Hallow teen....
Growing up in Detroit, Michigan had its perks back in the '70s. African America was percolating with Bachelor Degrees. The Motor City was pumping out educated citizens in a pace that equaled the assembly line. Of course there were sections of town that had their rancid pride, but overall we had a great city. My cousins, grandmothers, and aunts/uncles all lived a bike ride away. My block was filled with children my age and often you couldn't walk a mile in both directions without seeing children in the street. Time stood still then. It would be pure fiction in the next century.
Devils night was the precursor to Halloween. It was a time when a boy had to defy his parents, and grow some courage to get even with the mean ol' man who protected his 12' foot square lawn with his shotgun. It was a time to egg the houses of the girls that never gave you the time of day. It was that special occasion to become...a man. We would set our digital alarm wrist watches to 1:00am. A time when most of our parents were knocked out. Sneaking out of the house wasn't a problem. We didn't have a dog and usually it was simple. Listen for the snores, if you hear two sets...the parents are at the drive-in dreamland. Usually we would stick to simple stuff. Toilet paper, throw the egg and run, and the "grass stomp". Of course we weren’t bad kids...we couldn't muster up enough balls to set a house on fire or put a banana in the tail pipe of our enemies...probably because we didn't have that much hatred in our souls. We never heard of war, never worried about gun crime because that was our parent’s obligation. The City of Detroit had a pact back then. When the streetlights came on the crime would begin. Simple. The city belonged to the Kids in the am and in the evening...Woodward squeaked and out came the freaks.
Halloween morning was usually cold and clammy. But there was one Indian summer that brought out 70-degree temps and provided all the kids with a glorious day of trick-or-treating. I was 12. I was able to Trick or treat without a parent present. I bought a mask and most of my friends had either a mask or some form of paint on their faces. We had a few tag-a-long brats that had to roll with us but we embarked on our mission just before dusk. Each of us carried a pillowcase or a hefty bag. We walked for miles...following the porch lights that lead us in to the Detroit night sky. Generosity filled the hearts of the entire city. Most children ended the night with so much candy that it became a burden to carry, so of course they called it a night. On the way back to our respective homes we cracked jokes, ate candy, and lived life free. Freedom was king back in those days. We were free to roam our streets. Free of the sick and twisted crimes of this 21st century. Of course we had to inspect the candy once we brought it home. Cup cakes, Fruit, Open packages...all went in the trash. This precaution was a glimpse of what would become Halloween...Caged kids without freedom.
Flashing forward, we find many Churches behind the demise of Halloween. Yet they manage to hold fall carnivals, Hallelujah festivals and Haunted Houses as a way to keep our kids safe. We no longer send our 12 year olds out into the night, expecting their return before 10:00. What a way to run our society. Take back our streets people. Why can't we trust our neighbors? Why can't we begin to live our life without fear? I realize that it is tougher conditions in our world. Yet I flash back to my days as a child. I walked to school, I walked to piano practice, I walked and my mind was free to wander. How many children walk. How many bright young minds are far beyond the latchkey of our multi-media? How many kids are becoming hollow minded and media guided. Lets turn back the clock on this Halloween and make this a time where we turn off the television and walk the streets.
En peace..trick o treat...vote or die.
Devils night was the precursor to Halloween. It was a time when a boy had to defy his parents, and grow some courage to get even with the mean ol' man who protected his 12' foot square lawn with his shotgun. It was a time to egg the houses of the girls that never gave you the time of day. It was that special occasion to become...a man. We would set our digital alarm wrist watches to 1:00am. A time when most of our parents were knocked out. Sneaking out of the house wasn't a problem. We didn't have a dog and usually it was simple. Listen for the snores, if you hear two sets...the parents are at the drive-in dreamland. Usually we would stick to simple stuff. Toilet paper, throw the egg and run, and the "grass stomp". Of course we weren’t bad kids...we couldn't muster up enough balls to set a house on fire or put a banana in the tail pipe of our enemies...probably because we didn't have that much hatred in our souls. We never heard of war, never worried about gun crime because that was our parent’s obligation. The City of Detroit had a pact back then. When the streetlights came on the crime would begin. Simple. The city belonged to the Kids in the am and in the evening...Woodward squeaked and out came the freaks.
Halloween morning was usually cold and clammy. But there was one Indian summer that brought out 70-degree temps and provided all the kids with a glorious day of trick-or-treating. I was 12. I was able to Trick or treat without a parent present. I bought a mask and most of my friends had either a mask or some form of paint on their faces. We had a few tag-a-long brats that had to roll with us but we embarked on our mission just before dusk. Each of us carried a pillowcase or a hefty bag. We walked for miles...following the porch lights that lead us in to the Detroit night sky. Generosity filled the hearts of the entire city. Most children ended the night with so much candy that it became a burden to carry, so of course they called it a night. On the way back to our respective homes we cracked jokes, ate candy, and lived life free. Freedom was king back in those days. We were free to roam our streets. Free of the sick and twisted crimes of this 21st century. Of course we had to inspect the candy once we brought it home. Cup cakes, Fruit, Open packages...all went in the trash. This precaution was a glimpse of what would become Halloween...Caged kids without freedom.
Flashing forward, we find many Churches behind the demise of Halloween. Yet they manage to hold fall carnivals, Hallelujah festivals and Haunted Houses as a way to keep our kids safe. We no longer send our 12 year olds out into the night, expecting their return before 10:00. What a way to run our society. Take back our streets people. Why can't we trust our neighbors? Why can't we begin to live our life without fear? I realize that it is tougher conditions in our world. Yet I flash back to my days as a child. I walked to school, I walked to piano practice, I walked and my mind was free to wander. How many children walk. How many bright young minds are far beyond the latchkey of our multi-media? How many kids are becoming hollow minded and media guided. Lets turn back the clock on this Halloween and make this a time where we turn off the television and walk the streets.
En peace..trick o treat...vote or die.
posted by cr8tv1 at 10/31/2004 09:39:00 AM
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