Yesterday, US Attorney General Eric Holder gave a powerful speech about the importance of tackling youth violence. I am glad people are finally acknowledging the problem. They say they are going to get beyond the surface issues. I hope so, inner city violence isn’t going to go away just because somebody gives a fancy speech.
Check the video after the jump.
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(More from Ebony at This Happens Every Day)
It’s happened again! Within a week of the beating death of the 16-year-old Derrion Alberts, another boy, this time a 14-year-old, was beaten on Tuesday. He skull was fractured, and he was left bleeding in the streets.
The boy (his name is not being released by police at this time) is now in critical condition at Children’s Memorial Hospital undergoing surgery. This time the event happened on the Northside.
Last Night, A witness told police the victim was being chased by three males about 7:45 p.m. After the three caught up with the victim, all three beat him, and one reportedly struck him over the head using some type of shiny” object.
A neighbor found the boy lying in the street while she was looking for a parking space. Blood was all over the street. It was all over his face, arms, and coming from the back of his head. Two little girls and another kid were with him, holding him down. The police arrived shortly. Police have not yet made any arrests.
IS THIS AN AFFRONT TO THE OUTRAGE THAT HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE NATION?
The powerful truth is that this is only a mirror! All I know is that these events only reflect US…(all the ADULTS who have arrived here before they did). Who we are and our choices in resolving conflict. There is an energy, a wicked one NO DOUBT, that has chosen our children as ripe receptacles for violence and brutality. Why are our children so vulnerable to these demonic acts of senseless terror against THEIR OWN!? Both Derrion and the latest victim (here in Chicago) were defenseless to attack! NO WEAPONS! AND THE ATTACKERS. JUST HAVE AN ENERGY WITH A MISSION! WHO IS THEIR MASTER? THESE STORIES ARE DEEPER & THE ELEMENTS AT PLAY ARE FIGHTING FOR SOULS.
Written by Ebony, originally found at http://thishappenseveryday.blogspot.com/
Check out this episode of DC ME from Milwaukee. DJ interviews people whose lives have been affected by violence in the city.
You’ve cleaned out your locker, signed more yearbooks than you can count, and maybe even burned your notebooks. That’s right, school’s out. Could you be any happier? Now you can swim, bike, hang out with friends, and just RELAX.
For today’s urban youth, some worry that a lack of structure and guidance will increase the likelihood of engaging in criminal activities. Enter the good old American staple: the summer job. For Marc Morial, Mayor of New Orleans and President/CEO of the National Urban League, promoting summer employment is crucial in improving both the economy and the teen unemployment rate, while keeping kids off the streets and promoting a greater sense of well-being to their communities. While general teen unemployment is at 21.6%, African-American and low-income urban teen unemployment is almost double that, at 39.4%, which reiterates that promoting summer employment is even more crucial in urban areas.
But what if you don’t exactly have a stellar resume and applicable job experience? Don’t give up just yet.
According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, researchers have determined that 15 percent of teens – that is, roughly 1 in 7 – believe they are going to die young. Based on a survey of 20,000 youth, researchers believe this drives a high amount of distressed youth into drug use, gang violence and other risky behaviors. This goes against the grain of the old adage that kids believe that they’re “invulnerable” or bulletproof. Moreover, youth of color and low income youth were much more likely than their white peers to believe that they would die young.
The general sense of hopelessness that plagues teenagers can be seen as a red flag. We need to lift each other up, but how do we raise the spirits of our peers? Is there a remedy for hopelessness? Or is the answer in our communities? What do you think?
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