Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Welcome to Philly! Home of the cheese steaks and "flash mobs"


For certain reasons that I cannot get into, I won't comment too much on this next story. But I need your help. Here in Philly we have what we call a "flash mob" problem, and it's getting out of hand. I will do a cut and paste job for you and let you read about it for yourselves:

" WHAT'S the answer to the city's "flash mob" phenomenon?
Beef up cops on South Street on weekends and in Center City after school?
Earlier curfews?
Conflict resolution in schools?
Get parents to control their kids?
Monitor social networking Web sites?
With nearly everyone from the mayor, elected officials, SEPTA, school officials, merchants and civic groups weighing in after Saturday's incident, Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross yesterday said, "We are looking for a holistic approach."

"We will be announcing something shortly in terms of future steps to be taken," said Mayor Nutter. "What I'm most concerned about here is inappropriate behavior or any kind of violence or assaults.

"I want to strongly encourage our parents and guardians to please keep better track of their children, know where they are at all times, discourage negative inappropriate behavior that's only going to result in someone getting arrested," he added.

As officials sought solutions, more victims injured in Saturday's Twitter-inspired flash mob came forward. Possibly thousands of teens stampeded in waves down South Street until nearly midnight, running on top of cars, knocking down pedestrians, fighting and urinating on neighbors' property.

As police cleared South Street, young men fled to other streets in Center City.
In addition to a woman getting punched in the face about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, her boyfriend, John Kemp, 36, was struck a few times in the head at 15th and Kater streets. Kemp said he and his girlfriend plan to give police statements today.

About 11:20 p.m., at 15th and Market streets, police said, Deion Perkins, 19, was arrested after he and a group of juveniles allegedly beat an adult male near the Clothespin sculpture.
As an officer was putting Perkins into a police vehicle, the defendant turned around and allegedly punched the cop in the face. The two wrestled to the ground and Perkins ran off, but officers caught him nearby, police said.

Perkins was charged with aggravated assault of an officer and related offenses.
About 11:30 p.m., a young man entered the Bliss restaurant on Broad Street near Spruce and punched a diner in the head three times. The youth ran off."
[Rest of story]

Did that article say that some of these kids are organizing around social networking sites like Facebook? Oh well, so much for the "digital divide". Anyway, I need you all to help me with this one. You read some of the things in the article that the city is trying to do. Tell me, what would you do? I live here, and you would be really helping a brother out. I don't want to be in the middle of a lovely dinner with Mrs. Field and get clocked on my dome from behind by some young buck. I would hate to go all Kingston 12 on some other person's kid. Besides, I have a career to think about.

BTW, before you go thinking that it's only young bucks in urban areas who are guilty of "flash" mobbing; you might want to remember a certain group of people who just happen to be older and a little more melanin challenged. Thank you Mr. Smith. You nailed it. But don't worry, I don't need any suggestions for how to stop them. I know that only Obama's beige behind out of the people's house will quench their thirst for liberty.




123 comments:

Gregory said...

Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross yesterday said, "We are looking for a holistic approach."

Maybe he should talk to CF. They could get all organic.

Mack Lyons said...

The only thing I could think of at this very moment is "Flash Mobs = Flash Police Presence". A bit hard to pull off, since it takes time to tool up in full SWAT gear, but not getting your mob on thanks to the cops being right there should help calm things down.

Or maybe not.

Trapped in SC said...

"Maybe he should talk to CF. They could get all organic."



Funny and True!

Foofa said...

Wow, I have never heard of a violent flash mob before. Mostly its like, "hey, let's all meet up at the corner of x and y and have a pillow fight for five minutes and leave" or, "lets go dance for a few minutes and then stop." This is sad and insane.

field negro said...

"Maybe he should talk to CF. They could get all organic."

That's the line of the night. :)

Anonymous said...

I don't know (haven't read)the cause of this flash mobbing, but my immediate thought is that "violence begets violence".
Perhaps they are collectively reacting to the violence that they are seeing in the news?

As for getting whacked upside the head while dining with Mrs. Field...a very real possibility! Just do like the mafia did (or so I read),always get a table up against a wall where you can have a clear view of all those who come in! LOL! Some times we're living in, huh?

Good luck!

Jody said...

First, Gregory... that was funny!

A friend and I were talking about these kids... actually we were lamenting that their flash mob lacked creativity and purpose, unlike all of the flash mobs at the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=flash+mob&search_type=&aq=f

Flash mobs have been a form of creative expression/improv theater that can be fun... there have also been political theater flash mobs that have been pretty fun and good at getting a message out...

So, I would very much like to talk to these young people about what were they wanting to be a part of? Is it because there is nothing and nowhere for people their ages, older than 16 but younger than 21, to do and go to? While there were definitely kids out looking to cause trouble, there were over a thousand kids on the streets and most of them were just wanting to be a part of "something" that would be exciting, interesting, different... I think the challenge of the community is to address the needs of the hundreds and hundreds of those kids who did NOT fight, steal, hit, hurt, rob etc... but are looking to be a part of something... And Kudos to them for being able to organize themselves like that.... So, in answer to your question Field, I say how do we turn this "negative" into a positive, which I think is completely doable. First thing is TALK TO THE KIDS and most importantly LISTEN!!!!

mellaneous said...

Hope this helps I have a little experience with this, I have worked with youth and tried to find ways to make Urban Beach Weekend a bit less of hastle.

Field I think that first you have to find out what exactly is a flash mob from the kids perspective.

From just reading the article and the picture, I think its safe to surmise that 95 percent of them are there to have fun. But what is hurting them are the kids who are looking for trouble,which is the problem when you get any kind of group together there are always going to be a few troublemakers or jerks in the crowd.

I think the answer lies in talking to the kids and finding out what they are trying to accomplish.

If they are trying to have fun then help facilitate that in a way that is not going to get the fun lovers mixed in with the trouble lovers.

The schools should facilitate discussions about what is lawful fun and what is not. Of course most know right from wrong, but talking about it in an open forum around with adults and more responsible teens forcing them to be honest about what just hanging out having a good time is and what a public nuiscance looks like.

I would work with them to help strike and create a balance that allows them their freedom of assembly but does not impinge on the rights of others to walk down the sidewalk.

And I would get to the bottom of the attacks on adults and if they are picking on whites I would call it out strongly and forcefully and let them know that attacks are not going to be tolerated. And singling folks out for their color is even more wrong.

I think that the curfew idea for right now is a good one. I think enforcing a police presence would be a good idea for now until city administrators, preachers,educators, activists and others could call the come to Jesus meeting that I suggested.

Hold the meeting in a school auditorium or maybe at different schools simultaneously. Let the students select their leaders and so they don't select too many knuckleheads I suggest that student gov't types be selected to be on a panel.

The point of the panel would be to let the students help in solving their own problems which would make them more accountable and would teach a bit of responsibility.

It would be good if someone could take notes and come up with some priniciples that the students could agree to hold themselves to.

If I were the mayor or city administrator I would be in favor of a type of street party. But a controlled street party.

Whatever they came up with I would suggest that they understand that whatever alternative they choose would require a limited and benign police presence (use primarily black and level headed officers) This presence would and should include responsible members of the Philly community, parents and folks the kids respect.And some of the kids themselves can be used as a youth security watchdog policing themselves. Again this should be youth that the kids respect and trust.

Let them know that this is required because so far it seems that they have not been able to police or contain their own troublemakers.

Thus the amount of police presence depends on them and their behaviour. Place the onus on them to control themselves and have fun in a fun manner.

I would try to take the surprise out of it, so we could respond to it better by having them plan a kind of spontaneous party. In fact thats what it seems like, a party kind of like what they do in South Beach during Memorial Day Weekend.

Are there other outlets in the city where young people can congregate?

Unknown said...

To get straight to the point, older people fear young folks now, and especially young black males. So not only when stuff like this happen do you have the older generations not feeling so many kids with no supervision, but you have the 12% Rule going on too. The thing is though to let them know that if they cross the line, they get treated like a man which is getting beat, stabbed, or shot and will be lucky if you decided not to kill them before the police get there.

But to be real about the whole thing, most of the kids will not step out the line and the one's who do are already working on serving life at one of our fine correctional facilities. What needs to happen is that parents need to make sure they know what their kids are getting into and people need to calm down a little since they are still children in a sense and are just excited to be in a popular part of town.

mellaneous said...

Hey Jody great minds think alike I see (lol) I didn't see your post while I was writing mind.

I agree with you 100 percent the first thing they have to do is talk to the kids and find out what they are trying to do and what they want to do and help facilitate a way for them to have fun without the extra drama.

ch555x said...

Studied this briefly during my info-sci degree program. That's the power of the digital age when you have all these tools like cell phones and Internet access. You could always crackdown like China!

brohammas said...

The last time I participated in a flash mob it was after the Phillies won the world series.
Granted, if Twitter existed while I was in High School I probably would have checked out a flash mob or two in stead of hanging out with the guys and driving up and down main st. wondering where all the girls were.
Of course that would have been a little difficult when there was both a Mom and Dad at home asking
"where you going?
John's house.
O.K. I'm calling over there in ten minutes.
Oh, I'm sorry, I meant Bill's house.
Who is Bill? Give me his number so I can talk to his Mom.

Dad, I'm sixteen!

You are sixteen, don't pay rent, don't have degree or a car, and appear to be up to something you don't want me to know about which means you know its wrong... but don't worry, I trust you... Have fun.
(then he secretly tails me for the rest of the night and calls the cops on me once John hits the mailbox with the bat).

So in answer to your question...
I have no idea what we can do.

Anonymous said...

I know someone's gonna think this is kinda fascist, but . . .
cooperate with the news choppers and track them from the air,
have some ground and air mobile units available to respond to developing mobs
utilize high candle power spots on the air and ground units to give the mob a reason to move off and separate
by the time they're being herded around, a SWAT team will have time to get in place in case things escalate

Of course, the city should be singing Kumbaya everywhere they can get a hearing while the crowd control situation is handled. It would be nice to end up in a zen-like organic nirvana eventually.

~Bob in AZ

Tiffany said...

That's crazy, I can't believe that people would act liek a butt like that. Maybe the police should learn how to tweet.

Tiffany
http://liferequiresmorechocolate.blogspot.com

mellaneous said...

Gregory I wish I had thought up your CF line very good (lol)

Jody said...

Um yea Bob... just a little, fascist that is....

field negro said...

"So in answer to your question...
I have no idea what we can do."

Actually, that anecdote about your dad speaks volumes about what we can and should be doing.

ch555x, that's easier said than done. I mean we are talking about the Internet here. I am sure it takes some serious craking down at home. I don't know, I am not a parent, and I am sure it's not easy. But damn it, shouldn't they (Mom or Dad or both) be all over their 14,15, and 16 year olds?

Mel & Jody, where are we going to talk to them? In school? In court? At home? Where?

field negro said...

And, I hear what some of you all are saying about having fun. But come on now; punching girls in the face. Rolling up on strangers and tagging them? Destroying other people's property? That s*#t is not cool.

mellaneou said...

Bob said:

"Of course, the city should be singing Kumbaya everywhere they can get a hearing while the crowd control situation is handled. It would be nice to end up in a zen-like organic nirvana eventually."

Didn't think your idea was too fascist until you added the adenduma.

Keep in mind Bob that these are young people and while there was some wrongdoing it was minimal compared to the fact that there were hundreds of kids there.

Don't want to be too hard on them remember we were all kids once. And I know you were probably one of the better ones,but you thought a mischievous thought or two and just may not have had the opportunity to bring it to fruition :)

field negro said...

"As for getting whacked upside the head while dining with Mrs. Field...a very real possibility! Just do like the mafia did (or so I read),always get a table up against a wall where you can have a clear view of all those who come in"

LOL! Cactusrose, you know what's funny? That is exactly how I sit when I go into a public place.

mellaneous said...

Field I said in my post they should be met with in school. I think it should take place during school.

I understand the frustration but if we treat them other than our children and members of our community and of course the human race, then we will set up an us versus them situation and noone will win.

Its not us vs. them, whether we like it or not these are our children. We can pull out the cannons and get draconian or downright medieval and lose most of them, or we can try to steer them in the right direction and actually save some who were thinking about doing something really foolish the next time.

I will admit this, the easy thing to do would be just to shut it down and get all draconian. But it will pop up somewhere else and no one will have learned anything.

This has the potential to be a teachable moment for the city and its youth. This is a crazy world and you better believe if its crazy for adults its crazy for kids. The kids could actually express their needs in a safe place with adults and authority actually listening.

In the type of meeting I am suggesting held on school grounds during school where the kids are the kids can express their frustrations and be heard and the city and adults can express theirs and actually be heard in this type of a setting.

Trust me most of the kids know that there was some stuff done that shouldn't be done. They know who the troublemakers are as well. This gives them an opportunity to confront their peers in a safe space as well as confront their own sense of whats acceptable and whats not.

The kids obviously are trying to express themselves and have fun (of course the knuckleheads are not)

BTW this is not just my theoretical radical wailings, this is born of experience working with youth, gangs and community problems.

The Most Interesting Man in the World (Trapped in SC) said...

Always sit with the back to the wall.

Doesn't matter is it's the Mikkie D's in the hood or a Five Star spot. Trouble doesn't have a description. In today's world,I have as much to fear from a wingnut as a thug.

Kids congregate sometimes, just like adults do. Most have fun, some do dumb shit. That's just the way it is. My sister stays in south Philly and sometimes she tells me about things like this.

I don't do flash mobs often, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis.

brohammas said...

YEah we could have a school meeting on school grounds... Then Akerman can show up uninvited with a bus load of kids from another school to testify how they are good kids who like everyone and that you old people drinking with your wives should just stop complaining and come back to school.
Then a commission can investigate and produce a report that states that no adults were at fault in the flash mob and that the violence was all over alleged missunderstandings.
ya'll are right, our school district just needs to talk about this and we can all learn together.

Anonymous said...

How many of these kids are amongst, or become amongst, those who participate in Phillies nearly 300 murders each year?

Anonymous said...

I have as much to fear from a wingnut as a thug.

How many black-on-black murders are there compared to black on tea bagger murders?

Anonymous said...

mellaneou said...
"we were all kids once. And I know you were probably one of the better ones,but you thought a mischievous thought or two and just may not have had the opportunity to bring it to fruition :)

True enuf. Actually, I'm a fading DFH who was way too wild. Guess I'm turning into a cranky old man. But I do think we should all be singing Kumbaya, genuinely, because we all need to remember every day that we're all in this together. Still, it's true that people will do the right thing most of the time, and can usually deal with those who don't.
And I believe that one of the legitimate functions of govt - especially city governments - is to be prepared to deal with violent situations in as non-violent (and effective) a way as possible.
I don't think the City should use its polic power to set off, but rather to prevent violence.
~Bob in AZ

Anonymous said...

"LOL! Cactusrose, you know what's funny? That is exactly how I sit when I go into a public place."

Yeah, me too, whenever possible!
Cuz you can never be too ready!LOL!

But on a serious note, aside from parenting etc, I feel that another important factor is "example",and, let's face it, what kind of example is the government setting?

Anonymous said...

Flash mobs today are dangerous mobs, esp if they form in the inner city. They are dangerous and they hurt people. They make the streets unsafe. They knock elderly people around, punch and slap women, and basically abuse anybody.

In a city like Philly where they will shoot you, they are even more dangerous and deadly.

There should be a special police task force that can quickly respond in the style of Frank Rizzo's police, and afterwards lock their abusive asses up.. and charge a heavy "flash" fine to get their butts out of jail.

That should help to put an end to those flash mobs where kids have no respect for others.

Farman said...

How do you stop this problem?

Stop getting into wars that show that America's leaders kill for ambiguous, callous, greedy reasons.

Stop letting your kids watch fucked up movies and tv shows and play video games that depict wanton violence.

Talk to your kids and teach them compassion. There is no other answer that I can see.

Anonymous said...

Field, in my generation a "flash mob" would be a bunch of people running down broad st. naked and maybe stopping to make love to each other on the table of a couple trying to have a nice dinner.

My, my. the times have really changed!

the poster

finefroghair said...

to peacefully assemble
is a beautiful right
now it is threatened
by a flash mob blight

deny them cell phones
turn off their internet
consequences for actions
makes way too many fret

just like a parade
don't they need a permit
maybe this is illegal
why put up with this shit

with too many youngsters
you reach a critical mass
shit can get explosive
young bucks will kick ass

do you remember wilding
from way back in the day
these nutty ass teenagers
just acted crazy okay

with summer approaching
a handle must be found
I know just one thing
flash mobs make me frown

Bob said...

That flash mob stuff is so old among white kids that CSI Miami featured one as a crime scene several seasons ago. You'd think those Philly kids would be hipper than white suburban kids. I guess it's the real digital divide that they're just getting there after the Tea Partiers.

Miss CottonFieldUSA said...

Sidebar Question of the Day: What would make a musical prophet hate himself so much that he would spend his entire adult life mutilating his skin and face?

Answer: America.

www.cottonfieldmovement.com

Miss CottonFieldUSA said...

I am also reading "BRAINWASHED" By Tom Burrell.

What is your email address?

This is Attorneymom.

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]Tell me, what would you do? [/quote]

HEY FILLED NEGRO!!!!!!!


I have a few suggestions:

1) Have the "favorable" government officials that now control Philly mandate that Turner Advertising, CBS and all other electronic jumbotron billboard companies with signs on Southstreet, Fairmount Park, Cobbs Creek, and around the stadiums in South Philly to allow the authorities in Philly to inject emergency messages during the time of "flash mobbing".

The most effective message would be that of Spike Lee!!

Spike's new phrase is: "WE'VE GOT A BLACK PRESIDENT NOW!!! WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS FOOLISHNESS!!!!"

2) Force every Philly police officer who is on "flash mob" patrol to carry an "Emergency Kit". This kit will have t-shirts, brochures and donation envelopes from "Organizing For America". http://www.barackobama.com/

When the chaos starts - hand out the paraphernalia to the "Alpha-types" in the crowd. GET THEM to lead their pod into doing something productive.
When they run out of "O.F.A." gear have them run down to the post office and get some US Census forms to fill out among the masses.

3) Designate a "John Lewis" figure to come around with a megaphone. Tell the masses that they are going to organize a march to the EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE.
Since the crowd is so large they'll have to split into 3 groups.

* One group will pretend that the Walt Whitman is the Pettus Bridge
* Another will use the Ben Franklin Bridge
* The last will unfortunately have to get on a bus - the Talcony-Palmyra Bridge is quite a distance away from South Street. You wouldn't want them to wear out their Nike's walking so far. They'd abandon your march.

4)Filled Negro and Gregory - if NONE OF THIS WORKS then you pull out the "Nuclear Option".

You tell them that there is a "Tea Party" flotilla that is gathering now on the shores of the Delaware River. They are going to do a REVERSE George Washington, crossing the Delaware River to ENSLAVE any young person - Black, Hispanic or White who is on South Street acting up.


I am quite disappointed with you Filled Negro. An expert self-chummer like you and you have to ask ME what to do?

USE YOUR BOOGIE MEN and/or PACIFIERS to cajole the "Flash Mobs" into doing what you want them to do.

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]I am also reading "BRAINWASHED" By Tom Burrell. What is your email address?[/quote]

AttorneyMom:

The best hope that you have for your Cotton Field Movement to succeed is to beat people with the consciousness of Filled Negro, Low & Country, Gregory and WhiteBowieSteve until they tell you that their name is Kunta Kenta instead of Toby!!!

Transforming a people into the "UN-Least Of These" requires FORCE at times.

Shady_Grady said...

"WHAT'S the answer to the city's "flash mob" phenomenon?"

Concealed carry.

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]So, I would very much like to talk to these young people about what were they wanting to be a part of? Is it because there is nothing and nowhere for people their ages, older than 16 but younger than 21, to do and go to? While there were definitely kids out looking to cause trouble, there were over a thousand kids on the streets and most of them were just wanting to be a part of "something" that would be exciting, interesting, different...[/quote]

Damn, Jody.

Why didn't you cut to the chase and tell us that the White kids in Radnor PA don't "flash mob" because they didn't experience the oppression like the kids on South Street did.

Mellaneous didn't take offense to the label "Flash Mob" as he did "Street Pirate".

I would like to compromise with my friend. I will now call them "Flasher and Slasher Pirates". Deal?

StillaPanther2 said...

Brother Field...very touigh problem. MY COMMENT..The respect level for all has been reduced to nil. In your daily walk, how many times have some young or old Black addressed you. As a youth, we had a mission and a common goal. When you have no mission/goal you seek/go for..anything. Our kids have been raised as being SPECIAL..even my next door neighbor kids, that I have been living next to for 15 years, will not part their lips to say "goodmorning Mr.Larry". Having so- called good kids that have no social morals/humanities...what can we/you expect when they get togeather enmass. They feel entitled to act spoiled and belligerant. THEY are the product of what we have produced. That the comment on the problem. MY COMMENT on the solution. Require ALL unemployed Black youth to go to the military/job center/ peace corps to find their place in this world and to see that the world does not revolve around them. The present problem is for you to monitor face book/space or whatever and to have constant data when you are out and around the city. You are a smart man as well as urban...I know you can evade, cover, and retalliiate for the safety of you and the Madame... But in the event you ever meet a Black youth with the last name Armstrong...you will know them by the respect they will give in meeting you and yours. In other word I'm am pleading with other Blacks to turn this around and start young to teach your gifts to mankind respect. PS for the whites and other races..your kids follow our kids in the social arena..I think if the head gets corrected things and others will fall in place. Also Brother Field, a police scanner is cheap and you will stay in-the-minute with intelligence.

field negro said...

StillAPanther2, as usual, you are spot on. There is no respect with these young bucks out here.

Farman, I agree with two out of the three of the solutions that you mentioned.

"How many of these kids are amongst, or become amongst, those who participate in Phillies nearly 300 murders each year?"

Tough to tell. Although the real hardcore kids aren't out running around in "flash mobs". They have a block to protect, and a hustle to get on.

LOL@ "the poster".


methinks brohammas has his finger on the Philly pulse. He naled what would go on with our school board Prez. :)

{un}constructive one, this is why people think you are a damn fool. Why did I know that you would just give us more of the same.

"Have the "favorable" government officials that now control Philly mandate that Turner Advertising, CBS and all other electronic jumbotron billboard companies with signs on Southstreet, Fairmount Park, Cobbs Creek, and around the stadiums in South Philly to allow the authorities in Philly to inject emergency messages during the time of "flash mobbing".

The most effective message would be that of Spike Lee!!

Spike's new phrase is: "WE'VE GOT A BLACK PRESIDENT NOW!!! WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS FOOLISHNESS!!!!"

Ha Ha Ha. I am sure that one of your wingnut friends will lift that little joke for one of their web sites. You are a funny guy.

Attorney mom, my e-mail address is
fnblg@yahoo.com

maria said...

are you saying all this kids were black? i didn't read that from what you posted.

as with many things, it comes down to a failure of parenting...stilla panter, i can't stop my son from playing violent xbox games and yes, we live in a america with its unjust wars-- but he would not take part in a mob and go bust heads. he wants to go to college and doesn't want a police record and has no reason to attack people.

so why aren't these kids thinking that way? there's no future for them that they care not to fuck up?

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I'm glad y'all "Won" the War of Northern Aggression...
And thats a great Joke Field,
Mayor "Nutter"!?!?!?!?!?!?:)

Whats his Real Name???

Frank

Jody said...

I would encourage those that think that white kids don't do this to go to the link above I provided and watch some of the flash mob videos... they are quite creative and fun. Can I PLEASE reiterate that there were over 1,000 young people on South Street in this latest flash mob. They were drawn to "be a part of something." And, not all of them, in fact most of them did NOT destroy property, assault people, push anyone, hurt anyone or anything... THESE are the ones I am talking about the need to channel their energies.... find out what they want, find out what what they were thinking... And, in answer to your question field as to where to talk to them, school is an option, so is asking any young person how they would go about trying to bring these kids together.

So, I would ask a young person: "I would very much like to support young people coming together... we are interested in knowing what you think drew all of those kids to South street. We are interested in knowing what you thought about what happened. We want to know what we can do to support young people having safe, fun spaces to gather and have fun. We want to listen to you. And, we need your ideas of how to gather together you and your friends. How do you think we should do that? Where and when should we do that so many of you and your friends would come? Who do you think needs to be there?" That would be a start....

As to young people being so disrepectful... When my sons were teens, I was constantly amazed at how people would comment to me about oh you poor thing, teens are horrible, or teens are tough, or insert any derogatory that adults say about teens. How many of you talk to children in ways that you would NEVER talk to your friends... Respect is a learned behavior... how many children are disrespected daily by adults? How many parents curse at their children? Call them stupid? Insult them when they do something wrong? How many of you have witnessed a young frustrated mother yelling, cursing and hitting her kids in public? And then we wonder why they are so disrespectful???

So, again, I will assert that maybe just maybe, instead of the adults, police and politicians trying to think of all kinds things to do to these kids, maybe we should TALK TO THEM!!!

Hathor said...

Part of the problem, and their is no going back, is that parents have been sold a lot of crap about technology. Why does a child need a cellphone? I think some parents thought that it was a good way to keep up with their children, Then It became a status symbol when you could get your child a cell designed for emergencies only. If a child doesn't have a job why do they have unlimited text?
Parents were compelled to give them a computed and the unsupervised internet, With the internet the computer became a social instrument instead of an educational tool. I for one thought there was no need to have the internet at all when my son was a teenager. There is nothing like the library to learn to do research and to not cut and paste or plagiarize. Parents could have insisted the the research online subscription be provided through the library.
Parents have the right to have their children work in public space of their house. Phones? Stop paying the bill.

Did anyone think the the way teenager communicate today, are making them being able to better interact socially?

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]{un}constructive one, this is why people think you are a damn fool. Why did I know that you would just give us more of the same.[/quote]

Filled Negro:

Did you used to play baseball and now have a potbelly? You sound just like Yogi Berra.

No one votes for you because you are not popular. They don't think that you have the solutions to the problems that the people who they do support have left on the table.

So get this Filled Negro. YOU call ME a FOOL yet YOU and others who think like you ASSEMBLED the Establishment Order that now dominates Philadelphia and other cities like it? The Neo-All White Jury speaks again.

Filled Negro the truth is that those who have CONSCIOUSNESS should go back and inspect you not for what you SAID you were struggling for in your progressive struggle. Instead they need to focus on where YOU ACTUALLY LANDED. If they were wise they would tell you to ease up off of your left thrusters before you kill us all.

Your best bet would be to hire the ALL WHITE POLICE FORCE from Hattenboro NJ to come over to South Street and taser a young Black police cadet who is planted in the crowd in street clothes so that the intended response could happen.

Think about it Filled Negro -- DO you want City Council making laws AGAINST these youth OR is it more strategic for them to spend the next 2 years focusing on WHO signed off on the police abuse against the "Flash Mob".

You are slipping Filled Negro. CHASING is your strength, not pragmatic problem solving.

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]As a youth, we had a mission and a common goal.

When you have no mission/goal you seek/go for..anything.

THEY are the product of what we have produced.

Require ALL unemployed Black youth to go to the military/job center/ peace corps to find their place in this world and to see that the world does not revolve around them.


Still A Panther:

Your response is problematic in many ways. No - there is not one thing that you said that is intrinsically wrong.

Instead you are failing to consider what you said in the context of the "Defensive Line" that stands in the way of the key issues that you have made mention of.

You say the Military/Peace Corps/Job Center.

What if the military plans to send them off to a War of Aggression. Take this off.

Why go to the Peace Corps when the real problems these poor nations face is that American policy is making them poor. Instead of sending peace corps we need to call back our "Economic Hitmen".

You say Job Center? What IF a job that had them focused on cleaning up their own community BUT in an effort to get more people out on the street helping their OWN COMMUNITY they offered a wage that was HALF the minimum wage? Do you think that the actor-vists would not cause a work stoppage until Obama funded the program to a living wage?

Shabazz said...

You know what's funny?
cf's 1 favorite movie is "A Soldier's Story." What was it about this film that dazzled you?
Who was your favorite character?
I'll bet you five bucks it wasn't Denzel?!

You are a tapdancing, slavecatching coon.
Your self hatred even amazes me.
Keep it up, and wingnuts just might name a special day after you, you know, the ones only southern whites celebrate?

Anonymous said...

Damn!^^^

alicia banks said...

just one more issue to evince that MOST parenting has gone to hell...

remember when MOST parents had their own curfews and knew where their children were at all times?...now those parents are rare!

i am 46 and my friends still call my mom "the fbi"...and as i travel the country she still knows every hotel/event etc...

in texas, parents of truant kids go to jail.
until parents similarly pay for the sins of flash mobbers, nothing will change.

i hate to see more black pepople caught up in the PIC, but...

parenting is mandatory, by innate competency or by forcible law. period.

alicia banks said...

re: technology

no child should ever be denied the internet etc...but parents must learn to be tech saavy and use those devices to monitor their children and teach their children to use them for more than educational purposes far more than they do fo such social bs...

what is truly pathetic is that real parents monitored their children far better BEFORE all the tech that makes such monitoring so MUCH easier now!

that is just how horrid parenting has become...

real parents do much more than pay for toys...they PAY ATTN!

alicia banks said...

i meant:

parents must teach kids to use tech toys for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES far more than they do for such social bs...

uptownsteve said...

Anonymous

"There should be a special police task force that can quickly respond in the style of Frank Rizzo's police, and afterwards lock their abusive asses up.."

There is only one problem with your analysis..

The violent crime and homicide rates were a lot higher during Rizzo's tenure than they are today.

Constructive Feedback said...

You all will never know how much I love people like Shabazz.

The biggest indictment against him is NOT that he has the voice to call ME out.
Instead he should be convicted and executed because when other Black men who do far greater assaults on EVERYTHING that Black people are known to cherish. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HEAR Shabazz snatch HIS Blackness away.

For me to feel as if I am GUILTY per your judgment would be like a Black man in 1942 Mississippi to believe that he did in fact rape that White woman BECAUSE the All White Jury CONVICTED HIM. He then says "Well maybe I was sleep walking and did it?"

[quote]
cf's 1 favorite movie is "A Soldier's Story." What was it about this film that dazzled you?


Ahhh doing background research. I likz it!!

The reason why the movie was my favorite is because it showed the DYNAMICS WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY and the consequences of seeking to UPHOLD OUR DIGNITY.


Who was your favorite character?
I'll bet you five bucks it wasn't Denzel?!


Gregory - loan me $5 to give to Shabazz for he is CORRECT.

My favorite character is Master Sgt. Waters played by the late great actor Aldoph Caeser.

The reason why I choose him over Pfc Peterson (Denzel) is that it was HE who worked to UPHOLD THE DIGNITY and he had a good read on ALL OF THE CHARACTERS in his troop.

He saw that the "Buckdancing" singer was popular but had no INTELLIGENCE. For some reason Shabazz I think that YOU would not have a problem with him. You would be soothed with this lyrics.

[quote]
You are a tapdancing, slavecatching coon.
Your self hatred even amazes me.


Shabazz - ask anyone who is NOT A FELLOW BIGot if they read 'self hatred' when they read my words.

Think about it (two points)

1) Last week a member of the "Corporate Obama" faction of my Black friends that I share e-mail debates on occasion at work asked ME - the sellout to lunch. I thought that he was going to talk about how to move forward as a people now that the Smiley/Sharpton fissure showed the "Obama Worshiping" strategy as a flow. INSTEAD he told of a strategy to use what we know from "the inside" of this big evil corporation to do something on the side. He said that my skills would help lead the company.

Shabazz - should I tell him: "I prefer helping the corporate monster to steal people's money.....I am not going to help you?" Help me out.


2) WHY don't you call the group that I participate with in mentoring young Black males from a local housing development and tell them to KEEP AWAY FROM ME? I might convert them into SELLOUTS....just like me.

INSTEAD you, among the Negroratti might use your heigthened state of consciousness to FIND THEIR FATHERS, none of whom I have EVER seen come to pick them up after the session.

I am asked to LEAVE MY FAMILY and go mentor another Black man's progeny. Shabazz I bet that $5 dollars back that YOU hold ME in more contempt than you do the collection of BLACK MALES who have REPRODUCED yet allow a SELF-HATER train up their sons.

Any CONTEMPT that you hear from my messages should be seen as being directed at YOU. Not YOU the GENETIC FORM.

YOU the MENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS that proves so damning.

PUNK!

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]The violent crime and homicide rates were a lot higher during Rizzo's tenure than they are today.[/quote]

Fraud MoFo.

In the 70's crimes and street pirate slashings were up ALL OVER THE PLACE in areas that fit this same urban profile.

Today YOU Tom about "Crack".
Yesterday someone just like you had an afro and they complained about Heroin and "white lady"

alicia banks said...

CF:


preach!

ditto!

i loved all of adolph c's roles

but that sgt who hated tomming niggers was his best

Anonymous said...

brohammas:

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. That's exactly what will happen. In my city, all that will be preceded with how racist it is to go after these little thugs. In my town, it will go on for about five or six years before everyone gets sick of it, including the apologists, then then the cops will march in and end it.

In my town, we have the sideshow. Cars doing do-nuts in intersectinos with people in the driver's seat hanging out of the car waving their arms. A crowd surronds the car as close as they can without getting hit. People are assaulted, raped and killed and the sideshow is now in about it's 20th year. It took 10 years for anyone to care, another five years of hand wringing, and now eveyone just wants it to go away, except one black middle aged reporter from another city who clings to the notion that it's just youthful hijinks.

Believe me, this flash mob business will boil down to race which will freeze any efforts to resolve anything. This is why a percentage of our youth are so out of control. they know they can always duck behind "racism" for cover.

uptownsteve said...

"Believe me, this flash mob business will boil down to race which will freeze any efforts to resolve anything. This is why a percentage of our youth are so out of control. they know they can always duck behind "racism" for cover."

So cops are hesitant to confront and arrest black inner city youngster because they're afraid of being called "racists"???

And I suppose the one million black folks in jail just turned themselves in, huh?

Sean Bell, Oscar Grant and the Philadelphia area 36 unarmed Black men killed by police between May 2008 and April 2009?

How'd that happen Anonymous?

ABOUT said...

the problem isn't how to control these juveniles.. its why are they doing this??
in a city with such a high drop out rate and terrible funding for education, the arts, and other social/community programs, these kids have nothing to lose. INVEST IN THEM.

uptownsteve said...

R. Lee

Exactly.

These are poor unsupervised unsocialized inner city kids who have few outlets for their aggression other than hanging out in the streets and doing stupid $hit.

That's the reality of it.

I was an inner city kid during the 70s and I believe that was the last generation where there were community centers with concerned men running them in hood.

There were always partime jobs availbel for us to make some money and stay off the street.

And there still were working alpha males in our neighborhood to protect homes, families and blocks.

All that's gone in the inner city today.

Whose fault it is is up for debate but my question is what are we going to do about it CF?

Give another bootstrap speech.

mellaneous said...

Jody ditto that. Whats up with you these days? How is work in your fields?

Hey Field I think me and Jody are headed in a right direction. Do you not feel there is a need to talk to the young people?

It is true -- at least from what I can tell --that the vast majority were out to have the kind of fun that kids have which sometimes is just milling about talking crap and playing music loud and boys hollering at girls and vice versa or girls hollering at girls or whatever.

Holla back brother let me know what you think.

I took you seriously and I relayed some things that I have actually seen work

mellaneous said...

AB what up? Sounds like your mother was kind of serious. But even when I was growing up parents didn't always know where their children were in the black as well as the white community.

I disagree with the idea of parents being punished for the sins of the kids. If this were a just society that may be workable but with the prejudices against poor and working folks in this country that leaves the door open to abuse.

Yes I do understand the sentiment that brought it about,but it won't solve the problem and everyone knows it.

There is no getting around having more positive outlets and the sense that all kids can achieve and have a part of the American dream as the real way to deal with youth dilenquency

And AB didn't the Sargeant have a problem with the country boy because he was an embarrassment to black folks? Do we know anyone on this blog who fits that role?

alicia banks said...

downtownwisheshewasn'tbrown:

ditto

and hobama chose to fund the prison industrial complex rather than said community centers...shame!!!

http://aliciabanks.vox.com/library/link/6a0123ddb39306860b0123de04bfae860c.html

alicia banks said...

mell:

hey bro!

amen

dtwhwb would have been ideal cast in that role with octaroon girlfriend!

i hate to see any black person arrested...but i hate the perpetually sorry turbo breeding parents of all races i see even more...

and i would love to hear anyone else with a better idea

all i know is that chronic truancy did decline rapidly and significantly when parents went to jail for their kids' school skipping in tx...

and i know that all private schools DEMAND that parents be similarly accountable for all... they do not ASK parents...they TELL parents... and they boot kids out in a heartbeat when parents do not follow all rules...

mellaneous said...

Still a Pantha2, I didn't feel all your post but this I feel 100 percent.

"The respect level for all has been reduced to nil. In your daily walk, how many times have some young or old Black addressed you. As a youth, we had a mission and a common goal. When you have no mission/goal you seek/go for..anything."

I don't know or understand how black folks got away from speaking to one another when they see another brother or sister. But it is something that should have been reinforced through generations.

Too often I see young people and they look right through you. This is not good. There is a sense that they feel like everyone and everything is the enemy.

alicia banks said...

mell:

ditto

i have dedicated my entire life to bonding with and educating youth...but it pains me to admit i feel like an alien around most children

most have 0respect/intellect/ambition/intelligence/work ethic/class/humanity/hope...

i feel we have lost at least 2 generations and i fear those who will be 18 in 2021 even more!

mellaneous said...

AB said:
"all i know is that chronic truancy did decline rapidly and significantly when parents went to jail for their kids' school skipping in tx..."

AB if it worked and wasn't discriminatory then I won't argue with it. Did the parents get parenting classes and new skills. Did the kids who were forced to go back to school actually get educated.

If the follow through didn't occur it only solved half the problem. Because if knucklehead turns 18 and gets our of moms house with nothing in his head but foolishness society will still have to deal with their acting out.

Just thinking out loud.

AB ditto on what Obama could do about the prison industrial complex.

Did you read this article in the NYTimes today?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/us/24calprisons.html?hp

Oh and AB give Steve a break you know who that cooning character in Soldiers Story really fits. Except the poor fella in the movie really was just an ignorant country boy, he didn't pretend to be hyper intelligent or, transfixed on black folks shortcomings.

alicia banks said...

mell:

yes...shabassedout would have been perfect too with a strip of kinte cloth pasted to his uniform....


to my knowleddge there was no follow through...so ditto to all

but that is precisely why teachers are scapegoated for ALL the kids do 24 hours...because the"follow through" with parents is too much more difficult/complex....

Anonymous said...

"Too often I see young people and they look right through you. This is not good. There is a sense that they feel like everyone and everything is the enemy."

I see this alot as well. I duno, were some of us that way when we were younger? Probably. I'm not so sure they're not learning it from their families, though. Because I see alot of older people, people my age doing the same thing, epecially in this city (San Antonio).

I see some younger people doing the opposite, although to a lesser degree. It sure does makes you feel good when it happens and when it does I quickly attribute it to their upbringing.

alicia banks said...

mell:

i like cf...i feel 99% of what he says about black politicos

_____


cf:

seen this

more rabid black elitism via hobama nazi hobama clones

what will this new jack "dems" really do for the poor gentrified masses in harlem???/ really???

http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/new-black-political-elite-arises-in-harlem/

mellaneous said...

AB I feel you, but I refuse to lose hope. There are still lots of them who are intelligent, respectful, hardworking, ambitious and who want to make something of themselves.

Unfortunately, there is too much of the pursuit of the "bling bling" in the youth culture to the exclusion of other important things like values, and principles and good old concern for their fellow human beings.

alicia banks said...

mell:

i pray daily to regain my hope bro...

i officially lost it all after yrs under the genocidal siege/wake up call of NCLB

and hobama/gwb 2.0 is making his own NCLB 2.0 even more genocidal!!

http://aliciabanks.vox.com/library/link/6a0123ddb39306860b01240bafc6d2860e.html

A Person of Interest said...

"uptownsteve said...
R. Lee

Exactly.

These are poor unsupervised unsocialized inner city kids who have few outlets for their aggression other than hanging out in the streets and doing stupid $hit.

That's the reality of it.

I was an inner city kid during the 70s and I believe that was the last generation where there were community centers with concerned men running them in hood.

There were always partime jobs availbel for us to make some money and stay off the street.

And there still were working alpha males in our neighborhood to protect homes, families and blocks.

All that's gone in the inner city today.

Whose fault it is is up for debate but my question is what are we going to do about it CF?"


Feminism. The root of so many ills that plague us today.

mellaneous said...

AB I didn't say it was CF (lol)

I also agree that black politicos and the Democratic Party and their black representatives have too often pimped the community, while they advance their own interests.

I think Field laid it out well in his post on the CBC and their extravagant parties.

But I never throw the baby out with the bath water. I will admit that some democratic politicians have made the effort. And the CBC has more often than not pointed in the right direction around larger issues facing Black America.

Of course too often they have not followed up their astute observations with real action.

mellaneous said...

AB got to run real quick but wanted to know if you have some history on the origin of the testing that NO Child Left Behind institutionalized. I had some but can't find it, but I know its history in two states and I know that in both cases it was bad rather than good and children actually learned less rather than more.

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]in a city with such a high drop out rate and terrible funding for education, the arts, and other social/community programs, these kids have nothing to lose. [/quote]

R Lee!!
R Lee!!
R Lee!!!

I AM FROM PHILLY!!!

1) The forces that focused their efforts to TAKING OVER THE SCHOOL BOARD and administration in the schools made their trek with the promises that "Once we get people who love our children and care about our interests IN POWER....things are going to get better". NOW THAT THEY HAVE WON THE BATTLE!!!

DID YOU inspect the completeness of their plan, focusing on THE MONEY rather than THE POWER?

2) When this same machine FOCUSED UPON THE MAYORS OFFICE, City Council and MANY OF THE DIRECTOR JOBS within the organization that came with it ................DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE FUNDING to keep all of this sustained?

It seems to me, R Lee that it is the POLITICIANS and ACTORVISTS that have NOTHING TO LOSE.
They are merely going to MAKE A SECOND RUN, FURTHER UP THE HILL and in their FAILURE .......they don't LOSE YOU!!!! (your confidence in them).


Do you think that the next time YOU'LL ASK BETTER QUESTIONS and demand some EARNEST MONEY before dutifully going along?

HEY BLACK DIASPORA? You don't appreciate me now but MY JOB IS NOT to CHEERLEAD for a politician. BEING MORE HAPPY that he is in office than I am EXPECTING that he is going to GOVERN.

(Notice I did not say "GIVE ME SOMETHING" because when a politician "gives you something" it was usually TAKEN from someone else". As my friend Filled Negro can tell you.....when you live in a city in which so many of those you had been taking from have the audacity to MOVE AWAY FROM YOU - YOU ARE SCREWED if you didn't - what did the people say again? - CREATE IT ORGANICALLY!!!!!!

uptownsteve said...

CF

Serious question.

Do you remember Earl Vann, black city councilman from Philly and staunch Rizzo ally?

alicia banks said...

mell:

the testing chaos began in 1960s
as a way to clandestinely reseg legally integrated ed

but
specific "nclb" testing officially began as a gwb creation and hobama as gwb 2.0 is officially upgrading it

see much more on the history of nclb in:

http://www.amazon.com/Shame-Nation-Restoration-Apartheid-Schooling/dp/1400052459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269454378&sr=1-1

alicia banks said...

aperpetualeuncuhoi:

men have always ruled this earth
& they still do

that is a secret only to court jesters like you whom alpha men tend to evade like the ebola virus

thank you for definitively PROVING
that you are indeed NOT an alpha male and never will be as you whine about the nonexistent power of powerless women in a perpetual patriarchy!!!

men like you are even less manly than the women you lament!!!!

and due to lynchings/cointelpro/serial public executions of bm martyrs etc...MOST alpha men were strategically erased from black communities and that is precisely why young thug boys and their flash mobs/gangs RULE all american streets...

while neutered cowardly court jesters/"men" like you and dwhwb hide and sit at your pcs bashing real alpha males like the neutralized huey newton all day....

shame on you you trifling twisted scared bitch!!!!!

alicia banks said...

mell:

i give up

who?
rsvp:
ambwww@yahoo.com

alicia banks said...

mell:

see much more on nclb here:

http://www.educationanddemocracy.org/Emery/Emery_NCLB.htm

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/21_03/spea213.shtml

http://web.acsalaska.net/~jjfont/index.htm

mellaneous said...

CF said in answer to StillaPanther:

"What if the military plans to send them off to a War of Aggression. Take this off.

Why go to the Peace Corps when the real problems these poor nations face is that American policy is making them poor. Instead of sending peace corps we need to call back our "Economic Hitmen".

You say Job Center? What IF a job that had them focused on cleaning up their own community BUT in an effort to get more people out on the street helping their OWN COMMUNITY they offered a wage that was HALF the minimum wage? Do you think that the actor-vists would not cause a work stoppage until Obama funded the program to a living wage?"


CF I really don't get you. The first two paragraphs are spoken like someone who clearly knows whats going on.

I agree that Stillapanther didn't sound very Panther-like when he suggested that our children go to the military or serve in the Peace Corps. The Panthers denounced this sort of thinking and rightfully so.

And you correctly pointed out above the problems with those suggested solutions.

But then you suggest that folks work for half of minimum wage which is what $4 depending on what state you're in. What could anybody do with that?

Instead we could put the young people to work at at least a minimum wage and ask that government that's right the government that gaurantees the rights to life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness kick it and help as well.

Wouldn't it be a good thing to make sure that the kids could actually "thrive" rather than "survive"?

Or are you just having fun on a computer? I mean do you really care?

mellaneous said...

AB thanks for the info will definitely check up on it.

Ease up on Steve he comes out of the same silly environment that we all did with the same narrow and limiting ideas.

We all have to start somewhere. Coming around to seeing things as they really are rather than holding on to beliefs, ideas, propositions that aren't true is a process.

Vinegar no

Honey, honey, sugar, sugar (LOL) yes

alicia banks said...

mell:

i will never excuse any black colorist sexist dog neocon like dwhwb and i have never been either

i hate flies

i have no desire to attract them with honey

i prefer to drown them and burn them with the most acidic vinegar i can find...slways!

alicia banks said...

i prefer to drown black elitist flies like dwhwb and burn them with the most acidic vinegar i can find...ALWAYS!!!

alicia banks said...

mell:

u r welcome

i am honored to share any info anytime!

peace

please pray for ALL public schools...

uptownsteve said...

Damn AB,

what did I do NOW?

alicia banks said...

dwhwb:

feigning ignorance is repulsively redundant on you...

Plane Ideas said...

I think 'flashmobs" can be an effective social and political tool..

I have an interest in them and how to manipulate and controll them for many objectives and themes..

Anonymous said...

In the early days of the American colonies there existed great concern over management problems of delinquent children about in the public space. Laws were passed from that time to the present certifying that PARENTS or responsible guardians are legally responsible for the conduct of their children, and hence any damage to the property and person of others by their children. Simple Law, simple law, but is being made problematic by the extraneous issue of technological facilitation raised by a confused law enforcement.

How to stop this mob behavior by the cell phone youth community? Simple! Arrest those youths involved in assaults on property or other innocent members of the community. In court let the judge assign monetary damages accumulated from crimminal fines and costs arising from destruction of property to the ADULT, or ADULTS legally responsible for that particular child. When the older folks have to pay out some serious money for their kid's particpation in a night of wild destruction as part of a flash mob, believe me they will take care of business and make damn sure that pookie is in the house where he belongs. Simple law, simple fix. Just use it!

mellaneous said...

Anon:

good suggestions.

I agree with you, I think the troublemakers should be punished sternly and in a way that really, really embarasses them in front of their peers.

Something like making them clean up schools while they are in session. Have them clean up around all the hot spots downtown and especially where the teens hang out. Make them wear some really embarassing color and have them work while clearly in some kind of restraints, maybe handcuffs or something short of a chain gang.

I am sure the city of; Frank "hit em first and charge em" later Rizzo,old Mayor "bomb em don't bribe em" Goode, and good old Mitch "Wild Thing" can come up with something creative.

Speaking of creative what's happening with Mumia these days, is Penn still trying to kill him?

alicia banks said...

mell:

yes!...pa has have amped up the execution plans for mumia

please pray for him...and thanks for asking bro!

yet another reason i hate all of the hobama nazis who praise a blackish clone of gwb as they ignore mumia who gave his life for them!


http://aliciabanks.vox.com/library/link/6a0123ddb39306860b0123f1a34ad0860f.html

trickster206 said...

I'm sorry to butt in this discussion but look what's in the NY Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/03/24/2010-03-24_brooklyn_housing_project_residents_say_city_tot_lot_with_play_jail_treats_kid_li.html

The gist of the article is the outrage of a new jungle gym set having a play jail in the middle of the ghetto.

trickster206 said...

I think its open season on blacks more than ever... Adam Clayton Powell IV was in the papers for a DUI trial:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/03/24/2010-03-24_harlem_assemblyman_adam_clayton_powell_iv_on_trial_for_drunnk_driving_charges.html

And they got Dwight Gooden too!

Jody said...

Melloneous asked: "Speaking of creative what's happening with Mumia these days, is Penn still trying to kill him?"

A judge commuted his sentence to life without parole and the Commonwealth has appealed this decision..... I don't think the final ruling on this has happened. While it is on appeal, he sits on death row... but the reality is, that while PA has one of the largest death rows in the country, they have not executed anyone since 1995, and there are not any "pending" executions... so defacto Death Row is PA's SuperMax prison.

Rottnkid said...

Off subject for a sec..This is why I watch Glen Beck, he's on Fox telling his loyal followers NOT to incite violence because that's what the evil leftists wants them to do in order to push "their" agenda..God will show them the way..lol. This guy kills me - IT'S TOO LATE!! LOL..OK, I'm gone for a minute.

alicia banks said...

mell:

here is a brand new letter for mumia from leonard peltier


http://www.sfbayview.com/2010/leonard-peltier-statement-of-solidarity-with-mumia-abu-jamal/

Rottnkid said...

trickster206 said...
I think its open season on blacks more than ever... Adam Clayton Powell IV was in the papers for a DUI trial:
------------------------------------

It was REALLY open season on blacks since November 4th, 2008

Anonymous said...

UTS, "There is only one problem with your analysis.."

FYI, it was a SUGGESTION, not an analysis.

Sammy said...

Wonder what Tavis Smiley, Cornel West and that guy with the PhD in rap music have to say about this?

Tavis just had a forum (to replace the State of Black ___ fill-in the blank that the corporate white boys and girls quit funding) where supposedly 5,000 black wanna-be psuedo-scholars, intellectuals and leaders showed up.

Instead of doing things to keep himself in front of the teevee cameras, other that jigging for the white corporate media against President Obama, this is the kind of thing good old Tavis ought to be all up on.

Where he H*** is he?

Anonymous said...

Mumia Abu-Jamal dated white women, let them worry about him.

Anonymous said...

"I agree that Stillapanther didn't sound very Panther-like when he suggested that our children go to the military or serve in the Peace Corps. The Panthers denounced this sort of thinking and rightfully so."

Mell, You show your ignorance about the history of the Panthers. You have a lack of understanding about them, and their philosophy. Today is NOT the same as yesterday.

You insult people as if you have the right to do so. You are one small-time arrogant judging egostical preacher...callous and offensively ignorant.

mellaneous said...

Hey Jody and AB thanks for the update on Mumia. I used to keep up with him as a part of the national network but I have not been as involved over the last two years. I lost track after the appeals to get him off death row. I guess I better get back on it.

There was some spirited protests around getting the brother free however. Did any of you go to the really big national demo on his behalf in Philly in about 2000?

And whoever mentioned Leonard Peltier I actually went to an appeal hearing held in Federal distric court in Minnesota. I think Ramsey Clark was on his defense team at the time. Somehow I remember him speaking at the hearing.

Those were hopeful days.

Who said the US doesn't have political prisoners?

mellaneous said...

Anon 7:06 said:

"Mell, You show your ignorance about the history of the Panthers. You have a lack of understanding about them, and their philosophy. Today is NOT the same as yesterday."

Anon and what do you know about Panther philosophy and ideology you don't sound like someone who would appraise themselves of such forward thinking ideas.

Whereas I actually do know what their program was having personally known a few and met and talked to some of the more well known leaders still around today.

You really ought to stop with the silly comments it really only reflects on you. Its really kind of sad and pitiful. I'll pray for you too!

I mean come on don't you have anything better to do?

LACoincidental said...

Having spent significant time on many an East Coast ghetto (Philly, Roxbury, Baltimore, DC, South Bronx, etc.) this really boils down to disaffected youth and their over-stressed, hyper-individualist parents/nation who aren't raising them.

I remember in my NY days when their was a flash mob gang fight at the New Rochelle mall. Literally, South Bronx mobs planned to fight each other and hurt innocent bystanders at an arcade 10 miles north of their hood via MySpace. On Easter weekend of all times.

Now the question to ask is where are the parents and community leaders? We can't become China or Iran and shutdown every social networking site just because a few hooligans use it spread violence. That's like shutting down the US Postal Service because a few wingnuts got the inkling to mail out Anthrax and pipe bombs.

The issue isn't technology -- it comes back to local communities, parents and the nation giving enough of a damn to get engaged in the lives of young people.

I'm a life long AME church member, which international headquarters is in Philly. And many other Black institutions have major Philly ties. Where are these Negroes? Where the NOI cats out of bean pies and copies of the Final Call that day? And where were the Free Mumia/ Operation MOVE types?


This goes back the the Smiley/Sharpton debate about whether Obama should have a Black Agenda question. The answer is no -- we don't need Obama, Superman, the Voltron force, Jesus (okay, we do need Jesus more than ever) or anyone else to fly down save Black people from the foolishness we refuse to fight ourselves.

LACoincidental said...

AB, mell et al:
From experience, the only people who still support Mumia or care about the bombing of Operation MOVE, for the most part, don't live in Philly. A lot of folks think that Mumia shot that cop and MOVE were a ghetto version of Branch Davidian -- angry extremists armed to the teeth threatening innocent people.


I'm not taking either side, just always thought that was, well, weird.

Jody said...

LaCon... agreed.

LACoincidental said...

Jody, that surprised when my college friends hipped me to that factoid. His father knew Mumia back in the day as a journalist, and didn't like him back then either.

Maybe its the whole "Cause Celeb" appeal -- its popular to support wild-eyed leftist/right-wing groups and actions when they're not threatening your home.


Again, I just thought it ironic.

Anonymous said...

Cosign Jody. I agree with LACon RE Mumia.

Uh-oh! Brace yourself LACon. You are about to be on the receiving end of a barrage of hate posts filled with ad hominem attacks from you know who for talking about St. Mumia.

agape2010 said...

@ FN:

First of all...<:-O

And....

I remember the fight I was up against in 2003 when I wanted to incorporate bullying in a program that teaches children about sexual abuse touches and how to say NO!
I was in a moral and value ridden fight with school officials...not parents or counselors.

We have to get to them when they are young...in the meantime...stay strapped :(

Peace.~agape2010~

Shabazz said...

Damn cf just go get your shine box!
And take "bootlicker" banks with you pussy!

You think because you know alot of shit out of textbooks and fox news, you're somehow better than me?
Uppity ass motherfuckers like you I can't stand; you think you're so much better than us 'po negroes.
You think you made it, but just soon as those honkeys are ready to drop you back down to our level you run to people like sharpton to have your back.
I fear you and your kind far worse than any "street pirate."
You know, it's funny cf, I live in an all Black neighborhood, and EVERY single Black male I know in my "hood" takes care of their children, and I haven't heard a gunshot around here for years.
It's funny, 'cause that's all you seem to talk about here, while defending whitey in the process.
You know goddamn well cf, you wouldn't do shit if you saw me face to face, so watch who you call punk, ok lawnjockey?
You really need a reality check, I almost feel sorry for you.

alicia banks said...

shabassedout:

you clearly need to read more books rather than dare to bash those who do...yuor illiteracy shines more brightly than your own
superstar bitch assedness herein you illiterate sissy!!!

____

assnon:

i have never seen mumia date any white woman or heard of that...but if that is true...so what?

how many bm do not adore and date white women?

and you worship hobama and his mother is white??

so what????

mumia is still a visible global hero while u r a an invisible local fool!

Anonymous said...

Let's face it. The minute the police step in and enforce the law, every single fucking one of you will cry racism. So cut the bullshit, field negro. When you spend most of your time attacking the whole idea of law and law enforcement, don't act so surprised as what you get.

Anonymous said...

I don't give a damn why they are doing this.

I guarantee you that a lot of those "kids" are from middle class families and getting their "ghetto" on. That's how the sideshow works where I live. Most of the people doing it are from other cities and can afford high performance cars and lots of tires. It's not a hobby for poor folks.

I co-sign with Anon 4:50. Make the parents pay. If they are over 18, make them pay.

Shabazz said...

alicia, mind your damn business, you fat whale.
When I'm ready to slay you, you'll know.
Who the fuck named you blog cop bitch?

And please cut it with the sassy name changes, they're tired and played out, not funny.

BroadSnark said...

It is so disappointing that the knee jerk response to so many things is more police, more surveillance...

What kind of place do you want to live in?

Instead of trying to restrict freedom even more, how about embracing freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.

What kind of adults do we expect we'll see when we constantly criminalize and monitor children? When cops arrest kids for writing graffiti on school desks? When kids are regularly harassed on the streets, asked for identification, searched...

That does not create a society that takes responsibility, that is capable of resolving conflict...

Why do the 99% of kids who are out to have fun get punished for the antisocial 1%?

How about, instead of trying to control the kids or give the kids a talking to, get the 99% together to talk about what they think should be done to keep the 1% from messing up their fun. Why not give them an opportunity to become problem solvers instead of the usual vilification?

Then perhaps flash mobs can go back to what they were supposed to be about - expressions of spontaneity, reclaiming of public space, the intersection of community and technology, and confirmation that "mobs" don't need to be feared.

Anonymous said...

Make the parents pay? Oh please, get serious you damn fools. For one thing, with three-quarters of these kids, there's only one parent, an overstressed, overburdened black woman who has a net worth of $5. Where the hell is she going to get the money.

Anonymous said...

buddha... 2 years ago on the other coast, it was Hypie and now FLASH MOB... Field did you say your Mayor surname was Nutter... like those peanut butter cookies? Stop evil Satan of Cyber domain...Stop it and get yee down...

Simple.... have your local telcom cut the air transmission... barring that social media sites and the kids and their parents should be liable for all damages personal or property to the full extent of the law... but as you know...as it gets hotter the mobs will get bigger especially on those warm summer nites...

oh! joy!

Constructive Feedback said...

[quote]Whose fault it is is up for debate but my question is what are we going to do about it CF?[/quote]

WhiteBowieSteve:

You make me cus at the computer. I need to not hand you this influence over me.

It seems to me that YOU WERE CLEAR "What We Are Going To Do About It". You get that spirit of clarity every 2 years. Once in the sprint primary and then against in the fall, just prior to November 4 or 5th.

My goal is NOT to tell YOU "What to do about it". I am ONE mere SELLOUT.

My goal is to INSPECT what YOU and others have CHOSEN to incorporate as a SUPPOSED solution.
Then I sit back and take MEASURE.

1) WHO was ultimately MADE STRONGER by your actions? (So often it was the Party and the Establishment but not the PEOPLE)

2) Upon seeing the shortfall did you "Try harder?" or did you go back to the drawing board in earnest?

3) Upon promising a NEW START did you set up a "Consumer Protection Agency" where the actions of the ESTABLISHMENT that you are a part of are KEPT IN CHECK in relation to your own permanent interests?

The PROBLEM is that YOU AND OTHERS ARE SOLD OUT from your permanent interests.

You, like so many African Leaders REFUSE to yield to TRANSPARENCY because you love your POWER.
You know that no force can contest you and get you to yield to OPEN PRACTICES.

Sadly not even the FAILURES and the admissions about them heard on the "Tavis and Friends" gatherings is enough to have the BIGOTS to agree to yield to a system of TRANSPARENCY and MANAGEMENT.

WHY do you and others condemn White bigots of the past who refused to change? YOU ARE CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH with your thinking EXCEPT you think that YOU are right.

Anonymous said...

From the New York Times today,

Most of the teenagers who have taken part in them are black and from poor neighborhoods. Most of the areas hit have been predominantly white business districts.

In the flash mob on Saturday, groups of teenagers were chanting “black boys” and “burn the city,” bystanders said.

Anonymous said...

How do you or any reporter know these kids are poor? The mobs happen in poor neighborhoods, just like the sideshow. But the participants of the sideshow are not poor and many who come to watch come from other cities, because they've done license plate checks.

Did someone conduct a demographic survey or just see a bunch of black youths and assume they lived in the neighborhood and were poor? If not, how can you assume they are poor?

They have cell phones? Really? Poor folks can afford cell phones? How do you classify someone as poor?

Furthermore, a lot of people, especially white people, assume any black neighborhood is only inhabited by poor folks.

You just proved my point. Apologists like you allow shit like this to continue due to some guilt induced delusion that the kids are poor.

I live in a downscale neighborhood that is mostly working class with some poor people and some middle class. Not everyone not living in the Upper Eastside is poor. The poor folks in this neighborhood don't have cars and they can't afford cell phones. They don't have any kind of phone.

Anonymous said...

did anyone see this article
http://www.newsweek.com/id/235534
about flash mobs
inrteresting

Anonymous said...

I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on
the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless
beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and
respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.
--- Hesiod, Eighth Century B.C.

Anonymous said...

The article you posted is irrelevant. Canada is not a US state. And no one was assaulted in the US examples you gave. SF spent a lot of money for cleanup. A woman was thrown to the ground and stomped in Philly. Are we really equating a brutal assualt with a pricey clean up? A man was beaten in Philly trying to protect a store. Others were merely shoved and randomly punched. It is no where near the same.

These events have taken place in gentrified parts of Philly. There aren't any Macy's in poor neighborhoods.

Apologists have made black anti social behavior some kind of sorry guilt trip on people who speak out about it.

There have been several of these incidents and anyone who shows up is choosing to attend an event known to turn violent. That is hardly innocent fun.

I can see it now: a bunch of these thugs will get busted and then we get "Free the Philly 500". Screw 'em.