Old School

The term "Old School" (sometimes spelled differently to claim street credit) has been used to describe an array of things. Some of these things are: people, ways of life, methods, and style. I myself tend to refer to my tactics and beliefs in some areas as "Old School" mainly do to the time in which I molded those things in to my life. Old School has also been associated with Church and athletics as well. In regards to Church, we have your "Old School Pastors" or Old School Church folk...yes folk, referring to the plural even. Old School Pastors may vary in areas but the majority of those references refer to ones Preaching and what is called "hooping". Old School preachers tend to follow the Bible more than New School Preachers. New School Preachers may find themselves a little more "relaxed" when it comes to certain things and that would really mess with an Old School Preacher. In Athletics, you have Old School Ballers and Old School Game. The best example I can give to this is Old School NBA....Lakers, Celtics, Rockets, Bulls during the 1980's and 1990's. Compared to the New School, the game is vastly different. New School is more selfish and self-centered. Old School was about the team.
New School is the term used for the new comers and up and coming. Those who try different approaches to the "circumstance" to gain more results. As I looked at these two terminologies, I am reminded by the recent events of Jesse Jackson. Old Schooler...Rev. Jackson along with others alike have dismissed the "N" word and have spoken out against the use of it in today's society. He and others have been out spoken at the use of that word in music and everyday life. Yet, Rev. Jackson was caught, on camera, using that same word he felt tears down African Americans, and using it towards and in reference to Sen. Barack Obama. (OH...did the New Schoolers attack that.) He has since been interviewed by Essence Magazine and addressed that comment. He did so by not really addressing it. This brings up a question....why do we speak against things we do ourselves and have no justification for it?
Along with this situation, about a month ago, CNN did a special called Black in America. It was a good "Town Hall" type setting with several distinguished guests present to discuss topics that address the Black Community and the needs that have been present for years. During one of the sessions, there was a discussion about education and how we go about dealing with it. A young man was on there who was a College Professor and he was debating with a young lady who was the President of an HBC. The young man started a program that pays students in the inner city to go to school. She opposed that and argued that it confused the drive and purpose. She made a comment about continuing with the current methods. He argued that those "Old School" methods have not worked and it is time for a New School way. He opened it up that if she could come with some other New School way since the Old School process was not working...he was open for suggestions...aka...solutions.

These two examples bring to mind the status of where we are. We have old schoolers and new schoolers. In Rev. Jackson's interview, the question was raised of his relevance now in today's society. Is he still relevant along with his peers. Some New Schoolers stated he was not, he said he is. I say he is but here is the problem. Old School folk tend to have an issue with releasing power to New School folk. This is the heart of the problem in our community. Old Schoolers tend to hold on to the issues, complaining, pointing out everything wrong with the community and the help that is needed. Even pointing at Obama, saying he has not addressed the Black Community while running for President. New Schoolers approach it with a "lets just press forward and move on" which upsets the Old School. They say that New School folk have no regard for the past or the sacrifice. This is simply not true. New School folk are extremely aware of the sacrifices made in the past. Those sacrifices have enabled the New School to be able to fight the battle from a different platform. That has allowed them to use the resources and make success happen. Sen. Obama understands, I believe, that addressing the Black Community throughout his campaign would hinder his chances. He has addressed it, however, the Community will not change unless we change the minds of those in the community. We have waited for a hand out, the old school way, and it has not happened and never will. New School is not waiting for that handout, they are ready to move forward, changing the mind set of the community which will change the community as a whole. With the same mind set, you get the same results. If the old school has some new ideas to make changes, the new school will listen. We have to try new school ways to break an old school drought. This is why we have to work together. The one thing New School lacks..patience. Old School and New School folk can and have to work together to solve the ongoing issues and we have to do it together. Old School has to trust and know the New School is more educated and ready then before and Old School is the back bone that is needed. Old Schoolers have been there, failed and got up and pushed forward and succeeded. It is your shoulders that the New School stands on, and your encouragement to push forward and be the foundation that started even before before you. Together we can and will accomplish much more and realize that we are all relevant to this journey. Whether Old School or New School....the old phrase said..."The Players may change, but the game stays the same." We must push forward in the game.....are you ready?