Represent Yourself

Now dawns another school year. A time when kids return to school to see their friends and meet new ones. This is a key time in many ways, but most importantly, it gives YOU the opportunity to represent yourself.


When kids get together, they interact with each other in different ways. They create names for each other. The question is, WHY? Galatians 3:27-28 reads: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Although we are striving to remain one in Christ, there are times that we are divided by the names that we allow people to call us. I am not going to mention them because most people know what I'm talking about. They are said playfully, but they have negative meanings. This is why some people can say them and others can't. We feel this way because names are used to describe oneself. Back in ancient tribes, names were given as a "badge of honor", something to be proud of. Today, names are not considered as important.

When I was in high school people would tell my friend, "What up dog?" and he would respond, "Don't call me a dog, I am a man." He said this because he had respect for himself and refused to allow anyone to take that away from him. Young people today don't all have that same respect for themselves. Young girls are allowing themselves to be compared to a dog. So I ask them if they are a pet that needs an owner. Boys have accepted a word that has plagued African Americans for generations. They seem to be proud of being called ignorant fools. Young people like to take negatives and turn them into positives, but when does it go too far?


There should never come a time when you allow yourself to be belittled or belittle others. There is a level of respect that you should demand for yourself, playing or not. By allowing yourself to be called such names can stunt your "growth". If something is said constantly, you will begin to believe it. How can you strive to become the best when people call you such names? You need to tell yourself, "I am the greatest" because you are made in HIS image. No longer should you allow yourself to be downgraded. It is time to pick yourself up. Let everyone know who you are and stop letting people define you with such negativity. When you return to school this year, know that you are all the same. There is no need to define each other with all of these names. Strive for higher heights starting within yourself. You are not a pimp, a "G", the baddest chick, a thug, a pimpstress or a gangsta. If anybody asks you who you are, tell them that you are a child of God.