Brady Resource Group :: Glenn's Blog - WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?

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Posted by: A. Glenn Brady	6/6/2007
I have always taken an interest in "Man's Inhumanity To Man" -- the things a person can actually do to another. The roots of such deeds can be traced to the very beginning of man's existence. The very first murder is recorded in the Bible in the book of Genesis when Cain, the son of Adam, killed his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:1-8) In this inaugural blog, I want to highlight the seemingly apathetic position taken when it comes to "black-on-black" crime, especially from the African-American community. This pass April, 33 students were killed at Virgina Tech in what is being called the worst U.S. shooting in history. This tragic and senseless act received world-wide condemnation. Condolences and calls for actions came from all walks of life. For days, the headlines reported the act and aftermath of this tragedy. However this past weekend, "CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" did a special program entitled Deadly Lessons: 24 Hours In Chicago. This edition reported that 28 Chicago public school kids had been killed so far in this school year. Cooper reports, "Things have gotten so bad here and elsewhere in America that these kids' deaths don't even make headlines anymore." Cooper goes on to say in the program, "Think about that for a moment. If 28 white suburban kids were killed in a school year, wouldn't you have heard about it by now? Wouldn't it make national headlines?" Unfortunately the program highlights this point that Cooper states, "It does seem that, you know, after a while you start to think of this as normal. It's happened so much. And then you've got to stop yourself and say, you know what? This is not normal. Twenty-eight deaths is not normal. What's happening, not only in Chicago but around the country." One of the most shocking and unbelievable statistic that I discovered -- according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, from 1976 to 2004 -- 94% of black victims were killed by blacks! Think about it... out of 100 blacks murdered, 94 were murdered by another black! Where is the outcry from the African-American community or has it become the norm. But with every black murdered, it's a double whammy. Because the perpetrator of the crime, who is eventually caught and convicted, is locked up. Consider this statistic from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, at year end of 2005 -- 3,145 black male sentenced prison inmates per 100,000 blacks, compared to only 471 white male prison inmates per 100,000 blacks. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE? How do we move from an apathetic or indifferent position, to action? If a white person lynched a black man today, the country would be up in arms. We would march and protest, crying for justice. Should we not have that same zeal when 28 black kids are killed in a school year? Let me hear from you --- what do you think? Be blessed!

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Re: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?

By AJB on 6/6/2007

I believe that most blacks commit such crimes on other blacks based on the environment chosen in which the crimes are committed. Blacks know that they will endure a greater punishment if caught committing a felony against a white person rather than a black person. For this reason, why rob a gated community’s clothing store and risk the penalty of committing a crime against a white person’s business when it’s probably a lot easier to rob an all purpose “corner store” down the street, although it may be black owned and comprise black shoppers. It is truly sad that this has become seemingly “normal” in today’s society. The only way to figure out what should be done is to first figure out the cause and why black on black crime is “normal” not only according to other races but also within our own black communities.

Re: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?

By SmithBA7 on 6/6/2007

It really is sad that many of these tragedies occur in an educational environment. School is suppose to foster the mind and instead that purpose interfered with so many possibilities of danger to one's own life. I agree that this sad fact along with black on black crime has become the norm of society today, but yes it can be counter-attacked. And yes people do care, but they don't know what it is they can do about it. Its disheartening and somewhat bitter-sweet sometimes that I think and realize that my generation doesn't have the Dr. Kings of the world...people that aren't afraid to go against the grain and speak on issues that many people can't because we don't have the voice to do so but that's why we need to educate our community further and more often on voting, and the issues that affect each of us. (Sorry for rambling...) But we do have the history to look upon to mirror so that we can take steps to change things ourselves.
Blogs like this allow people to discuss it and come up with an idea which hopefully and eventually creates a plan to deal with it. It just takes a dedicated people with sound leadership.

Let's continue to educate our minds continually...on everything.

Peace and Love,

Bre'ylon

Re: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?

By LCR on 6/6/2007

I think it is very sad that the government is not doing anything to stop this kind of crime. It is even more sad that the African-American Community isn't doing anything to stop this kind of crime. I think that we as a people should come together and make a united effort to put a stop to black on black crime. It is hard living in a world where whites still look down on us and I am very glad that more blacks are becoming successful and showing the whites that we can be just like them, but when blacks are killing blacks it gives whites another reason to look down upon us. We need to sit down and think of a solution to this terrible crime before it gets worse.

Re: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?	By LK on 6/7/2007
There must be a wake up call in the Black community that our leaders address the need to stop this self annihilation. The music industry (hip-hop and rap), entertainers, and athletes must take the lead to begin a message of love & support, instead of hate & death.

Re: WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? DOESN'T ANYONE CARE?

By alpmet on 6/9/2007

It is difficult to arrive at a full understanding of the present context in which we find ourselves, not only as black Americans (which I am not) but as black citizens of the world, without an underlined historical perspective.

All blacks of the western world share one common denominator: the unjust and ungodly enslavement of our forefathers.The causes and consequences of this enslavement have been felt throughout generations and still have their tentacles etched in the lives of blacks today. The causes were bi fold: the supremacy of whites and the acquisition of economic power. The consequences are manifold and include the "black on black" crimes we observe today which are deeply rooted in the systemic destruction of the black family structure that since the days of slavery have never been predominantly restored to the extended and nuclear forms that were pillars of very successful African tribes and societies and which have ironically been more evidenced and idealized by whites today. This factor coupled with the introduction of drugs and guns to the predominantly black communities, the demonization and marginalization of black men and the lack of education that now prevails will forever result in blacks killing blacks in America.

Obviously there is no quick fix for this quagmire but any worthwhile solutions offered must address the corporate political, economic, and educational systems that perpetuate the conditions evident in the black community and the individual responsibilities that are so greatly neglected by black fathers, mothers, pastors etc.

A unifying Biblical cause that will promote, propel and position blacks as equal to all other races is needed. This cause should capture the black mind and compel it to change it's paradigm and influence a change of practice.

Ultimately, the responsibility of tackling the status quo lies with each man and more so each believer. It is a God given responsibility that ought not to be neglected. What we do with this responsibility is a great challenge facing us. The church must, in the shadow of the ground breaking work of greats like Martin Luther King Jr. lead in this fight. Only time will tell....

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