There are ongoing discussions happening about the younger generation today.

However, I think it is important to look at the other factors that may come into play.

Some of those factors are what people like to call …

Back In The Day…

On the flip side like Five On The Black Hand Side…

There is also the discussion about how the young males of today don’t have respect for young women.

However, if we are totally honest.

For those of us who watched The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

The gentlemen archetype like Carlton was made fun of.

Yet, in regards to Will Smith’s character.

Will’s archetype was uplifted as far as his treatment of young women on the show.

Even Garcelle Beauvais (aka Fancy) spoke up in an episode and asked Will if that was what passed for a compliment around here.

Which also interestingly, plays into the next show.

The Jamie Foxx Show, in which Braxton was also made fun of for his gentlemanly qualities, the way he talked, as well as his dressing style.

So basically what I’m saying is that if the Carlton-Braxton types were made fun of and called corny among other things.

It is quite interesting how Generation Y is asking Generation Z……

Why?

It’s almost like Aaliyah’s 4-page letter is playing out…

If the gentleman archetype toward melanated women is looked down upon while the disrespectful archetype towards melanated women is being lifted up…

Can we really be surprised?

I do think that that is one of the reasons why it is so important to continue to bring forth the conversation inside the community as well as outside the community about the many diverse aspects of melanated men’s archetypes.

One of the reasons is that when a certain culture is “regulated” to only one archetype this creates a lot of baggage and confusion.

Which only further contributes to the foolishness…

Papa does not just have to be a Rolling Stone …

Some archetypes do take their ass home.

Side note: I think that Uncle Phil was an amazing character who showcased this as well as was a wonderful example of a WISE older man who had sense.

I also felt like Uncle Phil’s character (in his own unique way ) was able to help guide Will and Carlton as they navigated through their adolescence as well as their early adulthood years.

Hopefully, there will continue to be an increase in how this archetype will come forth now….publicly.

However, back to the initial subject at hand.

It is also quite interesting how in this reel of life Will Smith was kinda treated like Carlton outside of the show.

When it came to his hip-hop career he was accused of being pop.

Even though some of these same folks were low- key jamming to

Summertime…

Shoutout to Kool & The Gang…

There even seemed to be a double standard when it came to Will Smith’s movie career as far as the roles that he would take.

I also find it quite interesting how when a melanated man doesn’t do a whole lot of cussing, fussing, or disrespect towards melanated women and or talks in a certain way he is called gay.

Yet, the male archetype that disrespects rarely gets checked…

Until now.

But, back to the Fresh Prince.

Sometimes, it can be hard to make it all make sense.

I must admit, even the modern remake version of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has taken a very serious tone.

I have to ask is this the result of what the younger generation was seeing at home?

The Other Side Of The Game

They say two things can be true at once.

With that being said.

Despite, my perspective on the archetype of Carlton and Braxton.

 I must say that I still have an appreciation for old-school melanated 90’s sitcoms. 

Those types of sitcoms had a unique ability to kinda showcase certain life lessons with a comedic twist.

Like the episode of Martin when he went on a quest as Brother Shaquille Sunflower.

He had to find himself before he could marry Gina…

NAJIRUMBAAA…..lol

But, once again .

Back to the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.

It seemed like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was able to put two different archetypes of teenage melanated males from two different backgrounds in the same show.

In another aspect, I must say that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air also had its own unique way of showing that not all “black” males think the same or grew up the same way.

Maybe this is one of the reasons some people see certain life situations differently.

I also noticed that even though Will and Carlton had their clashes.

As the seasons progressed, I saw how eventually they began to bond.

Despite their different backgrounds.

It was almost like a part 2 version of Nas’s Who Are You…

Eventually, it got to the point where they were able to use their different life experiences to help one another.

Even, when society tried to separate them.

They took that as an opportunity to stand up for one another.

Especially, through their college years.

Remember the episode when Carlton tried to pledge?

Interestingly, it seemed that whatever areas one was weak in, the other was strong.

It got to the point where they would help correct each other’s wrongs.

Yet, were still able to get along.

Maybe, one day that can play out into society…

It doesn’t always have to be like School Daze…

We can learn from one another in different maybe even subtle ways.

You know, Life can be funny that way.

Written and Conceived

And

Dipped In Love,

DaSh’e

1313

AMHWJBO