By Rodney Beard
I had an interesting conversation with the Vice President of our National Action Network of Greater Nashville Chapter, Shelby County Commissioner Henri E. Brooks this morning. She is praying about whether or not to start a chapter in Memphis, but in the meantime she is serving with us.
As we discussed local initiatives she began to lament what they are facing in Memphis. If you have not heard, read, or even seen in the media, there have been 4 violent acts committed by groups of Black youth in the city lately that are quite disturbing, and cause for honest concern, so here’s the link:
http://www.tsdmemphis.com/greater-metro/157-original/21208-what-s-up-with-memphis-youth
We as African-Americans must ask ourselves, “what’s up with that?!” It looks like these kids are making more of a statement, than committing acts of violence, and they probably don’t even realize the ramifications. Maybe for them enough is enough, and violence is the only way they express it because they have not been taught by “us” that violence is NOT the way.
What, you may ask is enough? Well maybe the facts will help us understand:
1. We are 30 percent of the United States’ population, 60 percent of the prison population.
2. One in three Black men can expect to go to prison in their lifetime.
3. Our kids face harsher punishments in school than their white peers, and higher rates of incarceration.
4. Our kids are arrested far more often than their white classmates…70 percent Black and Brown arrested, are referred to as students.
5. Our youth (16 percent of the population) have higher rates of juvenile incarceration and are more likely to be sentenced to adult prison.
6. The number of their mothers, sisters etc, incarcerated, has increased by 800 percent over the last three decades, and are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated, while Hispanic women (mothers, daughters, sisters) are 69 percent more likely than white women to be incarcerated.
7. The war on drugs was waged primarily in communities of color, and we are more likely to receive higher offenses.
8. We receive longer sentences than white offenders, 21 percent more likely to receive mandatory-minimum sentences, and 20 percent more likely to go to prison.
So maybe they just don’t care anymore.
These statistics are not Memphis statistics; they are national, and apply to all of our youth and communities of color. What if these kids have just lost all hope because they have not ever seen hope demonstrated by our generation beforehand? What if the Black community made the concerted effort to pull together, and teach all of our kids who we really are as a unique people? What if, because of media and viral video, the actions of these children begin to spread even to Nashville? Are we ready?
If we don’t take action to save our kids, no one else will. It is our responsibility to relinquish our fear of one another, embrace each other in our Blackness, and show a united front, not a splintered group.
For instance, comments made by Black Memphis Councilman Harold Collins, are destructive, inflammatory, and “unprecedented,” as when he spoke to a bunch of “them” recently at the Frayser Exchange Club, and said that this is “unprecedented urban terrorism.” I mean, who does that? Why would a Black public official want to get the attention of the Homeland Security Department and the Patriot Act, by using the word “terrorist” in any form against his own people particularly, Black children?
What if Councilman Collins has now sparked mass hysteria and fear aimed directly against all of us, as they arm themselves to the hilt and wait for their “stand your ground” moment? I will tell you what. We will see open season and one that never closes, not just on our men, but also on our youth, and you may be next whomever you may be.
Commissioner Brooks and I both agreed that we need to go back to basic teaching, and refreshing the memories of our people that we are amazing in all we do, even rescuing our kids and creating an atmosphere of success and not failure, giving them a hope and future that no man can take, and no man can give. But God…
Our uniqueness as a people is the salvation of our generations, our determination is the key to saving them, and our commitment to purpose because of who we are, will change the world…together.
Enough is enough…Let’s stand our ground and save our seed. Tell me what you think.
Rodney Beard
pastorbeard@comcast.net