Opulence: Ignorance Truly IS Bliss...

I've always been curious as to why we as humans have such a penchant for the flossing of our wealth. Of course, saying "human" I mean "black people" and "flossing" I mean "gaudy and tasteless"... Seriously folks, WTF is goings on with us?!? It's sad that you can always tell when "we" get some money, because the first thing we do is splurge on something that's worth LESS than what we paid for it!! I bring this up because of conversations I've had lately with my friends and family. We STARTED out talking about the ridiculous chains and other gaudy & tasteless jewlery famous (black) people adorn themselves with... and it degraded itself from there. From the four-finger rings of the 70's and 80's, to Lil' Jon's "Crunk Ain't Dead!!!" charm and everything thing in-between, THIS is what WE want to splurge on.

I thought it was strange when I first read (yes, I READ things while Cable TV was invented) about Kings and Queens of the past (African and European) who went to great extremes to show all the wealth they had amassed (be it through "legitimate" spoils of war, or that grey area that most usually fell into...). In current and ancient times, wealth has always been defined by society and culture... So, while the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, valued jewels and spices and gold, they were no more wealthy than their tribal counterparts that adorned themselves with the bones and ivory of slaughtered prey and conquered territory (more a sign of power, than wealth, but, you'll see the similarities soon). See, the wearing of wealth has been around for a long time... as long as time, honestly. In Victorian England (and America), wearing fine silks and fabrics in multiple layers, huge powdered wigs, and even make-up and perfume showed the wealth of men. Black men were no different, though not afforded the access to much of the same things of their white counterparts, they found that, within their circles, the more they imitated wealthy whites the wealthier they were viewed...

Which still doesn't answer my question:

Actually, I'm more concerned with the present, instead of the past. Yeah, I know you can't know move ahead without understanding the past, but, I believe we're taking ignorant bliss too damned far! Some of the indulgences I've seen my people engross themselves with borderlines on mental deficiency, and the rest of us allow it as if nothing is wrong at all. All I heard as a child, from my elders (not peers) was that, should I ever come into money, the first thing I should do is invest and spend it WISELY. Let me spell that for you, again: W-I-S-E-L-Y!!! I knew at age 10 that cars and jewelry DEPRECIATE once they are a) Driven off the lot/walked out of a store and b) customized, yet, my peers (and sadly, some elders) do just these ignorant things! Case in point: Three (3) years ago, the Houston rap scene was exploding, and with this branch of the music I fell in love with, came the fads and accessories of the region. Next thing you knew, EVERYBODY wanted to: Ride 84's, sip lean, bang Screw (R.I.P), and put diamonds in their MOUTHS!! Well, here we are three (3) years later and EVERYBODY, from Fat Joe to BROOKE FUCKIN' HOGAN (and speed demon little bro Nick) has (or had) a MOTHERFUCKING grill!!! Nelly and Jermaine Dupri did a song for them!! And as with rap music, it's not just WHO has it, its WHO PAID MORE! Houston hip-hopper Paul Wall and his partner "TV" Johnny Dang have been adorning the mouths of rappers and other Houstonites for years at an average cost of about $12,000/ per grill... Let that soak in for a minute. The same amount that could purchase you some major stock in some worthwhile companies, the same price that could see most peoples debt wiped cleaned, the SAME COST to put a student through TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE now rest in some dude's mouth breeding gingivitis and food particles... Oh! And I forgot the BESTEST part; more than HALF of the people who bought into the "fad" NO LONGER WEAR THE GRILLES AT ALL! Yes, the luxury of waste is greatest sign of the wealthy, and rappers are the cremè de la cremè when it comes to this aspect. And their followers (can you REALLY call most of these people fans?) dig themselves into unbelieveable debt trying to emulate their idols. $1500 for a bottle of Champagne to WASTE at the club. Custom-made jewelry valued in tens and sometimes HUNDREDS of thousands of dollar price points that devalue the moment it leaves the store, only to THROW it into waving throngs of fans at a concert. The excessive product placement of clothing and liquor companies that invest NOTHING back into the communities they pillage have become the "must haves" that the "should nots" kill and steal to achieve. And those who don't go that route become the future "trappers" to re-cycle this ideaology to another generation of kids... smfh.

I think my qualm isn't with the acquisition of riches, it's the spending habits of the untrained and irresponsible (yeah, I like that word). I'm not looking for everyone to tithe faithfully (okay, maybe I DO, but, until I tithe FAITHFULLY, they can slide a little), but I do expect some common sense in spending habits. I grew up around dudes who bought late model Caddys, Bonnies, Montes, and Regals (look it up if you don't know what I'm talking about), took whatever money they had and threw twenties, 22's, 24's, crazy paint jobs, bangs and screens (I apologize if my ghetto vernacular is making your head spin) and NEVER MOVED OUT OF THEIR MOM'S CRIBS! I mean, how can you put 20 or 30 grand into your car, yet still be living in the same shitty basement of the same shitty neighborhood you grew up in?!? Just to say that you "got more than the next dude?" That's fuckin' retarded!

(Wait. Before I completely lose my self, I have to say something. I have friends and family that live, somewhat, opulent lifestyles, while in the luxury of their parent's homes. What I'm bitchin' about isn't the comfort of home living, it's the lack of financial education. I know guys who buy new cars while living at mom and dad's who are simply building their credit scores... I also know guys who live at home who don't work, smoke pounds of weed, and don't take care of other responsibilities... This blog is for them.)

Actually, no. This blog is about what America affords us, and that's the ability to stand up in front of the entire world, pull down our pants and SHOW OUR ASSES! I still don't understand it, I don't think I ever will. And sadly, the only thing I truly care about is the fact that I live in a country that affords me the right and opportunity to do as such. So, even though I'm not a proponent of gaudy jewelry, 30 inch rims, platinum teeth, and the likes, when I allow MTV access to my 6000 to 8000 square foot home, and people ask, "Does he really need projection screens in FOUR ROOMS?" The answer is "no," but, I can't take it with me, and if you're jealous, HUSTLE HARDER THAN ME!!!


Peace.