By Justin H. Tucker
Let’s be real—it’s not just “the streets.”
The real problem started when ignorance got mainstreamed.
We can trace the shift.
Around 2001, the culture began changing—not from the bottom up, but from the top down.
Back in the ’90s, we still had a sense of pride and shame.
We understood that even if you struggled, you didn’t have to stay stuck.
You could sell mixtapes and still encourage your little cousin to get his diploma.
Even the OGs in the neighborhood wanted to see the next generation rise.
We dressed like we cared. We spoke like we mattered.
There was a code—even in chaos.
But something flipped.
Somewhere along the way, the media started pumping out confusion as culture.
Ignorance became a marketing plan.
Recklessness got rebranded as “realness.”
And suddenly, dignity started to feel corny.
Now you walk into a room with a suit on, and folks act like you’re out of pocket.
You speak with clarity and presence, and people call you “too proper.”
You try to lead with integrity, and they say you’re trying too hard.
Meanwhile, they take pride in sagging pants, ski masks in public, and broken English on purpose.
We’ve glorified the very things that were once considered barriers to growth—and now we defend them as culture.
But let’s be clear:
This isn’t just style—it’s mindset.
And mindsets shape movements.
We’ve entered a time where:
- Accountability is laughed at
- Education is ridiculed
- Discipline is demonized
And you know who suffers the most from this shift?
Young Black men who are trying to do the right thing.
Because now, they’re the ones feeling out of place.
The ones being made to feel ashamed for staying out of trouble.
The ones being mocked for speaking with intelligence.
The ones being told that “being good” isn’t enough.
That’s where I step in.
That’s when I speak truth to power.
I’m not just some dude with degrees and talking points.
I’m a brother from South Side Jamaica, Queens, raised in the fire and sharpened by experience.
I’ve mentored youth from kindergarten to college.
I’ve counseled adults and taught students how to communicate with confidence.
And I’ve watched the culture shift in real time.
I’ve seen what happens when we celebrate dysfunction and shame discipline.
And I’ve also seen the power of re-centering young men in truth, love, and legacy.
Because being a Black man should not come with a shame tax—especially when you’re walking in purpose.
We need to create a world where:
- Wearing a suit is celebrated, not clowned
- Speaking with intelligence is expected, not mocked
- Loving yourself and your people through structure is respected, not rejected
We’ve let too many people sell us the lie that chaos equals authenticity.
But I’m here to tell you—there’s nothing more real than responsibility.
It’s time to bring pride back.
Not pride in dysfunction.
Not pride in pain.
But pride in rising. Pride in protecting. Pride in purpose.
To every brother reading this who’s ever felt ashamed for doing right—don’t fold.
They may try to clown you now, but history will honor your integrity.
And to the culture at large: we owe our young men better.
Because what we normalize, we multiply.
It’s time to flip the pride back.
✊🏾 Let’s build a new standard for Black manhood—one rooted in truth, elevation, and unapologetic excellence.
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This is so inspiring keep up the good work your you are right on point