Mon, Nov 23, 2009
EURweb |
|
Back to the Article »
Click Here
|
|---|
| Click here to post your comments. |
|
Name:
McNasty
Comment: "There are more and more families where there's less and less structure," . . . and that's it in a nutshell!
|
|
Name:
Renetta
Comment: I don't know what to do about this but my question is how do you keep young men who don't grow up in those neighborhoods from emulating that type of behaivor? How do you persuade young women who don't grow up in those neighborhoods not to use t he amount of money a man can spend on them as a sole way to measure his worth. Maybe I'm naive, but I think if women stood up and said, I care about you the man, not how much money you have, maybe then men wouldn't feel compelled to get the cash by any means necessary.
|
|
Name:
HarrisThomas
Comment: agree, McNasty . . . I really want to know whether the daily, national aggregated deaths by guns will ever be reported . . . if such information is ever reported, will it be further desensitizing or a catalyst to stop it? off topic: a manufacturer is making taser sales to the public and how long do you think it will be before the criminal element is using tasers on victims?
|
|
Name:
HarrisThomas
Comment: I once had a verbal brawl with a male friend who insisted that women can and should stop a lot of the negativity that ails the AA community and my constant response was and is that none of us are released from accountability and responsibility for our actions: the fix is not on women alone no matter how much we love our men . . . if our love, caring, and concern could "fix" our men, then so many might not be dying for material acquisition . . . the culture of America is based on material acquisition including getting props from the pulpit on material acquisition . . . I love AA men, care about them, am concerned about them and still don't know how to convince them to put down their weapons and live
|
|
Name:
DOne
Comment: I agree that something must be done. However, one point that I whole hearted disagree with is the comparison between what's happening on the African continent to what's happening in ours cities in the US. What's happening in Africa is the same as what happening in the Middle East, many asian countries, and eastern Europe: ethnic conflicts.
|
|
Name:
McNasty
Comment: HarrisThomas isn't it enough to know that street and gang violence has killed more black men than slavery and the kkklukkers ever did?! Renatta just because you come from low income of the hood does not mean you have to be a product of your surroundings. People who weren't ready to be adults reproduced, didn't know anything to teach their kids and now those kids are grown and having kids of their own. The only thing that was passed along was an inability and unwillingness to learn and an overwhelming curiosity about the nothing that was happening in the streets. Lack of discipline and guidance allowed too much idle time and our kids could think of no better thing than to divide themselves up, lay claim to blocks and blocks of public housing and begin to defend it to the death (innocent bystanders included). The answer is the community - the whole community. The corner stone is the neighborhood church where progams for parenting and encouragement to do well and finish school and consider going to college used to be found. The answer to our ills is easy - actually putting forth the effort is the hold up cause we think it's the gubments problem - it isn't - it's ours.
|
|
Name:
HarrisThomas
Comment: McN, while I agree that it shoud be enough to know that AAs kill more of each other than slavery, Jim Crow, or any supremist group but knowing does not stop the insanity or create an effective grassroots effort to stop the mindless murders . . . the madness includes more than AAs and I still wonder whether there is enough concern for all/any life (black, brown, red, yellow or white) to find a way to end the firearm homocides . . . the right to own and use guns and bullets trumps life and living
|
|
Name:
bigfriend
Comment: this story is so true and so well written. As far as it coming to a stop, what is the resolution? Putting all the bad people in jail seems like the answer but is not. Love probably will not do it either. Honestly, making those young men care and realize that a life is worth more than whatever it is they are killing for may do it. But how do you teach someone that? It is hard because it is soooo many black men. If it was one, for instance liek my nephew, move tham as far away from the envioroment they were in, put them in a good school, expose them to many things in life and I beleive that could change one. But whole neighborhoods. Who knows. But I know it is up to the black people in those neighborhoods to try to resolve the matter. Harristhomas> I would rather be tasered than shot! I am happy tasers are being sold to the public, maybe with the element of surprise if you are in a bad situation it could save your life.
|
|
Name:
bigfriend
Comment: I mean resolve the matter first and forwmost since they are the one living in and fostering the enviroment. Then it can expand outwards.
|
|
Name:
Kofi
Comment: I would agree that black people as a collective have some soul searching to do but, the way this article is frame only add to stereotypes and perpetuates racism. Families, communities and neighborhoods don't exist in a vacuum. What is happening with the institutions that support that community (ie the schools,public transportation systems, churches, hospitals, rec facilaties, etc) My point is that all these institutions have consistently failed!!! We have a school system that tracks our kids to prison barely able to read and write. With all the guns in the hood, where do they come from? Where do the bullets come from to keep them armed? You can't simply go to the sporting goods store and buy bullets for an AK 47. There is one gun shop in Oakland and most of these kids don't go more then 1/2 mile from home. Yes, there are some internal issues to be dealth with but there are some larger class and race issues as well. This article ignores that. None of our presidentail candidates (including Obama) are talking about a national urban renewal. Our cities where poor black and Latino children have been abandoned. I have worked in Junvenile hall and talked to these kids and the vast majority would rather be doing something else even Mc Donald's
|
|
Name:
DCGG
Comment: Oh great another dumb azz report telling us some shyt we already know...
|
|
Name:
bigfriend
Comment: Kofi>If something is true does it perpetuate racism or does it just state the truth? If it is true but makes someone look bad should it be swept under the rug? The truth is the truth good or bad. As as far as public facilities, most of them are helpful IF you take advantage of the help they give. It is not the responsibility of the school to beat you until you learn to read. They are there with resources and the family needs to reinforce it. If you or your family do not care enough to take advantage that is YOUR fault. People need to take more responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming the government or bad white man or anyone except themselves.
|
|
Name:
SilentJay
Comment: To Harris Thomas & McNasty: I hear what your sayng about black men holding 99% of the responsbility for thier own actions but...just imagine if you will every black woman in the hood, the burbs, the dirty south, the wild hundreds and so one collectively deciding to no longer date or mary, rough necks, thugs, drugdealers and general knuckleheads. Instead, nince guys, guys who are positive, focused on going to school, starting a buisiness in the black community. Imagine men who are no longer judged by, material wealth alone, I mean you don't have date a raga muffin but that raga could be CEO one day with the right motivation behind him. Imagine the sweeping wave of change that could occur if black men new that the counter predouctive behavior would no longer award them the nookie and having the nicest car and the latest name brand close wasn't enough to gain the affection of the ladies. Like I said 99% of this is on us(black males) but just imagine what a little opposite gender of all things hold us back could do.
|
|
Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: Another story about black men? Any women care to "why they always analyzing black men" this one? That's what most women posters do whenever there's a "negative" story about black women. No doubt, black men are always fodder.
|
|
Name:
mocha
Comment: I was born in Oakland and this article broke my heart but I saw the downfall begin in the late 70's and early 80's. Closing of the neighborhood schools. Shutting down the Parks and Recreation Dept activities. Selling of Black owned businesses to foreigners. Discontinuing PE. Lack of parental involvement as mothers and fathers became younger and younger and marriage was not even considered. Easy access to welfare checks. Then came drug trafficking. Then came Scarface, music videos, etc. Guns and dope in the community were made readily available rather than viable job training, mentoring and mental health counseling. The excitement of the dope game enticed so many to think it was a fast way up. I attended lots of funerals of men under 30. The prison system became big money because of private industry and the need to fill them with cheap labor was easy. Young black men were prime targets. They have no knowledge of the laws. They don't realize they will never see a dime of the money they earn from drug dealing. They really don't even know how to spend it. A lot of the parents gladly benefit temporarily from the ill gotten riches. The babies born to young girls are subjected to fail. Baby mamas are in the club on school nights. The system is waiting for their children as well. It is a vicious cycle. I could go on and on and on. But it was a plan devised to destroy us and unfortunately, many fell for it hook, line and sinker. Basic morality left a long time ago. I continue to reach out to counsel, mentor and assist young people and their parents who just don't have a clue about so much. We should all do that. Start in your own home and reach out from there. America won't cry if and when we are extinct. Please believe it.
|
|
Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: SJ, that would entail black women taking responsibility for their role in things--something they often fail to do. Men take advantage of women because most of them allow it. If there were fewer women willing to sleep w/a man who has kids he ain't taking care of, or knowingly sleeping w/one who is either married or in a relationship, there would be more of us who act right. No, we shouldn't have to wait for that. But, if you have a child by or marry a man that ain't no good, then that's your fault..not his. If the mfkr don't wanna take an HIV test, then to hell w/him and fk a "u don't trust me" shyt. If he ain't working..dump him. In the studio all day 5 years into a relationship w/no prospects..dump him. If he in ya house eating yo food and don't contribute, dump him. If he don't clean, buy groceries, wash your car, and just fks you...dump him. These are simply tell tale signs that you are w/a loser. Chances are if you allow your mate to do it, so will your son and so suffer your daughters. Whether the dad is in the home or not, teach the lil mfkr to cook, clean and all dat shyt.
|
|
Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: Kofi, not just Obama. But, I blame all the black politicians and leadership for not adequately tackling the systemic problems. It's time to stop acting as if they don't have a major impact because they do. Let's go after gun manufacturers, pawn shops, check cashing places, school districts and the whole nine.
|
|
Name:
JaysGame
Comment: I'm happy this subject is getting attention bcuz I was born and raised and still live in Oakland and its a very trying time especially when your trying to raise kids.
|
|
Name:
Bad_Kitty
Comment: musbdherbs: I agree that the black female has a role to play in this as well. All too often, women DO NOT raise their sons to be respectful of women and others - they just let them exist. They sometimes give them the crazy notion that they are the "man" of the house. They do not make them cook, nor clean. We are raising a bunch of no good, lazy, bums who are looking to make a fast buck instead of working hard to get anywhere in life. These kids today feel "entitled" to anything and everything and parents are trying to be "friends" with their kids instead of someone who will beat that azz (literally and figuratively)when the time calls for it! Today's black youth are in a real tailspin and it is sad.
|
|
Name:
michaelollieclayton
Comment: Let's see, uh, the list is long: Guns everywhere! The aggressive, corrosive effects of robber baron-style capitalism and rank consumerism! Lack of education! The hyper-desire to live life totally unaccountable! Children who were raised by children who were raised by selfish, self-first children! And on, and on, and on...! But in the end, no matter how we slice it, the fact of the matter is that WE refuse to listen to that inner voice that tells us some act we're comtemplating participating in ain't right, yet we labor on like fools comitting heinous acts. It is US! It is our lack of inner checks, inner morality. Nobody, young or old, likes having a gun pointed at them. Knowing that, don't you think it would occur to a person NOT to point a gun at anyone else. THIS BALL IS IN OUR COURT!!! Sure, colonialism and exploitation add fat to this ugly fire, but in the final analysis the stanky truth lies at OUR front doors. Man up and accept the truth, then DO something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
Name:
McNasty
Comment: SilentJay while I do hold black men accountable for their negative actions for damn sure I hold black women responsible for their shat too! We want a lot from each other but neither bothers to position themselves to attract the best person for them. We have gotten so desperate to just have a man in our lives we began accepting any and everything. I've said here before many many times that women gave up their power to have a man and had we stuck to our guns there would be hella more eligible men in the world. We have to take responsibility for the creation of what we call 'dogs'. Cause if the first woman had put his as.s out for behaving badly and not let him come back, he would have thought twice before he cut up again. That's not what happened - we kept taking them back no matter what they did. After that they got comfortable calling us any name in the book but a child of God. Musb it isn't one or the other of us - it's all of us and we need to quit battling each other and come to the table. Brotbers that make it out of the hood have got to go back to be an example to keep others from thinking crime and killing are full time jobs. Sisters who make it out have to go back as an example to the young girls. We have to go back and get those before the street consumes them and the rest of us get caught in the cross fire. Solution is simple it's just that it isn't profitable.
|
|
Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: BK, that always puzzles me. Then again, I went to college w/a rack of guys who didn't know the first thing about washing clothes. Hell, that was my first hustle in college. Washing clothes and ironing like my name was Maude or some shyt. Women need to get out of trying to make sure that lil eric is involved in sports and shyt and not know how to iron a damn shirt. One of my homeboyz' mother still does his laundry and he's 26. WTF? And then the women he meets end up doing the same thing... washing his clothes. He says I'm just hating. I say, it beats having to go to yo mommas house when your girl is mad at you. lol 'Nas, you know I repeat that refrain almost every weekend..
|
|
Name:
telthepe
Comment: how do you convince someone their life is worth living when all they see around them is death and destruction? how do you convince someone there is a GOD when all they see is despair, suffering, and vicitmization? whether we are on the continent or in the cities of urban decay, the actions and messages are still the same, "kill the black people, oh, oh!!" "kill all the black people, oh, oh!!" are we weak? are we waitng on jesus to do it? are there enough brothas and sistas out there to counter the negativity to change any of this? no, yes, yes. are there enough brothas and sistas out there WILLING to make a change. now that's a different story. i've said this before the only ones to save us are us. there are too many other people, most don't look like us but some do, that are benefitting from our demise. if yt boys were killing yt boys at such an alarming rate there would be all types of laws changed and passed to prevent the spread of this cancer. but then again, they also know there numbers are limited and decreasing. self-preservation is their mantra. there-in lies the key to understanding the way the world is structured. if you treat a person like an animal long enough they will begin to act accordingly. it's up to us to annihilate this bullshyt and stop proving them right!!
|
|
Name:
Zumbagirl
Comment: McNasty, HarrisT, et al: you all make excellent points. The thing is we all need to stop playing the blame game. Pointing fingers at black men, black women, The Man, the government, the politicians, the so-called black leaders, rappers, the moon and the sun hasn't gotten us anywhere. The buck stops with each of us. I point the finger at myself as much as anyone else. I grew up in what is now South Central L.A. in the 60s and 70s, a time I now look back on as idyllic and relatively carefree. I grew up in an "in tact" family, surrounded by a neighborhood of two-parent headed, structured households where morals where taught and discipline meted out, teachers were supported, education was cherished and you didn't have to look outside the family to find family. But when things turned bad, I fled and never really looked bad. Now that I'm older and realize that my remaining presence in the community might have made a difference to a young girl, or boy, it all seems so incredibly overwhelming. Like, where does one start? My heart aches for the tortured lives of my young brothers and sisters who will live and die without ever truly experiencing joyous living. But handwringing and writing posts to the choir accomplishes nothing. I pray that I, and each of us, will accept the personal responsibility of making something, anything, positive HAPPEN.
|
|
Name:
SweetieDarlin
Comment: This is greatly depressing and there are trully no easy answers but what we do not want to do is blame concerned black men and women, there is enough fault to go around period. Mentors, the neighborhood Church, social services, teacher etc. can all play an important role but you have to work with the entire family, not just the child because the negative behavior and materialistic status symbols are at home. We must teach everyone their history so that they know they actually can do anything, know that they are important and our race has made an important contribution to the world. We have to teach appropriate problem solving, hope for the future and the understanding that one mistake now can probably ruin your life or at least make in more difficult. We as a collective have to work to find a way to reach those of us who fall behind and into these horrible behavior, we can not run and hide enough, build gated communities, go to the suburbs or whatever our answers used to be.
|
|
Name:
Kofi
Comment: We as Afrikans must realize there is an entire infrastructure out there desihged to profit from our misery. Somebody is providing all these guns being used to commit fratracide. Who is importing the guns? Where is the money generated from the sale of those guns going? Folks do some research. The govt' of Isreal controls the sale, manufacture and distribution of all Uzi sub-machine guns. The last thing the Isreali Govt wants is to have those guns fall into the hands of Palestinians. So how the fucck does an Uzi end up in the hands of a 16 year old in my neighborhood? That %*$! is no accident and it is not random. Sales of illegal drugs in our communities are generating billions upon billions of dollars. Where is that money going? It certainly aint staying in our community. You can buy everybody in the hood a lexus and still have billions left over. Banks have to launder that money. Accountants have to create shell corporations. Law enforcement gets bigger budgets to fight crime which in turn creates more law enforcement jobs. The CCPOA the Prison guards union is the most powerful union in the state of California. My point is there are powerful forces that benefit from our destruction. Articles like this simply blame the victim without even looking at the bigger picture.
|
|
Name:
musbdherbs
Comment: Kofi, blaming the victim is always easier. IT means you don't have to do anything because it's not your fault.
|
|
Name:
Bad_Kitty
Comment: Kofi & musbdherbs: Regardless of how these items get into the urban neighborhoods (or any neighborhood for that matter), the black youth DO NOT have to partake in the activity of buying, selling, carrying, killing etc.
|
|
Name:
telthepe
Comment: bad_kitty, that to is a part of it(not participating in the madness), but again, it's very difficult to stand on your own and not participate in the madness. all things, in my humble opinion begin w/ education. that way you know better than to get involved in activity that is detrimental to your own personal safety, as well as the security and well-being of you neighborhood.(notice i didn't say hood) a hood is where you live and don't interact w/ your neighbors, or even know them. if your power goes out can you go next door and ask your neighbor if their power is out also? can you use their phone if you get locked out and your cell phone is locked inside your house? some of us have become a bunch of individuals w/ no stake in our neighbors, their lives, or welfare.
|
|
Name:
blackdragon
Comment: One thing we shouldn't do is allow entertainers to be role models for kids. Parents are and should ne the number one role models for kids. Also, we must stop playing the victim card. Just because guns and drugs are being distributed in the United States doesn't mean we should partake in those deadly activities. Parents should raise their children, not the media. Even if the father is not around, the mother should teach her sons and/or daughters how to be proper, respectful people. They shouldn't hang out with bad people. If they do,the parent should teach the kid how to spot bad folks. One last thing, I've said it before and I'll say it again: responsibility, accountability, self-worth, and self-education are also important.
|
|
Name:
Kofi
Comment: Come on folks, no one is denying the need for responsibility and personal accountablity but, this article frames the issue so that it is simply a matter of black people acting out in a pathological manner and we are solely to blame for the outcomes. It is clear from many of the responses that more than a few folks on this board do not have any historical perspective nor critical thinking skills. Its sort of like having only fast food resturants and candy stores in my neighborhood and then blaming me for being fat and having bad teeth. The excuse would be "well your parents should have taught you good nutrician." Nobody forced you to eat that food." Now how riddiculous is that argument? This article is a thinly veiled attempt to blame the victim and absolve white people of any responsiblity for the ills plaguing urban America. White folks in America have been racist for 400+ years. Do you think they simply woke up one day and said "hey we are going to stop mistreating black people." NOT!!! No one is going to come and rescue us. Martin and Malcolm are dead. We have to rescue ourselves but we have to know the enemy and fully understand the forces arrayed against us!!!!
|
|
Name:
Zumbagirl
Comment: Bad_Kitty, I agree with you. At some point we have to make the decision not to be the victim. Playing the victim card weakens us and absolves US of responsibility for participating in our own betterment. We need to stop making excuses for increasingly bad behavior.
|
| Back to Top |
| Click here to post your comments. |
| Back to the Article » Click Here |
|---|
...
