MELTON URGES TO GET ON TRACK

"It's about your marketability," said Frank Melton, director of the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, as he addressed students of East Side High
Thursday afternoon.

Melton began his talk by saying that he felt an obligation to tell students
about his concerns so that they can protect themselves.

Melton said he felt law enforcement was so busy chasing the three percent
of high school students who are causing trouble, that rarely did they pay
attention to the 97 percent who are "doing the right thing and staying in
school."

"I've been to practically all the high schools in the state," said Melton
in an interview after his speech. "This is a part of Safe Schools. It's a
part of our prevention program."

His visit, he told the students, was about showing support for them. He
addressed physical appearance, taking responsibility, staying off drugs and
in school and volunteering to help someone else.

"In America, appearance still counts. That's the way things are and I
agree," said Melton. "When you walk into a room, the first judgment is made
based on your dress.

"Make those britches stay up on your behind, give those earrings to your
sister. You're losing too much marketability trying to look cute," he said.

Judgment is based on the perception people like Melton, he said, have
created in the city because of their own behavior.

"We've lost most of our neighborhoods to crime, violence and drugs," said
Melton. "It's our fault as adults because we turned our heads for too long.

"Black on black homicide is out of control in this country. It is an
embarrassment," said Melton. "This is about our neighborhood."

As Melton paced the East Side gym, he emphasized that the choice to lead a
good life is on the students.

"Keep your heads up and move forward. Soon, you're going to step out into
the real world and you're going to have to be accountable for the things
you do," he said.

"The most important thing is how you feel about that person you see in the
mirror," said Melton, emphasizing the importance of integrity.

Melton said those that sell and use drugs, give up their dreams.

"What kind of a human being would give another person a substance that is
designed to destroy? It's all about the money," said Melton.

He said that law enforcement will do anything they can to help someone with
an addiction, but when they catch someone selling illegal substances, they
"take everything they have, down to the ugly tennis shoes on their feet."

He said it is difficult for a student to live their life to the fullest if
they're using drugs.

"You can't play basketball effectively if you're high. You can't do your
academics effectively if you're high," said Melton.

"There are two ways out of the (drug) business," said Melton. "In a pair of
handcuffs or in a coffin.

"There are no more excuses. You have too much talent.

"None of us will ever be perfect. It's OK to make mistakes as long as you
keep your head up. You take responsibility for whatever choices you make."

He contributed a lack of morals and the incidence of drug use in youth to a
failure in developing the heart.

"We've done a great job developing your mind. We've been a miserable
failure at developing your heart," said Melton.

Melton said he believed that his generation had spent too much time
fighting and that the youth of today would be the generation to get "us
back on track."

He said it's about having a conscious, having pride in yourself and helping
others.

"There is nothing more important on earth than a man's integrity," he said.
"Do something to help someone else. Be careful about your time.

"I'm going to change your thinking," said Melton. "You might not know where
you're going, but I know you're going somewhere."

Melton concluded his speech by having the students repeat after him, "I can
be whatever I want to be."