Since the emergence of violent street gangs from the ruins of the black power movement and the murderous havoc created by the crack cocaine wars, the biggest threat to life and limb in so-called “communities of color” comes from anarchic young men itching for excuses to wound, maim and kill each other.

From Reason Magazine, concerning the soaring incarceration rates and the historic two-decade drop in crime: “Crime Keeps on Falling, But Prisons Keep on Filling.”

The Daley dynasty in Chicago may be giving way to the Obama-Emanuel political machine, but one thing remains constant in the Windy City: youth violence and a collective refusal to acknowledge its root cause. On the one-year anniversary of the beating death of a Chicago teen by his fellow students, Chicago remains in denial about the driving factor behind such mayhem: the disappearance of the black two-parent family.

The September 24, 2009, mob assault on 16-year-old Derrion Albert was captured on cell-phone video and broadcast around the world, provoking a crisis in the Obama administration. The White House was at that moment pushing the International Olympic Committee to award the 2016 Games to Chicago, a city intimately associated with the president and his inner circle. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan hurriedly flew to the Windy City promising more federal aid, while the Chicago school system launched a $40-million social-services and security program to connect “at-risk” male students with social workers.

Not surprisingly, the federal and local efforts have borne little fruit. Since Albert’s death, 78 more youth under the age of 19 have been killed in Chicago, overwhelmingly in black-on-black shootings. The studied silence in Chicago about the massive reality that underlies that city’s youth-violence epidemic—black family breakdown—is so complete as to border on perverse.

A Message for The City of Lynchburg Regarding the NAACP and the Recent Murder of George Baker.

In March, Newark, New Jersey—not so long ago dubbed “America’s Most Dangerous City”—celebrated its first homicide-free month in 44 years. Overall, since 2006, Newark has seen its number of shootings cut in half and its murder rate drop by a third.

A few weeks ago, I met an ex-convict on my way home from a meeting with a photographer. We’ll call him “Jason”. While I was parked at the stoplight, I heard Jason talking to someone on the corner. He said, “I just got out of jail today man! I’m so happy to be out after serving 10 years!” The journalist in me screamed, “Hey, um, I want to ask you some questions. Stay right where you are!”

After parking my car, we went into a pizza restaurant. Jason told me he was arrested 10 years ago after getting caught with his friend who was selling drugs. I asked him what his plans were now that he is out, and he said he is working on finding employment since he has temporary housing. While serving time, he worked in the kitchen and told me he is an aspiring cook. I warned him how difficult it would be for him to find employment because of the current economic climate. I also told him not to get discouraged because of the stigma associated with being an ex-convict.

Absolving inner city residents from sane behavior isn’t the same as promoting civil rights. Telling us somebody else is to blame for personal killing sprees, etc. in the Black community grants green lights for much more of the same. Add the current financial version of suspended animation afflicting the inner city and this behavioral brew approaches a historic boiling point. One private solution is drawing national lines in the concrete and culturally ousting those who think crime is their personal civil right. Giving them the boot in thought, word, on flim, in song and by our deeds is what is sorely needed. Otherwise, the Black community and America lose together on an unimaginable scale.

Two Black men who all but gift wrapped someone the police had been looking for couldn’t possibly be concerned about public safety, like, two White men in the same position. Needless to say that tells us there are many moons to go in inner city/police relations. Were it not so tragic it would be funny because receptions like these provoke a community gag order when officers come around asking if onlookers have any information about a crime under investigation. When I was a kid, the welcoming committee in blue may have tried to arrest us for simply entering a precinct under color of Blackness. Is our experience progress- well, it’s something.

The blog Republicans United has a great piece out on Gun legislation and the Republican Party. The article lays out some good ideas that the Party can utilize with regards reducing crime.

by Nadra Enzi Quick, name one community that has prospered by allowing its least intelligent, least moral segment to take control of its streets? Those who quickly came up with, “None!” have addressed where I feel inner city America is headed- at warp speed! The sub-culture that mass produces the twisted parodies of human functioning [...]

by Nadra Enzi Crime is a game. While playing it carries life or death consequences, it’s still a game nonetheless. The easiest way not to be behind bars as a private citizen-player is not to commit crime. Barring that, being very, very smart about the crime you commit seems the way to go. Police-players in [...]

By Nadra Enzi When White mobsters waged war on 1930s America with tommy guns blazing, they were met by a public and private alliance that matched them bullet for bullet in many cases until the major ones were either dead or imprisoned. The same held true for their post-Civil War predecessors who decided to conduct [...]