According to Wikipedia (who uses an encyclopedia these days), an endangered species is which has been categorized as very likely to become extinct in the near future. The factors that are considered in being categorized as endangered include: the number remaining, the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, or known threats. When a species is listed on the Endangered Species List, great lengths are taken to protect them. Civic groups are formed, multi-million dollar businesses donate time and money, and laws are passed to support its conservation. On the downside-when something is listed as endangered, the demand for it grows. People will do anything to get their hands on it. There is drama, there is frenzy- all because a species has been recognized as special and delicate.
Well, I feel that the time has come to form an Endangered Species List for Society as well. I am only 45 years old, but I have noticed a dramatic decline in several social attributions, a dramatic drop in their popularity, no known active attempts in reviving them, with highly critical, vocal and political threats against them. With these attributes’ decline, society has experienced a snowball effect of sorts that is effecting not only the current society, but will have a continual effect for generations to come. I feel immediate action must be taken by all, from your local neighborhood to the mega giants of the business and political world!
“So, what should be listed on this perceived Endangered Species List for Society?” you ask. Let me explain….
1. Pride- There was once a time when a man would work in a field from daylight to dark, pick up trash off the street, and got as dirty as he had to in order to provide food and shelter for his family. He never asked for a handout. It was HIS family, HIS responsibility and he took great pride in providing for them. A woman would get dressed and make sure she was presentable and acted in a way that reflected pride and dignity for her family. No matter what a woman was going through emotionally or physically, she would hold her head high, back straight, shoulders back, and fought through. Now days, it is common to see a man let a woman work multiple jobs to provide while he sits at home. Anytime you go shopping, you can spot the woman, worn out and run down by life, still in her pajamas and house slippers, hair un-brushed, just going through the motions to get through the day. We all have a time in our lives when we find ourselves down and out. That is okay. But it has become more acceptable to stay down, then to fight back. Pride is no longer respected or even expected from each other. If a woman dares to pull herself out of bed and make her face up and look her best when she’s going through something, she is deemed as “fake” or “bougie”. A woman is the strongest of all species; we should be able to go through hell and still take pride in ourselves. So, lets remind those that we see actively living down and out with no pride left that God didn’t make trash. He created gifts; and they are still a gift, no matter what life has done to them. Remind them to take pride in themselves; and wrap that gift up! Remind them to stand tall and get back in the ring every day!
2. Manners- When I was little, my mama always made me to “mind my manners.” Look people in the eye when they are speaking to me. I knew to always speak to anyone when they came into the room. I knew to hold the door open for others. And others knew to behave the same. So many kids these days have no manners. The line between the roles of adults and children have become to blurred in an attempt to instill a more mature nature in the younger generation. Society wants to view the younger generation as “small adults” which has its benefits when building confidence; but the biological fact of the matter is that the brain is not fully developed until our 20s. Therefore these “small adults” still need to be TAUGHT how to behave accordingly. The foundation of becoming a functional adult member of society in both the work place and in social settings begins with manners.
3. Compassion- When I was little, if it were not for the compassion of Belzoni/Humphreys County, Mississippi, we would have never survived! We were poor. My mother was dying of a rare lung disease; and we had very little means to thrive. But all the members of this area shared what they could to help get us through. But we weren’t any different than anyone else. Back then it was commonplace to help whoever needed it. If you had anything to spare, you were expected to pay it forward. Now we have become a “Me Generation”. If it doesn’t effect ME, we don’t care. If it doesn’t benefit ME, we don’t contribute. While it is important to take care of yourself; it is equally important to also take care of your fellow brother/sister. And we are all brothers and sisters.
4. Humility- In a time of Snapchat Streaks, Instagram Filters, and Facebook Selfies, everything has to be the best. We get a trophy for joining the team, whether we ever attempt to get off the bench or not. We have convinced ourselves that we are the greatest, because we have shiny things around the house on display and a thousand likes to say so. The truth of the matter is this- there is always someone better, prettier, smarter and richer than we are. There always has been and always will be. We need to get over ourselves. Everyone is special one day. BUT no one is special everyday.
This is just the beginning of the list. I think as we start to pay closer attention to ourselves, our own actions and change our perception of things, this list of Endangered Species of Society will grown. It should grow. And just as we take great measures to preserve the beautiful wildlife that on the verge of extinction; we should also take equal measures to preserve these beautiful attributes to society for its own betterment and preservation.
Lessons Learned From The Rainbow 