One of the saddest and sometimes funny phenomena noticed in Belize is the effect that American culture has on our young people. This is seen in many ways from the way boys sag their pants, to the music they listen to. Unfortunately, much of the American culture that Belizean youth gravitate to is Gangsta culture.

As a young person growing up in Belize, I can admit that I wanted the Nike shoes: the Lebrons, the Iversons and excuse me as I age myself, the Jordans and the Pennys. Sometimes however instead of getting the Nikes I had to wear the Nines Aire. Or instead of the Adidas, Adibas.

We used to call the kids who had these shoes breggin’, but secretly we all wanted them. So much so that anytime people came into a little money it was not uncommon to find that they had gone to Chet or Belize to buy the new style. We never stopped to ask why we wanted them. The reason was fairly simple, we watched so much American TV and with its non-stop advertising of a life of excess. And American advertisers are very good at what they do–sell things that you don’t need.

Belize is bombarded by cheap cable TV. Everyday a large contingent of your youth sits around watching BET where the gangsta life is glamorized. They watch the rappers rhapsodize about their cars, jewelry and women. Humorously, these rappers are now going for the Chet versions of jewelry. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the hard economic times are causing rappers to scrimp on their bling. Instead of going for diamonds they are going for cubic zirconia Of course, the rappers that can afford it make fun of those who can’t. But hopefully, the message is not lost on Belizean youth that they should live withing their means and not waste their money or their parents’ money on stupid things.

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