Discourse Communities

Part One

Before discussing this I never knew how many communities I had actually been apart of. 

1. Musician 

2. "Sneakerhead"

3. College Student 

4. Family 

5. Baptist 

6. Close circle of friends

7. Basketball player/admirer 

8. Social Networks ( Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr)

9. South Suburban resident 

10. Gamer.

Part Two 

"Sneakerhead"

I learned at an early age that sneakers require TLC. My older cousins, uncles and peers taught me about this "clean sneaker" concept. I learned to appreciate sneakers because of the prices that they cost, and at this time I didn't have to worry about paying. What does it mean to be a Sneakerhead? This means that one has to have a deep love and passion for sneakers. This can mean keeping up on all the latest sneaker news knowing release dates. Knowing information on the product that you are wearing. Sounds easy to become a member of this sort of group, you must simply buy sneakers right? WRONG! It is more then just purchasing sneakers at your local shoe store is the exclusivity if the sneaker. To get the label you must have sneakers that not everyone can get their hands on. Usually this is accompanied by the price that you have to pay, rare sneakers are expensive. Now with this label there are rules that come along with it. 

Power and Authority

The ones who get the most power in the sneaker realm have access to free sneakers. This can be an actual shoe designer or the owner of a sneaker boutique that sells exclusive sneakers. These are the people who actually have climbed to the top and companies care enough about their input that they send them free stuff. They have put in the extra work, research and have come across an opportunity that has allowed them to get into the position that they are in. There are rules that one must follow when trying be a sneakerhead. They must never, ever wear fake or counterfeit sneakers. Amongst all the rules this is the most important because this is the point where others can question your passion for sneakers. Once someone has purchased fake sneakers, they have chosen the easy way out instead of working hard for what they could of had. Expensive sneakers are hard to purchase when you have limited income. This is when it becomes more then just a sneaker, it is more like an accomplishment. You took time to work hard for what you wanted, which is a rule that many groups follow. Another important rule would be to keep your sneakers in good shape. No sneaker head likes when shoes are beaten up. Now that you have worked hard to get the sneaker the only other logical thing is to keep them in good wearing condition. If one follows these rules then their member ship will never be denied. 

Gain Respect

The only way to gain respect in the sneaker realm is to work hard. Once you have enough sneakers and the right people recognize you then you will be thrown into the "loop." Now you have the attention of the sneaker companies such as Nike, Adidas and many others. Now they want to send you free stuff to show off to your audience. Now you will be invited to the parties, events and conferences seeing product that no one else is seeing. The only real way to get on this path is to plan out what you want to do with your sneaker passion. It's more then just buying sneakers, it's meeting different people. It's about enlightening yourself about sneakers as a whole how they are designed and made. Being a sneaker head is a great opportunity in business one must take the steps that help get you there. 

Part Three

Now when it comes to the term success my communities share a similarities because they all follow the "hard work" theme. The groups I belong to accept that hard work will take you far. Which is why I am apart of most of the groups. The main factors that come into play with all of the groups is determination and passion. In all of the groups, taking the easy way our is not an option. The groups that I don't belong too have a different way of earning your success. I know that someday I want to be apart a black fraternity and their way of doing things is very precise and takes a long time. One must go through many tests, because all of the members want to make sure that you truly want to be a member and reap the benefits that come along with it. So not everyone gets permitted. Which is why I want to be apart of this they truly thrive off survival of the fittest.