In this issue Negative People Can Be Draining P.1 Social Norms and Social Classes P.2

Crazy Black Hazing on College Campuses P.3 A New Addition to The Populace Now Family P.3

What Changed Us P.4

November 13, 2009

Negative People Can Be DrainingNegative People Can Be DrainingNegative People Can Be DrainingNegative People Can Be Draining

ISSUE

21

VOL. 2

On November 14, 1915, On November 14, 1915, On November 14, 1915, On November 14, 1915,

the NAACP led a protest the NAACP led a protest the NAACP led a protest the NAACP led a protest

against the showing of a against the showing of a against the showing of a against the showing of a

film, The Birth of a Nation. film, The Birth of a Nation. film, The Birth of a Nation. film, The Birth of a Nation.

The film glorified the Ku The film glorified the Ku The film glorified the Ku The film glorified the Ku

Klux Klan and devalued Klux Klan and devalued Klux Klan and devalued Klux Klan and devalued

emancipation, Black moral-emancipation, Black moral-emancipation, Black moral-emancipation, Black moral-

ity and Black reconstruc-ity and Black reconstruc-ity and Black reconstruc-ity and Black reconstruc-

tiontiontiontion....

On November 14, 1984, On November 14, 1984, On November 14, 1984, On November 14, 1984,

Mrs. Rosa Parks was pre-Mrs. Rosa Parks was pre-Mrs. Rosa Parks was pre-Mrs. Rosa Parks was pre-

sented with the “Eleanor sented with the “Eleanor sented with the “Eleanor sented with the “Eleanor

Roosevelt Woman of Cour-Roosevelt Woman of Cour-Roosevelt Woman of Cour-Roosevelt Woman of Cour-

age Award” by the Wonder age Award” by the Wonder age Award” by the Wonder age Award” by the Wonder

Woman Foundation. Woman Foundation. Woman Foundation. Woman Foundation.

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By Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers for The Populace Now

A proud partner of the Public Broadcasting Service

passionate about, voicing

unfavorable opinion when all

the facts are not.

Some people are just nega-

tive by nature and those are

the people known that you

need to keep out of your cir-

cle of success. However, just

because a person does not

see your vision does not

mean your vision will not be-

come a reality. It only means

that he or she cannot see it.

And just because a person

cannot see your vision, does-

n’t mean that he or she is a

negative person. It’s that indi-

vidual trying to hinder you

from accomplishing your vi-

sion that you need to be con-

cerned about.

As you put distance between

yourself and negative people,

keep in mind some of the

negative jargon they dish out.

For instance, “What makes

you think that’s going to

work” or “I don’t see things

working out for you that way.”

These types of comments and

many others can keep you

from success.

ates from them.

Negative people tear down

while positive people uplift

and encourage others to

strive for success. Ask your-

self these two questions:

Who are the people in my life

that make me feel like the

world is a canvas waiting for

me to paint my masterpiece?

Who are the people in my life

that make me feel I cannot

be a success? If you really

give these questions some

serious thought, you may be

surprised who appears on

your lists. The people on your

positive list need to stay

close. Confide in them. The

ones on the negative list

need to be kept out of your

business.

Negative people radiate a

negative vibe that you can

actually feel. And those vibes

can change your entire mood.

You can really find yourself

spiraling into a pitiful state of

self-doubt if you allow the

negative vibes of others to

consume you.

We’ve all experienced a

situation in which a person

we know has reacted nega-

tively toward what we feel

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Personally, I

do not sur-

round myself

with negative

people. I just

don’t have the

time, patience or energy to

deal with them.

When we allow negative

people into our lives, their

negative influence drains us

and halts any progress that

we are attempting to make.

The last thing you need while

trying to accomplish your

goals is a person interjecting

their negative venom into

your thoughts.

A lot of negativity can be

avoided. I am a firm believer

in the fact that we attract

either positive or negative

energy into our lives. Talking

to a so-called friend that al-

ways has something bad to

say about a goal or a dream,

puts the successful achieve-

ment of that goal in jeopardy.

The environment in which

we place ourselves and the

people that we allow into our

lives plays a major role in our

progress. Again, we have to

be very mindful of people and

the type of energy that radi-

The Populace Now Volume 2 Issue 21 Page 2

Social Norms and Social ClassesSocial Norms and Social ClassesSocial Norms and Social ClassesSocial Norms and Social Classes

to what is acceptable and normal. Their

viewpoint can help to shape individuals

into what they become. Simple, com-

mon sense courtesies or the lack

thereof can have a great impact on ei-

ther uplifting or bringing down morale.

Though we share a lot of the same val-

ues and teachings, there

may be clashes between

members of the same

class. This may cause

some to be viewed with

great admiration and oth-

ers to be treated unfairly,

based solely on social acceptance and/

or shared common interests. And ulti-

mately the hindrance or promotion of

financial and personal growth can come

out of this scenario.

An article in USA Today entitled, “Are

social norms steadily unraveling?” by

By Buffy Griffin Buffy Griffin Buffy Griffin Buffy Griffin for The Populace Now

Social norms are social

behaviors and expecta-

tions that tackle issues

dealing with traditional

teachings. Norms also

refer to learned behav-

ior regarding values and rules. These

rules include but are not

limited to…appropriate

clothing and conversa-

tion, eating etiquette and

good manners expected

from individuals within a

group or society. In

other words, norms have to everything to

do with what is accepted or what is con-

sidered rude or inappropriate within so-

cial classes, groups and society as a

whole.

Religion, family, peers, and the like all

play a part within society when it comes

Sharon Jayson states, “Young people

today are less concerned about social

approval and society's standards than

their peers of generations past, says

new research analyzed across six dec-

ade. “ While such knowledge may help

reduce the gap within social classes, it

also poses a potential threat that could

diminish some of the much-needed

rules and values already set in place

and shared among the classes within

society.

The result of the lack of respect for

self and others is manifested in the

crime and violence that plagues our

society. It is evidenced in the lack of

compassion for one another and disre-

spect for the law. The bottom line is,

there will always will be a need for so-

cial norms as they provide a guide for

higher standards and a greater quality

of life.

Ronnie BushRonnie BushRonnie BushRonnie Bush

Third Ward AldermanThird Ward AldermanThird Ward AldermanThird Ward Alderman

815-233-1027 (home)

815-238-8530 (cell)

rbush@cityoffreeport.org

We are DedicatedWe are DedicatedWe are DedicatedWe are Dedicated

We are Committed We are Committed We are Committed We are Committed

We are PassionateWe are PassionateWe are PassionateWe are Passionate

We are Sellers Media Group We are Sellers Media Group We are Sellers Media Group We are Sellers Media Group

———— The result of the lack of The result of the lack of The result of the lack of The result of the lack of

respect for self and others is respect for self and others is respect for self and others is respect for self and others is

manifested in the crime and manifested in the crime and manifested in the crime and manifested in the crime and

violence that plagues our violence that plagues our violence that plagues our violence that plagues our

society.society.society.society.————

Volume 2 Issue 21 The Populace Now Page 3

By Kamal Walker Kamal Walker Kamal Walker Kamal Walker for The Populace Now

On college cam-

puses across this na-

tion, a great number

of students are put

through a hazing proc-

ess in order to join a

fraternity or sorority. For those who

are not familiar with the term, hazing

is a common practice in which a po-

tential frat or sorority candidate

spends weeks going through torture

and embarrassment to become a

member. One of the most popular

forms of hazing in Black Greek

Groups is beatings.

It seems quite ironic to me that

persons of color would engage in

beating one another. How quickly

forgotten are the years of slavery in

which their ancestors were treated in

a similar way by their oppressors. To

put it in contemporary terms, hazing

has been compared to gang initiation

beatings. No matter what angle you

look from with this barbaric practice,

beating is a punishment not a reward.

Advocates of the hazing process

believe that it is designed to break a

person down physically in order to build

them up. Regardless of the logic or lack

of in that thinking, nowhere in history

does the idea hold up. It makes as

much sense as deciding to beat stu-

dents who receive good grades or per-

sons who pay their taxes and their bills

on time.

We have to stop doing to ourselves

what others have already done to us.

With the examples given above, we see

the victims becoming victimizers. We

have to end the hazing process. There

should be requirements to enter any

Black Greek Group. But the require-

ments should be based on a person’s

character, not their ability to take a

brutal beating.

Ending this process and substituting

it with a new and improved one is not

impossible. Former and current mem-

bers of these Greek groups could come

together and outline a non-violent, non-

threatening process. These experi-

enced members can create a list of

qualifications and tasks that need to be

completed in order to join.

Each Black Greek group should be

required by the campus to participate in

seminars that show the negative effects

of the current hazing process. Severe

consequences for those that violate

those terms could be abolishment of the

group and even the filing of criminal

charges. You can even write your political

leaders whom you voted into office and

force their hand into changing this proc-

ess. The possibilities for change are limit-

less. But it is going to take a joint effort

from, students, group members, cam-

puses and community leaders.

There are too many young students

dying and being traumatized, just to learn

a few step moves and gain some popular-

ity. I have nothing against Black Greek

groups. But I am totally against the vio-

lence of hazing.

After what our ancestors have been

through, the last thing we need to do is

revert to voluntary violence among our-

selves. We have come a long way as a

people; let’s continue to move forward

and end this hazing process. In so doing,

the wonderful benefits of sororities and

fraternities can be better appreciated

and enjoyed.

Crazy Black Hazing on College CampusesCrazy Black Hazing on College CampusesCrazy Black Hazing on College CampusesCrazy Black Hazing on College Campuses

A New Addition to The Populace Now FamilyA New Addition to The Populace Now FamilyA New Addition to The Populace Now FamilyA New Addition to The Populace Now Family By Bobbie “B.J.” Collins Bobbie “B.J.” Collins Bobbie “B.J.” Collins Bobbie “B.J.” Collins for The Populace Now

port Journal Standard and the Rockford Register Star have me totally excited about the adventure Mr. Sellers has in-vited me along to share with you. As a music disc jockey on two regional radio stations, and a full-time employee of my local school district, I am a multifaceted individual with lots of concerns in com-mon with you. So, we invite you to come along for what may prove to be an emo-tional roller-coaster ride. Don't be sur-prised if we raise eyebrows and engage a gamut of responses along the way.

If you are wondering what qualifies me to write for The Populace Now, I'd be the first to say that Mr. Patrick Sellers could have made a better choice than me. But I humbly submit that a love for all peoples and a life-time of dedicating myself to being a peacemaker are two qualities I think will come in handy with my future with TPN. That along with my B.S. Degree in Radio/TV broadcasting (earned in 1980) and my years writing a teen column for two newspapers: The Free-

There are many things that I believe. And

like you, my belief system is an integral

part of what propels and motivates

me. In the months to come, I'd like to

share my thoughts, opinions, beliefs in

this column.

Feel free to agree or disagree by emailing

us at: thepopulacenow@yahoo.com, if

you wish. As you know, opinions are like

noses, everyone has one. And we just

wouldn't be happy individuals if we were-

n't sharing ours with others.

By Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers Patrick A. Sellers for The Populace Now

gravitate to

our own

kind, what

makes us

mistrust

those who

don’t look or

act like us

or who call

God by a

different

name?

We pride ourselves on being free-

thinking beings. And if that is the

case then neither society, parental

teachings, social norms or media

influences are responsible for such

changes in us. That leaves only one

entity to blame: Self.

One day, if

you are not

too busy,

take a ride

past your

local ele-

mentary school during re-

cess time. It won’t take

long to recognize that what

you’re seeing is very sim-

ple: children of all colors

and social backgrounds

playing together. What you

will learn is the lesson that

children play freely, interact

without discrimination with

one another, coexist in a

harmonious world where

the only thing that matters is “I tagged

you, you’re it!”

We as adults have moved past recess

and into a world where coexisting is

thought of as no more than an insignifi-

cant privilege. What changed us? We

were once connected by the human ele-

ment of kindness. We once believed in

returning a greeting or exchanging pleas-

antries in a polite way—even to strangers.

But those days are long gone. Could it be

that society, parental teachings, social

norms or media influences changed the

way we view others? What makes us

What Changed Us?What Changed Us?What Changed Us?What Changed Us?

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