The Youths in the Corridor

By

Ikenna O. Ezenekwe

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While obstructive name calling take to the air with careless desertion, the liable parties hide behind the pledge of ignorance of the commotion ensuing from their desire to engage in a fête of propaganda feud. As a consequence, the opportunity of channeling the effluent energy towards resolving a clear and present danger befalling all Igbos in the Diaspora completely dissipates amidst the entire hullabaloo. Applying the technique of using the tongue to count the number of tooth in one's mouth while contemplating on this issue, reveals the case of a vanishing culture – the case of a vanquishing Igbo youth – the case of Igbo Youths turning African Americans at a feverish pace – a very serious clear and present danger.

No one refutes the open secret that Igbo families living in America pay an immense price for the promises of American dream. Sadly, the reality has been that historically Igbos in America has relentlessly lost her youths to the African American community with careless disregard in return for the American dream. Hence, the youths find themselves stuck withering in the outer corridors of the Igbo community.

This is made evident in the manner with which the youths state their lack of interest in Igbo Cultural functions and issues. They consider Igbo adults and their cultural affairs very left-handish and also consider the adults’ inability to cater to their juvenileness while attempting to introduce them to the symbols of the culture as a big failure. This is exacerbated by preexisting certainty - that nothing regarding Igbo fellowshipping is discussed in the family – between the young and the old. Quick analysis confirms this to be an unfortunate trend to continue, unabated.

Traditionally, the blame for this phenomenon  has been delegated to the ills in the character of the child. However most have come to the realization that such is not the case, in most cases. Learned experts who have investigated this phenomenon extensively point the blame on the absence of communal engagement with and amongst the youths – the sort that borrows from the age old adage “it takes an Igbo village to raise an Igbo child”. They indicate that communities as dispersed as the Igbos stand in a bad position to suffer due to an absence of communal engagement.

These unfortunate experiences have simultaneously taught the present day Igbo family in America a lesson that she cannot go at it alone and provided the opening to leap into action for local Igbo Community Organizations in America. The sort aimed at pragmatically crushing the roots of the predicament - which is to catch them young. It is noted that many non-profit cultural organizations have made valiant attempts - only a few have managed to achieve any significant results. One success story is the Igbo Cultural Organization in California which developed a comprehensive and vibrant Igbo Youth program that is sound and going well.

On that same hand, the founders and elders of Igbo Organization, Inc who foresaw the bountiful spiritual blessing of talents bestowed on the second generation Igbos in America as evident by the likes of Emeka Okafor – favored choice for the NBA rookie of Year, the likes of the more than 12 Igbo NFL players – the likes of Igbo students in all the top institutions of higher learning – the like of Mike Okwu of CNN News and many more. These pillars of Igbo Organization believed it was wise not to have them wasting by the corridors. For this reason, Igbo Organization acquired her Obi Igbo Community Center through the good labor of President Emma U. Atuanya’s team and the Obi Igbo Housing Committee.

Igbo Organization anticipates dispatching a press release in the near future that would describe the objectives and implementation methodologies of the many proposed youth programs at the Center. It will center onreclamation of youths into the main room of Igbo community out from the corridor.

Igbo Organization understands developing a sustainable Community Center geared towards catering for the real-life needs of Igbo families with young children will not be an easy or a short task. That is for sure.  She believes however that a consorted effort amongst all affected parties will get the ball rolling since the burden rests squarely on the shoulders of the present day Igbos living in today America.  Perhaps as the increasing numbers of Igbo families currently being afflicted with this problem continue - the task of finding a solution to this problem may lighten.

God Bless

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Ikenna O. Ezenekwe a chemical engineer residing in New York. 917 239 7919