First it was theGrio.com’s post in Facebook that questioned if Philadelphia Mayor Nutter went too far in accusing these kids for “damaging their race”. This morning I read in both BET.com and NewsOne an article that simply cannot stomach the fact that Black families that either cannot or simply refuse to control their own kids are being called out. According to BET contributor Danielle Wright, Black families are being used as a scapegoat.
“In the document, Ald. Bob Donovan and Ald. Joe Dudzik publically blame the acts on “no positive male involvement in the lives of African-American children,” “single-parent homes where children aren’t properly supervised,” the near 50 percent unemployment rate for African-American males in the city, a failing public school system, outdated juvenile justice system, and highest teen pregnancy rates in the Black community.
The two conclude by saying, “Our hearts go out to the older generation of African-Americans in this city who remember when their community had one of the highest marriage rates in the city. Sadly, many of these same residents are now scared of their own children and grandchildren…. We believe that change must come from within the African-American community, where new seeds must be sown.”
Donovan and Dudzik seek to blame the African-American community as a whole for the violent attacks; however, as seen in Mississippi, it’s not just a small group of Black youth who are guilty of hate crimes. Other races are as well. In an interracial world, if we are trying to eliminate hate crimes, whether in the Midwest or South, it will take a village of all races to help change the attitudes of racial acceptance for years to come.”
Wright’s own article contradicts itself.
While she confirms in her piece that one Black teen in his own words acknowledged that Whites were targeted, she still believes that Blacks are being used as a scapegoat. According to most reports, most of the teens in this mob were also Black. Same goes for most of the flash mob riots that are taking place all across the country.
For years, there have been many Black folks who have come to the same conclusion as Donovan and Dudzik. But for some reason, Wright has a problem hearing the obvious from two White men.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love kids. From working with kids in my local church, to starting my own youth group years ago, to working with a national youth organization, to having two kids of my own–I love kids. Naturally as a Black man, Black kids will always and forever hold a special place in my heart.
That is why it has pained me to see how my fellow Black folks had taken to the Internet in an attempt to distance themselves from these “flash mob” kids. The last straw for me was reading the comments of other Blacks who questioned the IQ of these children. They had no real answers, so they looked to The Bell Curve for a easy explanation. I never would have thought I would live to see the day.
From the “flash mob” kids, to the Black men and women in prison, to the Black man who was recently murdered in Mississippi–all of these people are my people.
We have always admired hip hop’s raw ability to tell the truth about the world around us. So why is it that when it comes to addressing the cracks in our own culture, we look for the first White faces we can find to cover them?
What Donovan and Dudzik said was correct. There was a time in our culture where marriage rates were high, families were together. And the only “flash mobs” hid themselves behind white robes and hoods.
I am so sick and tired reading commentary by my people that spend all day parsing every word uttered by Whites, but say nothing about their own people who won’t even pick up a book to better themselves.
I guess I write the way I do on these issues because I realize that one day one of these knuckleheads may either date or marry my son or daughter. I don’t want to see my kids years from now caught up in this endless debate over where are all the eligible men or women for me to marry. This blog is just one tool I am using to hopefully reach some of these kids (and inspire some parents) and compel them to grow up. I can’t do that if I am excusing them of bad behavior.
These are very intelligent kids. Can we please treat them as such and stop excusing them from being the fulfillment of every Klansman’s dream? Because for the many Black families who live in these communities, it has become a living nightmare.
BET and NewsOne can’t handle the truth
by Duane on August 16th, 2011 at 6:55 amFirst it was theGrio.com’s post in Facebook that questioned if Philadelphia Mayor Nutter went too far in accusing these kids for “damaging their race”. This morning I read in both BET.com and NewsOne an article that simply cannot stomach the fact that Black families that either cannot or simply refuse to control their own kids are being called out. According to BET contributor Danielle Wright, Black families are being used as a scapegoat.
“In the document, Ald. Bob Donovan and Ald. Joe Dudzik publically blame the acts on “no positive male involvement in the lives of African-American children,” “single-parent homes where children aren’t properly supervised,” the near 50 percent unemployment rate for African-American males in the city, a failing public school system, outdated juvenile justice system, and highest teen pregnancy rates in the Black community.
The two conclude by saying, “Our hearts go out to the older generation of African-Americans in this city who remember when their community had one of the highest marriage rates in the city. Sadly, many of these same residents are now scared of their own children and grandchildren…. We believe that change must come from within the African-American community, where new seeds must be sown.”
Donovan and Dudzik seek to blame the African-American community as a whole for the violent attacks; however, as seen in Mississippi, it’s not just a small group of Black youth who are guilty of hate crimes. Other races are as well. In an interracial world, if we are trying to eliminate hate crimes, whether in the Midwest or South, it will take a village of all races to help change the attitudes of racial acceptance for years to come.”
Wright’s own article contradicts itself.
While she confirms in her piece that one Black teen in his own words acknowledged that Whites were targeted, she still believes that Blacks are being used as a scapegoat. According to most reports, most of the teens in this mob were also Black. Same goes for most of the flash mob riots that are taking place all across the country.
For years, there have been many Black folks who have come to the same conclusion as Donovan and Dudzik. But for some reason, Wright has a problem hearing the obvious from two White men.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love kids. From working with kids in my local church, to starting my own youth group years ago, to working with a national youth organization, to having two kids of my own–I love kids. Naturally as a Black man, Black kids will always and forever hold a special place in my heart.
That is why it has pained me to see how my fellow Black folks had taken to the Internet in an attempt to distance themselves from these “flash mob” kids. The last straw for me was reading the comments of other Blacks who questioned the IQ of these children. They had no real answers, so they looked to The Bell Curve for a easy explanation. I never would have thought I would live to see the day.
From the “flash mob” kids, to the Black men and women in prison, to the Black man who was recently murdered in Mississippi–all of these people are my people.
We have always admired hip hop’s raw ability to tell the truth about the world around us. So why is it that when it comes to addressing the cracks in our own culture, we look for the first White faces we can find to cover them?
What Donovan and Dudzik said was correct. There was a time in our culture where marriage rates were high, families were together. And the only “flash mobs” hid themselves behind white robes and hoods.
I am so sick and tired reading commentary by my people that spend all day parsing every word uttered by Whites, but say nothing about their own people who won’t even pick up a book to better themselves.
I guess I write the way I do on these issues because I realize that one day one of these knuckleheads may either date or marry my son or daughter. I don’t want to see my kids years from now caught up in this endless debate over where are all the eligible men or women for me to marry. This blog is just one tool I am using to hopefully reach some of these kids (and inspire some parents) and compel them to grow up. I can’t do that if I am excusing them of bad behavior.
These are very intelligent kids. Can we please treat them as such and stop excusing them from being the fulfillment of every Klansman’s dream? Because for the many Black families who live in these communities, it has become a living nightmare.