by Patrise Henry

Created on: March 09, 2007   Last Updated: April 05, 2007

Is the media altering our perception? Of course it is!

In my neighborhood I watch the teenagers put more effort into what they are going to wear to school the next day, than they put into the homework that needs to be handed in! But who are we to blame?

The media knows exactly what they are doing. It seems today everyone is obsessed with celebrities. They forecast their business all the time. They post these pictures of the stars in their dresses worth thousands of dollars.

On the videos you see stars flashing their possessions. And 9 times out of 10, the audience watching can't afford or spell those items. And this settles into the young mind. They are so impressionable, and they fall under the impression that they need these material possessions to prove them worthy. Worthy of what? Popularity I assume. There's something about having the expensive items, or the newest, hottest items, that can make a nobody become the coolest thing on the block.

It is an unfortunate situation, but it is what it is. I live in an Urban environment so I see it first hand. I watch the youth in my neighborhood get all exited when they see a "HOT" car drive by. I listen to them argue over who the hottest rapper is, and I hear them talk about what new jeans or sneaker they are going to buy. And it makes me wonder... I say to myself "buy, you don't even have a job". More importantly, most of these children come from low-income families. Therefore most of these families are living above their means. This is a sad factor, because these kids will grow up believing that as long as you look good, you can get by. And that is so far from the truth, in all reality.

I have lived in this environment all of my life, but I was raised differently. I can honestly say, I felt the pressures when I was in High School, to fit in. To have the items all the cool kids had. But my family could not afford these things. So what we lacked in material wealth, we made up for it in character and a strong spirit. And when I look back now, I knew all the "cool" kids. We hung out, I just always kept my head up, and I guess that's how I gained my respect, and what made me "cool".

Now, I will not sit here and act like I don't read magazines, or watch tv and sometimes yearn to have those fancy things. Of course I do!

However I am wise enough to know that the media wants me to feel that way. It is good for their ratings. Society has been set up that way since the beginning of time. Whatever the masses are doing is always going to be considered "in". But we have to stop to think about the people we are sending these messages to.
I watch some kids, and they are spoiled brats with rotten grades. We are birthing illiterate children, and criminals, all because they just "have to have it".

I am no hater, I am just concerned and informed.
I may not be 100% right. But I know I'm not 100% wrong either.

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