By: Lynn
I am going to assume that I don’t have any Chicago readers. The reason I will make that assumption is because I check my email daily, several times per day and NOT ONE Chicago resident has emailed me to either inform me or inquire about why I have not mentioned anything about the black males in Chicago who are blowing each other’s brains out in record numbers.
Why is this, Chicago? Is a black male’s life not worth discussing? Have we become so numb and cold that we don’t even care about our own youth?
While watching the news this morning, I was horrified to see a report on Chicago and the fact that the black male youth there are killing each other at a rate so fast that emergency rooms are unable to even keep up.
IF this were happening in the Jewish community, a state of emergency would be called in Chicago and the National Guard would be sent there. IF this were happening in the white community, steps would be taken to STOP IT. IT CAN BE STOPPED! Why are we so disgusted whenever a police officer kills a black person but have nothing to say when blacks kill other blacks?
I am absolutely offended and disgusted that even our president has not spoken out on this and he has a home base in Chicago. Michelle Obama needs to stop her cute little visits to local DC school and make a trek out to her home town of Chicago to spearhead a way to STOP the murders there. Again, this CAN BE STOPPED.
The devil IS a liar and I rebuke him in the name of Jesus. WHERE are the clergy? Why are the churches not fasting and praying in the streets with HOLY OIL, declaring war on the devil? ONE can chase a thousand, but two can chase 10,000 demons. Where is the church? Are we powerless now? My understanding is that the Holy Ghost is POWERFUL. Where are the Chicago Christians?
Where is Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson on this one? Jesse also has a home base in Chicago. His son is so busy trying to become a senator, his time would be so much better spent working out a plan to bring the blood bath to an end.
Don’t get me wrong. The Sharptons and Jacksons are NOT the end all and be all. They are NOT God so I do not expect them to solve all the problems. I DO however, expect the black community in general to be up in arms about these murders.
Are we animals? Are the racists right after all? Talk to me, folks!
In all, 20 Chicago public school students have been fatally shot so far this school year — seven in March alone — compared with 24 the year before, said spokesman Mike Vaughn. Including those who died in non-gun violence, 22 students have been killed this year, and 30 last school year. School officials could not provide precise figures, but said that killings had increased markedly over past years.
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I saw this story on CNN the other night. They stated that 37 youths have been killed this school year. That’s close to five killings per month. Slightly higher than one per week. Across this country, the mantra has been, “when the economy worsens, people get desperate.” But what’s the excuse here???
The point about ‘what if this happened in the Jewish community’ is SO accurate. Recently a guy killed a Jewish girl and the entire Jewish community in this Connecticut town shut down! Yet, black murders/deaths are looked at as “jus anova day in da hood” (per the commentators on my local news media sites).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/ap_on_re_us/us_wesleyan_shooting;_ylt=AirDUMHmnbKyg6ElTRhZcMFvzwcF
I wish the Obama’s, the local ‘leaders’/politicians, and the black churches would look at the violence in their home turf and find ways to solve the problem WITHOUT blaming legal guns and legal gun owners. It’s amazing to me that Chicago/DC have “zero gun tolerance” yet have the worst gun crime. But that’s a different topic for a different day.
And when is the dictionary going to recognize the names “Barack” or “Obama” and stop making me feel as if I spelled something wrong?!?
Colin,
You are such a blessing to this blog. I put this article up and folks just glossed right over it as though I were talking about peanuts. Most probably did not care enough about dying black males to even read it.
Yet….I can post on the clowns, Tommy Weeks and Juanita Bynum and folks will respond.
Our community neads a mental and spiritual overhaul. Our youth are dying and folks don’t even care. I’m talking about black folks not caring.
And yes, one Jewish girl is murdered and it shuts down a town!
I didn’t realize this until reading it here. It looks like once again because it doesn’t affect the folks with the ‘complexion connection’, it’s not newsworthy in mainstream media.
And I agree that I would like to hear our leaders from Chicago speak out on this.
I’m convinced that the majority if not all of these instances are in some way gang related and Chicago has been plagued with gang violence for YEARS! It seemed like it had died down for a while. And so I guess most folks figured the problem went away, but in reality it’s still alive and well.
Parents really need to become true parents though and learn what their kids are into and how they are spending their free time and more importantly WHOM they are spending that time with.
There is a brother Jerry Robinson out of chicago that manages a non profit called the Poor People’s Campaign continuing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, and raises his voice daily about these killings….He has been calling for the President to do something for sometime….http://poorpeoplescampaignppc.org/
and has a daily show on blogtalk radio discussing these issues
I also just received an email today about a memorial tomorrow.from the “Black Star project” http://www.blackstarproject.org/home/ about a black PTA leader 73-year old Minister Florence McCullom who was murdered while helping an 88 year old elder on the southside of Chicago…
I checked the website. Thanks, Oregon.
Chicago, where are you? Still numb, huh? People from Chicago sign on here daily and yet….silence.
Interesting that very few seem interested in the tragedy. Black male life has no value.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!! Now that I am back home from church I thought I’d change subjects and give those of you that have children a ’round of applause’ for everything you do as mothers!
Lynn,you summed it up…this has to be attacked in the spirit realm. We are seeing a manifestation of when the “head is sick” then the whole body is sick…the family unit being out of order…where purpose is not known, then abuse sets in.
It’s like the blood and crip gangs back in the day in LA, CA when black males were dying left and right at the hands of each other…same spirit, different location!
The black race as a whole must value our own lives if we want other’s to value it, especially black males. So what’s the answer? Many opinions I’m sure, but the only true answer is Jesus Christ, however, whenever and to whomever Jesus can be lifted up, He will draw and change from the inside out.
Unfortunately, the church at large today is trying to be politically and socially correct rather than teaching and walking in the true power of God and the Holy Ghost.
Social programs and self awareness programs may look and sound good, but unless there’s a real experience with Jesus, this problem as well as the many other social problems will continue until Jesus’ return (which unfortunately the bible tells us will get worse and worse before His 2nd return anyway)
My 16 yr old stepson is at that point where they begin to “smell themselves” and he has not come home from school since Friday, hasn’t called or anything. We filed a police report and they are treating him as a “run-away.” He’s never done this before, but yet, just a “run-away” (probably in their minds just another black male “throw-away”).
At this point, all my husband and I can do (beyond calling
around to all his friends as we have etc) is pray God’s protection over him and believe that as the prodigal son did, he will come to the “end of himself” and come home. We will be waiting with open arms (oh yes, there will be “consequences”) and continue to instruct and teach him in the ways of God and live a godly example before him.
We must continue to pray for our youth, the seed that the devil is after and not be moved by what we see or hear. We cannot grow weary in well doing! My family is going through a trial right now, but I will not let the devil steal my joy nor stop me from praying and interceding on behalf of others.
Never the less, @cdadams1911, thank you for the Mother’s Day wishes and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mother’s! Enjoy your day and remember, no matter what trials, tribulations and havok the devil is kicking up…we have the victory in Christ Jesus and him alone! Hallelujah!
Hi Lynn,
I am from Chicago and I have been waiting for my new passord to respond. I grew up in the inner city and moved away when I turned 18. To be blunt, I have never felt that the black men really matter in Chicago. My high school would get shot up every Tuesday and the kids from my school would shoot up the other neighborhood school on Wednesdays! I remember having to jump over fences to avoid bullets! The authorities absolutely knew what was going on, but they never did anything! I absolutely agree with you-if a Jewish person is killed the mourning goes on for days and weeks! A black man or young one is killed and oh-well!!! Something needs to be done! One thing is for sure though-this is NOTHING NEW!
God bless,
onemom
Thanks for checking in and representing Chicago, OneMom!
Godly Soldier, this is definitely a further attack on the black male. What does the devil know that we don’t? Obviously black males are being targeted for a reason.
Its not only happening in Chicago. Its happening in big towns and small towns. I live in Seattle and every week some young black male is being shot,stabbed, beat up or whatever the method of the month is. I lived in Charleston,SC from 04/2004-02/2008, and their was a murder every night for almost a year. Black males or even young black women killing each other over territory that they don’t even OWN, or supposed disrespect from one another. I told some young folk the other day that there is no excuse they can use about not being able to make it in this world. They need to stop looking for fast and easy ways to get rich, stop coveting what their neighbor WORKED for and get out there and get it for themselves. If Barack can do it, why can’t you? Well let me tell you they might as well have said @$%# Barack….sadly they just don’t care.We can blame it on a variety of things but it all falls back to what their parents allowed them to get away with as a child. I have heard these kids call their parents everything but a child of God. I am like Bernie Mack… I wish they would and we all know how he said it. I’m a strong believer in spare the rod,spoil the child. After the age of 18, my boys were no longer under my direct supervision,but they said everytime they thought of doing something wrong they could hear my “mouth” in the back of their heads….Thank you Jesus.
1) Bad/young parenting – Our community too often has parents at young ages which results in immature parents (meaning not really ready to do the JOB). Because parenting is not some cute fun little thing you get to do as a by product of having a child. It’s a FULL TIME sacrifice and unless they are wiling to make that sacrifice, they should NOT be out having babies. Now, this is off subject, but it truly means that parents shouldn’t be naive about what goes on. Preach/teach abstinence BUT make sure you talk about love, relationships, sex, STD’s, pregnancy, men that will rip your heart out, and women that want more than you’ll ever give them. Talking about sex with your kids doesn’t give them a license to go do it (or your permission) but it makes them more understanding of EVERYTHING that comes with that decision (plus it’s immoral).
2) Media – Now, I blame BET for a lot and I won’t stop today. We have ONE, yes ONE, real channel when it comes to ‘black entertainment.’ We can love Barack Obama all we want, but we watch CNN, Fox, and MSNBC where we get to see him, what’s going on in the world, etc, etc. Black Evil Television (BET) makes it a point to show us in the furthest light from President Obama as possible. When growing up, BET once had a news program, Teen Summit (an open forum for kids to share what was on their minds), and Tavis Smiley (an educated NUPE).
Now, I DARE you to find anything truly worthwhile on that channel (you’ll have to do it b/c it will NEVER show in my household). Most parents (both) work until 5 or so and get home around 6. So from 3-6, BET has filled kids with misguided ideas on how to make a living, behave in a club, or hang out with their friends.
3) Entertainment/Comedy – Which leads me to #3. If all our kids see are rappers, former gangsters, etc leading the ‘good life’ with their rented jets, cars, boats for the videos (I wish the videos would come with a disclaimer that says, “I don’t own this”), then why should they believe that the slow, hard-working way is the route to go? And if you combine that with the fact that the parenting is lax, it’s a deadly combination. Why is it that the black character in most movies is exactly that? A character or a clown. He’s truly “BLACK” or he’s cursing up a storm. Bernie (God bless him), Samuel L. (who I think is a great actor despite his profound love for the “F” word), and Katt (why do we support a pimp?) are prime examples of this. WHY DOES OUR COMEDY HAVE TO BE SO VULGAR, TRIFLING, DEGRADING AND HATEFUL??? And by allowing these things to keep occurring, we will NEVER do better as a people.
It’s not the church. I’d bet there are more churches in Chicago, DC, Detroit, and Kansas City then anywhere else. I’d bet there are some GOOD pastors who are trying. But they are being overshadowed by everything else.
Sorry for the rant (I know some will disagree but that’s what forums are for, I guess). Just my two cents!
Yes some of the comedians are using bad language, but what about Andrew Dice-Clay? He is absolutely horrible! What about Jeff Foxworthy and his pals? The Red-Necks as they call themselves? All these are horrible images to depict to other races and cultures. The problem is personal accountability! People do not want to account for themselves anymore! They want to be able to blame someone else! Poor behavior has been everywhere and it never stopped Barack Obama or Michelle, Stevie Wonder, and some other very good examples for our youth of today.
God bless,
onemom
Using the word redneck vs derogatory words to describe blacks and women in one’s comedy style is a major difference.
I’m not excusing what they do (Foxworthy, etc) at all. I have been around enough youth to know that they are influenced more by what those guys portray than their white counterparts. The problem is, it’s a negative influence. My first reason for the issue is still the most important. Bad parenting. We can’t escape that problem. Yes, it’s about personal responsibility but it’s rare that you find “Barack Obama” raised in a home without Christ, church, morals, etc. Children are a by-product of their environment.