The Good News of the Inner City

Many people have preconceived notions about people who live in the inner city and believe all the hype that is spread through the media.  We hear about about the crimes; the drugs; the violence, gang activity and poverty.  However, what we do not hear is the good that take place in the city.
In my opinion, the negative publicity gets elevated and more ratings than the stories of hope, inspiration, faith, and triumph.  Misery loves company.  If that is the case, we must change who we have acquainted with as company.

For the past few months, I have been taking the public transportation to go to school. It's like a stage play with the different types of things that take place on a bus.  What intrigues me the most are the life stories of everyday workers.  Everyday people.  The nameless and faceless people who make a impact in their community, their workplace, in their families, in the city everyday and no one never notices.

People do not see the young man who helps the single mother of two get on and off the bus. People do not see the young man whose pants hangs low and looks like a thug, quickly gives up his seat to the elderly and women.  People do not see the single mother of four taking the bus everyday to go to school and go to work to make a better life for them.  People do not see the young man recently out of prision going to work everyday to provide for his daughter.  Who talks to the young people on the bus about staying out of trouble; making wise decisions that will effect their life later on; how to use their education and minds to fight their battles.

But hey, people rather focus on the stereotypes; the generalizations; the negative publicity of the inner city.  By the way, in spite of popular opinion, our young are not hopeless. Most times, young people in the inner city are misguided and misunderstood.

Someone once said, "Whatever you look for in people, rather good or bad, you will find it."  So why don't we focus on what is good and maybe the crime rates will change.  Maybe the violence will decrease.  Love have to come back into the equation.  We've done the negative publicity---and I believe people are sick of it.  It's time to try something else.