Study: Half of all murder victims are black

While this news is depressing, I do not think it is surprising at all. Well the easy blame is on hip hop, but the truth is that hip hop is more of an effect than a cause.

There is a culture that is prevalent among young black men that is fueling these numbers. It could easily be called a 'culture of violence' or a 'culture of poverty' but those descriptions do more to describe the perspective of the speaker than the issue itself.

I think (and keep in mind that I don't know nothing) that it has more to do with rebellion against systems that are so discouraging to them, but even that is only one factor of many.

Sad

Blame the high murder rates on the rap music and hip hop culture that "GLORIFIES" violence, raping, drug dealing, no school and hating on the police, the people they call for help when they get shot in the streets! It is so pervasive it ain't funny! As a Police Officer, I see this every night out in the streets and could write a book about it to get my PHD from a university!

Perhaps it would have been more informative to post statistics for the last 5 decades. I don't recall so many black on black murders years back. Living near a mid-size city, news media seem to report 2-4 of these murders a week. It is mindful of the wild west here in the midwest.

Does anyone find this surprising?

For more than 40 years, we have promoted a culture of entitlement. And as part of that welfare culture, Father's were driven from the home. Can't get the check if Dad is around! And so 2 generations of children have been raised in fatherless homes.

Is it any wonder that the young men have gone bad? No role models at home -- just the pimps and drug dealers and so forth on the street.

In the 40's and 50's, when families tended to remain intact, this was not a problem. This is NOT a criticism of single-parent households. But when mom-raising-the-kids-alone becomes a culture, instead of a rarity, this is what happens.

I agree with the comments posted by Pelon. I also believe that the Black Leaders have failed the Black Community. As of lately, all the Reverends and Community Activists, are focusing on the recent shooting of a black man by a Police Officer. As if the Police are to blame for all of the crime and misery in the area they live in.

The murder rates are what they are not because of the Police, the Politicians, or anyone else. It is the culture that they, those who choose to live like that, have created for themselves. Black Leaders in these select neighborhoods should take the advice of Bill Cosby and starting focusing on the loss of the family core and values and quit blaming others for the violence and drugs that plagues them.

All of you raise valid points and Curt, you will more than likely find yourself attacked for your comments, regardless of how truthful.

The hip hop culture has not helped and the media glorification of it just makes it worse. Just the other week, for instance, TV Guide gives a big "cheer" to Snoop Dogg for all of his guest spots on TV shows. How many times has Snoop Dogg been arrested for drug and gun violations?
While Michael Vick gets villified for his "alleged" dog-fighting crimes (and rightly so) but a Snoop Dogg gets a cheer?

Easy access to handguns is part of the problem too.

It's pretty hard to pull off a drive by knifeing or get killed inside your house by a knife pulled three blocks away.

Pelon,

I am especially interested in your take on this.

The lead of this story should be that: While Blacks make up 13% of the population in this country, they make up 52% of the murderers.

The overwhelming majority of murders in this country are INTRAracial. Put another way, 93% of the murders of Blacks are done by Blacks, and 85% of the murders of Whites are done by Whites. If the victim rate among Blacks is high, that's simply because the murder rate among Blacks is high.

Depending on how the statistics are interpreted, Blacks are anywhere from 4-7 times as likely to be murderers as Whites. And this unfortunate fact isn't a recent trend. From 1976-2005, 59.3% of all felony murders where the race of the perpetrator was known were committed by Black offenders. As one expert put it, White Americans are about as violent as the average White Belgian.

For the 2005 DOJ statistics on murder rates, see
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/offenses/expanded_information/data/shrtable_03.html

Aside from a very small percentage of people who make it out, decades of no work ethic, no family core and a focus on life dominated by material gains insures nothing but what we see now for some time to come. That march against the police HQ should have been held where it started. Why no community outcry of this scale when it is black on black crime? Why is it when the police go to investigate a non police shooting where there are dozens of people around, no one saw a thing? The hypocritical blindness needs to be addressed and only the Black Leaders can do it. I worked in the former CHA police and it never failed to amaze me how on a Sunday the churches were full of people asking God for justice and their children filled the lobbies selling drugs.

Blame the high murder rates on the rap music and hip hop culture that "GLORIFIES" violence, raping, drug dealing, no school and hating on the police, the people they call for help when they get shot in the streets! It is so pervasive it ain't funny! As a Police Officer, I see this every night out in the streets and could write a book about it to get my PHD from a university!

Posted by: Pelon | August 10, 2007 8:47 AM

BINGO!!!!. As long as Rap songs/videos are allowed todebase women, glorify murder/rape, drugs it will continue to proliferate. If 1/2 the protesters that rallied againt Don Imus showed up at every rap show, who knows. Imus can make one comment, and lose his job. Yet until this happened, not one black activist stepped forward about rap. I find it disturbing that up until Imus's stupidity, rap was "tolerated" by blacks because it was performed by blacks.
Also, there are too many people blaming others for their own negligence. If a 15 year old is allowed to leave his house with a weapon, with no intervention from the parents, then the outcome is inevitable. The parents of the children are as repsonsible as their children. It is time for people to look in the mirror, ask themselves are they protecting their children. If not, then a whole new generation of gang members emerges, starting the whole cycle over again.

Curt is 100% spot on. Without dads married to moms, kids tend not to learn the problem solving skills, self control and delayed gratification necessary to navigate this world. When you have not only the occassional home without dad but whole communities without the modeling and discipline dads can provide, people simply do not learn appropriate ways to deal with the issues they face. Add in the fact that if a young man is told over and over again that he is disposable in the family unit and more trouble than he's worth and you've taken away much motivation to learn those skills of delf discipline, sacrifice and real manliness that his own absent dad never taught him. So many wasted lives :(

Look at that the positive side of this. For the most part, whether black or white, it's just bad guys killing bad guys.

Curt- to an extent, I agree with what you're saying, but as a single mother of two children, I can tell you, this has very little to do with what is going on here.

I struggled for two years with the guilt of working fulltime, and raising two young children alone when I asked my estranged for a divorce. I knew it would be the hardest job, emotionally and financially, but after a year of debating I felt it for the best. He left and I became a single parent.

Now, 3 years later, my "latchkey" children are amazingly aware of everything that goes on in the world. They understand why I am so hard on them when it comes to "channel blocking" the cable, forbidding video games and cd's that are violent and degrading of any kind. I talk with them about everything and why I feel so strongly about my decisions, and I have done all of this on my own, without a man in my life for 3.5 years. For the record both of my kids are A-B students.

I believe it has everything to do with the respect you have for yourself, your future and your children it makes all the difference. And when you are being raised in a severely underpriviledged community, where even police presence is rare, and the once teenage mother is now starting to live her life, you end up with a severe case of "ignorant" children raising children.

I feel horrible for any child that is raised in this harsh world without ANY parental guidance at all, and that is what is happening here.

So depressing. But look at Al Sharpton. He is here protesting the man who was shot by police this past week. How many people were killed by police in Chicago verses by civilians? Sharpton is marching in the streets of that neighborhood every night. But...I see no such indignation for the 26 “CHILDREN” killed this past year. It appears that people don't mind losing youth to a culture of destruction, but have no problem getting angry at the Chicago police who legally or illegally shot this man.

Of course most of this problem is fostered by economic injustice, a culture of entitlements and community leaders such as politicians and Pastors who will NOT do anything real to stop the downward cycle of killing, because these leaders make money off of the victims and have no desire to stop and correct all these issues the promote death. Sharpton makes money off this one man's death and does NOTHING to help stop the violence against "OUR YOUTH" because he cannot make money off of the real problem.

Zook noted that "easy access to handguns is part of the problem too..."

Don't really see it that way. There are plenty of handguns in Illinois (though it's virtually impossible to legally own one in Chicago) yet we don't have drive by's in my community -- or the vast majority of communities. We didn't even in the community I lived in when I was a Chicago resident, but you knew where not to turn when driving down the street.

And, they get over reported. Every firearm crime gets the full media treatment. The sensless shooting in New Jersey for example, that killed three young adults. Terrible. But is it more terrible than the drunk driver that killed 3 young adults a couple of days about on the South Side? Where the call for more restrictions on alcohol?

There are about 3 million people in Chicago, and each year there are 400 -600 homicides. Again, terrible. But not the universal epidemic painted by politicians.

As I recall, well over 80 percent of both those doing the shooting and those getting shot happen to have extensive criminal records and typically gang affiliations. The shootings happen primarily only in a handful of communities. The violence is usually linked to the massive and profitable black market drug trade, and the last time I checked the drugs they are selling in vast quantities are banned in all 50 states and every country on our border. Yet, the criminals have no trouble getting their supply since criminals don't seem to obey bans or other restrictions if it goes against their interest. No more than they obey laws against murder or gun ownership.

I can guarantee that virtually all of these criminals did not obtain their weapons through the legal means that most political restrictions on the Second Amendment cover. Those restrictions only serve to offer "feel good" gestures that impact legal gun owners, do absolutely noting to change a culture where the cops are the bad guys and it's OK to kill for a pair of tennis shoes. These gestures give guys like Daley and Blago an out so they don't have to address the real issues and problems.

Now, the problems are hard to address, particularly with the failed but entrenched war on drugs. They also come down to people and personal responsibility, and they point out that the social policies we've had since the 1960s might not have been the best way to address issues like inner city poverty. Blaming the tool used in the crime and hoping no one thinks it through too hard about why the crime is happening in the first place is in a no brainer for urban politicians. The same goes for activists like Jackson and Father Phleger that make their name off of the cult of victimization, where it's always somebody else's or something else's fault.

From a developmental standpoint it makes sense that a community with few male role models in the crucial stage of child development when they learn social roles would produce children that have an overdeveloped sense of "masculinity" that leads to violence.

When children are left to fend for themselves in terms of having no structure or defined roles in the home, they can become overly aggressive and don't learn to deal with conflict in a socially acceptable manner. Sadly this becomes a cycle of decline that can be very hard to break.

"...I also believe that the Black Leaders have failed the Black Community. As of lately, all the Reverends and Community Activists, are focusing on the recent shooting of a black man by a Police Officer. As if the Police are to blame for all of the crime and misery in the area they live in..."

I couldn't have said it better. Wih so much gang violence, drug dealing and other violence, these leaders are leading people in the wrong direction. These are the people that are respected by these communities, and often the only people they listen to. Instead of trying to have a positive impact on their communities, they try to rally people against the police and the "system".

The media is partly to balme as well. Right now the story of "Distrust of Cops Turns to Fear" is on the front page. How many people were killed on the streets last night? I guess its so frequent it's just not news anymore...

"...I also believe that the Black Leaders have failed the Black Community. As of lately, all the Reverends and Community Activists, are focusing on the recent shooting of a black man by a Police Officer. As if the Police are to blame for all of the crime and misery in the area they live in..."

I couldn't have said it better. Wih so much gang violence, drug dealing and other violence, these leaders are leading people in the wrong direction. These are the people that are respected by these communities, and often the only people they listen to. Instead of trying to have a positive impact on their communities, they try to rally people against the police and the "system".

The media is partly to balme as well. Right now the story of "Distrust of Cops Turns to Fear" is on the front page. How many people were killed on the streets last night? I guess its so frequent it's just not news anymore...

Bella -- You sound as if you have done an amazing job with your kids.

I wasn't criticizing single-moms per see. What I am criticizing is an entire culture of single-moms. When there are one or two families like that in the neighborhood, there are still male role models to view. But when virtually every family is fatherless, that becomes a much different environment.

I know from experience that 'staying together for the kids' can be a horrible choice, and do far more damage to the children than a divorce.

Even in the case of a divorce, in most cases, both parents are still involved in the lives of the children. Both (hopefully) impose rules and discipline and provide the all-important role models. But when the culture is such that fathers are never around, or (now I am REALLY going to catch flack!) the father is often not even known, problems are inevitable. Here we are talking about 'black society', but the same is true in some areas among whites.

When being a parent is viewed as merely a biological function, when 'dad' is just a sperm donor, and when the family spends generations on welfare, there is no question that a spiralling cycle of envy, low self-worth, and complete disregard for others is a result.

Although I do not agree with the Hip Hop / Rap lyrics...I do not think this is the key driver. African Americans are not the sole audience, you have whites, hispanics and others listening to this music, so why aren't they killing each other. I believe it comes down to out of control children which starts at home. And yes, I belive being a single parent is not helping. The environment has to be another contributor, whether it's at home, work, or school. It is such a surprise to see so many children depressed today....and it all boils down to society.

It's a shame that high murder rates continue to happen. I believe the plight of todays black is partly due to a black males impregnating every female they come across, leaving that woman with no sense of responsibility or care, which ulimately affects the child, economic well being of the family, social mores, race relations between blacks, whites, Asians, and Hispanics, etc....

It's a mess and until the so called leaders of the community speak out like Cosby, there is no end in sight; I truly feel sorry for today's Black population.

So we've established in this blog the groundbreaking principles that fatherless children are more apt to be criminals and that many of them are Black. How many of you are supportive of more givernment funding for day care and early education? For more sex education that emphasizes safe and easy access to birth control? The Black community has a lot of issues to clean up on its own, but shutting off the rap music and white people pointing at Michale Vick and walking away doesn't solve the problem.

I have read all of the posted comments on this subject and some have commented have blamed "Hip Hop". If one would look at the history of "Hip Hop" one would realize that this was a vessel of the youth to express their ideas/concerns about what they viewed about their envirnoment in which they lived. There is a distinct difference between "Hip Hop" and "Gangsta Rap" and yes I to believe that "Gangsta Rap" has gone out of control and the main reason why is because of the capitalist society in which we all live in.

If you look at the history of the Black community starting in the 1960's I believe the plight was somewhat misdirected. Our forefathers to me should have been fighting to establish our own, instead of trying to fit in. By doing this we could have established a trust within our own communities which could have broken some of the psychological effects of Willie Lynch. If you look at any other race of people they are taught at a early age to establish for their own kind first before caring what others think.

To me,music is a universal language and if cleaned up can actually spearhead change within our communities. If everyone could look inside themselves
and realize that change starts there then collectively we can invoke change.

This isn't really surprising news i think to anyone, as sad as that sounds. We are not blind, we see how "SOME" neighborhoods are compared to others but until people STOP BLAMING OTHERS for their problems like the police, the school system and television instead of themselves nothing will change. You can only cry "WOLF" so many times before people stop listening.

As I'm reading some of these comments a lot of you seem to think that the "hip hop community" has something to do with this. Me being a single parent at 27 and African American do not believe it. Everything starts at home. If you have a good foundation (whether w/ both parents or just one) you can make something of yourself. My mom was a single parent and raised two strong black men and three strong black women whom all are educated and none of which are in jail. If the parents aren't controlling their kids, no matter what their listening to they become a product of this behavior. Not just b/c of the rap music and videos which by the way growing up I was allowed to watch and listen to.

Everyone is blaming Hip Hop and elected officials for the crime in the black neighborhood. I live in the black neighborhood, it's because of drugs that they are killing each other. When will someone do something about it? When will someone arrest the real Dope dealer i.e. the person or persons bringing the drugs to the fools standing on the corners killing each other while someone in a well to do and secure suburb is getting rich and LOL at them as they kill each other and two more take their place. Quoting the last words of the movie school daz "WAKE UP".

"I believe the plight of todays black is partly due to a black males impregnating every female they come across..."

Posted by: Dean Klovens | August 10, 2007 11:33 AM

Just had to reprint this in case anyone missed this gem.

Excuse me people, but Curt has forgotten a little fact as he harkens back to the 40's and 50's. And that is that during that time blacks were horribly discriminated against -- they couldn't even use the same washroom or water fountain as whites. Don't you think those actions may have put the black culture in a tailspin? It's not entitlement that is the problem it is UNENDING entitlement that hurts us black and white. Because it separates us. It's fine to need help for a few years but not a life time. Whites need to support and encourage the blacks that are moving forward.

kb -- You mention two specific items, but both come down to more entitlements.

"How many of you are supportive of more givernment funding for day care and early education? " -- seems to me we already spend big dollars on these items. But the answer, of course, is always to spend more (no matter what the results may be.) Education is wonderful -- but if the parent or parents aren't supportive and demanding of the student, then all the money in the world won't push knowledge into the child's head.

"For more sex education that emphasizes safe and easy access to birth control? " -- once again -- more money. But wait -- aren't there already Family Planning clinics, not to mention some schools, handing out free condoms and birth control pills? I am not going to tackle whether that is good or bad -- it's just a fact. If you don't want to get pregnant, in most cases you don't. Accidents happen, but when someone pops a child every year, that is no accident.

Add to that, the system says that once you have a child of your own, you are entitled to your own welfare check, your own ADC, plus a number of other benefits. While most folks are smart enough to realize that is a bad deal financially, the young girls getting pregnant don't think that far ahead. They just look at the "I'm going to get my own money" concept, and never consider the related costs.

So money isn't the answer. Changing attitudes is the answer.

When it is no longer 'cool' to have a child out of wedlock.... when it is no longer 'cool' to rob/cheat/steal, when it is no longer 'cool' to skip school or drop out, when it is not longer 'cool' to be a victim -- then maybe we will start seeing some changes.

In response to the problem being hip-hop, that is absolutely ridiculous! 70 percent of hip hop listeners are white. Do you see white kids mimicking what they hear in a song? Not very often. Art imitates life. Hip-hop does not influence the community, the community influences hip-hop. A lot of rappers come from poverty stricken neighborhood…they rap about what they know. It’s not as if a rapper was the first person ever to sell drugs and then he told everyone else about it, so they started doing it too. The vast majority of people have the sense to know the difference between real life and entertainment. It is true that a good amount of violent black kids listen to hip-hop, but that does not mean that they are violent because of hip-hop…in fact it’s the other way around.

The problem comes down to economic status. 80 percent of adults belong to the economic class that their parents belonged to, regardless of race. So if you were raised in a middle class family, more than likely you will be middle class. This violence occurs in poor neighborhoods. And education is directly proportional to income. Unfortunately we are still living the effects of slavery. Slaves were released poor, and then had poor children. Logical progression leads us to today. I am not saying that we need to give these people money, which will definitely not solve the problem. The problem needs to be solved with education. The schools in these areas are horrible, books are terribly outdated, teachers are inadequate and parents are not involved. But people rarely focus on that. It’s always to latest murder (which is increasing rampantly) or the latest case of police brutality (which is also increasing rampantly) that gets the most attention.

By the way, I am speaking from experience. I grew up very poor but my parent (single mom, dismissing the notion that the problem is family oriented) made sure that I went to good schools, and soon I will join the small percentage of people who actually move up in the economic ladder (Once I graduate from college next year!).

I find it interesting to note that no one has asked if a culture of materialism isn't most of the problem. If there was little importance given to money, bling, pimped out rides, tennis shoes, etc, would violent crime be reduced?

I'm a Black male, I'm in my middle 50's. I'm college educated, but, I grew up in the "ghetto" and as a professional employed person lived on the Southside of Chicago for a number of years in "Da Hood". Everything practically that could be done has been done or attempted to mitigate, the tragedy of what largely Black males are doing to themselves(self inflicted genocide) and, in the process of using "Prison Culture", as a Social Model/Social Contract, has and is detroying every Black Community in America. It is shameful. It is inexplicable; however: they deserve what they get. No the innocence don't; but, these gang-bangers, dope dealing, hustling, weakling's quasi-men, deserves to be takin off the face of the Earth. And, because they live in America and they have freedom extended by the American Constitution to walk around hustling and being cool, they can survive until arrested. If this was a country outside of this country, say like China, they would be "rounded up" taken to large Arena's and shot like the animals the uncivilized animals they are. And, I would get a passport/visa, to go and shoot the first round. I am "pissed" that these "sonofaguns" have worked so diligently to destroy Black Family, Black neighborhoods, and communities through their violence, fear and macho provocation and the belittling of our precious Black women. I'm a Revolutionary Brother I'm no "Thug for Life". The latter doesn't serve to preserve our Black Nation.

Our society is filled with people that take no repsonsiblity for themselves, much less their children. The gangs can recruit kids who are younger and younger, because parents do not care. At my kids high school, which serves over 2000 students gets 30% turnout at Parent/teacher conferences. All of the teachers have said that the ones that show up are not hte ones they need to talk to. This has been true for all 5 years I have a child at this school.
In addition, I have long felt that Rev. Sharpton, Mr. Jackson tend to show up where ever the most cameras/publicity is. Several people have commented in this blog that their are shootings everyday, all over the city. But the afore mentioned "Black Activists" only show up at the high profile ones.
Yes, Chuck's gun shop is a horrible example of how guns get on the street. But, there are many, many gunshops in the city/suburbs that are also responsible for hordes of the illegal guns. But Chuck's gets pointed out in a national sudy, that is broadcast all over the country. So, since it received national attention, Sharpton/Jackson et.al show up. I honestly feel that these gentlemens agenda is not purely to stand up for African Americans. I feel they are standing up for their own gain and publicity as much, if not more than their concerns for the people. Again, this is my personal opinion, but it is not hard to see the trend that only the high profile cases/people get their personal support.
Bottom line, as long a society accepts the actions of others in the name of race, this situation will continue to spiral. I overheard an African American women in a diner discussing Don Imus. She stated quote " it would not be a problem if a black man said it". I kid you not, that this was this women's statement. I can also assure you this was not the first time I heard this. I confronted her, asking if the comments were demeaning/insulting, is this not true no matter who said it. I have heard 2 people at my job say the rap lyrics are not racist/demeaning to blacks because they are performed by black rappers. I even heard this quote, "if a white person sang those lyrics, he would have a cap put in a**".
So, where do we go from here. As long as a double standard exits in attitudes and actions, there will be no improvement.
Wrong is wrong. If I say something that is an insult, than it is an insult if you say it!

75% of black children grow up in this country without a father. This was from a study done by the government I heard about a month or two ago. Lack of family values is the most important part of this equation. These values can be taught by a single parent, as Lisa H proves, but often they are not.

Hip hop comes from people expressing themselves about thier situation. Music is, after all, a form of expression. It does not cause the situation.

I don't believe economic status is to blame. Many people make it out of the ghettos. Most don't even try. Instead the cry about their situation, and demand that someone should do it for them. Again, this goes back to the sense of entitlement. This is made worse by black leaders like our aldermen who would rather talk about reparations for slavery then actually helping thier own communities.

The failed drug war also plays a huge role in this. Drug money is the fuel that gangs run on. It provides kids with an easy path to wealth that will get them killed.

Let's all remember where discipline and guidance starts. In the HOME. With or without a father in the home, the parent or role model MUST teach the children respect for self and others, dignity and educate them, with or without outside help, of the ramifications of teenage pregnancy, violence (domestic or otherwise) or other criminal activities, be it in the black, white, hispanic or asian communities.

It's particularly scary when we hear of the gang shootings that not only take the life of the members of rival gangs, but take the lives of promising young children who are innocently standing in the line of fire. This is UNACCEPTABLE to any community. But, I agree with several posters - where are the black leaders when all this is happening? Blair Holt and Schanna Gayden were two bright stars in the black community who didn't deserve to die at the hands of people who have no respect for human life. Where is the continuing outcry for change in these and other situations like them? I cannot believe this problem cannot be handled by the right people with a plan in place.

The other problem I see is that there are teenage girls who WANT to get pregnant so they'll have someone to love them. This problem is fostered in preceding generations of mothers who want the same thing or are on welfare and are using their children to get money for their own use.

I don't know the answers, but we can clearly see all the problems. If something's not done to change this soon, what will our urban communities come to?

Gee, like I said at the beginning, people who blame hip hop are off, hip hop is not hardly that powerful.

Entitlement, poverty, fatherlessness, joblessness, less nessman (haha could not resist). There are too many factors for even one to prove dominant, and even that will not apply in each and every case.

I really think the over-looked factor is something that happens to black boys in schools and it is something that makes them outsiders. And they rebell against this system that makes no attempt to accept them unless they turn into little white girls (behaviorally speaking).

The inlfuence of those rejected by the system (usually education, which is mostly black women teachers adhering to a system instituted by opressive white males) And church (pretty much the same thing). ANd they wind up going from one warehouse to another with no one but them listening to them. Until they are fully alienated, usually by the age of 12-15.

It is as though everyone knows what is wrong with us, except us and no one is willing to wade through our BS to get to what is really wrong with us (us is black males).

question to PR and everyone else... do you think rap music eiether A) has no effect on the problem B) Is helping the black race rise above the problem or C) Making the problem worse
I would say C... its not the cause but my God its teaching these kids that its cool to pop a cap in someone's ass.. and that murder/rape/drug dealing is just a normal part of daily life that should be expected in their lives.. not something that should be looked upon as wrong and things should be done to change it.

Kelly -- no, I haven't forgotten discrimnation. But if you think that was only in the 40's and 50's, you are way wrong. It goes all the way back to the first slaves brought to the US.

But think about this: despite discrimination, despite anything done to them, blacks advanced rapidly after the Civil War -- primarily through education and very hard work. And up until the mid-50's or so, there was a steady improvement in the standard of living. Then -- bam -- the great society! Welfare, entitlements..... and the downward spiral.

But I do agree with one correction you made... entitlements are not to blame, UNENDING entitlements are to blame. Welfare, food stamps, all of the programs were meant to give a hand-up, not a hand-out.

I think all of you bring up valid and critical points, but this whole thing starts with an entire system of discrimination. Discrimination in Jobs, Workplace, Education, Healthcare, you name it. Because of this massive Discrimination over the history of this country, and the systematic negative image of blacks that has been so masterfully created by the white controlled media, many blacks as a whole have a very low estimate of themselves. And therefore, because blacks have been beaten down (by this aggressive system) so long, there has been a declined in moral values by many. They are in survival mode. Those things that are so important like family, and a having a relationship with God, have become secondary. Because of this, our kids have gotten out of control. And we as a community have not taken responsibility! And this thing has become nothing but survival! Our young people either don't have what it takes or don't know how to persevere. They don't know how to work hard, how to be discipline. All of this exist because we have so strong discriminatory forces working against us, and spineless and fragmented leadership. We have 50,000 churches, and none are working together. All have their separate agenda. Well, now we are seeing the results! And the white controlled media is loving this because they get to report another negative stat against the black community, when it is something that the white dominated structure created, by discriminating against these young black males. It is true, responsible starts at home, but not one successful person can tell me that they didn't get where they are, by someone providing them a helping hand. This is where this society has failed black men, especially young black men. All in all, we must wake up out of our slumber! And take back our heritage and be fruitful, by trusting and relying on each other. All you black folks out there stay strong and encouraged, and don't let this negative reporting get you down, and continue to work with and educate our young black men and women.

For the people that say we should ban guns... All that would do is add to the already illegal black market supplying guns, which will cause even more murders. We banned drugs, but they can still be found everywhere. Drugs are injested in people's bodies everyday, which then have to be re-supplied again & again, which evidentally is no trouble at all. Guns are not injested, so that one gun will still be around for years & it doesn't have to be re-supplied constantly like drugs have to. I say we need to start killing these murderers, because it seems like these animals don't mind going to prison. They don't have to work, they don't have any bills to worry about. It's basically like their all back in High School hanging out together, but without the homework...

All comments made a point, but it's the mentality of some that's never elevated to do more than what they saw in their homes or on the blocks in which they lived in, remember these kids are products of the environment at hand - they grow up in homes of no employment, other than understanding how quick it is to make a buck and move on. Now my question is NOW - how bad do you want a change

West,

This former Chicago hiring authority could not lawfully hire the vast majority of black job applicants who came into my office.

This is because under ERISA I had a fiduciary responsibility to the union I worked for. If job applicants can't speak, read, and write coherent English I couldn't lawfully hire them.

It is very much in the best interest of the black community to lose the phrase "acting white" from their vocabulary. Unless and until that happens, a large segmnent of the black community will remain on the perpetual motion machine of destitution and hopelessness.

I think environment is the main and upbringing plays a big role in it. Hip hop and rap is an energy for negativity but it still takes a person to use that energy to do something bad. Discipline in upbringing plays a big role in the murder rate. Kids and kids that have become adults have not been disciplined enough.

Environment also plays a role in it. Not because of poverty or social status, but the people around you. I grew up in poor-middle class, some years we were poor and some years we were middle class, and I have not killed anyone or thought of commiting murder. The people that kids and adults hang out with these days plays a big part in it and the opportunities there for kids and adults are there but when you have 1,000 people going after 100 aide positions or 100 people going after 5 job positions. It is simple math work at McD's for $6 or less or work the streets for more money.

In a lot of states there is no aide or very little aide, but if you murder someone or kill someone due drugs or when you no other choice, possible part of gang where you kill him or we kill you, then those states give you the option of your execution. So they don't give you options to live but give you options to die.

"ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ON THE DECLINE"

THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT PLAYED INTO THIS OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS.

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE STILL FINDING THEIR IDENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES. AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE STRIVING FOR BETTER EDUCATION. AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE DEMANDING BETTER CONTROLS ON WHAT IS SAID AND HEARD. AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE IN THEIR OWN AMERICAN PLIGHT RIGHT NOW. INDIVIDUALITY IS HARD TO ESTABLISH UNLIKE MAYBE EVEN IN THE 60'S IN TODAYS SOCIETY.

NORMALLY MANY OF THE BLACK YOUTH WOULD BE ENTERTAINING THE MILITARY BUT DUE TO THE OCCUPATION AND THE TOTAL DISTRUST OF GEORGE BUSH, THEY DON'T JOIN OR WANT TO SERVE.

WHY JOIN GEORGE BUSH'S GANG WHEN YOU HAVE ONE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET THAT HAS MORE IMPACT ON YOUR DAILY LIFE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BASIC NECESSITIES YOU NEED, LIKE A BUCK, OR SOME HUMAN DIGNITY. ITS EASIER TO KILL OR BE KILLED HERE, WHY JOIN BUSH GANG AND DIE FOR NO REASON IN HINDSIGHT. ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT YOU MAY HAVE BELIEVED OR THOUGHT TO HAVE BELIEVED.

ITS SAD BUT ITS JUST SOMETHING THIS CULTURE OF AMERICA IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET THROUGH. IT WILL DECLINE AS EDUCATION AND DISCUSSIONS ARE TAKING PLACE AND BLACK AMERICA IS GETTING ENGAGED AGAIN IN AMERICA AND ITS POLITICS.

SAD SAD SAD - BUT HEY PRISONS FOR PROFITS ARE UP. GOT ONE IN YOUR TOWN?

I tell you I got a shock driving through Gary IN a few weeks ago. About 10 in the morning there wer about 8-10 black kids hanging out in front of a liquor store. @10AM!! I thought ... why are they just wasting their life away... I not nieve in thinking jobs are hard to come by in the area but where are these kids going to be in 10-20 years. They do need a mentor/community leader to lead them out of these situations. Seems like most of the leaders are more worried about getting themselves on the 10 o'clock news.

It is amazing the number of sociologists we have in this column. I don't suppose it occurred to the anti-hiphop crowd that there were muders of blacks before hiphop music. But let's not be factual, because that would upset their prejudices. There is no one, definite answer. Drug wars are a big part of it. Poverty is a large part of it. To the racists using the code word word "entitlement", what would you do if the schools in the neighborhood sucked, there were few job opportunities, and you felt the need to eat and pay rent. Oh, I know, they should take advantage of what the US offers and get out. Spend some times in their shoes before commenting.

When I meet a black person in my industry I always try going out of my way to help them, even though I generally can't stand them everywhere else. I have experienced so much crap from them in just the past month. A few weeks back I was trying to park in the only space left at a strip mall, but there was a couple black guys standing in the space & wouldn't move. Then a couple weeks ago I went to park under a tree to eat my lunch at this apartment complex & they pull up next to me acting like their cocking guns. Then last week I'm vacumming out my car & this black guy is honking his horn at me to hurry up. Stuff like that makes me hate them, but then when I meet a black person that speaks well & is generally a nice person - I do find some comfort that they are not all bad people...

Bottom line - they are growing up in a terrible urban enviroment, surrounded by crime, with a lousy school system. Most of the people living in neighboring communities have forgotten about them and avoid ever setting foot in your area. They want to make money, like anyone - and so a lot of them turn to selling drugs and/or joining gangs. Want to stop it? LEGALIZE DRUGS. Prohibition never worked before, it doesn't now. Before we had Italian mobs with booze, today we have African-American and Hispanic gangs with drugs. Legalize it, put an end to the endless crime and dirty money, these people will have to clean up their act. In a generation, things WILL get better.

As someone that works with low income families and is African American, I think its interesting that poeple want to force men and women to marry but not give them support. Why don't we raise taxes and support public schools fully? Make corporate ameircan (wal Mart, Target, Home Depot, etc) provide daycare and healthcare as well as a good lving wage for folks. We want to blame evverything including those that do not have the tools or resources to change thier lives but we don't want to be part of the solution. If we fund certain institutions fully (workforce training programs, preschool/early education, school, heathcare, etc) then we all benenfit -- pushing marraige, hating rap music and banning guns will not solve ths issue. And for the record, not everyone that is in a single home, comes from a cycle of welfare - Last time I checked Utah seems to lead the nation with its many single "white moms" on TANF. Once agian, let try to really get at the root of the problem here..

It all starts with conception. Until a child is considered a gift and not $ signs or an accidental afterthought, the cycle will continue unabaded. Even a pasty white boy like myself indulged in the obscene rap genre of the late 80's, and didn't feel it necessary to kill anyone, or have multiple offspring with several different women. You have to want more for yourself and go get it. And for anyone who replies that it's impossible for an African American to do so in this day and age is kidding themselves, and simply perpetuating the cycle.

Thank you Post for your comments. 1st of all rap music doesn't make someone kill no more than White kids listening to Marilyn Manson make them commit suicide or do a Columbine. I'm also tired of White people telling us to accept our responsibility while still reaping the benefits of 400 years of black slavery & oppression. Even after slavery ended we still suffered Jim Crow discrimination through the 1960's. Do any of you think any other race could go through 400 years of slavery, oppression and genocide without issues? We still suffer the effects of this to this day. Before you pseudo-psychologists provide all the answers to the black community, look at the history. We've come a long way since 1968 when we were drinking out of separate fountains & segregated. By the way 1974 was the highest murder rate Chicago had by far. I guess hip-hop was to blame then too?

B K Ray, and West's thinking is the problem. Whites voted to start and to keep welfare to aid the poor. Whites vote for our government to provide the grants to community organizations that try to keep kids out of gangs. Whites vote for more money for the schools. Without whites there would be no affirmative action. Yet still blacks preach that the white devil is trying to oppress them. THIS is the problem. THIS is what gets passes down to the kids of the black community, and its all a lie. The government tries to help, and white people are all for it. This problem is not a government problem, howerver, it is a community problem.

Everyone should read Bill Cosby's speech to the NAACP.

http://www.eightcitiesmap.com/transcript_bc.htm

Jeff- why would you assume that a black person in your industry would need help?? It's those perceptions from people who assumes...no wonder (black) people act the way they do. You should give someone, regardless of race, more credit than that. It is unfortunate that you had to experience those situations however I can tell you that I had a white person honk their horn at me to "get out of their way" and I can tell you that I also had a white person look at me like if I don't belong here.

This blog is not intented to complain about black people but to understand the root cause of this study and hopefully try to help one another.

I would hate to learn that the root cause is due to racism!!

I think God's twist on humanity was to create us in different colors and sit back and watch how we deal with each other. I wish we were all the same color. I am sure we would find something else to show the difference between us. I hope for my grandkids sake that race is not as big of an issue as it is today.

Jeff,it's unfortunate that you had a few minor incidents with black people. I don't think getting honked at while vacuuming your car, or pretend gun cocking is that serious. Don't mask your racism by bringing up these silly incidents. By the way, don't you think many blacks have had bad incidents with whites? Maybe you could just think of these guys as jerks instead of black jerks that "make you hate them". Stop injecting race & color into every incident. There are jerks & idiots in every race. By the way, it's interesting how when blacks mention reparations it gets swept under the rug or avoided. Native Americans received reparations. Jews received what was taken from them during the holocausts. Even the Japanese were given reparations for WWII interment. But not blacks. Now before you say welfare, etc. is reparations, many rural & urban whites get food stamps, farm subsidies etc.

LES -- entitlement is NOT a racist word. It is exactly what it says, whether the recipeient is black, white, hispanic.

Yes, do let us be factual. The murder rate in the segregated black communities of the 40's and 50's was essentially no different than in the white communities of the time.

Discrimination is a horrible, horrible thing. But how many years does that have to be the excuse? I have lived in several areas where I was the minority. Yeah, it feels like crap. But somehow you persevere and do your best to succeed.

You can make all the excuses you want, but it comes down to personal responsibility. There is an appalling lack of that commmodity in all communities these days.

I cant actually say that it is because of hip hop. All in all people decide what they want to do. Glorifying drug dealing and gang banging i dont think so, Some of these hip hop artist talk of only what they know of which is poverty, gang banging, and drug dealing. So not to say its right so they sell drugs. gangs where can they go if there family is not tight, moms sick, father left, they resort to friends, which may be a gang for a family and you do what it takes to keep that family together, why a lot join gans. If you want to blame someone blame society. Society does not help blacks as most believe. Our public school system is trash, the living enviourment are horendous, some are war zones. Than society gave away welfare bad idea, now people have a reason to be lazy and not want to do anything for themselves, and this passed on from generation to generation of laziness. It doesnt matter to society till it hits the caucasian race then its a major problem. Such as when crack first came out blacks did mojority of it but it was not much of a problem till the white kids started smoking it than it was a problem. Hip Hop artis some make what sells its a business, some say what they say and never expierenced it, its just to make a buck thats all. Poepl cant take it all at face value, do all whites take some devil worshipping heavy medal music at face value. no they dont. so if your going to blame someone first the individual must take responsibility for what they did, than society.

It's not the music or the drugs. I can't believe some of these posts. More whites do drugs and listen to rap than do their black counterparts. This is a fact. Who has the money (and most of the guns for that matter) people?!?! Somehow, whites don't feel the need to kill eachother. Perhaps it's the pervasive negativity (chip on shoulder the size of the superdome) that is ingrained in many families upbringing/values combined with a lack of education. I am not saying that there WAS not a reason to have this attitude or that the playing field is perfectly even. Nothing is perfect. However, that time is long past. We need to look forward (music/drugs/video games do NOT generally cause violence - maybe WAR and a lack of intelligence do though!)

We the majority need to be proactive and let these people know that this is not acceptable behavior. I'm talking drastic action here. Make college required. Perhaps we need a new law requiring - REQUIRING - all citizens to graduate high school and go to college (the funding is available - everyone can and should go to college). NO dropouts or GED - high school and then college or else military service. NO further government cheese for people who fail to comply. Get a degree and make some money! Ignorance is what is fueling this problem. If a person refuses to go to school, the alternative should be military service (and then college), jail (and college), or expulsion from the country (don't let the door hit you on the way out). It really is that simple and we have the money to do it. It's time to crack down on this so that, at least, Michael Moore has no further material for his movies!

When my grandfather came to America he was penniless, uneducated and lived in a slum. There were no jobs for "his kind". But he took what work he could find and his community (others of "his kind") helped out.

When he decided to start a small business he went to the members of his community and asked for help. They gave what they could (sometimes a dime and sometimes a dollar). The only thing he was asked for in return was to be generous when someone came to his door. My grandfather and a large portion of "his kind" worked there way out of the slums as a community.

Their focus was on their community and moving it forward. Not on where it had been and whose fault it was. They understood that if they were going to succeed it was up to them - no one was going to give it to them.

I hear leaders in the black community complain about “Korean grocers” and other people who take advantage of the black community. But I don’t see them banding together to start their own grocery stores or support their own community. Perhaps Al Sharpton could accomplish more by opening a grocery store instead then he can by opening an “office”.

Why don’t successful members of the black community support the black community?

Curt, thank you. I see your point, fatherlessness (isn't a word I know.) is rampant in the these communites and does seem acceptable. Reading all the responses today, I see that everyone has a general agreeance that there is a BIG problem here. And I would like nothing more than to see a big change.

West- I feel that using oppression as a constant excuse for not having the motivation to change is ludacris. While there is so much that Black leaders, church leaders and the government can do, at some point, the change has to come from within. Why would an uneducated 18 year old black male want to work for...say Verizon, at $9 an hour, when he can make $1000 a week if not more dealing drugs on the streets of an inner city neighborhood? This is what I see everyday. They see it as a good living, making great money fast. And all the time, they have the funds to leave the inner city, but still choose to stay. It is in fact a choice. You chose to make a great life for yourself selling drugs, or living the thug life selling drugs, you choose to start at the bottom, like even white college grads do, and work your way up, or you chose to live the thug life and sell drugs...its a choice!

Curt, thank you. I see your point, fatherless ness (isn't a word I know.) is rampant in these inner city communities and does seem acceptable. Reading all the responses today, I see that everyone is aware that there is a BIG problem here. And I would like nothing more than to see a big change, especially living in one of the deadliest cities in America…good ol’ Baltimore!! ( I love this City btw)

West-
I feel that using oppression as a constant excuse for not having the motivation to change is ludicrous. While there is so much more that black leaders, church leaders and the government can do, at some point, the change has to come from within. Why would an uneducated 18 year old black male want to work for...say Verizon, at $9 an hour, when he can make $1000 a week if not more dealing drugs on the streets of an inner city neighborhood? This is what I see everyday in our city neighborhoods (and some of the kids are as young as 11). They see it as a good living, making great money fast and brag about it. And all the time, they have the funds to leave the inner city, but still choose to stay. It is in fact a choice. You chose to make a fruitful life for yourself selling drugs, or living the thug life selling drugs, you choose to start at the bottom, like even white college grads do, and work your way up, or you chose to live the thug life selling drugs...it’s always a choice!

For the record, this is an underprivileged disease, not just a black disease. You see it in poor white neighborhoods too, where kids are either dealing drugs or working as prostitutes. It starts with a lack of education (is most cases the parents are ignorant too) and NOT giving kids the love they need with constant reassurance that THEY WILL become something great!! I just don’t believe these kids hear that enough. It’s just very sad.

Jason you really need to learn to read. I did not hardly blame white people for a damned thing.

I did say that black teachers are still using the same systems that were oringally used by opressive white men. When education was not mandatory, it was more encouraging and critical, when it became mandatory, critical education was dropped in favor of conformist indoctrination. Would you say that this is true or not true and it has nothing to do with the race of those being educated, but with those implementing these large social changes or lack of them.

Not to long ago, a white intructor in John Marshall Law school opined as to whether or not Jewish students fared better in his class (and probably higher education period) because their religion is one that takes critical looks at their writings, while black religions (okay that is kind of funny) are not critical of their writings and simply accept it (the bible) as it own authority.

Because as some old white dude once said "Religion is an opiate of people" SO it is not a great stretch to see it used to opress people.

White people, so damned sensitive.

Blame, blame, blame. That's the majority of what's being posted here. Whites in particular are good at blame -- until something happens to them. Then it's complain and give me justice. Go back and trace the history of black people in the United States, you bunch of louses. Go back and document how blacks have been treated, especially by whites -- WHITES -- since the origins of the United States. It's not surprising that a community that's been forever treated so badly is having some problems. What's surprising is that such a community still exists at all! The strength of black people is defined in how they've maintained in spite of years of genocidal efforts against them. "Oh but what happened in the past doesn't matter now. Blacks have equal treatment now." First off, no blacks don't have equal treatment now. Look at indicators of quality of life. Look at quality of life numbers as it relates to ethnicity. Look at loan practices. Look at arrest and legal trends. Just look -- if you can shut your foul mouths and stop your condemnation long enough. The "past" is not the past. Secondly, if time passing equates to fairness and justice, then how long after someone slams you in the mouth, breaks your front teeth and cracks your jaw, how long after that is everything okay? Two weeks? A year? Two years? Come on -- two years is a long time. Get over it. No acknowledgement of what you've experienced? No justice? Forget about it. Most of you aren't about acknowlegement and justice. You're about blame. So maybe it's your fault you took that shot to your grill. You were probably asking for it. Weren't you? What's that I hear? Accountability? Okay. Let's start with whites. When do whites in the United States stand up as a whole and acknowledge the terrible treatment their fellow citizens with dark skin have endured? When does that happen? When do you acknowledge pain and suffering besides your own? Follow your own advice, hypocrites.

Ok this boarders on the illegal img. issue... but when it comes to making a decent wage and supporting a future i have this story >> I know several Polish and Hispanic people that are here illigally BUT they came here with NOTHING and starting work in the early morning hours and working still late into the night they have managed to start with nothing and many of them have done VERY well for themselves. Buying nice cars and even a starter fixer up house. So my gut tells me yea you can't make a livin @ McD's but if you had an ounce of drive and are willing to bust your hump you can make it in this country. I can give you 100's of examples black/white/ etc.. so the excuse of no jobs available I don't buy it.

West- I feel that using oppression as a constant excuse for not having the motivation to change is ludacris. While there is so much that Black leaders, church leaders and the government can do, at some point, the change has to come from within. Why would an uneducated 18 year old black male want to work for...say Verizon, at $9 an hour, when he can make $1000 a week if not more dealing drugs on the streets of an inner city neighborhood?

Bella, one of the best points yet!! As I said before, there are far too many people looking to blame others. I fully agree that discrimintatoin is still rampant. However, over the last 15 years of work as a professional Social Worker, I have worked with as many, probably more blacks than whites. This has never bothered me. My neighborhood is 80% black. My wife and I take qalks, waving to neighbors the way people did when I was little.

A quote from West: And therefore, because blacks have been beaten down (by this aggressive system) so long, there has been a declined in moral values by many. They are in survival mode. Those things that are so important like family, and a having a relationship with God, have become secondary. Because of this, our kids have gotten out of control.

Things can only become secondary if they are allowed to. I truely understand the horrible history of blacks in America. But I must ask, how long to you use the past as a crutch? When your point starts with so many references to the past, in is not possible to see any future. All races, but especially African Americans need to decide when the past is the past, and it is time to move forward. Nobody can change slavery, segregation, lynchings etc. But as long as these are used as excuses for current behavior, nothing will change.

I commented once on seeing a man standing on 87th street with a sign saying "will work for food". He was standing in front of Burger King with a help wanted sign. I received many very nasty responses. "How's he supposed to get clothes, hw is he supposed to clean up" etc. Well, he could start by going to a local Salvation Army store, explaining what he was trying to do, and get some clothes. Then he could go to a residential YMCA that still exists near there, and get help preparing... Point being, it would not be easy, but it was impossible if the man continued to do nothing.

Excuses do not make changes. Actions make changes. Apathy begets apathy. If people want change, if people want improvement, it is not free. It requires work.

This was an excellent speech.

http://www.eightcitiesmap.com/transcript_bc.htm

B K Ray, West, and others... I know you won't listen to a white man, so take it from this strong black positive role model.

April,
When I say "help" someone - that means I give them better pricing for them to be able to get a sale. My white customers want "help" all the time, so I didn't mean to make it sound like blacks were any less capable. The reason I help blacks is because they are usually "cooler" to talk to. I go back to when I was 14, I started working as a stock boy in the local grocery/liquor store. White customers would rarely say a word to me while the black guys would always ask me how I was doing & treat me like I was their freind...
Chris,
All I can say about reparations is that any black can get free tuition, room & board at any Illinois public University. Whites are not given that. I had a few white friends that had to drop out of school their 1st year, because they couldn't get any financial aid & they were pretty poor. I could have used some "help" back then too. It's going to take me another 20 years to pay back my student loans...

Buzz, you post that whites do nothing but blame, then rant and rave blaming whites for all the problems blacks endure. The "quality of life" and "arrest records" are not the fault of racism. When are we supposed to acknowledge the history of race in this country? Try looking in a history book. I for one, took no part in that, and take no responsibility for it whatsoever. I will say it again. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAST ACTIONS I DID NOT TAKE PART IN. I see black kids that were born decades after the civil rights movement and their attitudes are atrocious. Back then people conducted themselves in a dignified way. Not anymore. They walk around angry blaming others for problems that are their own, and they have it 10 times better then people had in 1950.

This is the type of stuff Jesse and Al should address with passion. But instead they go after crazy shock jocks and police officers.

What is wrong with you people? I am a progressive, so I have to listen to white people since there are only 5 black people who are progressives. I will not listen to white folk that are not making any sense and I will not listen to Bill Cosby either. Sorry he is not 'my' role model.

You can not blame music, it is not that impressive. You can not blame sex because it is natural.

There is so many factors involved in this, the police, the whol second class citizen thing (most often inflicted on black people by black people). So many people foolishy telling young black men how they feel and why they feel that way, instead of asking them how they feel and why they feel that way.

Why aren't you asking yourselves how is it that society so successfully alienated black men to the degree that so many black men feel they are better off clinging to the stereotypical images of rebellion than using a disciplined approach to living?

The most effective anti-violence plan in Chicago has not turned out to be police cameras on every block, but a group of men who will go into these communities and talk to young black men with respect of their humanity, it is called CeaseFire, there have been a few reports on its operations in this city in this newspaper.

When 70% of black babies are born to single mothers, is it any wonder? A single mother with ONE kid MIGHT give that kid a chance. Single mothers with multiple kids? But the liberal media will NOT identify the problem, because it is NOT politically correct to say that certain behaviors are the root cause of a social problem. And, yes, the Sharptons, Jacksons, et.al. are 100 times more concerned about the TV cameras than solving the social problems of the blacks.

Let me start by stating that I am not white whatsoever, not one drop!
Rap does not create the problem, the problem creates rap. If we eliminate rap do we cure the problem? People are afraid to face the facts...numbers don't lie. People need to take responsibility for their actions, held accountable. To be honest with you, I can could not care less about the "black's problems". Don't expect me to come clean your house, because I don't expect you to clean mine. The only reason that the black’s problems are blamed on the whites is because they make it the white person’s problem. If you would clean up your act there would be no problem to throw around. Could it be that whites are not naturally racist, maybe it is the result of the black lifestyle? Could blacks be the cause of the mindset? If a person chooses not to live in a black community does that make them a racist...of course not. If they have the ability to choose where they live, I'm sure it will be where it is safe and clean or maybe with their own kind. People are not racist if they don't like your lifestyle, or mine for that matter. “One mans junk is another mans treasure.” I would like to address one more subject "reparations". If a person thinks that they are owed some type of compensation for the crimes committed to their ancestors. Then logic would dictate that they should be punished for the crimes of their ancestors. You can't have it all your way.

One poster mentioned that "There are about 3 million people in Chicago, and each year there are 400 -600 homicides. Again, terrible. But not the universal epidemic painted by politicians."

In Toronto, Ont. which is slightly larger in population than Chicago at over 3 millions souls, there are between 60 - 90 murders each year. Americans and their politicians are highly inured with the murder rate in the USA. They actually don't see it for what it is - an epidemic, especially in the deprived black areas of society.

Jim

We don't allow porn on the airwaves, but we do allow gangster rap. In fact, a lot of white people profit off of the crap we allow into our kids ('our' includes black kids) hands. That's the real problem. We see this as a black problem, not a human problem.