G.H.E.T.T.O.
Back in early 2011, I was a
participant in Leadership Rochester, a non-profit organization that aims to
provide established and emerging leaders knowledge and access to resources that
would enable them to respond to the quality of life issues in the Greater
Rochester area. During one of the assignments
for this program, participants had to explore different neighborhoods outside
of where they may have grown up or currently lived. During the debriefing of this assignment, one
gentleman spoke about his experience going into the inner city. Of course, he did not reside nor did he grow
up there. During his breakdown of what
he experienced, he of course used the term GHETTO to describe his
experience. The gentleman described the
GHETTO with quite unfavorable descriptions as one might imagine he would. Based upon his observations and the fact that
he didn’t know, grow-up in, or understand anything about the GHETTO, some might
hold his sentiments in high regards. I
of course did not. As I sat there and
listened, I thought to myself, how could I give a different viewpoint of what
the GHETTO is or what it can be? Heck,
I’m from the GHETTO and I sat just as an equal to him in this leadership
program, all can’t be bad.
I pondered how could I make
something so negative in society’s mind be something more meaningful. After being inspired by this one individual’s
opinion (which of course was his right), I came up with an acronym for
G.H.E.T.T.O.-Great History Emerges Through Tough
Oppression. For me G.H.E.T.T.O.
is where many of the world’s greatest leaders, innovators, politicians,
doctors, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers, and
countless other dreamers and achievers come from. I could not stand to see a term, which didn’t
originate from black and brown culture, demonize our people. As a matter of fact (yes FACT) the term
GHETTO originated back in the 16th century when the Nazis (German’s)
isolated the Jewish people from non-Jewish populations during World War II. And just like the GHETTO’s of the 16th
century, the GHETTO’s of today are used to isolate and watch those that are
isolated succumb to the grave living conditions. This cannot continue to take place.
Whether you are African-American,
Hispanic, Jewish, Asian, Indian or any other ethnic group where you live or
grew up in the G.H.E.T.T.O., remember that Great
History Emerges Through Tough Oppression. We are people of a greater
purpose than what others may believe. As oppression still exits in many forms
today, we have the foundation of our ancestors to build upon. No one said the road would be easy, and in
this case, a road well travelled is better than one that hasn’t been travelled
at all. Our ancestors travelled frequently
on these oppressed roads and made history! So can we!
To place an order for
a G.H.E.T.T.O. t-shirt that inspires you to rise above oppression and make great
history go to www.uniquevizunzapparel.spreadshirt.com
G.H.E.T.T.O.
By
Lakeisha Smith
CEO Unique Vizunz
