb that states that we should "honor the Kings that walk this Earth"? Why are we letting them disintegrate into nothing while our white counterparts move forward and ahead conquering everything in their path?  Are we not worthy to obtain the riches and glory that WE originated in this land?  I find it terribly disgusting to hear an African American man declare himself "damaged" and "unable to go anywhere".  That states to me that the confidence level is not there to begin with and the actions therefore followed.
    It's absolutely important that our current society instill the values necessary to uplift our African Kings that walk this Earth.  Our ancestors would be very angry and frustrated to see the state of our African American men today.  All of the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed during slavery, the segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Farmers Movement and the signing of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, have gone in vein because today's African American man have let the spirit die!  We are currently facing a severe "divide and conquer " crisis that is gripping our neighborhoods left and right.
     The only solution to this crisis is education. Our African American males need to be educated as to what is happening in today's world and stay one step ahead. Our African American males need to take accountability for their actions and stop blaming the "white man" for every negative thing that has happened to them.  Our African American males need to stop being afraid of failure and push forward in their dreams and desires to make them a better success.  Our African American males need to be better role models for their communities, their families and themselves.
   It starts with one man.... then the dominoes can fall accordingly.