June 3, 2007

Kill Black on Black Crime

Do you remember a visibly shaken Rodney King saying, "Can we all get along?" on the third day of the 1992 Los Angeles riots? Judging from a report released by the Justice Department it is evident that we haven't figured out how to live together yet. The report, entitled Black Victims of Violent Crime, documents a four-year plateau in the rate of violent victimization among Blacks, starting in 2001, after nearly a decade of decline. It offers no reasons for the trend. Some of the key findings in the report:
  • Blacks made up only about 13 percent of the U.S. population, however, they were the victims of 49 percent of all homicides
  • Between 2001-2005, violent crime rates for Blacks were higher than for whites, Asians and Hispanics.
  • One quarter of violence against Blacks was committed by people under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Violence against Blacks is overwhelmingly intraracial -- about 80 percent of non-fatal assaults and 93 of murders were Black-on-Black.
  • Violence against whites is overwhelmingly intraracial -- Eighty-five percent of white murder victims were slain by other whites.
An AfroSpear blogger, Field Negro is concerned enough about the number of murders in his hometown that he is tracking them on his blog. There is actually a website called Kill Black on Black Crime that strives to prevent violence by strengthening and empowering families, communities, and neighborhoods by encouraging community pride and involvement. The African American Political Pundit thinks it may be time for AfroSpear members to increase the conversation about Black on Black crime.

Villagers, we have work to do. Perhaps we can begin to work towards solutions on this issue by taking Maya Angelou's simple pledge to rescue our young people:

"Young women, young men of color, we add our voices to the voices of your ancestors who speak to you over ancient seas and across impossible mountain tops.

Come up from the gloom of national neglect, you have already been paid for. Come out of the shadow of irrational prejudice, you owe no racial debt to history. The blood of our bodies and the prayers of our souls have brought you a future free from shame and bright beyond the telling of it.

We pledge ourselves and our resources to seek for you clean and well furnished schools, safe and non-threatening streets, employment which makes use of your talents, but does not degrade your dignity.

You are the best we have. You are ALL we have. You are what we have become.

We pledge you our whole hearts from this day forward."
Well Villagers ... what do you think about the Justice Department report or the other issues shown above?

9 comments:

Shelia said...

I LOVE the vibe here - I'll be back!

Shirley Twofeathers said...

Awesome quote!
I'll definitely be sharing this link.

Sandee said...

I think it's sad. It should not be this way. I too loved the words of love and wisdom. We are all part of the "human" race and should respect that. Have a great MM. :)

Durward Discussion said...

Tomorrow I will be putting up a blog article on the 42nd anniversary of the Watts Riots.

Unknown said...

Sheila, Two Feathers, Comedy+ - I am glad that you are enjoying the vibe of our Electronic Village. I hope you find reasons to visit often in the future!

Jamie - I look forward to your post on that topic. I was young when the Watts Riots took place ... but, I recall how tense the situation was in Los Angeles during those times.

peace, Villager

Ross said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ross said...

My friends, you are living in the American empire, one of the most corrupt systems ever to embrace the planet since Rome. Yes, "some" blacks are killing other blacks, but it is small compared to the murdering activities of the government (1 million dead in Iraq). Blacks have never been intergrated into the nation. Drugs continue to be pumped into the inner cities. So crime on all levels, national and international, will go down when we have a better system. Oh well, peace!

Durward Discussion said...

The column on the Watts Riots is up. What I was trying to get across was how different the conditions were between then and now, tied in with your subject of black on black crime, the current conditions of poverty that have not ben changed for many even with the advances of civil rights.

Let me know what you think.

Unknown said...

Ross - Your points are well taken. We have to accept the challenges that confront us on a local, national and global basis ... then come up with some plans to deal with 'em. I hope you will find reason to visit with us often in the future.

Jamie - I'm heading over to read your post right now!

peace, Villager