Graphs from
Bureau of Justice Statistics/U. S. Department of Justice
“A hard head, makes a soft behind”, was what the elders use to tell us when we were growing up. We got the message when they spanked us. Yeah, we got out of line somewhere and got back in line with a butt-cut. We didn’t understand it as children but now as adults, we do. Some folks said, “You’ll find out the hard way.” I also heard, "You don't have to listen now, but one day you'll wish you did." The hard way was another butt-cut or something regrettable. You avoided the butt-cuts as much as possible because that was no badge of honor. Back then, you got butt-cuts in front of your friends and/or classmates and it was embarrassing and sometimes humiliating. Now going to
jail is seen as a badge of honor and pride among some of our youth. Parents can’t discipline their children anymore like they used to. They might get reported to the Department of Social Services or watch-dog groups that look for abuse in families. My neighbors and teachers use to discipline us, too. I would say “whip” but that term in not politically correct anymore. It denotes a harsher type of punishment. But in those days, we did get “whippings.” I believe that most of did managed to live without any regrets and found that those teaching stayed with us. I believe that we didn’t turn out so bad and didn’t have to do any jail time or allowed ourselves to get into some bad situations. I will always believe that the elders had the same things told to them and tried their best to pass it on to us so that we can avoid unnecessary problems. I will always believe that they just wanted the best for us and if necessary beat it into us. I can’t reiterate enough that when a parent is not allowed to discipline his/her children for the good of the child, then society will pay for it. There are two many men and women, black and white, are in prison institutions of some sort. Even if unfairly incarcerated, there is still a huge
cost for society to pay.
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