Afrikan American Youth And . . .

"What profession are you interested in -- notice, I said 'interested in', not 'studying for.' "
"I just want a job, I don't care what it is."
"What can you do?"
"Any thang."
"I mean what experience do you have?"
"Selling."
"Oh . . . what company have you worked for as a salesman?"
"Mostly I been self-employed."
"What do you sell -- wearing your britches with your butt showing like that?"
"Don't make no difference 'bout my britches, people jus' want marijuana, they don't care how um dressed."

"I like your frankness, so I'm gonna be frank with you.  Are you in school"
"Some."
"How old are you and what grade are you in?"
"Um seventeen and um in the ninth grade."
"I ask you these questions because we sell jewelry here and need to know the people working for us.  And I know Afrikan American youths only from what I see and hear from them on the streets and TV.  Frankly, I see most guys like you wearing their britches like you do, not much interested in education, usually carrying a basketball, but no books, and getting involved in rioting and looting and shooting each other, and always in trouble with the law --"
"I don't need no sermon and all that, I jus' want a job --"

"With an attitude like that and no education and no experience except selling marijuana and you expect someone to hire you?"
"That's right.  People always talking 'bout we Afrikan American youths ain' got no jobs, so um as'in for a job.  You gonna give me one or not?  I don't need all this damn drama . . ."
"I'm sorry, I don't have a job for you."
"You got a sign in the window say 'Salesman wanted', but you ain' give me no application or nothing -- and um leaving, but um coming back with a lawyer and we gon' sue you for racism!"