First, let's be clear that the murder rate for 2012 in Chicago is far less than it was back in the 90's. That doesn't justify the violence of today BUT it is to say and ask, why is it being televised and reported so widely now than then? During any tragedies we must stay wise, be aware, use discernment and logic, we cannot think off of emotion. Emotional decisions are RARELY good decisions. EG. the US invaded and destroyed Saudi Arabia and Sadaam looking for weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist BUT the US was so distraught over the twin towers we never took the time to THINK!
Back to the violence in Chicago, what is going on? Oddly, watching the news last night the Police Superintendent said "we seize more guns in Chicago every year than any other city." My initial thought, is he bragging as if that's a good thing? We are also the murder capital and have been affectionately nicknamed Chiraq!!!!!! Once seized some or most of the guns must be going back on to the streets. And before the gun control advocates rise up. Gun control is NOT the problem. Guns are not the problem. Most of the murders are committed with illegal guns or guns the CPD have put on the street. So, how could gun control measures help the youth of Chicago? How has seizing guns helped curb gun violence in Chicago? If we seize more guns than any other city, why is our murder rate by gun violence so high?
I would be remiss to bring this topic up without coming up with viable solutions. My solution, is EDUCATION. No not math, reading, and writing, although that is apart of it but first teaching blacks and browns about their culture, heritage, background, TRUTH. Then incorporating in schools anger management, conflict resolution, coping mechanisms etc. These classes need to begin in kindergarten and continue on through high school. Is that a universal, overall solution? Absolutely NOT but I think it is vital and our youth need it. People are being shot over the silliest reasons, many involving females, pride, NOTHING. A boy was gunned down in my neighborhood because he blew his horn at a car that was holding up traffic and then threw a PLASTIC bottle at the car. The boy was in turned murdered for that!!!!
Last week, I was listening to Warren Ballentine on the radio, the discussion was the Django doll. Warren Ballentine went back to slavery and gave a history lesson.....to sum it up very briefly, this is what I posted on FB after listening in "From slaves to vagrants to Jim crow to prisoners to drug addicts to debt to uneducated to unemployed and back to debt...the continued enslavement of us......So...its guaranteed that prisons will always be filled 80%.....GUARANTEED....GUARANTE
While many say slavery is over and we now choose are fate slavery cannot be used as an excuse. There is some truth in that BUT....the affects of Slavery, Jim Crow, Racism, and Discrimination live on to this very day. And unfortunately, blacks and browns, even poor whites, are at the bottom of the totem pole. Things like driving while black, stiffer jail time for crack vs. powder cocaine, lack of access to healthy foods in our communities, poor schools in inner city neighborhoods, and the list goes on. These things don't happen by coincidence, it was designed. Designed for certain groups of people NOT to make it.
When I first learned the definition of capitalism, I understood, there will always be poor among us BUT that doesn't mean we have to treat them like second class citizens. You enjoy dining out? Someone has to cook the food, wait on your table, buss the table, and clean the place up. There is nothing wrong with any of those jobs as they are all honest BUT what I have noticed in our communities, PRIDE keeps a lot of black males from taking certain jobs. I will also say that racism and discrimination keeps many black men and women from being hired or even interviewed for certain jobs BUT....where there is a will there is a way.
Blacks have always been "poor" but somewhere we lost our pride in ourselves. Back in the day if a child had 1 or 2 dresses, EVERYDAY.....EVERYDAY when they left the house their dress was CLEAN, their hair was combed and they looked presentable. What has happened to that pride? We have more access to running water, laundry mats etc. than people did in the 20's/30's what's going on?
Drugs, alcohol, TV, entertainment, music, sex, etc.....different escape mechanisms that numb people and give temporary escapes from but do not change or alter reality....
How do we help Chicago? How do we help our children? How do we rise above and truly affect change? Where does are greatest power lie?
My belief our greatest power lies in our dollars...We need to take it back old school and boycott, boycott everything that is not us. What if we boycotted for a week and didn't shop with a business unless it was black owned? If we chose to walk, bike, run to work and didn't use public transportation? If for a week we didn't eat at any fast food restaurants or dine in restaurants? What would happen if we didn't shop for anything PERIOD for a week if it wasn't black owned? What about a month?
Trust and believe that our voices would be heard because their pockets would be hurting. What if all blacks, browns and poor people boycotted Christmas this December 25th and bought nothing?
If we want change in our communities, and in this world we have to make an impact where it counts ECONOMICALLY....as of yet I don't see anything else making a huge impact. We can pray, praise, worship, talk, set up committees, walk through neighborhoods, educate our children, teach them BUT change must occur and happen on different fronts and different levels and it starts with our economic power.....
Your thoughts?
Be blessed and be a blessing! Namaste! Peace! Love! Joy! Happiness!
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