(ThyBlackMan.com) My full-time job exposes me to some of the most creative and eccentric people in the world. I work at Columbia College Chicago – a school that specializes in fashion, performing arts and all things media-related. It is a breeding ground for right-minded thinkers; as such, it attracts students from across the world to study atypical courses on an atypical campus.
With such a diverse population of students, I am privy to the newest fashion trends on a daily basis – unique and bizarre as they may be. I’ve seen more skinny jeans sagged in my time here than I really ought to have EVER seen in my life! But the latest fashion trend that has swept the campus and the rest of the anti-culture of “generation next” is… black, horn-rimmed glasses.
When Jay-Z re-emerged on the scene after his early retirement, he came back sporting these frames at a few sets for no apparent reason. And just like that – it became the newest fad. At Church this past Sunday, I saw a young man wearing these glasses that I know for a FACT does not need corrective lenses. Call it a sixth sense from a person that’s worn glasses since 
kindergarten. Call it simple observation that never saw this young man squint when playing basketball in the gym. Call it what you want – I know that he has 20/20 vision without ‘em!
Apparently, that’s all it takes these days to make something square into something hip; as someone with status is to be emulated for doing something that someone without status would be ridiculed for. My question is: where was the hip mogul back in my day and why didn’t he wear Coke bottle glasses?!! My prepubescent years would’ve played out much differently – I would’ve been the coolest kid on the block! Or at the least, my peers in public school might have seen past the glasses for what really counted:
~
Housing Glasses
Windows to the souls
House the framework of temples
Where God sees the heart.
*
Window Pains
The windows to the
Soul expose the sinful polls
Lodged in mental woes.
*
The Windows’ Pain
The windows to your
Soul can show broken pains through
The past’s looking glass.
~
But this isn’t about my misfit past, it’s about blind followers. Jay-Z’s horn-rimmed glasses are just a recent example of trending that’s existed from generation to generation. Do you know what else can get carried from generation to generation, though?: curses. Sin is a curse that has been passed on from Adam that has affected the entire human race until Someone came to break the cycle.
In my humble opinion, it’s time for this cyclical mimicry to be broken as well. The good news is that there’s a chain breaker to get the process started. For the past few years, there has been a movement that has promoted self-thinking and self-awareness while questioning the motives and effect of following the crowd. This media machine has risen from amongst the masses with commercials from http://www.abovetheinfluence.com – an organization geared to stand out and against peer pressure.
These commercials typically go for shock value with strange anecdotal sequences that are thought-provoking if not disturbing. The earliest recollection I have of one of their messages is “slomming.” S.L.O.M. ( which stands for Sticking Leaches On Myself) depicted teenagers with leaches on their arms and even on the insides of their lower lips. Why? Because it wanted to pose the question: If slomming became the newest rave, would you do it?!! I was struck by this graphic representation of how insane it is to follow the crowd; and needless to say, I agree with the point it made 100%:
– an excerpt from Afraid of My Own Strength as published in Steel Waters VOLUME I: DUPLicate AuthentICITY:
I have an identity –
but I find fads and fashions
to be of more interest.
I have mindless tendencies –
I ride bandwagon tours with splintered depth.
I have no center left – I adapt my plight to monitors.
If “slomming” took off – my leech fetish would be
the freshest and flyest.
Honestly, I’d saw my foot off
if feet became less stylish…
If it’s next, I’ve already tried it – I am a blind follower.
~
While horn-rimmed glasses aren’t necessarily detrimental to a person’s health, I would argue that there is some damage done when someone is influenced to wear such UGLY glasses – especially when no thought is placed behind why they’re wearing them in the first place!
~
Detrimental Abuse
Unused mental
capacity is a detrimental
tragedy.
~
Another trend that has grabbed kids as young as three and four years old at my Church is the return of the mohawk – only this time it’s partnered itself with faux hawks, as well. Although it seemed to fit in with the culture of the 80’s, now it mainly serves as proof in the pudding that are youth will follow anything. If this hairstyle is still around when my son is old enough to request it, the only way I will allow it is if he can articulate a sensible reason for why he wants it – a reason other than “because everyone else has one!”
Sometimes I wonder if the superstars we idolize sit around and intentionally come up with strange fads just to see how far we’ll follow them off the edge before we say “I’m not doing that!” I would imagine it gives them some type of high to know how much they can influence us to do the dumbest of things. Sadly, it would seem we haven’t reached our limit yet:
~
Lemming Aids
Handed a bunch of
Lemmings, the world can make ‘em
Drink their own urine!
~
It may seem harmless now but today’s horn-rimmed glasses, mohawks and faux hawks can easily become tomorrow’s alcohol, drugs and sex.
~
A Swallowed Pride
Followin’ leaders
That swallow liters is a
Sorrowful feature.
*
Follow the Liter
Getting peer-pressured
To drink pours leadership skills
Down into the drain.
~
We have to challenge our youth at an early age to question why they do things that they see others are doing before we allow them to fall in to a critical mass exodus. Jesus had followers but so does Twitter – and though I want them to challenge and learn ALL things that they choose to align themselves with (even their parent’s Christianity); ultimately, who and what my children choose as leaders should come from the example I set as guided by the discernment of the Holy Spirit. After all,
I may have blindly followed my parents into a relationship with God as a child, but when I learned of and experienced Him for myself, I now clearly see and understand why I follow Him in the light of Christ.
All this over some frames! The ironic thing is that I’m able to see this all play out with a vision that’s been impaired since the same early age that youth today are learning to stop using their ability to think and see for themselves.
~
The Site Beyond Sight
Blind followers with
Wool pulled o’er their eyes lose their
Common sense on site.
*
Frame of Deference
a.k.a.
Corrective Perspective
Aims of deference
Should have proper perspective
Frames of reference.
Written By Reggie Legend
Can find more about this writer over at; http://www.steelwaterspoetry.com/blog
Also available as a Keynote Speaker – Book him Today; Speakerwiki – Reggie Legend