Our community must examine our “fault’ in the causes of youth violence so as  to create solutions to this heartbreaking cycle. With a  “Willie Lynch” mentality we too often look at youth with disdain, and contempt, Often times we are so disconnected from them we condemn these children without properly assessing and addressing their social needs. This is the essence of neglect, which Webster’s defines as “disregard, over-look, leave unattended esp. through carelessness”.

I believe that the  black community’s  abuse and neglect against our children is a leading cause of youth violence.  In an article written by Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy, Mr. Milloy stated. “Here’s part of the problem; Juveniles, many of whom have been robbed themselves—ripped off by parents and schools and communities that couldn’t care less about them — have become hardened and increasingly violent”  While our indifference to our young is a clear fact of life,  and this indifference certainly is a root cause in many of   the “brutal killings”  being committed in our communities across this nation. Studies as early as the 1950’s  have reported both a trend toward an increase in child abuse, and an increase in violent crime, suggesting that victims of maltreatment would be more prone to violence writes Juvenile Judge, Michael A. Corriero in the book “Judging Children as Children”  (2006) “.

We in the community feel helpless  to stop this problem of  youth violence but we know all to well the problems facing these children such as, no father in the household, no regular school attendance, mother unemployed, on welfare; father in jail, living with grandmother,  children living in foster homes, too many classified as special education, abuse of marijuana or alcohol. These are some of the very same factors Judge Corriero notes that are commonly found in the contents of many probation reports. We can add to this list, lack of supervision, low self esteem, too much TV, poverty  and exposure to violence. With knowledge of the problems we can implement solutions.

In “The Complexity of the Rise of Juvenile Violence” written by David Muhammad, Mr. Muhammad states  how “  * (see below) Mean stares, accidental bumps, misinterpreted comments and looking at someone else’s girlfriend have lead to violent confrontations.”Unfortunately children are forced by the denial of  basic needs to use misguided means to gain respect.  It is often during those efforts to gain  this “Respect”  that we see incidents of violence by our youth playout in the type of scenarios depicted by the words of the Notorious Big in the song “Sky’s the Limit” ….

While N*** flirt, I’m sewing tigers on my shirt

and alligators.

Ya wanna see the inside, huh, I see you later

Here come the drama, oh that’s that N*** with the fake, blaow!

Why you punch me in my face, stay in ya place

Play ya position, here come my intutition.

Go in this N*** pocket

Rob him while his friends watchin

                         That hoes clockin, here comes respect

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan ask the question in “The Cause and Effect of a Violent Society”  Who are our youth now? Who will they be tomorrow if we cultivate them properly? Our youth are like putty, but putty is only valuable in the hands of the one that is going to shape it properly. As we are being shaped by our home, our churches, and our society, then all the shapers have to shape up.

It’s time for us to go to work and show respect  for these children by placing the problem of  youth violence on the top of our agenda in the black community.  We must now correct our behavior and “Accept the Responsibility” to provide all children with safe places for them to grow in our community; and with the support they need to become tomorrows leaders!

Pamela B. Muhammad

Editor’s Note (The article by David Muhammad “The Complexity of the Rise of Juvenile Violence” was originally previewed 3/28/2007 on blackelectorate.com )