Friday, September 5, 2014

Escaping From The Land Of Urban Primitivism

By Victor J. Ward


It's true: The public education system, minimum wage laws, drug laws are working together to keep the Black man down. I will address these at another time.

In this post, however, I want to talk to the Urban Primitives that want to escape the Land of Urban Primitivism (LOUP). Even when the state is working against you, there are certain things that you can do to help you get out of LOUP and into a more civilized society.

1. Understand that once you escape LOUP, you are going to have to associate with educated and articulate Whites, Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks, to name just a few of the people that you will meet. The main thing to understand is NOT that these people come from every race and nationality; the main thing to understand is that these people are educated and articulate.

Now, I am not saying that you need to be intimidated by this. I am saying that you need to recognize that you are no longer dealing with people from the hood. You must always understand your audience.

If you find yourself in a social gathering and you do not know your audience, your best bet is to remain silent and get an accurate lay of the land. Do not open your mouth and confirm your ignorance. If you feel the need to make conversation, ask other people about themselves, because people love that particular topic of conversation.

I remember being in a room filled with wealthy and professional people. It was on a Sunday, and the next day, I was beginning my first day of law school.

I was a young kid. I was listening to two older guys, one doctor and one lawyer. I remember saying something. I don't remember what it was, but I remember that the two older guys looked at me like I was a fool.

After that, I learned my lesson. Listen to people. Let them talk. If they are talking foolishness, and if you have the ability and skill to shut them up, go for it. But, you probably won't have this ability immediately upon your escape from LOUP. That's ok; take your time and be patient.

Remember, you are new to the civilized world. People are going to be wary of you because of your background. Don't rebel against this, for it is a fact. There will be time to change people's minds once your escape from LOUP is complete.

2. If you are escaping from LOUP, then you must leave all of LOUP behind. What I mean is this: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Eminem, P Diddy, Jay-Z, Nelly, Kanye West, Pit Bull, Ice Cube and Lil' Wayne are NOT escaping from LOUP. They have made enough money so that they can walk in both worlds. I would hazard a guess that 50 Cent doesn't even know what it means to diagram a sentence. But, he doesn't care; he can diagram a rap, and he has made more money doing that than any of his Grammar teachers.

If you can rap or play with some sort of ball or have some other streetwise skill that allows you to make a lot of money, then you do not need to escape LOUP. You can live in LOUP or visit it whenever you want.

If, however, you are not a rapper or baller, there are certain things about LOUP that you must leave:

A. Stop saying, "You know what I mean?" In LOUP, the answer, which is always unspoken, is usually, "Yes." Outside of LOUP, the answer, which is also unspoken, is, "No."

Since "No" will be the answer in the civilized world, you do not need to ask the question. Instead, make sure that you are clear in what you are trying to say. If you want to make sure that you have effectively communicated your point, you can ask, "Do you understand what I am saying, or have I lost you?" Or, you can ask, "Did I make myself clear, or did I confuse you?"

In general, please make sure that you are asking a legitimate question and not simply providing unnecessary conversation filler.

B. Please make sure that you know how to pronounce certain words. For instance, the word is "ASK" not "AXE." For instance, you ASK your boss for a raise; you do not AXE your boss for a raise. The first use means that you entered your boss' office and requested more money for your services. The second use means that you took a farming instrument/tool and then used that tool on some part of your boss' body in an attempt to get more money for the services that you rendered.

In the first instance, your boss will either say "Yes" or "No." In the second instance, your boss will be dead.

C. Do not use the word "fittin," as in, "I am fittin to go to the store." First, there is no word "fittin;" the word is "fitting" or "fitted." Often, it is used in this context: "I am visiting the tailor to get fitted for a suit" or "The bridesmaids were all present for the fitting."


3. Speaking of the word "fit," please wear clothes that fit. The waist of your pants should fit around -- brace yourselves for this -- the waist of your body.

People do not want to see your pants around your ankles, and no one wants to see your nasty draws. (By the way, do not talk like this unless it is clear that you are talking in an Urban Primitive way in order to make a point or a joke. You know what I mean?)

4. Realize that people will call you an Uncle Tom or a Sellout or an Oreo or something else like that. Do not concern yourself with these people, especially if they are still living in LOUP. If people are like you and they are trying to get out of LOUP, they won't have this attitude.

In other words, you are going to need to get different friends. This may sound harsh or callous, but the fact is that bad company corrupts good character. You need new and different influences in your life. Otherwise, you will not be able to escape LOUP.

5. Because it is going to be difficult to get a job, you should prepare to volunteer at a place where you want to work. For instance, if you want to work at Starbucks, volunteer at Starbucks to take out their trash and to keep their cream/sugar/napkin area clean. If you want to work at a school, volunteer to do something, anything.

Volunteering will do several things: 1. It will help you to gain a skill; 2. It will teach you how to work for other people; 3. It will help you be grateful when you finally get a paying job.

6. Learn how to say, "Thank you!" When you are thankful, it helps your own heart, and it also makes an impression on the person whom you thank.

Recently, a guy delivered pizza and related food items to my home. The cost was $70. I tipped him $20.

After he left, I got a phone call. It was the delivery guy. He thanked me for the generous tip.

The next time I order pizza from that restaurant, I want that guy coming to my door.

It will be the same with you. Always do a good job and always tell people "Thank you for the opportunity." or "Thank you for the tip." or "Thank you for holding the door open for me." Learn to be a person of gratitude.

7. Learn about economics. Got to Mises.org and read as much as you can. Listen to as many podcasts as you can. Other great sites are the Economicpolicyjournal.com and Lewrockwell.com.

8. Never, never, never be late. To many Black people show up on CP (Colored People) time. This is rude and inconsiderate.

I have been late, and when I was, I was rude and inconsiderate.

If you are going to be late, make sure that you call or alert the person/people that you are supposed to meet and apologize.

9. Wear a button-down shirt. I am a Black guy, and right now, I am wearing a black t-shirt and a jacket. But, I am not escaping from LOUP. If you want to escape from LOUP, you need to change everything about your appearance. Wear nice shirts. Wear khakis. Get some dress socks. Get two or three pairs of dress shoes. Wear a belt. Make sure that the color of your belt matches the color of your shoes. Make sure that the color of your socks matches (or is darker than) the color of your pant leg.

People are going to judge you by your appearance. If  you look like an Urban Primitive, people are going to treat you like an Urban Primitive. You have one chance to make a first impression. Make sure that it is a good one.

10. Do not have unprotected sex. Since I am a Christian, I would counsel you to not have sex at all until you are married, and I would counsel you to not get married until you and your spouse have the financial ability to sustain a family (the two of you plus one child).

But, if that's too much to ask, at the very least, use protection. Having a child before you are ready will almost destroy your chances of escaping LOUP.

There are more tips in order to escape from LOUP, but these are a pretty good start.

Victor J. Ward  first came across libertarianism by reading Murray Rothbard's Ronald Reagan: An Autopsy and Walter Block's Defending the Undefendable. He holds a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

9 comments:

  1. You don't think that calling people "Urban Primitives" will make them less likely to read your article? You are calling them PRIMITIVES. It sounds insulting. How many people are likely to read the article after you insult them?

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    Replies
    1. The audience for this article isn't 'Urban Primitives'.

      Delete
    2. Coming from the perspective of having lived in low income, white trash areas for much of my youth and then frequenting ghetto's to play basketball( a sport which I love, the ghetto is a place where you can get very competitive and physical ball) at a time in my life when I would play on the weekends after a week of work during the day and college at night...I can tell you that most people in the proverbial "LOUP" that have somehow made it far enough to read Victor's article wouldn't give two shits about being part of the "LOUP" or more specifically being called an "urban primitive".

      Please remember that what you might consider "degrading" in name might be an enjoyed collective term in such settings. For example, the often used and well known "Nigga" in the hood. I can't tell you how many times in the ghetto I was referred to what most people outside the LOUP would consider offensive names as the sole white boy on the basketball courts.

      I've heard it all. The lines can get very complex and you'd better learn the boundries quickly. For instance, if I scored a bucket and the guy guarding me(always black in the ghetto) was embarassed...then I get the names. Cracker, White Bread, when I was young and it was an old timer it might be "honkey", you get the picture. But, NEVER could I call him a "nigga/er" in return. I could however say "fuck you", "kiss my ass", "I'm gonna use you again", etc. et al....

      There is now and then a situation that arises where I've seen a white guy that runs in black dominated groups that occasionally can refer to only his close black friends as "nigga/ers", but this is rare and he is very close to them if that's the case.

      It's all about the cultural norms...but most people in most aspects of society could never begin to understand what I'm saying.

      So in summary, I'm going to disagree with you statement based on my personal experience. Those is some form of the LOUP are usually very thick skinned...which can be a great advantage if they managed to escape(like myself).

      Btw, great job again Victor!

      Delete
    3. @Bill "This article isn't aimed at Urban Primitives."

      Really? This sentence is directly counter to your claim:
      "In this post, however, I want to talk to the Urban Primitives that want to escape the Land of Urban Primitivism (LOUP). "

      Delete
    4. edward-

      If I was being referred to as being an "urban primitive" then reading this article to attack the author would be incentive.

      Maybe one- even just ONE- young person living amongst Urban Primitive (which does NOT denote skin color- I know a few white UPs) culture will wake up reading this article and GTFO.

      As, uh, Eminem says, "I ain't here to help the F'ing children but if one kid feels...that he relates then that's great"

      Someone pointed out how low the crime rate was in Manhattan as proof that Bloomie and Guilianioloco and I just pointed out that Manhattan was too expensive for thugs, but to walk around Bed-Stuy or parts of uptown and see how safe you feel.

      Delete
  2. Victor,

    Another great article. Keep up the fantastic work. Im a southern white boy who grew up in a rural of Virginia. I have to say Ive used some of your tips over the years. When Im in educated company Im careful not to slop my words together, try to pronounce my "Rs" (thats the hard part, they're easier written than spoken) and totally avoid saying "madder" for tomato (LOL). Nothing against my culture or upbringing. Its just the way it is.

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    Replies
    1. Ha. We are in the same boat. I LOVE my home (NEast TN) but lord a'mighty we's raised country.

      My speech patterns with my family are TOTALLY different when I'm with my extended family.

      If I'm trying I can pull off the totally neutral accent, but a few drinks of the presence of another southerner and I'm toast.

      Delete
  3. Victor,

    I must argue on 2C. I'm a good ole southern boy who talks like he's a TV newsreader, but still find myself using the term "fixin'" (as in fixin' to go to the store, get up, cook dinner, etc.) because it replaces several awkward phrases (getting ready to, in a few minutes I will, momentarily- ugh!)with an easily sussed meaning. When I use it around New Yorkers they will usually ask the origin and usage it's like they've discovered an English version of a momentary "maƱana".

    Other than that, you nailed it out of the park.

    In defense of supposedly "racist" judgments I will often say that if was the only white face in a room with a hundred Black men in suits I would feel at ease and unique and eager to talk to these men. If I was the only white in a room with 5 thugs I would fear for my life.

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  4. You can generally get away with listening to most of those rappers listed. However, the 2-Chainz and the like absolutely must go.

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