Whose at Fault Really?

Who is to Blame? Really?

Over the last few years that I have been in Minneapolis I hear these “Activist, Community Members, and other “1^st Amendmentiers” such as Johnny Northside or the like.  However, finally one has struck a nerve.  Yesterday on August 25, 2011 I was watching the news and the anchor was talking about the tragedy that happened few days prior about two teenage boys Rayjon Gomez (13) and Quantell Braxton (14) were killed and a third boy was shot however he survived; they also discussed how while having a prayer vigil more shots rang out and a 19 year old woman was shot and is currently in the hospital.  (From the last report I heard). 

                Well, first I want to comment on V.J Smith comment about “Black men standing up” “parents stepping up” and well basically all that mumbo jumbo that he was talking, and Police Chief Tim Dolan “wanting the kids in before dark”. Well, V.J. Smith, I want to first state this….these black men that you want to step up, already have!  They are the ones who are giving our teenagers the drugs to sell, the guns to shoot and play God with.  The problem is that we have lost the right to stay on it with our children like our parents did with us.  We can’t whoop them, without worry that someone is going to call child protection, and Hennepin County allows them to be out until 11 pm when I think all children should be in before the street lights come on. 

                So, the bluntness of this blog will start right here, Mr. Smith, Black men have been preaching to fellow black men for over 50 years about being there for the youth, and yet instill there are very small amount of black men willing to be positive role models to our youth.  When you tell a black youth that has been bad that you are going to tell their parents and they respond back to you “I don’t care, she won’t do anything” he really means she don’t care and she won’t do anything.  Mr. Smith, I want you to know that it isn’t only the black children that are at risk, although yes their risk is greater, but it is the Indian Children in the Little Earth Projects, and the Somalian children in little Somalia, it is our Mexican, Latino/a youth as well—their gangs are just as deadly as our black gangs these days. 

                Right now, Hawthorne neighborhood we are in the middle of a gang war, a few weeks ago a kid 17 years old shot up a house on 22^nd and 4^th this kid is in the “Y-n-T Gang”; his rivals are the “SuB” they are the “Stick em Up Boys” whose leader is known as “Scarface” who in turn shot the 17 year old who survived.  Neighbors new the kid (17 year old) was trouble, he was trying to sell drugs, and was carrying guns—and his leader was an adult male named Smurf. 

All these comments are my personal opinions, where I am protected by my 1^st Amendment right….Thanks Larry Flynt!