I'm Tired of Seeing Young Black Men Die!
My phone rang at about six thirty Tuesday morning. It was my son telling me that Redskins Safety Sean Taylor had passed away. It was a shock!
We had both gone to bed the night before, like the rest of Washington, thinking Sean had turned the corner--that he had responded to the doctor's command to squeeze his hands and blink his eyes.
Instead, my son, who like Sean is a young adult African American is left to mourn a football player he admired.
Homicide is the leading cause of death among young black males in this country.
We thought Sean's status might give him immunity. Why were we so certain? Thus another father is robbed the chance of seeing his son reach his full potential; A mother loses a son. A little girl loses a father and another black woman is left to raise a child without a man.
Redskin fans have been robbed of the chance to see a hall of fame career on Sunday afternoons.
Sean was a star so he's going to get a lot of attention, as he should, at least for the next several days; but he is only the latest such victim of violence in this country.
In the Nation's Capitol the homicide rate now surpasses the number killed in all of last year--Most of the victims are African American men--same for the suspects. This month five people have been killed by guns in DC. All but one of them Black.
There was 19 year old Leonard Wilson of Southeast. 19 year old Timothy Spicer who was shot and killed by someone who was carjacking his vehicle with him in it. David Mayo, Hong Zli Wang and Raymond Carpenter were the other victims of homicide in November.
If these young men had been killed by white racists, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been on the phones and the Internet organizing a litany of bus caravans to circle the US Capitol and White House.
There is no evidence of hate crimes here; but there needs to be some outrage over the slayings of young black men by other young black men. The Clergy, the Coaches, the elected leaders, the Media need not shy away from this pressing issue.
Forget for the moment what "others might say". Although his killer is still at large, now is the time, surrounding Sean Taylor's slaying, to deal with the type of "rage" that is causing some men to blast away other young men without regard for the lingering harm they do to the families and communities left behind. It's time for people who see these slayings or know who has information that could lead to arrests to speak up.
There is a rage among certain young black men that needs to be addressed and treated immediately then extinguished. They are a danger, especially to other young black men...Like my son and yours.
Self hate is also in play here. How else can we explain the slaughter of your own...people who look think and act like you? Can these perpetrators even identify their low self esteem? It often comes after they are caught, locked up and subjected to therapy and conflict resolution sessions.
None of us is perfect...same for our kids. They will make mistakes; as we did. They will get in trouble...even have scrapes with the law...that shouldn't lead to serious crimes like murder.
If you're one of those parents, like me. convinced you have done the right things by your kids, and they are not part of the problem--consider this.
Our kids, are gonna run into the angry gunslingers who operate under a different street code that goes like this; "If I can take it...it's mine and I will keep it by whatever means is necessary even if it means killing another......".
To be continued.....
posted by Bruce Johnson @ 10:40 AM
6 comments
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6 Comments:
Bruce:
You're not the only one. No this might not be directly related to race - - but this is about choices we make in life. A lot of these choices start with the parents.
We as parents must understand that we bring these kids into the world, and we are responsible for the way they turn out as adults.
When we have kids running the streets after dark, when they should be in the house doing their homework, this is a parental issue, not a racial issue.
When we have kids dropping out of school at an early age, this is a parental issue. If one cannot control and/or be responsible for one's kids, then don't have them.
Kids are a responsibility that we are blessed with, and we must live up to the challenge as parents.
An old African saying is that "it takes a village to raise a child" that village is neighbors, the church, immediate family and the parents. Kids cannot be left to raise themself. It is an injustice to the child as well as to society.
Society should not be left to deal with the irresponsibility of the parents, but unfortunately this is what has happened. This is why our streets are so full of individuals who have not completed school, who are homeless, or who have no mentorship.
Their attitudes unfortunately are to steal, kill and destroy, by any means possible because they have been left to raise themselves.
All children have to be brought up by a community and provided a stable loving environment in order for them to reach their potential.
As stated in the movie, The Great Debater" one must teach their kids "do what you have to do, in order to do what you want to".
Parents wake up and take responsibility for the way your kids turn out. Instill into your kids the importance of continuing their education so they don't have to steal, kill and destroy someone else's father, mother, brother and son or daughter in the process.
Wake up, Wake up and know what they have to do is "continue their education" in order for them to do what they want to do in life, which is "live a certain lifestyle and be successful and happy in life and productive citizens", and this has nothing, nothing to do with race.
Anonymous stated
"Parents wake up and take responsibility for the way your kids turn out. Instill into your kids the importance of continuing their education so they don't have to steal, kill and destroy someone else's father, mother, brother and son or daughter in the process.."
I am a mother of two African American boys and I agree with what you are saying but the question is what do we do to protect our children? We teach them to go to college, like Sean Taylor, become gainfully employed, like Sean Taylor, and provide a good living for themselves and their family, like Sean Taylor. Then they end up getting killed by someone else's child, like Sean Taylor. What do we do now???
I am sick and tired of these senseless acts of violence against our young people. Enough is enough!
Here you have a true die hard Dallas fan who swore to never wear the redskins colors. In honor of a young man who was robbed of taking another breath, I am please to wear the number 21. Words can not describe what I am feeling on the inside. I too have a young man that I am raising on my own. And everytime he steps out that door, I worry. I really don't want to sit hear and question God, but I am not understanding (so young). I know we all have to perish from this earth, but????????? My heart goes out to the family and friends of Sean. Especially his little girl.
Buchanan
Mr Johnson..
Im in total agreement with you sir..
Ive voiced the same opinion for years..
But what can 1 man do
The violence must stop!!!
Mr. Johnson,
I share your pain on this issue.
It's time for parents to get in their children's business, go throught their things stop giving the so much freedom to do whatever. If a child live in your home they do not have a right to privitcy.
Hangin out is not a event they don't need to hang out.
Know their friends and their friends parents.
For all you single parents who are raising kids on your own. Know what your kids are doing, even when you are not around. Set a good example. Babies should not be having babies. And as the African saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child" know that you cannot do this alone. You cannot raise your child alone and think that he or she are going to turn out alright. You need the help of your next door neighbors, extended family and the church. If you are not involved in one (church), get involved in one if for no other reason than to set a good example for your child and to let your child know that God makes all things new again and that God is the foundation that will help he or she to reach their full potential. Even our hope in a better life for them.
Lastly, continue your education so that you can remove your child from the elements that cause us so many problems. Birds of a feather do not always flock together, and like minds do not always think a like.
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