The shame of Black on Black crime

D o Black lives really matter? People that are not Black often say, “Why are they campaigning for their race when they are killing each other?”

Which makes sense? Why are Blacks killing each other?

This is a very important question to ask the same activists and community citizens calling for police reform that do not show the same outrage when someone who is Black is killed or injured by another Black person?

Is Black on Black crime increasing because of weak laws or because Blacks do not respect each other? In order to address and reduce the cycle of Black on Black killings there has to be a _nding to the root of the problem. Black on Black crime is increasing at an alarming rate. How can Black lives matter if Blacks are intentionally killing each other? ‘Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter. Black lives matter, it seems like, only when a police of_cer shoots a black person.

What about all the Black-on-Black crime that’s happening in the community? If Black lives matter, they have to matter all the time and Blackon- Black killing, any killing that is unnecessary, they all matter. Some people say that “Black-on-Black crime” is an offensive phrase. However it is an important point in describing the disproportionate amount of crime perpetrated by Black people against other Black people. It can also be used as a political stick by elected of_cials to misinterpret the message to address and challenge police brutality and abuse of power supporting inhumane treatment of Blacks. Black-on-Black crime is put under the microscope and used as an excuse to create more aggressive policing policies and used as a reason to incarcerate Black people at a higher rate. Although the Black community is not responsible for the external conditions that systematically create breeding grounds for crime, the community has the responsibility of doing what it can to attack the problem from within.

Black crime is a serious issue. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2019 crime victimization statistics report shows those who commit violent acts tend to commit them against people of the same race as the offender. Do you believe certain communities are conditioned by the system to create killers? Who is responsible for the conditions? Some people believe that the community should be responsible for preventing and resolving Blacks criminal activities.

Crimes in communities create uncertainty, fear, and anxiety. Crimes have driven small businesses and jobs from many communities causing economic de_ciencies. The younger generations have been mostly affected by crimes because they are the main victims and perpetrators of their environment. Some of the contributing high-risk factors for causes of crimes are racism, lack of employment, lack of family values, under-educated, emotional setbacks from life treatment of other people and an unjust criminal justice system. The media may also contribute to the crime problem because of the negative information provided to the public about Blacks, violence in the movies, the lying news, and other social media outlets. Black on Black crimes decrease economic opportunities, interfere with police reform and instead of giving new chances to the younger generations called the American Dream they are exposed to the American nightmare.

Do you think creating more programs will alleviate Black on Black crimes? What about introducing counseling or therapy at a young age to individuals that are high risk for becoming potential killers? As these shameful violent acts are committed every day by young and old people and sometimes groups referred to as gangs the greatest danger for Blacks in America to face is not only a police of_cer, but also the real danger for a Black person in America today is another Black person. When Black people commit crimes against themselves they are causing harm in their community. This article is not to support or suggest that police brutality is acceptable because Blacks are killing Blacks. The law still applies to them. Police brutality is horrific, traumatizing, and unlawful.

No individual should have to fear for their life because of their race. It is to educate about respecting one another and following the law. To understand that all killers should be punished according to the court of law not man’s law. If Black lives matter, they have to matter all the time, and end Black-on-Black killings, any killing that is unnecessary. Elected of_cials and community leaders need to address the complex socio economics issues that are causing the continuous killing cycle for Blacks. This conversation should include how blacks are arrested, incarcerated and given unfair sentencing compared to other races committing the same crimes? Why are schools with large percentages of Blacks underfunded even though they have the same tax base and incomes? Most importantly challenging the wage gap and unemployment disparities?

All of these factors contribute to crime rates. The lack of conversation about Blackon- Black crime, among each other will cause it to transition into your state, city, and community, maybe one day in your home. Could solutions such as community refacing for each generation change the expectations of potential criminals in low-income neighborhoods? Also providing more resources for single parents to offer group communications concerning elephant in the room topics? At the end of the day the bigger person will walk off to be free to see another day.

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County who has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her community. She previously served on the Marion City Council.

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She previously served on the Marion City Council.

Sherry Holliman

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