So, I'm saddened to learn that there have been multiple incidents of gunfire in downtown Indianapolis during the second Saturday of Indiana Black Expo. The number of wounded is reportedly up to nine. Summer Celebration has become a tragic scene.
Most of the local media, while not necessarily explicitly, seems to assume that this is another instance of black-on-black crime. Even my African-American friends in the twittersphere, some of whom were working or celebrating downtown at the time, reflexively blame the youth of their own community. Why?
It may turn out that this is indeed the case. But, so far, I've seen no evidence of it one way or the other. In these days, how can we so dismissively rule out the possibility of hate crimes?
(image courtesy qwrrty)
Most of the local media, while not necessarily explicitly, seems to assume that this is another instance of black-on-black crime. Even my African-American friends in the twittersphere, some of whom were working or celebrating downtown at the time, reflexively blame the youth of their own community. Why?
It may turn out that this is indeed the case. But, so far, I've seen no evidence of it one way or the other. In these days, how can we so dismissively rule out the possibility of hate crimes?
(image courtesy qwrrty)
I'm not prepared to do so. If my country insists on practicing "civil" discourse in this manner, this is the path we're headed down. It may not have happened tonight in Indianapolis, the city in which Bobby Kennedy's inspiring and frank words helped avoid violence after the assassination of Dr. King. But, rest assured, somewhere in America that night will come. Unless and until we can all figure out how to just get along...
UPDATE: The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Police have detained a suspect in 9 of the 10 shootings. He is indeed an African-American, and a minor to boot. There is suspicion of gang-related activity.
UPDATE: The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Police have detained a suspect in 9 of the 10 shootings. He is indeed an African-American, and a minor to boot. There is suspicion of gang-related activity.
I'm not going to say every teen that hangs out downtown is a problem because there are plenty that can't stand the behavior of those who act out. But it's the ones that act out that make them all look bad. But something needs to be proactively done to stop those intent on causing trouble... Profiling isn't necessarily the answer because you can't always judge a book by it's cover.
ReplyDeleteThe solution isn't a simple one. Because no one really can pinpoint a root cause that can effectively be changed. How should those individual groups of trouble makers been detected and handled before causing a chaotic situation for the hundreds/thousands trying to have a good time?
The attitudes of today's youth need serious adjustments. The level of disrespect that some show when allowed to hang out can be deplorable. But I can't condemn all teens. So what is the answer? I do think that examples need to set and local leaders should work on PSA's/tv ads/flyers that tout self respect, social responsiblity, respect for other.
There are too many kids emulating the worst examples from our culture and few emulating the best of our culture. They truly need to see more positive role models.
hey--so now that the black kid has been arrested--and I think we all really knew it was going to be a black kid--can we rule out hate crimes?
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