Seems to me that some people here have not been informed that thug is the replacement word for nigge*. I know that some of you may find that hard to believe, but it is true.
If you find yourself desparate to use that label thug when speaking of black youth and fighting tooth and nail for the right to call them names, then I hafta tell you, there is something wrong inside of you. You gotta work on that.
When white kids riot and burn stuff and act like they done lost their minds over a sporting event, rarely are they castigated in the media and even here on DU as a pack of Thugs; we save that for the poor, desparate, tired, black, underfunded, neglected, redlined, beat down, children who are dealing with multi generational poverty and white supremacy. You know, the black ones. The brown ones too.
When you sit up in your well adjusted tower of American wonderfulness, all pale faced and bitterly angry screaming invectives at poor black youth, it reminds me of those people holding signs to prevent integration, spittle and hate flying in the breeze. That's what you look like. I figured you must not know, otherwise you'd cut it out.
Thug is the New Nigge*. Period.

No need to find a label to put on them. They already have enough labels. They are sad, miserable, poor, black, overlooked, underfunded, labeled, despised, forgotten, beat down, abused, lied to, crapped on, jacked up against a wall, fatherless victims of the drug war, judged, fined, kicked...
Why do you feel the need to call those desperate souls names? Are their lives not harsh enough for you yet? Call them what you will, but at least you noticed them. Finally they got noticed.

When was the last time you had to protest acts of institutional racism against yourself and those who look like you? It's been fourhundred years and six months, how much longer?
I suppose we should just march and get beat and fire hosed and policed dogged until you think it's been long enough? How many years of racism and poverty and police viokence are you willing to take while singing 'We shall overcome' watching your sons become targets of the system? I think it's been long enough. Ain't no amount of marching and praying going to work if it hasn't worked yet!
Just let me know how much abuse and fear for the lives of your family and how many indignitites you ard willing to put up with all day everyday while singing and marching. How many cheecks you have left to turn when the cops break your sons neck. Let me know how much suffering we deserve while marching quietly and peacefully...