Genocide...

There was a Hip-Hop song out when I was say, 14 years-old call "Self-Destruction." It was a collaboration of the biggest artists in Hip-Hop at the time, in an effort to stop the violence going on in urban areas. The violence they were trying to stop through their music, was that which has been entitled black-on-black crime. Young people killing each other, at will, and without remorse or even just cause. It was an issue then...but now, it is out of control. Every night a child is being shot for what is assumed to be a legitimate reason-if only to the shooter-but it makes no sense to the rest of us. It is both disheartening, and scary. With no regard for human life, you may as well be dead yourself. The irony is however, that this rampant violence is usually contained within the community that is predominantly poor and minority which in turns supports both the Prison Industrial Complex and the undertaker-but that is another entry altogether.

But prior to prison and/or death, the mere issue of self-destruction, academically described as genocide- the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group-is a real problem in the African American community. Truly, there is no one to directly blame, except those participating in the atrocity. I mean, there has been a recent debate surrounding the destructive lyrics of Hip-Hop, and I have even discussed it within the blog before, and how that has a negative and powerful influence on the youth. Perhaps Hip-Hop is the culprit, as it once was trying to be the cure as described before. But Hip-Hop alone is not the catalyst for the genocidal tendancies of our youth...Hip-Hop is an expression of the reality, not the determinant there of. In other words, Hip-Hop is reflective of that which is happening, but it does not necessarily create the environment in which this behavior happens. It is a product of it...merely the soundtrack of a generation faced with a myriad of issues and little means of expression.

Therefore, the issue is more one of indoctrinated self-hate and a loss of self-appreciation. But as Bill Cosby and others have stated, it is also one of acceptance. In that, I say that because this behavior is somewhat accepted, or even expected in some areas, many speak only to the problem and not to the resolution nor to how the problem has occurred. Where and how did it begin? Does history play a role in the present situation-or has the self-hatred demonstrated by such destructive behavior amongst our young people simply come out of nowhere? We argue over the problem, and to some extent where it comes from, but the voice of change is not as resounding. How do we end the problem...how do we regenerate self-love amongst our children; our entire community?

It is like, the ability to do more or be above destructive behavior has never been instilled in children, and as they grow into adolescence they have a blatant disregard for life. Most specifically their own. If I disrespect myself, then why would I respect your life? Questions never asked but answered in Emergency Rooms and cemetaries across the country. But as stated, it seems that many of us-to include myself-are so ready to discuss this issue but less inclined to take action to resolve it. The illustration of this sad commentary is in a story I read about this kid in Washington, DC, who was taking action against the violence in his community. He was promoting awareness, putting together documentaries on youth violence-just working towards improving the situation he found himself within. But now, now he is gone...taken away by the same senseless violence he spoke out against. Aaron Teeter, dead at 19. I cry for him, because as we lose Aaron Teeter we lose hope...for hope is born in the youth. We lose a grasp on our future as a community...because our children are dying. The story on Aaron Teeter is in the link below.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/13224512/detail.html?subid=10101441

But the entire story of his life, is in the streets outside. What is really happening to us-and why? How can we stop the cycle of pain? Who cares who is right or wrong about what has happened to the community-what can we do to fix it...to move forward? First identification with the beauty within-and a reconnection with the love of who we are as a people. Subsequent to that-marry education with opportunity and you move the mind of the youth and increase their possibility for success. Aaron Teeter was on that path...so many others are as well. Let us begin to reach out to them first...or tomorrow may never come.