Violence is now a major concern in communities throughout America. So, the question is why? As a person of color, I’m appalled at senseless criminal acts primarily being perpetrated by young adults in our communities. Again, the question is why? There is a myriad of reasons why. In this post, I’d like to focus on some of the contributing reasons for violence in our neighborhoods.
Limited resources or the lack of resources is one of the contributing factors to violence in our neighborhoods. I contend that the aforementioned is the principal reason and the core cause of much of the violence perpetrated in our communities. I know that some will argue that if you work hard, you can achieve some measure of success. However, it’s not always that easy. Income affects one’s housing situation. A person making minimum wage cannot afford decent housing when one-fourth of his or her income is used to pay for substandard housing.
A home is a place you retreat to for peace at the end of the workday. How can you have peace when your affordable housing is in an unsafe, food desert of a community? Then there is a percentage of people in certain communities of color that may have a criminal record which prevents them from obtaining sustainable employment. Some offenses committed might be minor, but they still impede that person’s ability to make a living. We all know that our offenses are always considered while others (not from our communities) with more serious charges are oftentimes ignored. In certain circumstances, the age and educational level of the parent can indirectly contribute to behavioral issues in youth that can foster violence.
Let us be clear, young parents cross over most communities and affect all ethnic groups. However, I am specifically addressing issues that I feel affect communities of color. Finally, I believe that there are a plethora of things that have contributed to the increase in violent behavior in this country (music, video games, drugs, and more). I am exhausted from watching the nightly, local news and seeing someone in our community killed on almost a daily basis. We need to stop the madness.
It is my assertion that all most people want is the opportunity to live comfortably and the ability to enjoy some of the simple things in life i.e., food on the table, a roof over one’s head, and clothing just to name a few. Parents must engage their children by exposing them to positive experiences, teaching them the importance of giving back, and involving them in character-building activities. As parents let us be role models when it comes to handling our finances, taking care of our responsibilities and our communities. When we do this, we provide an example for our children to follow that will enrich their lives and teach them the value of work, finances, and good character. Finally, the powers that be must do their part by passing laws that afford people the opportunity to earn a living wage.
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