Those were gunshots and not fireworks you heard exploding on the streets of places like Chicago and Philadelphia this past Fourth of July.
I wish I had an answer for why, every weekend, we hear about young black men killing each other in urban areas all over the country. Sadly, I have been to the funerals of the victims, and I have been in the homes of the loved ones of the accused. Trust me, there are no winners.
I am one of the people on the front line of this battle for our young people's survival, and I am here to tell you that we are losing. Most of you will never experience having to sit with young career criminals as they explain the difference between trapping for someone else or running their own block. Or how important it is to have good soldiers with the proper tools because, like any business, there is always a chance of a hostile takeover.
It's a shame, because some of these young men are the brightest that I ever encountered. You wonder what would have happened if they had put their talents to good use.
So what do we do?
I am going to start with the most important thing we can do: Doing everything we can to make sure that their families stay intact from the very start of their lives. And no, their parents don't have to be physically together, that is not always realistic, but they absolutely should co-parent. (Fellows, you know where I am going with this.) It's no secret that without proper role models and mentors it is easier for these youngsters out on the street to succumb to peer pressure.
We also need to work harder to get some of these guns off the streets as well. Yes Mr. 2nd Amendment, you can bare your arms until your heart's content. But work with me to cut back on the production of some of these automatic weapons, clamping down on straw purchasers, and better monitoring of trade shows where an unlimited amount of guns are sold.
And then there are the hard truths: We need to take a harder look at ourselves. Particularly those of us in the community who hold ourselves out as the gatekeepers.
The churches have to do a better job of forming partnerships in the community, and making sure that their members immerse themselves in various community programs and volunteer outreach.
I mean that's what JC would have done, right?
I read an excellent article by Will Bunch today which actually got me thinking about this subject, and he wrote about a wonderful program in Richmond, California that seems to be reaping positive benefits.
"The new folks might want to check out Richmond, Calif., a low-income, high-crime community on San Francisco Bay. When murders there spiked in the 2000s, some City Council members suggested calling in the National Guard, but the city went in the other direction. It created an Office of Neighborhood Safety to focus more on solutions around community engagement.
The program was described over the weekend in a New York Times op-ed by its founding director, Devone L. Boggan. He noted: "A police liaison officer told us this startling fact: An estimated 70 percent of shootings and homicides in Richmond in 2009 were caused by just 17 individuals, primarily African-American and Hispanic-American men between the ages of 16 and 25."
What happened next was even more astounding -- a community outreach program that did actual outreach. "Then came the big innovation of the Operation Peacemaker fellowship program," Boggan wrote. "We offered those young men a partnership deal: We would pay them — yes, pay them — not to pull the trigger." Some of the targeted young men were invited to meetings and, if they responded to mentoring, would be paid as much as $1,000 a month to participate in a non-violence program.
This goes against everything that people in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania have believed for the last 40 years. During that time, as our state's prison population increased six-fold, powerful lobbies like the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and other police and victims-rights groups have pushed, always successfully, for longer sentences and harder time. I'm sure there are people reading this who could never believe -- no matter what the empirical evidence shows -- that it would make more sense to pay a troublemaker than to lock him up and throw away.
But Boggan described remarkable success in the Northern California program, both in individual cases -- like a young man named Shyeed who renounced violence and became an ambassador for the mentoring program -- and in the numbers. His city saw an astonishing 76 percent drop in homicides, or nearly double the rate of decline in Philadelphia. It's not clear whether this program can be easily replicated in a much larger metropolis, but Richmond's success shows the possibilities of outside-the-box thinking." [Source]
"76 percent" is an amazing drop in the homicide rate for that city, and, to be honest, cities like Philadelphia (Chicago being the exception) have been experiencing a lower amount of homicides over the past few years as well. But even one homicide is too much, and there is still a lot of work left to be done.
Mr. Bunch, I will give you the last word:
*Pic from thinkprogress.org
The program was described over the weekend in a New York Times op-ed by its founding director, Devone L. Boggan. He noted: "A police liaison officer told us this startling fact: An estimated 70 percent of shootings and homicides in Richmond in 2009 were caused by just 17 individuals, primarily African-American and Hispanic-American men between the ages of 16 and 25."
What happened next was even more astounding -- a community outreach program that did actual outreach. "Then came the big innovation of the Operation Peacemaker fellowship program," Boggan wrote. "We offered those young men a partnership deal: We would pay them — yes, pay them — not to pull the trigger." Some of the targeted young men were invited to meetings and, if they responded to mentoring, would be paid as much as $1,000 a month to participate in a non-violence program.
This goes against everything that people in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania have believed for the last 40 years. During that time, as our state's prison population increased six-fold, powerful lobbies like the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and other police and victims-rights groups have pushed, always successfully, for longer sentences and harder time. I'm sure there are people reading this who could never believe -- no matter what the empirical evidence shows -- that it would make more sense to pay a troublemaker than to lock him up and throw away.
But Boggan described remarkable success in the Northern California program, both in individual cases -- like a young man named Shyeed who renounced violence and became an ambassador for the mentoring program -- and in the numbers. His city saw an astonishing 76 percent drop in homicides, or nearly double the rate of decline in Philadelphia. It's not clear whether this program can be easily replicated in a much larger metropolis, but Richmond's success shows the possibilities of outside-the-box thinking." [Source]
"76 percent" is an amazing drop in the homicide rate for that city, and, to be honest, cities like Philadelphia (Chicago being the exception) have been experiencing a lower amount of homicides over the past few years as well. But even one homicide is too much, and there is still a lot of work left to be done.
Mr. Bunch, I will give you the last word:
"On the other hand, four murders on the night of July 4 isn't something to shrug and accept. It seemed ironic that these street killings came on the same weekend when CNN wasted hours of air time on the foggy notion that terrorists -- presumably of the Arabic kind -- might hit America and ruin our Independence Day weekend, even though the network also acknowledged that authorities had no such credible threat. It seemed a sad, shameful ploy to rope in a few viewers on a weekend when there was virtually no real domestic news. But maybe that shone a light on our weird value system when it comes to violence.
Four people killed by the National Guard at Kent State, and Neil Young will write a song about it. Four people killed by Muslim fanatics in Boston, and we send armored personnel carriers into the streets with aircraft taking infrared pictures in the sky. Four dead in Philadelphia on the 4th of July, and we call it one more Saturday night."*Pic from thinkprogress.org
44 comments:
Homicides have been dropping in Chicago. Take a look at the numbers around twenty years ago and look at current statistics. But anyhoo good post. It would probably be a better investment in the young men because how much more money does it cost to lock them up, have a trial and clothe and feed them in prison? And that's not including the human cost. I think I have to shoot that story off to my alderman and see if Chicago would consider such a program.
Field, "Those were gunshots and not fireworks you heard exploding on the streets of places like Chicago and Philadelphia this past Fourth of July."
Fyi, gang bangers don't celebrate 4th of July, nor do they celebrate many of of our federal holidays. What for? The police are brutal to Blacks, Whites are hostile to Blacks, police kill Blacks and get away with it, kids are starving, Blacks are without jobs....What is there to celebrate?
Field, "I wish I had an answer for why, every weekend, we hear about young black men killing each other in urban areas all over the country. Sadly, I have been to the funerals of the victims, and I have been in the homes of the loved ones of the accused. Trust me, there are no winners."
I have answered your question several times in several threads in the past. I can only conclude that you really don't want to know. You are like the Whites and the Blacks, don't want to face that funky elephant in the living room that is pissing and shitting all ove every thing:
First, and 'foremost', we as a people are deeply psychologically spiritually scarred people. We have such low self-esteem that we hate ourselves more than Whites hate us.
Secondly, we are a fearful people. We have been paralyzed for decades because of fear powerlessness to write our own destiny. MLK once said, "If you don't have a cause you are willing to die for, then you aren't fit to live."
Rather than stand up for ourselves we fight each other because it's less frightening that fighting the white man. It's Whites who hate us, who think Black lives don't matter. Perversely, we actually carry out what the wm wants....which is to keep us afraid and paralyzed through terror(Like the Confederate flag), murders and bombings in the sanctuaries of God's Temple!
I have been on this earth long enough to be old decrepit, and ready to die. I can honestly say after 80+ years I don't see any pride or hope in the Black race. It is a group of people who are separate and going for themselves at the expense of other Blacks.
We are truly a lost race in total denial. I guess the fear and pain won't allow us to face the truth. That is unfortunate. Because one can use the truth to free oneself or one can deny the truth and use it to destroy oneself.
We are headed for destruction. Brother Field, I know you are probably ignoring my comment...AGAIN. I understand.
"We are headed for destruction. Brother Field, I know you are probably ignoring my comment...AGAIN. I understand."
Field is ignoring your comments because you're an unemployed 37 year old white man pretending to be a self-loathing 85 year old black man.
I suspect there is only so much weirdness Field can cope with.
Brother Anon at 12;50. I echo your sentiments. Another first is that the wm is in the solution process. Just look at the hateful white that still refuse to add positive thought. A lot of name calling that only show that they are afraid of a suppress people come from under their bondage. I used to feel good after reading some of th commenters of the past, this young group of whites are still fighting the Civil War from the keyboard.
More time is spent dealing withtheir pains- once again not with ours. The author of the article had some rational solution to some piees of the puzzle. The program approach may wwork on sane young men, unfortunately we are not dealing with the sane.
Giving money and gifts has been tried and the initial response has been positive in the past. As a young adu
lt in the 70s the police rode thru the neighborhood giving out free slurpees, Mc Donalds and pool passes. The money always run out and what's left is some young men now having to commit crimes (selling reefer) to continue their daily sugar rushes. Continue to make dependants.
In the 80 and 90s, the police came thru with movie passes and clothing discounts, The 2000s we saw the exchange sneaker coupons and money for guns. What criminal will give away his means of protection and drivebys.
The police/government has never given jobs, training programs for offenders that really had an impact. In the late 70 one program that was producing positive results was the CETA program that was a threat to WHITE labour unions. FEW government/police programs that helped American Blacks have been successful along the employment lane. Remember- prior to Civil Rights, there have been HUNDREDS of programs to assist them towards the American dreams. The police ALWAYS gives trinkets to the leaves. The root is the needed.
Now I know that statement of "Hundreds of programs to assist" will rile up my "dirty ape" calling crowd. Use the internet and find out that "welfare, social security" was design the assist whites. The Interstate highway system.... for whites. The first homeowner government loans.... for whites. Now to my white brethren... I have never allowed myself to feel less than, I only compare to show that no one in America has not had some sort or aide. My parents got our first home in 1964 due to governmental "allowing" Blacks to more freely get loans.
To end, hope this program of giving 1,000 dollars to criminal works. But knowing hoodlums like I know them they will continue to take your cash and laugh at your back. A thousand dollar a month can sent 4 "good kid" to community college to be welders, nurses, EMTs and many skills that the Black race is so under-represented in our society.
Oh yeah co-parenting is a Dr. Phil feel good world. Black men don't love each other (nor their kids). Too many Black man feel that once he got the 'coochie" and have a child....that "coochie" is his for LIFE> Good luck with that one. Any time a race has developed new terms for fathers and mothers, it will be hard to change behaviors associated with these labels.
PC, check this essay out. Had to share.
http://www.simonowens.net/white-people-are-pretending-to-be-black-online-in-order-to-win-arguments-on-race
Very good. "Digital Blackface" - I like it.
Here are the methods I use to detect Digital Blackface.
1. They frequently begin the rant with "Lord have mercy..."
2. They think that ALL African Americans speak in what they see as a stereotypical ghettospeak.
3. They think that African Americans type the same way they speak.
4. They use the phrase "As a black man..."
5. They invariably employ one of the following self-hating memes;
i) "What is wrong with us black people..."
ii) "We hate ourselves even more than white people do..."
iii) "Why can't we see that white people are right when they say..."
iV) "We are on a road to self-destruction..."
V) "I don;t know why white people are so good to us..."
6. They almost invariably quote MLK, just in case we had any doubts that they are good black folks.
7. They deliberately spell key words incorrectly, just to make the point to their buddies that these are stupid black people talking, when they share the link on Stormfront.
What PC said @2:59.
@Field: "It's a shame, because some of these young men are the brightest that I ever encountered. You wonder what would have happened if they had put their talents to god use."
I don't think you meant "god use," unless it was a Freudian slip. If these young men had sought God's Will, putting their "talents to god use," instead of their own, many would still be alive, and they wouldn't be facing the Law of Retribution in their future.
This nation, indeed the whole world, is in a war of values. It's positive, constructive values vs negative and destructive values.
Unless values are changed, these young men will hold to the old, and the battle of values will continue to be waged as fiercely as it was waged when Al Capone, and Lucky Luciano headed up the mob.
"Digital Blackface"
HA! DAT WHITE DEVIL IS A SNEAKY MOFO!!!!
More racial paranoia coming from blahs. Whitey is living rent free in the minds of blahs.
"(KENDRICK LAMAR) YOUR BET AWARDS PERFORMANCE PISSED OFF FOX NEWS. THAT'S FNB."
Fox News Derangement Syndrome continues to run unabated through the minds of blahs.
Who is more racist?
Kinky
or
Yisheng
" Four dead in Philadelphia on the 4th of July, and we call it one more Saturday night."
Liberal polices and social engineering turned urban cities into urban war zones. Most blahs live in cities with Democrat mayors and city councils. Blahs overwhelming vote Democrat. Blahs overwhelming vote for the corrupt polices that hurt them and keep them down. Blahs have received little benefit from Obama's polices yet they give him an over 88% approval rating.
Blahs continue to hit themselves over their collective heads with hammers and cry because their head hurts.
Until blahs leave the Democrat plantation, why should anyone non-black give two chits about blahs getting what they deserve?
Anonymous Poll said...
Who is more racist?
Yo mama!!!!
DIGITAL BLACKFACE MOFOS!!!!!!
Anon12:50AM, i understand your frustration with our race. we can't even have straight talk among ourselves without discounting our opinions and who we are. instead of talking about the issues you have experienced for over 80 years, he just suggests you are white because a brother would never experience what you experienced.
so now a negro can't even speak his truth on fn without being accused of not being 'black enough.'
i am in total agreement: we are headed to destruction, and there is no turning back.
This nation, indeed the whole world, is in a war of values. It's positive, constructive values vs negative and destructive values.
Unless values are changed, these young men will hold to the old, and the battle of values will continue to be waged as fiercely as it was waged when Al Capone, and Lucky Luciano headed up the mob.
6:41 AM
============
Oh yeah, "values". Who on this blog is committed to values? Probably very few to none. Capitalism is about greed, getting what you can get at the expense of others. Blacks are easily fleeced by Whites and Blacks because Blacks don't care about each other. The truth be told, there is no such thing as a collective black race, just separate Blacks on their own against the odds of life.
Even on FN, Blacks like PC and Field don't recognize their elder brothers as part of them. That's 'exactly' the kind of self-hatred that anon12:50am talked about. PC and Field prove anon's point for everyone to see.
Don't blame Field or PC, they are just weak brothers....No heart for the truth, as anon12:50am said. Instead of trying to tear down anon, Field should be honoring what was posted because it is the painful truth.
We won't get any better without facing the truth.
Anonymous Poll said...
Who is more racist?
>>>>>>>>>>>
DIGITAL "ORIENTAL" MOFOS!!!
@PC, ROTFL @ that 4:29AM comment!!!!
"We also need to work harder to get some of these guns off the streets as well. Yes Mr. 2nd Amendment, you can bare your arms until your heart's content. But work with me to cut back on the production of some of these automatic weapons, clamping down on straw purchasers, and better monitoring of trade shows where an unlimited amount of guns are sold."
So, brother Field... why is it that the White people who make and buy all of these weapons (which are semi-automatic, BTW) don't have the problems with them that y'all do? Why is it that White folks aren't shooting each other up all the time, that we have many years between a Columbine and a Sandy Hook and nobody like Dylann Roof had come along in about 3 generations? (You're still talking about Emmett Till, which shows just how far back you have to go to find Whiteys to complain about.)
Really, the USA is not for you. You need a country of your own where you can do your own thing. Liberia is just one of the options back on the continent of your origin. It's a bit of a fixer-upper but if you're all so wonderful you should be able to have it all sparkling in no time.
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
"And then there are the hard truths: We need to take a harder look at ourselves."
Cue Constructive Feedback calling you an Uncle Tom and an oreo.
"Will Bunch ... wrote about a wonderful program in Richmond, California that seems to be reaping positive benefits."
We read on, and learn...
"We offered those young men a partnership deal: We would pay them — yes, pay them — not to pull the trigger."
Strange, Whitey doesn't have to be paid not to commit crime. This program as good as admits that "people of color" hold civilization for ransom around the USA. This can't go on much longer, and it won't. The ultimate solution is for those 17 to be permanently removed from society.
"ORIENTAL"is a racial slur. So Yīshēng is the most racist.
Strange, Whitey doesn't have to be paid not to commit crime. This program as good as admits that "people of color" hold civilization for ransom around the USA.
We can't get black people to work for pay , but we can get black people to stop shooting and killing each other for pay?
Good post, Field. Too good for those who seem to be the majority of your commenters, and who, if we just follow the money, can be identified as the root source of the problems.
Remember what the 'good book' says: "Give not that which is holy unto dogs". (No offense to dogs intended).
The FieldNegro said...
But work with me to cut back on the production of some of these automatic weapons,
Automatic weapons?
Someone is very out of touch.
Anonymous said...
"ORIENTAL"is a racial slur. So Yīshēng is the most racist. Strange, Whitey doesn't have to be paid not to commit crime.....
>>>>>>>
Look here little pygmy boy. You really need to find something useful to do with your life other than hate on Blacks who are more successful than you and Whites who won't accept you due to your epifolds and urine yellow skin.
You may find that if you return to the cave your family left in Mongolia, you'll be MUCH better off than you are here in America, as an abject failure of a little Asian man.
The FieldNegro said...
Four people killed by Muslim fanatics in Boston, and we send armored personnel carriers into the streets with aircraft taking infrared pictures in the sky. Four dead in Philadelphia on the 4th of July, and we call it one more Saturday night."
Didn't you get the dumbocrat talking points?
Dead/shot Blacks are only a problem if shot/killed by white people. One only has to watch nbc, cbs, abc, cnn, msnbc, etc to see how they prioritize Black deaths by the race of the shooter.
Dumbocrats needed to cover up Black on Black crime. They got what worked best for the party.
White men are lame as fuck. White women are great though.
How can anybody even trust white people and take them seriously anymore, if you even did in the first place?
Anonymous PoopAvenger said...
White women are great though.
>>>>
Only if they're smart and attractive. The ugly dumb ones are HELL to work with, LOL!!!!
anon@12:50am, great comment. thanks. However, it's too good to be on this blog. Try a more upscale one. this is for the uneducated, ignorant and un-prideful HNs who call themselves 'blahs'.
You belong on Roots, not here.
Strange, Whitey doesn't have to be paid not to commit crime.
--------------------------
Maybe we should then fewer schools will get shot up.
Until whites leave the republicon plantation, why should anyone non-white give two chits about blahs getting what they deserve?
there
More racial paranoia coming from blahs. Whitey is living rent free in the minds of blahs.
------------------------
Bitch please, whites are the most paranoid muther fuckers on the planet. Jade Helm anyone? The only people in the entire country who are worried that the military is going to take over an entire state are whites. White racists have no shame or a sense of irony.
Paranoid white guy, aren't you concerned about Jade Helm military exercise? What if they take over Texas and turn Texans into slaves? I know it sounds unbelievable but stranger things have happened in life.
Until blacks leave the democrat plantation, why should anyone non-black give two chits about blahs getting what they deserve?
there
Nigga please. Blahs are the most paranoid muther fuckers on the planet. Snapple makes blah men sterile,anyone? The only people in the entire country who are worried that Republicans are going to put them back on da chain are blah. Blah racists have no shame or a sense of irony.
There.
Yisheng, I agree with you about those slanty-eyed bastards. I've dealt with their bullshit. I think the gooks and chinks are a bigger enemy to blacks than whites are.
Try using the proper grammar and spelling good sir and maybe someone will take you seriously.
Until whites leave the republicon plantation, why should anyone non-white give two chits about blahs getting what they deserve?
There
Nigga please. Blahs are the most paranoid muther fuckers on the planet. Snapple makes blah men sterile,anyone? The only people in the entire country who are worried that Republicans are going to put them back on da chain are blah. Blah racists have no shame or a sense of irony.
----------------------------
Bitch pluuuease. Whites think that the first negro president will use Walmarts as prison camps and suspend the constitution so he can have a third term. If that's not fucking paranoid what is. I have naver heard ONE person say anything about Snapple, well except for the Snapple lady. Irony is lost on white racists. No wonder white males need automatic weapons.
I can't believe that the Whites are trying to convict Cosby. This smells like racism. Lord have mercy, is there no rest for the weary?
Automatic weapons are needed so that a white person doesn't get beat by 40 feral apes like the guy in Cincinnati did on the 4th.
Apes are such cowardly vermin they won't attack unless the numbers are overwhelming.
Such a detestable and useless race you negros are.
A lot of people like to relate the high homicide rates in Chicago to strict gun laws. But you can buy guns right outside the city. And I'm not sure that the laws are as strict as people portray them to be. So I don't think their argument holds much water, and I am someone who believes people need to be able to own guns because our government is so fascist. I saw a video of Jesse Ventura talking about a gun law he worked on in Minnesota. Don't quote me on the details, but the general idea was getting a concealed carry permit law that required an extensive background checks, passing a target shooting test, and completing training courses. It was doing all kinds of things that the NRA doesn't want to get something the gun control advocates don't want. It's amazing what politicians can do if they aren't owned by special interest groups.
"Such a detestable and useless race you negros are."
"detestable" is a big word for a 10th grade dropout.
Go figure.
Apes are such cowardly vermin they won't attack unless the numbers are overwhelming.
----------------------
Says the representative from a race that needed lynch mobs to attack one person. Let's not talk about how cowardly it is to shoot little kids in school, people in churches and people watching a movie. Yep, white males are such a studly lot aren't they?
"A lot of people like to relate the high homicide rates in Chicago to strict gun laws. But you can buy guns right outside the city."
But you never stop to ask why all the White people who live RIGHT NEXT TO all those evil nasty gun stores and are their biggest customers... aren't shooting each other up. You can't ask that, because you would have to ask if you are the problem, not the guns. BTW, the answer is "yes".
""detestable" is a big word for a 10th grade dropout."
Your indefatigable efforts to call names instead of addressing the content of arguments is truly one of the high points of Black intellectual achievement, Field. It explains so much.
If you want to call me a 10th-grade dropout, I will be happy to bet you that you're just spouting libel. Even odds, 20 large minimum to make it worth the time and expense of setting up the verification and settlement.
"Apes are such cowardly vermin they won't attack unless the numbers are overwhelming.
----------------------
Says the representative from a race that needed lynch mobs to attack one person."
Goodness, have you already forgotten that it took a mob of about 40 Blacks to assault Christopher McKnight in Cincinnati over the July 4 weekend? McKnight wasn't a criminal or racial agitator as most pre-Cibil Rites lynch-ees were, he was just a White guy who had to pass through a Black crowd to get to his car. As a matter of fact, lynching is also known as "assault and battery by mob", which is exactly what that Black mob did to McKnight. Most "lynchings" in the USA these days are committed by Blacks.
"Let's not talk about how cowardly it is to shoot little kids in school"
Let's not talk about how cowardly it is to kidnap school kids and burn them to death with welding torches, like (Black) Mona Nelson did to 12-yr-old (White) Jonathan Foster less than 2 years ago. Let's not talk about Melissa Coon's 13-yr-old son being assaulted by two Black boys, doused with gasoline and set on fire because he was White. No, let's suppress all of this instead of getting it out and actually punishing the perps and shaming those who push the racist anti-White attitudes that yield such horrors... so that the next Dylann Roof can find out he's been lied to all his life and try to do something about it. Or maybe it won't be just one lone wolf like Roof, but tens or hundreds. Or millions.
Let's not talk about how there are a few crazy White people who are promptly put in jail for long, long terms with full public support whenever something like the Aurora theater shooting happens, but how horrific Black-on-White crimes are suppressed by the media and the "Black community" supports the criminals.
Let's not talk about that, so the pressures get beyond any hope of peaceful resolution. You could still have an amicable divorce from White society if you start now. You're not going to like what you get instead, but foresight has ever been foreign to Blacks.
Excellent! Thanks for sharing this post. I will read about this post then got more information. I like it.
https://www.hamiltoninternationalestates.com/news/what-is-a-trap-house.html
Post a Comment