Being Brown Young and Poor in America is a source of pride for many people, -from our favorite dishes and dances, to our favorite music and honored heroes. All of these cultural wonders that we hold dear to our hearts have their histories rooted in poverty. But despite this, these wonders tell the many stories of the resourceful, struggling and hard working individuals who overcame hard times to make a living.These stories are our past, present and — well are they our future?

Sound wisdom says you should never forget where you came from, but does that mean that holding onto our cherished belief systems and cultural legacies is the right thing to do in a dynamic world?

Brown Young and Poor is in reference to people whose families have historically struggled with poverty, discrimination, lack of accessibility, and are generally under represented in the American system.

Being brown young and poor has the advantage of being able to identify with other people who are like you, and who understand your point of view, your way of thinking. This is crucial as it provides the basis for social cooperation.

Within this sense of familiarity and community a great strength arises; this strength, however, is also a self-perpetuating weakness becuase it requires that you “keep it real” by not giving up on the values and perspectives of your people.Any deviation from this is considered a form of treason to your culture. For this reason, people who grow up being Brown Young and Poor, in Brown and Poor communities, get stuck in cycles that are hard to break out of. The source of strength and pride, turns into anger, bitterness and frustration. So as is the perception, the ghetto only gives you strength so long as you live it.

Though, when you do manage to get out of the ghetto via the right opportunities, you never really leave the ghetto behind. It is entwined into the fabric of who you are, and gives you that I-don’t-put-up-with-no-crap, always-on-your-feet, i-am-a-hustler attitude that you need to make it through life. It gives you power that many people who have never lived the ghetto are afraid of. So flex you ghetto muscles, get your hustle on, that’s how we do.

You can take the child out of the ghetto but you cant take the ghetto out of the child.

People never look at you the same once you leave the ghetto, but you never forget who you are - no matter what. So How Exactly do you get out of the ghetto? How do you make ghetto work for you?
In the parts 2 and 3 of BYP I’ll discuss..

*That Ghetto Thang

*Books and Crooks

*Hustle to the Top

*Street and Street

Imma’ tell you how it is. That’s called keeping it real!