I am not going to get on a soapbox but, :) I do have something to say about this subject. It is plaguing our young people especially in the Black community. Before we start blaming all the Hip-Hop artists in the world (because they are young) let's examine a couple of things.
First, weren't we taught early on in life not to be a "tattle tale", or to "tell on somebody" and if you bugged your parents too much by "tellin" on someone all the time you were told to stop. Well, how does that square with telling the TRUTH no matter what! I propose that early on in life we were sort of conditioned not to tell what we saw or knew.
Second, we were taught to "stay out of other peoples business" because it can "get you into trouble".
Last but not least is the relationship black communities have with Police Departments. There is a really negative relationship in large urban areas. My purpose in this post is not to discuss the Police but to give background to a problem that plaques our communities today. I will say that all my positive experiences with police, and yes I said positive, were with black men who were on the police force. Another topic, another time, stay focused.
How many of us know where the origin is for what we call "snitching" today? Actually the expression was used in the 18th and 19th centuries and means "one who informs". Today, it has its root or beginning in law enforcement, particularly the so-called "war on drugs" with the use of informants. Very often informing on associates is a way to get a sentence reduced, and if you do not "play ball" (snitching) with the authorities you will receive the maximum sentence.
Since we know some of the main origins, why are so many of our young people influenced by this. In 2004 a group of young men in Baltimore, Md released a hour and a half 'Stop Snitching" underground DVD that even had Carmelo Anthony of the NBA in it. The DVD took the nation like a storm and pretty soon t-shirts and hip-hop artists took it up. Today the young man and the group who produced the DVD have all been arrested on Federal charges and serving long sentences. For many of them like Cam'ron and T.I. it was to simply a way to sell records.
First, weren't we taught early on in life not to be a "tattle tale", or to "tell on somebody" and if you bugged your parents too much by "tellin" on someone all the time you were told to stop. Well, how does that square with telling the TRUTH no matter what! I propose that early on in life we were sort of conditioned not to tell what we saw or knew.
Second, we were taught to "stay out of other peoples business" because it can "get you into trouble".
Last but not least is the relationship black communities have with Police Departments. There is a really negative relationship in large urban areas. My purpose in this post is not to discuss the Police but to give background to a problem that plaques our communities today. I will say that all my positive experiences with police, and yes I said positive, were with black men who were on the police force. Another topic, another time, stay focused.
How many of us know where the origin is for what we call "snitching" today? Actually the expression was used in the 18th and 19th centuries and means "one who informs". Today, it has its root or beginning in law enforcement, particularly the so-called "war on drugs" with the use of informants. Very often informing on associates is a way to get a sentence reduced, and if you do not "play ball" (snitching) with the authorities you will receive the maximum sentence.
Since we know some of the main origins, why are so many of our young people influenced by this. In 2004 a group of young men in Baltimore, Md released a hour and a half 'Stop Snitching" underground DVD that even had Carmelo Anthony of the NBA in it. The DVD took the nation like a storm and pretty soon t-shirts and hip-hop artists took it up. Today the young man and the group who produced the DVD have all been arrested on Federal charges and serving long sentences. For many of them like Cam'ron and T.I. it was to simply a way to sell records.
This seems like it would be a simple problem to fix, but murders have resulted in telling the TRUTH, young people are frightened of what could happen for telling the TRUTH.
Like so many things in our culture (baggy pants and clothing, tattos,etc.) the prisons of this land are shaping the cultural landscape of our communities. Our youth need to know that WE WILL PROTECT THEM if they simply tell the truth. It cannot be "lip-profession", it must be the TRUTH.
What do you think? Peace and blessings
Hey my brother I totally agree but we have to start somewhere with teaching our youth difference between snitching and providing information that is intended to help someone.I believe if a person tells someone something that helps someone it's OK, but if somebody tells on someone to gain an advantage such as a promotion, false respect, or material things it is snitching. So let's stop letting people mentally keep us in bondage and handicap us from speaking words that will empower our citizens and make our communities safer and do for others as you would want them to do for you.
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