It’s five O’clock in the morning, where are you gonna be? Outside on the corner? The plague of destruction and death has stifled many from the African American community.
Lives have been lost and destroyed, and families have been devastated by the cost of being black. The influx of cultural fusion with the internet has created a new dynamic. Eyes are always available to tell a story.
The sanity of the common man sits on the edge of society awaiting chaos. Black residents of the urban experience know firsthand the duality of their day-to-day lives. From shopping in expensive stores to passing the crowd of gang members on their way home, a B.P.S. (Black positioning system) is vital to navigating either.
The experience among black Americans varies. The general understanding is that working twice as hard to get the same recognition is quite prevalent. As a youth growing up in impoverished neighborhoods, triumph is seldom seen. However, it is possible.
The internal roadblocks are often amplified by external perceptions. Lacking any awareness of the conditions one must overcome to achieve success is dishonest. While the life you lead will be primarily the result of the decisions you’ve made, can we ignore the truth staring right at us?
Police are considered in many communities as a gang itself, while many communities are facing the everpresent gang culture.
The interactions you have with a particular group will determine the likelihood you’ll engage them a second time. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress” a famous quote by Fredrick Douglass is often used to describe the plight of young black Americans.
Faced with daily opportunities to rewrite their experience, young black Americans often perceive automatic threats from the supposed authority, based on others’ interactions with the police. So I ask how much longer is the struggle going to last.
From the simple inconvenience of being followed in a mall to the extreme of being unjustly murdered, when do we see progress?
The police department as a whole is no different than any family. You have your elders who understand the nature of policing people and not ideas. Then you have your young and eager children ready to get into mischief.
Can we blame the police for their perception when at large there is a current cultural norm of violence and self-loathing? I say yes. We must hold everyone sworn to uphold what is right and lawful to do so. Is it not a true statement that we must focus on what we control and not that which is out of one’s control?
Though crime-ridden communities have a double-edged sword that they face, it’s on them to stand against that which plagues their corners.
Unable to match aggression with aggression many community members stay silent and humble before the possibility or threat of violence. Most blacks in general are hardworking and would rather avoid any trouble.
The police often times are the last people trusted to serve and protect. People would rather retaliate and find justice on their own. Ingrained with the idea that the police are tyrants, most black communities lose the ability to develop authentic relationships. While many children fall victim to gang violence, many also place themselves in harm’s way when it comes to police interaction.
There is no clear-cut answer to the problem of police profiling. There are black police who are the victims of profiling. Consequently, many young people choose to rebel against authority.
The path to a civil solution may be years away. I can only suggest that the black community looks into the ways in which we focus on what we control.
Contrary to the circumstance of profiling, gang culture has become marketable and profitable.
Music, television, and now the internet with social media platforms have created a tidal wave of new cultural norms. From the lack of strong family structures to the increasingly more intrusive political landscape, the black youth have become confused about identity.
Gang culture is promoted as acceptable, when the thug character is highly sought after. The huge amount of money flashed across screens seems like a great motivating factor to indulge in such an unhealthy lifestyle.
Many members of the gang are related to the hard worker regular Joes of the community. This creates a dynamic that has much potential but often falls short.
I will not proclaim to know the best solution for all blacks, but I can speak on the damage it has done.
I do believe that the conditions facing the black community are multifaceted, and require many minds collectively building bridges to prosperity.
As most nations are tribal in their beliefs, so are the black communities in America.
Sticking to what is best for those who share a common interest provides the best defense against cultural deterioration.
In the current climate, the divide between the black community is a delicate one.
Some believe political retribution is the solution, while others believe it is internal fortitude.
I can only say that as a community the need for productive conversation is vital to advancing to the next level.
All police are not perpetrators of injustice, and all gang members are not the reason for the rise in the crime rate.
My point is that when dealing with life, the gray areas of humanity deserve a deeper look to find the best outcome. The rock of the law will change only according to the law, and the hard place of gang culture will adjust according to its environment.
Conditions will remain hostile as long as all parts of the puzzle remain separated.
It is undeniable that the black community has many obstacles to overcome. Establishing a healthy community begins with recognizing which factors are most detrimental.
Police profiling or gang culture, either way, the black community has work to do. There are many entities doing the work and establishing resources to assist with the development of the black community. Find an outlet that you can contribute to, and join the fight.
The greatest threat to any community is not the violence or ignorance, but the lack of action within the community.
The next time you feel profiled by an officer do not let your emotions run high, instead, stand proud and in control of your words and thoughts.
The next time you are confronted by the harsh reality of gang culture, speak truth, and fear not the outcome.
We are able to stand firm only if we stand together!
