"We're mad as hell and we are not going to take it any more!!"
This is the sentiment that is the foundation of many movements for change.
Normally there is a government, police force, corporation or criminal organization to which this angst is directed. Things are far more difficult when there are individuals or individuals operating in a loosely coupled rackettering effort (ie: drug dealers) who are the source of much of your grief.
"Lock them up and throw away the key" has its limits in a society which will simply provide a new round of dysfunctional youth to take the place of those who are being warehoused. Indeed there is a systematic problem going on.
The key flaw in strategy that many activists take is to demand GOVERNMENT centered approaches and thus have their success contingent upon goverment's willingness to fund these programs that they need so badly. No this is not another "anti-government", conservative rant. The fact is that I see my own home owners association as a GOVERNMENT that the people in my community have agreed to be bound to so that the common benefit can be expressed to all who live in the community.
I support the efforts of "Silence Is Violence" in that they seek to expand the amount of community involvement in addressing this issue that has an expanded amount of community members living in fear that they will be the next victims of crime. When a group of people realize that there is no one else who is going to save them BUT themselves, via some ordered process to do so - from this effort comes some strategies that are inculcated into the community's character and culture to insure that things never degrade to the point which caused them so much grief ever again in the future.
January 2, 2008
Hi, everyone—
One week from today, on January 9, 2009, we will Strike Against Crime to
send a message to the New Orleans city leadership—and to each other—that we
continue to stand in solidarity as a city, determined to defy the violence
that grips our streets and neighborhoods. The year has not begun well:
Three murders scarred the city during the first 12 hours of 2009, and armed
robberies have been prevalent over the past week.
What would happen if the fear and danger we all live with were to shut down
our participation in the amazing energy that defines New Orleans? What if
every business that feels threatened by crime were to close, and every
frightened citizen to stay home? These are the questions that moved us to
call for a "Strike" next week. We are *not* asking that citizens
necessarily stay home from work—that would be too detrimental to many
families and to the small businesses that fill New Orleans. But we *are*
asking that you find some way to express the toll violence takes on your
individual life, the lives of your family and neighbors, and your jobs and
businesses. We have already heard from many of you who plan to take public,
pro-active actions that speak both to the crushing violence, and to the
under-served community needs that could challenge this violence.
Beginning this weekend, we will post a list of planned actions and
activities for Friday, January 9 and the Strike Against Crime. For now, we
have two specific requests for participation:
1. If you are a retail business owner, please join us in contributing 5% of
next Friday's sales to a public safety or social justice-oriented non-profit
organization. This amount will mirror your city sales tax contribution for
one day. SilenceIsViolence will provide a list of suggested non-profit
organizations, with brief descriptions of their missions, to be
beneficiaries of these donations.
2. We have printed yard signs that will serve as crime self-reporting tools
for next week and beyond. "Crime Happened Here" signs will be available
beginning *today* at Sound Cafe and through neighborhood organizations. We
ask that people use them to mark known crime locations before next Friday's
strike.
If you have an activity or demonstration that you are planning for next
Friday, please let us know what it is and we will share the information as
part of this citywide event. Some examples include: youth resources tables
in playgrounds around town; a community soccer event to highlight the need
for community activities; a Peace motorcade through violence-ridden
neighborhoods; a public film screening with an anti-violence message. Use
your imagination and send us your plans.
Wherever you are next Friday, wear something red. This is how we will
signal our pledge to each other to start the peace within our own families
and communities.
www.silenceisviolence.org
Posts
2 comments:
CS:
Just what can we do to cut down on crime in black communities? Seriously. I was once on a committee to deal with black-on-black crime (like Chris Rock, I hate the term but was outvoted on its use), but when we all got together to strategize we couldn't come up with viable solutions. I'm talking about a group composed of educators, law enforcement and black clergy!
I don't know what the answer is, but I do know it will take a reemergence of the black pride I experienced in the late 1960s and, equally important, an elimination of the excuses that have justified black criminality for decades.
[quote]Just what can we do to cut down on crime in black communities? [/quote]
Oldschoolfool:
There is no one answer.
There are no easy answers.
I belief that there is a layered solution that has the solid foundation of COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP at the helm is where it begins.
Bottom line OSF - the Black community needs to defend our communities and this means from the INSIDE as well as the OUTSIDE. The concept of "no one else is going to do it for us AND no one else CAN DO IT BUT US" needs to be driving forth.
This ownership concept will have us to see the importance of regulating behavior within our community as the essential component in our ever ACHIEVING a certain desirable end.
Clarification and conservation of our CULTURE is the key agent by which certain practices are ingrained into our people. Our history of being an oppressed people has built up our ability to FIGHT TO CHANGE existing systems. We now need to develop the ability to DEFINE SYSTEMS so that our people can be channeled through to more productive ends.
OSF - I personally believe that the Black community must set out to produce as much of our own STANDARD OF LIVING as possible rather than making the case that the GOVERNMENT should bestow these entitlements upon us. With this as the constraining factor the Black community would be forced to channel more people into becoming doctors, lawyers, dentists, etc - or else WE WON'T HAVE THESE SERVICES.
This is a major mental shift. No longer is it "We need this and thus we are going to hire the right POLITICIANS to get it for us". Now it is "We need this so we are going to target our resources for the development of such a discipline in our communities".
Effectively what I am saying is that we need to build VIRTUAL NATIONS inside of the United States. No need for national defense or an ambassador - this is taken care of. What better time than the present situation to develop SYSTEMS by which our people can live?
I will write a more structured series of posts on this very subject.
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