What a question, you ask? Of course ,the answer is yes, but hearing about and witnessing the violence by some roguish, unscrupulous, malicious criminals, many could easily say no. The killing of black children, women and men by black men is disgraceful and despicable.
With the many campaigns targeting those who are committing these extreme acts of bloodshed and brutality, some parts of the African-American community remain passive and inactive. Most people do not get involved with community actions until something happens to them or someone close to them. That is when the outrage emerges. That is when the marching begins and the calls to “Stop the Violence” start and “Black Live Matter” signs become visible on lawns and on street corners.
But are these acts preventable? Do parents and friends of these thugs know who they are? Is the “don’t snitch” culture allowing these criminals to get away with murdering children and their neighbors?
Whereas the focus has been on police brutality and the killing of unarmed black men and women, the same amount of energy and emphasis must be directed to the actions that have people afraid to allow children to play outside of their own home, afraid to sit on their porch, afraid to walk alone to the grocery store. What have we become?
Are we the collateral damage from the War on Drugs? Are gangs the reason for homes being invaded and houses being targeted with drive-by shootings? Do not young people understand that death is permanent? Don’t gang members comprehend that when a gang war starts, anyone can be at risk? Their mother, brother, sister, other family members and innocent friends and children?
Confronting is a very effective way to get people to stop behaving in such uncontrolled and aggressive ways. Join one of the groups that are working to stop the violence. Not only does it make you feel better, but confronting actually makes you a better person over time, and possible could save a life or perhaps many lives. You must do something.
We have deliberated on the city Civilian Oversight Board that will review complaints against the city’s police, and we have moved forward to some degree concerning Ferguson and other local area municipalities. Hopefully, these efforts will reduce criminal behavior and they should also motivate changes in our criminal justice system, which unfairly punishes black Americans.
But black Americans also must stop killing each other.
According to “The Brady Report, one in three people in the U.S. knows someone who has been shot, and on average 31 Americans are murdered with guns every day and 151 are treated for a gun assault in an emergency room. Also, every day 55 people on average kill themselves with a firearm, and 46 people are shot or killed in an accident with a gun. Please, put down the gun.
Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net.
