There is an unwritten code; failure to conform to the group means one’s death. In the real world failure to conform meant to be branded as deviant, or as a troublemaker, or as a weirdo who is living outside “the normative” (what is normal) of society. Or the same deviant can be seen as innovative, groundbreaking, entrepreneurial, in that, the individual is seen as a hero. Or there is a possibility that can be in the crossroads of transition, betwixt and between; sometimes this status can be instantaneous, or either, a long conversion.
Darrent Williams was entombed in the long conversion. His shifting of his socioeconomics left him entwined with the old and new. Transitioning from a have not to a have; the inability of doing—and the ability of making a difference had a young Darren Williams, full of personality, wanting to please everybody, was beginning to find his niche.
But the leaving behind his core reality which shaped him, left him in a quarry, often chastised for choosing friends poorly—and sometimes making poor choices. He, Darrent William, placed himself, in the varying positions of danger, until his fate besmirched his potential and destiny. His public image of being the fan’s favorite; and, bit of “cheerleader” and “class clown” warmed the public hearts. His associations, however, with gang-banger hip-hoppers, only reveals an aspect of Darrent Williams personality. He was trying to move from a “cred” capital world to a “cultural” capital (Bourgois 1995) world to convert his life. The difference of the two: “cred” is the proving of oneself through “acts” often tinged with violence versus the “proper,” “civil,”
“lawful” acts in providing one’s skill and knowledge.
These cultural worlds are overlapping and are and was spoon-fed to us—as it was to Darrent Williams. In William’s youth, choices made by were susceptible by the lack of leadership and parentage of a father being present. One of the decision (according to hegemony) is the having children out of wedlock at the early age of sixteen. This is where one of his most vocal critics comes into play—Steve Seidenfeld, of Colorado 850KOA.
He, Seidenfeld, believes that the “over the top” lionizing was unworthy of Darrent Williams. Since he, Williams, association of neighborhood friends, which were in gangs, were still around, and that he “rapped” gang-banger hip-hop music, was vilified by Seidenfeld as being a “thug.” He, Seidenfeld, and his audience castigated aspersion against Williams for having children out of wedlock. Saying that he was not “smart enough” not get someone pregnant and to wear a condom. Fair enough.
However, Darrent Williams, was not trying to aspire to be an angel, but was trying to be best person possible. These sling-shots and negativity that spun outward from the radio host show, where his audience attacked Williams as “scum” and deadbeat, was also in the extreme and overstatement. The very radio host himself, who did not finish college—actually expelled—nor has gone back to finish his degree is not virtuous himself, and has made bad choices.
Whereas, Darrent Williams finished school, became one of the 1650 athletes employed in the National Football League, and started after three games into his rookie season, and was willing to learn and listen to veterans on his team, had a bright future ahead, but Williams intermittent lack of judgment cost him life—and he paid the price. In comparison to a talk radio host (granted an enviable positions as well), the radio host locked into mediocrity shrouded in bitterness, envy, and jealousy dies a thousand deaths each time he looks himself in the mirror. Darrent died brightly and furious, where insidiousness of the radio talk show host drones on instilling negativity and dearth on his audience—seemingly tearing down the possibility of good that might come out of the tragic death. Yes, Darrent Williams’ minor celebrity brought focus to gang violence and culture, and it is unfair that our own failure does not notice until someone of status is killed—but sometimes it takes a clarion call to shake up the hegemonic society to see the truth.
(End part three)
There is an unwritten code; failure to conform to the group means one’s death. In the real world failure to conform meant to be branded as deviant, or as a troublemaker, or as a weirdo who is living outside “the normative” (what is normal) of society. Or the same deviant can be seen as innovative, groundbreaking, entrepreneurial, in that, the individual is seen as a hero. Or there is a possibility that can be in the crossroads of transition, betwixt and between; sometimes this status can be instantaneous, or either, a long conversion.
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