Urban Youth Culture (Low Self- Esteem)

An important issue in Urban Youth Culture that is prominent in many areas of the world is low self-esteem because it makes lots of kids feel as if they are inferior to some individuals.

            Examples of this are kids committing suicide because they are bullied and picked on by others and feel as if they have no importance in the world.

            This issue arises in the Bluford series book The Bully. A boy named Darrell Mercer who feels he s small and weak, moves from Philadelphia to California, and starts a new school where he continuously bumps heads with the school bully Tyray who has repetitively harassed Darrell since his recent relocation which makes him dread his change to California even more. Darrell’s change becomes not so bad when he comes across a very attractive girl named Amberlynn who also attends the same school as him.

Urban Youth Culture (Self Confidence)

Another issue in UYC is the lack of self confidence. This is because many kids don't have the self determination or faith in themselves to overcome challenge and obstacles. For instance if a boy wants to extend himself to a girl he really likes but instantly makes negative assumptions, so then in turn doesn't attempt to talk to her.

This issue comes up in the Bluford High series The Bully. Darrell is constantly bullied by Tyray when one day his english teacher Mr.Mitchell gives him the widely known novel Hatchet. This is a book about a boy named Brian who survives a plane crash due to the sudden heart attack of the pilot. As a result of the catastrophic occurence Brian must then become mentally and physically stronger to survive alone in the wild until help comes. The book finally gives Darrell the motivation and inspiration to take on challenges, such as joining the school wrestling team and make an attempt on his crush Amberlynn.

My advice to teens is to never doubt yourself when you want to accomplish anything in life. Just by putting your all into it can give you the determination to work through it until the end.

Urban Youth Culture (Bullying)

A very big issue that has become very predominate in many parts of the world, is bullying. This is because many kids are hurt physically, mentally and emotionally through different acts of hate from peers or person much older. This is also a rising issue in the Bluford High series novel The Bully. This is because Darrell constantly feels that he has to try and hide from his bully Tyray due to the fact that Tryay constantly threatens him, and even pushed it to the point Darrell now must pay Tyray $10 a week every Friday so that he won't get beaten up. It in fact becomes a greater issue because Darrell 1) Doesn't want to pay money just to insure his safety at school and 2) Hates knowing that he's wasting his mothers hard earned money on a person that he dislikes the most. And of all Darrell neglects to inform anyone on his issues due to the fact that he doesn't want to seem weak and frail to his uncle, mother or anyone in that matter.

My advice to teens is that if you're in a case of being bullied or mistreated due to any reason, the best resolution is to inform somebody about it, because making it seem as if its okay gives the bully an even better reason to hurt you.