Cultivating Character and Competence // Changing Communities and Culture
Welcome to the professional website and personal weblog of Jeremy Del Rio. Whether you're a client, friend, or curious onlooker, please don't stay a spectator. Engage the conversation. Your contributions matter here.
In January, I posted this tragic video for the first time.
In light of Don Imus' racist rant against the Rutgers women's basketball team last week and the resulting controversy, I wonder who's more responsible for the current climate that could cause black girls to express themselves as they do in that video? Are fools like Imus and Michael Richards to blame? Or is a culture that exploits girls generally as sexual playthings, and black girls in particular as b!+@#$ and h@3$ more responsible? And what about race baiters like Jesse Jackson who, besides dodging custudy battles and infidelities of his own, are quick to boycott whites but coddle black rappers who make millions off the very same epithets? What about parents who fail to show up for their children's PTA conferences, sending the dual messages that their kids and their education aren't as important as whatever was so pressing as to prevent them from attending? What about politicians who never address race except to pile on when controversies erupt, or pastors who facilitate segregated Sunday worship?
Whoever's responsible, I for one am glad they didn't prevail over Rutgers Coach Vivan Stringer and her players this week. The class and dignity they have thus far demonstrated in response to Imus give girls like the ones in the video role models of what true beauty looks like. Thank you for not living down to the expectations imposed by a culture of degredation and disdain!
Welcome to the professional website and personal weblog of Jeremy Del Rio. Whether you're a client, friend, or curious onlooker, please don't stay a spectator. Engage the conversation. Your contributions matter here.
(Two chapters)
(Commentary throughout)
(Study questions throughout)
