The Rise in Urban Violence

Hailing from the land of Cleve has never been a problem for me, and even today it's not but recent media reports have me wondering if I have been transplanted to the Wild, Wild, West. About ten days ago there was a tragic traffic fatality in downtown Cleveland. A suburban couple ventured into the city to see The Lion King in celebration of the wife's birthday, but tragically she was run down by a stolen vehicle driven by a 13-year-old before the curtain even had a chance to rise.
Adding to the tragedy is the emotional outcry from the community and the underlying theme of race. You see Mrs. DiGiorgio, the victim, was white and the four suspects are all black males. Yet when writing about this story everyone has tap danced around the implications of race only stressing the need for an increased police presence, a louder voice from the Mayor and an end to lawlessness.
When I first heard about the crash I, too, was outraged because another human being had died senselessly. I, too, called for tough punishment for the 13-year-old driver. During a conversation shortly after the crash I implored "he was grown enough to steal a car, and run from police so he's grown enough to do adult time in jail."
This young man's actions and those of countless others like him leave a bad taste in my mouth because when all the dirt is done somebody, usually a mother, sister, aunt or grandmother with a tear streaked face laments "He's not a bad child. I never had any problems out of him, he just got mixed up with the wrong crowd," or something along those lines.
My question becomes "how did he get with that crowd? Where were you?" Over the years I have learned to give some slack to some parents who really have attempted to steer their children on the right path but for whatever reason "ManMan" was just destined for criminal activity. But many others have left their children to raise themselves while they either struggle to survive or live their lives as though they are childless.
Much attention has been given to the violent crimes that are taking over our streets, but all in all I still don't feel unsafe in my home. I still freely travel the streets of Cleveland - some worse than others without tensing up and fearing I am going to be the next victim, but I am real concerned about the lack of values being taught behind the closed doors of the homes I pass.
When we as a society return to what I call "Basic Home Training" we should begin to see a decrease in some of the lawlessness that is permeating our communities. Beginning as toddlers we set boundaries and rules that we carry on through elementary, middle and high school and just maybe we would have a different culture of young teens walking the street.

Update Kiri Davis Won Cosmogirl Contest!!!

Yippee! Yea! Yea! I was particularly happy to stop by Tayari's site and find out that Kiri Davis, the young lady from New York featured here actually won the contest! I was a little concerned after the claims that there was tampering on the contest site, but it's official Kiri won the $10,000 prize and then some. For details check out the Cosmo site!

Finding Peace in the Sunset

A good deal of my time has been spent finding solace in some of my other pleasures - this photo of the Cleveland sunset is one of them.

Enjoy!

Hiatus

I have not posted in the last several months, but I have been busy reading and re-evaluating the blog and what the focus should be. I'm still toying with this, but I hope to publish more frequently in the weeks to come.
A few things I will do more of is linking to sites that I find helpful, intriguing and/or just fun! Here are the first of my link submissions:
If you're looking for some good southern humor then look no further than LadyLee, I've been lurking on her site for quite some time now and she is sure to give you a laugh when you're in need. She doesn't claim to be a writer yet, but if you read some of her stories you will probably wonder why she's not published!
If you're a writer looking for great tips advice and just a little down to earth knowledge from an accomplished author - check out Tayari Jones' blog!
Writers looking for sites seeking submissions should check out Ericka Dreifus's Practicing Writer
Soon to be published author Lori Johnson offers more southern humor and thoughts at Lori's Old School Mix.
Hip Hop fans will learn much at Indy Hip Hop World.
That's it for this posting - see you soon in the blogsphere!

Can You Legislate Morality?

There is a strong debate going on in Cleveland after Ward 11 Councilman Mike Polensek penned this scathing letter to a young man recently arrested for at least the second time for suspicion of peddling drugs in Ward 11. As a resident of this community I was not at all offended or appalled by the Councilman's actions.
When I first heard of the controversy I said Councilman Polensek could have chosen his words a little more carefully, but knowing him - I know this is how he replies when he is passionate about something and he is very passionate about Ward 11.
I had a conversation about the letter with someone very close to me when they first saw a newscast recounting the story and he was upset with the Councilman because he felt Polensek was just irked that the young man would not shake his hand during there first encounter. However when my friend saw the Councilman on another newscast and learned the history between the Councilman and the suspect he had another viewpoint - one which left him reeling at the mother.
The problem I have with this whole controversy is that a mother has taken the harsh criticism of her son by the Councilman and tried to shape it into a threat against her son. In a televised interview she stated that her young daughter - 12 - I believe questioned whether the Councilman was going to kill her brother. If you read the letter there is no implied threat against the young man.
In the first "reference" to death Polensek writes "There are only two places you will end up at the rate you are going - that is, prison or the nearest funeral home." Now, what mother, father, preacher, teacher hasn't spoken those same words to some child headed down the path of destruction?
His second reference comes in the closing "Go to jail or the cemetery soon,". Again, he in no ways says I will send you, help you etc. So the only way the daughter could have implied such is by overhearing adults in her home come to their own conclusions about the statements.
My second problem with the mother is that she has implied that Polensek's "dumber than mud" statement has a racial connotation. As a black woman I do not compare my appearance with that of mud so therefore I don't take offense with the statement.
There has been a lot said about whether the same message could have been sent without the use of profanity - possibly, but having been in a similar situation before I believe that oft times you have to use the terminology the recipient is familiar with and can relate to in order to get the point across.
About ten years ago I was in the process of rehabbing a house that had been left vacant for a number of months when I encountered children ranging in age from 8-about 13 who had come to see this property as their playground. I stopped what I was doing and went outside and politely explained that the home was no longer vacant and that they could no longer play in the yard. About fifteen minutes later they were back. Again I went outside and attempted to reason with them - to no avail. The last time I went outside I used profanity to get my point across and my problem was solved. My mother who was working with me, took offense to my choice of words saying "They are just children," but a large number of the children of today are not being raised in the manner in which my parents raised me. That is where the problem lies.
Cleveland City Councilwoman Fannie Lewis recently stated, "you can't legislate morality" in response to questions concerning Polensek's letter. Lewis said she understands the frustration of Polensek and that there is a problem that has to be addressed.
Again, Mike was harsh in his terms but I as a resident of Ward 11 applaud his actions because he is committed to the same things that I want - a community free of drug dealing teens and adults who think they can destroy my community.
For more on this controversy, check out this link. My friend Radiogirl also blogs on this subject - check her out here.

Support Kiri Davis

How about some happy and positive news today! I'm all for it, how about you? Well another young lady in our community is making a name for herself and I would like for you to join the efforts to assist Kiri Davis win the Cosmogirl Take Action Hollywood Film Contest.
For those of you unfamilar with Kiri Davis please check out the video linked here. It is powerful, but also sad that in this day and age so many of our youth are still not comfortable in their own skin.
After checking out the video, please go vote for Kiri to win this $10,000 prize. Thanks to Tayari for bringing this to my attention and to those of you who have voted for Kiri. She is now in first place!



Now go on over to the Cosmosgirl site and vote for Kiri Davis!

The Effects of Violence

The poem below was read on the Michael Baisden sydincated talk show on Monday. At the tender age of 16, Yvonne Espinoza offers keen insight into the violence that continues to rage through our communities. As you read try to imagine the heartfelt plea she offered on the radio. With strong conviction, passion and anger Yvonne recited this poem through tear filled eyes. I hope this moves you and prompts some dialouge in your community.

Violent
By Yvonne Espinoza

We’re violent because this is all we know
You taught us this along time ago
We’re violent because you made us this way
You beat us naked, you hung our people,
Raped our kids and stripped us of our pride
And you now wanna ask why?
Give us a reason not to be
You can’t, it’s impossible

Because to give us a reason, you’d have to right all the wrong you’ve done
But you can’t and if you could then
You’ve only just begun
You’d have to beg for mercy, plead and cry
You’d have to feel the pain we felt
The pain that took lives

You go through the hardships,
The trials and tribulations,
The suffering, the heartache, the dying babies
You sit on a boat full of hundreds of sick,
Old people living to die
How about you dance to make money
Look ignorant on t.v.
Go to jail for nothing
Harassed because others don’t like what they see

Have your people get beat to death
By those who get paid to protect
You eat trash to survive
How about you watch your people and babies die
Get sold for a dime
Kill themselves because they don’t want to live this life

We went through it then and we go through it now
And you know it’s true, and you still ask why?
How dare you have the audacity
Who made you king?

Despite common belief and despite what you think
There is only one king, one God
And he walks with me, with us
The ones who were forced to live in grief
Who were cut, killed, raped and beat
Like animals, brainwashed to think like you

You hacked away, pulled and dragged us down
Until we didn’t want to be Black or Brown
We didn’t want to be Colored or Negroes
We wanted to be High, Suddity, White Folk
We though if we looked, smelled, and act like you
We could live a regular life, and though we tried
You still continued to beat and lay us out
To hang us from our necks, to laugh at our bodies

You could never blame us for being this way
Because you taught us violence
So how dare you think of forming any kind of alliance
Now we know that two wrongs don’t make a right
But since we have none,
Why should we spare your life?

It’s your fault for all of this
And if you didn’t teach us violence
Then who did?
It couldn’t have been us
Because, remember, we’re ignorant!

You should be careful what you say
Because your words have power
Say it enough and it’ll come true…
I know you’ve heard of karma
God have mercy on you.