What started out as a simple message intended to keep black people out of jail and combat the over cooperative nature of black people in the ghetto has become a national phenomenon. Emblazoned on the t-shirts of ignorant inner city black people and even more ignorant, and completely detached ignorant suburban black people is the slogan: Stop Snitchin'.

Apparently Lil Kim isn't the only person who believes that snitching on your fellow man is wrong.

Keashia Williams, 15, a young black woman who will undoubtedly date a man who will go to jail believes that, "Black people shouldn't snitch on black people."

Keashia's younger sister, Teneshia, provided a much more poignant, philosophical diatribe on the reason why the shirts resonate so deeply within the urban black community.

"You snitch, you die," the younger Williams, (who is no relation to Serena, Venus, or Billy Dee) stated emphatically as she pretended not to notice the murder happening across the street.

Ben Caldwell, a t-shirt vendor who has been selling the shirts at the corner of 125th and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. in Harlem, NY, where the shirts are made, states that the message presented is a positive one. "In the ghettos of New York, people are getting killed for initiating the wrong kinds of conversations," he said from behind mirrored sunglasses. "Somebody's dead, and it all started from words."

Actually, it started from the crime that incited the possibility of words, but who's counting?

The back of the shirts contains a statement from the organization that produces them, the Department of Hood Affairs, which at press time was not a White House Cabinet Level Department. It states that the department was "established for the purpose of citing and obstructing any potential communication of violence."

When asked why they do not cite and obstruct the actual crimes that beget the violence, the DHA representative who was visibly offended by the assertion that crime could be stopped, stated, "either they don't know, don't show, or just don't care about what goes on in the 'hood."

The group of friends that comprise the DHA have been able to parlay their success into increased sales in the Bronx and other retail outlets. Shirts, though not necessarily DHA branded, are available in Any Ghetto, USA, along with "Trap or Die" shirts and "If I Don't Sell It, Somebody Else Will" shirts. The organizations making these shirts claim a similar positive message that promotes employment and hardwork.

"Drug dealers get up at 5 o'clock every morning to go to work and don't stop until the job is done. What other profession do you know that does that and doesn't even take holidays?? Benefits? They work for the love. America should be praising drug dealers," said an anonymous source who was afraid to give his name for fear somebody would think he was snitching on himself.

When informed that his logic made little sense, he responded, "hey man, a snitch is a snitch."

Whether or not the t-shirts are having any actual effect on the level of snitching that occurs is unknown as the NYPD was unavailable for comment. However, an off-duty cop was overheard saying, "the less they're talking, the less paperwork I have to do. I just bought two shirts myself. If you can't beat them, join them."

Mr. Caldwell, though not oblivious to the fact that true ignorance cannot remain in one form constantly admits the shirts could be a passing trend. "This is America, where the Chia Pet was sold," he said. "This is where My Pet Rock was sold. This is the next hottest thing since the smiley face."

In case it is a passing trend, Mr. Caldwell mentioned that he had another t-shirt idea in the tank. "Don't Help The Police Find Out Who Murdered Your Brother." Similar to the "Stop Snitchin'" shirts, Mr. Caldwell said he will just keep remixing the message.

link the original inspiration and article...I hate black people