A new study shows that murder victims are 'disproportionately' black. How do we reverse this trend?

Question

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20203888/

The article also states that 93% of the murderers of these black victims are other blacks.

'National Urban League President Marc Morial, a former mayor of New Orleans, said the data reflect a trend that cannot be reversed by law enforcement alone. It will require changes in public education and a revival of federal summer jobs programs for economically disadvantaged young people, he said.

“The mixture of illegal drugs, easy access to handguns, and young men who feel locked out of economic opportunity is what these statistics reflect,” Morial said.'

What Mr. Morial failed to also list in the reasons why this is occuring is;

1. young kids are being raised in single parent households and we all know that a lot of times, single parenting can keep one in poverty. (I'm from the projects, I don't need a link to back that info up. I have seen it with my own eyes)

2. Kids are dropping out of school and getting an education is 'acting white' and 'not keeping it real'.

Throwing more money at these kids is not going to help this situation. Parents need to be parents and education should be welcomed, not shunned.

There is no reason why black folks should be killing each other the way they are.

Answer 1

On the education issue both sides need a change of mentality,too often in public schools our kids are branded as incorrigible and uninspired,some teachers already have preconceived notions about the achievement expectations of black kids,our parents have to engage in more parent teacher discussions on ways to improve the childrens behaviour and focus in classroom situations.
In volatile urban neighborhoods increased police presence is not stopping crime,its like a war.you have to win their hearts and minds.Having kids participate in youth mentoring is essential to changing their outlook and building their character.churches can also step up community monitoring groups to help reel in the kids who are going astray.
after school workshops that involve leadership training,skills development should be brought into the urban neighborhoods.
catching them young and keeping them on the path is the sure fire way to keeping violent crime from devouring our communities.
Boojomuk is wrong,hiphop is just the white mans scapegoat ,it is not to blame for anything,I listen to hip hop ,does it make me go out there and shoot up liquor stores and do drive bys,its all about how you were brought up,family figures doing positive things,doesn't even matter if you are poor,the number one problem is your family or those who are willing to step up to BE a part of your family and do the right things.

Answer 2

I don't know if the statistics are the same as a few years ago. However, most of the crimes involve property offenses. Someone is trying to take the personal property of another. I'm not certain about the reasons for these murders but I feel economics is a problem and a culture that develops adversarial conduct.

You're going to have conflict when a demographic has high unemployment rates and we live in a culture that thrives on consumerism. You have people that feel economically isolated or incapable of acquiring the skills to compete in economy because of a poor educational system. Then there's the perception of institutional racism that prevents people from even considering giving education a chance. It's a catch-22. You can do almost anything you want in this country if you have the knowledge but everyone isn't getting the same quality of education.

I feel education is necessary for all. Employment is necessary to support families. Community bonds need to be developed to foster communication and understanding. Within a community there should always be an alternative to violence. The problems start when people withdraw from their community, view the world is against them, or make false assumptions about how someone else acquired something they want.

Answer 3

Everything you said is true, but there is also that black parents are not taking enough time out for their children. If it doesn't start now then when? Parents are responsible for their home situation, not the government, blacks are responsible when they pick up a gun, or do drugs, etc. These black parents are responsible when they get pregnant, and when they divorce. No one else made them do it.
I do, however, sincerely believe, is that these young blacks have no reason to care about their future's, they have no aim's, no goals, no career idea, for the most part, so have already given up on life, really.
Most poor, not just blacks can't pay for college, their teacher's, and parents don't help their young children learn, and they grow-up thinking there is no possible means for them to be successful if they just work hard. They have no hopes, and no dreams that there is something out there better that they can achieve. No one is showing them the joy in their accomplishments of a job well done. The kids are left to run rampant around the neighborhood, so young, too. As little as 4, I heard a story once, where a kid (4) got busted in a liquor store, with a gun trying to steal, with some teenage kids. It is the PARENTS, and ONLY the parents who can raise their children (any race, not just blacks) to begin at a young age to believe they can accomplish anything, to watch them, to teach them, that there is something better than drugs, and crime. These parents, if they don't do anything, their children will continue to keep killing another's children, and so on and so on. To change them may be too late, but perhaps, if someone else was able to show they cared, and give these folks some hope for something better, we would see a lot less killings. Churches, for example, give a lot to the communities. If they can be made MORE aware, perhaps some of them will be helpful in helping parents how to better educate their kids, and take time for them. Although, many are probably already aware, and don't want to get shot. But, dam it, somebody needs to stand-up, and dooooo something!

Answer 4

well, obviously it is a disadvantaged community and with that comes crime etc. If we looked at low wage exploitation, the numbers would be much higher among illegals. The circumstances that create these environments are never questioned.

"acting white" isn't the soul of the problem. It's a reaction to bigger problems. Single parents are one problem. My question is this: since the Black community is knee deep in church activities, why does the church not get involved with these matters properly? The Black churches collect staggering amounts of money which they NEVER re-invest into the community.

We already know what the government should do in terms of education etc but what responsibility do we put on churches???

Answer 5

All that the mayor suggest sounds well however it only places a band-aid on the problem and doesn't address the roots.
The major problem in the black community is lack of self esteem and hopelessness. This will have to be addressed on the grass root level, mainly by the parents. But when you have children having children then I guess they cannot help. Then this is where the church and other groups in the community will have to come in to help teach self worth, respect for yourself and others. Government cannot do this. You can keep throwing money at the problem but never address the core of the matter.
Personally I believe it will have to begin with the local church.

Answer 6

You are absolutely right and I believe things are changing and men are taking their responsible place as fathers and staying with the family. I also see more young black males educating themselves and that is a great start. Its going to take awhile for things to change but times are indeed changing. Where I live here in Canada in Quebec most of the blacks are from Haiti and youth are encouraged to educate themselves so there is not a problem with early death. I also believe even though yahoo can be discouraging if you believe that the people that spew horrific racist comments are a true reflection of America I believe racism is diminishing and whites are opening their minds and hearts and welcoming minorities and not segregating as they have done in the past. I believe alot of the crimes in the black community is also from discouragement from blatant racism from the white majority. So if we all do our part to make this a world a better place we can live in a better quality and standard of living.We will live in a loving peaceful world.

Answer 7

T S C,

It just makes you want to cry, and it makes you so angry, you want to scream. I have pondered this situation for years, and the conclusions are not encouraging. If you go back far enough, it is not hard to figure out what caused all of this. President Johnson's "Great Society", or the birth of the Welfare Nation. Prior to the massive government handout programs, folks had to figure out how to feed all the hungry mouths they gave birth to. With the inception of Welfare, women of every race could stay at home, and give birth to as many children as they wanted, and in fact, were financially rewarded for doing it. You already know from experience what most politicians don't want to hear. When children, especially boys, are raised in family units without a father, they are many times more likely to be academic underachievers, and suffer from lack of self esteem. They feel that they must be unworthy, or their father would have stayed with them. Because no one in this system has to do anything to earn what they receive, they have lots of time on their hands, and combined with a building sense of frustration, it is more than likely that they will sooner or later, turn to drugs, and or crime, as a form of recreational activity. Gangs, are the natural defense mechanism of people who are in harm's way. You see it in prisons, and in the more rough neighborhoods, where the police don't like to go. It is how you survive, when there are real predators in your area. Sooner or later, they clash with each other, and being hormone charged young men, violence is almost always the result. Of course at this point, the District Attorney is only too happy to step up to the plate, and do something about it, like lock them up forever, making political hay in the process. Sadly, the only ones who can stop this madness, will be the last ones to act. I am certain, that there are absolutely NO politicians out there, who have the courage to speak out, and try to take action to end this system of Welfare Slavery. It is far too politically incorrect, and could cost them votes, as the media starts a feeding frenzy about how cold and heartless they are. It wouldn't matter if you were black or white, you would be burned at the stake for even thinking about slaughtering this sacred cow, we call Welfare. The same cow that is destroying our inner city youth by the thousands, and leaving hopelessness in her wake. Even if we ended it today, it would be two generations or more, before the social adjustments were made to correct the damage that has been done. I am not a quitter, but I have come to the conclusion, that the only way this will end, will be the collapse of our government as we know it, and whatever comes out of the Emergency that arises from it. There will be much loss of life, and the end of all liberty as we know it. I don't mean to paint such a dark picture, but honestly, does anyone think that the spineless parasites who occupy most public offices, will find the courage and moral fortitude to stop this insanity? I didn't think so..........
May God forgive us, for trying to do His job. Peace be unto you................

Will

Answer 8

"Throwing more money at these kids is not going to help this situation." - I couldn't agree with you more. I believe we, Blacks, have enough to build a strong community, but we do not have enough positive role models. I would love to see more Black male teachers and I also see a change as far as young black males going to school, etc. but it is gradually slow.

This is a very good question.

Answer 9

I think that we should do anything possible to keep neighbourhoods safe whether they are low income or a suburban paradise. Cameras, adequate police force. Law enforcement needs to be where the crimes are. Tougher gun laws help everyone, if you have any crime on your record= no gun. If you are an ordinary law abiding citizen you can own a gun, but not if you have been a convict. No!
Endorse education- in any way that always helps.

Answer 10

We have much the same problem in the UK. The majority of gun and knife crime seems to be black on black. Nobody seems to have an answer, many have been suggested. The most sensible one seems to be "black youth culture" where rap singers and suchlike encorage black youngsters to join gangs and disrespecting women, carrying weapons and resorting to violence at imagined insults are glorified in many of these songs. Background and parenting seem to play some part, but peer pressure is mostly to blame.