Jackson Free Press

The Ghetto Science Team's Department of Transportation presents Transportation Secretary and Head Mechanic of Rev. Cletus Car Sales, Deacon O.D. Mann, promoting his transportation program for financially challenged commuters.

Deacon Mann: "On any rush-hour morning, one might see a financially challenged brotha, wearing a wife-beater shirt, stuck like Chuck on the side of the road, fanning the smoke spewing from his overheated hoopty. And because companies and corporations are unforgiving, this brotha has lost a day's work and pay. Meanwhile, zooming motorists pass by a defeated individual. Why must the cycle of abusive price gouging and class privilege continue to haunt working poor folk?

"My solution to the transportation problems of poor folk is: Tune up the engine and transmission of Rev. Cletus' Double Dutch Church Bus and start the R.T.W. (Ride to Whereever-ya-need-to-go) transportation program. End those transportation woes of overheated engines, flat tires and no gas. Stop calling brotha Joe for a ride to the grocery store. Get to work on time so that you can keep the funky job you don't like—even though the small paycheck barely helps with the bills.

"Also, purchase our affordable R.T.W. shuttle pass. Payments by WIC vouchers, food stamps or box seat tickets to the '70s Retro-Bell-Bottom-Afro-Soul-Brotha-N-Sista Funk Fest concert series are accepted. So if you need a ride to work, school, supermarket, etc., call the R.T.W. dispatch center at 1-800-A-JITNEY."

Ken Stiggers is a Jackson television producer and the co-host of The Lyric Lounge Thursdays at Santiago's.

Previous Comments

ID

70588

Comment

Yo Ghetto Science Team's Department of Transportation, should I buy my son a nice car to get around town in; although he's unlikely to ever point it toward a job, funky or otherwise? I hate to see my nearly 29 year old son driving a piece of junk while I sport two of the finest vehicles money can buy and a decent third one? This Brotha is trying to force his lazy and unaccomplished son to be a man and make it on his own. Can y'all help a brotha out?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-08-18T13:12:24-06:00

ID

70589

Comment

To clairify and demystify my earlier question, I need to inform yall that my son said recently, "Daddy, I ain't against word - work, I'm fully willing to discuss the word anytime you want to; and I'm looking for work, I just haven't found a job compatible to my entertainment and sleeping habits. You told me, daddy, to never be afraid to go after what I wanted." So, again, I'm asking Ken, Revern Cletus, Deacon Mann, or anybody else at the Ghetto Science Team, am I right for making the boy get his own ride?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-08-18T17:22:53-06:00

ID

70590

Comment

Hey Ray! Sweei Honey in the Rock, one of my favorite female singing groups, sang some lyrics based on the writings of poet by the name of Kahlil Gibran...He wrote a book called "The Prophet." I hope these few lines from brutha Gibran will help you answer your question: And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children." And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. Rev. Cletus would probably suggest that you get on yo' knees and break it on down to the Lawd regarding yo' son. I hope this helps, my brutha! Peace, Love and Universal Understanding. Ken Stiggers

Author

Stiggers

Date

2005-08-19T01:09:02-06:00

ID

70591

Comment

Thanks, Ken, you're a prophet, psychologist, humanitarian, counselor, and, still, a real brotha. Yet people say all you can get from ghetto are drugs and misery. I love the poem/song, and will copy and post it on my file cabinet next to my desk for reflection, discuss it at my next praying man meeting for illumination to others, and give a copy to my son as I continue to wish him well into manhood. I hope I live long enough to see him get there. I love Sweet Honey on the Rock, too.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-08-19T08:00:34-06:00

ID

70592

Comment

You are welcome, bruh Ray! I appreciate you responding to my column. Keep looking up! Peace, Ken Stiggers

Author

Stiggers

Date

2005-08-19T20:12:20-06:00