[Aevery_Freeman]

Whereas achievers attributed success or lack of success to actions of self, the gangster perspective placed blame on the actions of others. In the realm of gaining respect, achievers saw that you must earn it, while the ghetto nihilist attitude became "demand it," he said.

Ellis said that "dysfunctionality and a lack of core values are not limited to the 'hood,'" pointing out that the "loosening of internal restraints" is a national problem. During the Q&A segment of the presentation, he expressed concern that someday "we're going to have a totalitarian society" if the growing lack of such internal, individual restraints continues unabated.

Bravo! It has given us the ubiquitous term "dissin'."

First hearing this term from my High School students, I was a bit unsure of the meaning. I had rarely used the term "disrespect" even having been the brunt of it daily from the same students.

[DrC]

The gangster culture personified: achievers get beaten by nihilists.
http://www.wpix.com/news/wpix-girl-attacked-before-talent-show,0,3499165.story

[Reverend Wright]

believing what happens to you depends on others, rather than what you do for yourself, is a core belief of liberals.

see this Pew Research breakdown of voter types

http://people-press.org/2005/05/10/profiles-of-the-typology-groups/