How to Stop the Senseless Killings in America's Black Communities Part 1

Police Must Serve and Protect. Nothing Else.

Every weekend or even more frequently, the evening news reports the wanton, senseless killings occurring in in the Black communities of Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans, and others. These killings are a blight upon this country and must end.

Often ill-informed, commentators attribute these killings to boys being raised without a father, lack of job opportunities, poverty, and an inferior education.  The truth is that none of these factors lead someone to kill someone else.

When someone kill someone else or just shoots or use any other weapon with the intention to kill, it directly demonstrates that this individual does not value another human life and since he is equally human – – did not value his own life. This refers to anyone regardless of what his or her occupation or profession is. The term value is the key.

Valuing Human Life
If we accept the definition that values are principles or standards considered worthwhile or desirable, the question arises as to when does a person begin to acquire values and in particular the value of human life and how is this and other values are acquired.

The answer is, people begin to acquire values as children when they begin to understand the spoken word and progresses as they observe the behavior of their parent and the consistency between the spoken word and the behavior of the parent.

I use parent in the singular because two parents are not necessary for instilling the  correct values in their children. What is required is that the parent is clear concerning the values that need to be taught and the importance of consistency between her words and actions. If there are two parents than both parents have to be on the same page and present a unified front to their children. Parents should never let their  children pit one parent against the other.

How Values are Taught
Values are taught by reading with your children inspirational materials that emphasize the value of human life. If you are religious, you can easily identify religious doctrines that emphasize the value of another human life. 

You can also choose other literature that underscores a life being saved and share stories about individuals who began life at a significant disadvantage but were able to overcome it and excel  at their chosen occupation or profession. And beyond all of this, to show, by example, your love for your children and for yourself through your words and actions. Remember, actions always speak louder than words.

The views that poverty, lack of job opportunities, or inferior education lead to killings are just useless, simplistic, and uninformed.

If an individual has learned to value human life, none of these factors would lead to the act of killing another person. If an individual is presented with the obstacles mentioned above, he will have the inner strength and motivation to find solutions whenever they exist. When you love yourself, appreciate your potential and recognize the same in others, you not only have a conscious and an appreciation of right and wrong, but even a feeling of brotherhood. 

In Part  2, I will specifically deal with the Role of the Politicians and the Police in Stopping the Senseless Killings. Don't Miss it.


Your Thoughts. Leave your comments below.

How to Stop the Senseless Killings in America's Black Communities Part 2

Police Use of Unnecessary Force

With such a sickening number of murders occurring in the Black communities across the U.S., it is clear that the criminal activity has to end. 

As alluded to in Part 1, criminals in the Black community emerge from Black families who live in those communities and is a reflection of the values learned in these families. 

The culture and values in these families and communities must be changed to "Stop the Killings. Uplift Black lives".

Mindset of Black Men Must Change
The mindset of Black men must be changed from killing to protecting – realizing that the police slogan of “we serve and protect” is at best a bold faced lie. Protecting their families and communities has been a long tradition held among Black men and must be re-established. Change must begin to occur in our families and communities. Parents and their children must begin to value their lives and other Black lives.

Certain segments of the Black communities must have their level of consciousness raised to the understanding that the control of the quality of life within the Black communities must begin with those who reside in those communities.

Police Must Be Held Accountable
The police must be held accountable for their role in serving and protecting. Moreover, those police who engage in misconduct and participate in the killing of Black people must not be allowed to be protected by unions and punished to the fullest extent of the law just like anyone else. We pay their salaries, provide for their health care, and give them an overly generous pension – all out of proportion to what the average citizen receives in Social Security.

Schools Must Be Held Accountable
The schools must be held accountable for educating our children with the knowledge and skills necessary for them to compete for the type of jobs emerging over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond. Black parents must advocate for school choice so as to have the opportunity to put their youngsters in school that will educate their children and not mis-educate them. Moreover, the politicians must understand that they will be voted out if they don't represent their constituents as expected.

Solutions Must Come From These Communities 
In that Black communities are directly impacted by these killings, the solutions have to come from these communities. As stated earlier, Black men have to take the leadership role in reversing this trend which will then result in their taking control of their families, communities, politicians, and police. 

This will happen as Black men begin again to connect with their ancient traditions and their true Afrikan identity and accept the values and principles that truly define their Afrikan manhood. They will begin to change internally and thereby rejecting any type of negative identities imposed on them from the outside. 

They will begin to view their communities as an incubator for raising their families in a safe and secure environment. They will again become protectors of their communities rather than predators. 

If you missed Part 1, here it is. Leave your thoughts and comments below.