Every summer tragic killings get people angry and questioning exactly what the hell is happening in our community. I say “our community” and not “our city” because this is an internal problem that we have to get control of. Of course shootings happen all across Philadelphia, all across racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, it seems that we’ve grown to accept this. When we see it on the news, in the paper, or in passing we don’t even flinch anymore. We’ve become immune; straight desensitized. Just think of the horrific killings in recent months at the hands of gun violence perpetrated by our own men. Andre Strum. Rohan Bennett. Christopher Malcolm. Rodney Ramseur. Savon Traub. Maurice Kimble… All sons, some brothers, some fathers, someone’s lovers. Not to be forgotten, we’ve also lost our daughters, sisters, and mothers to this same gun violence at the hands of our men. Latia Jones, Sandrea Smith, Tanesha Carr, Vanessa Watson. Gone because of a myriad of reasons– money, drugs, vendettas, mistaken identity, scorned love. All reasons that are bullshit in comparison to the significance of each of their lives.

 

When these atrocities happen, who’s outraged? Surely it’s not our city as a collective. Just read any of the comments on Philly.com when they report these crimes. You will soon learn what exactly is thought of our community—“animals,” “crack babies,” “let them kill each other, less niggers around” and the list goes on and on. Even our mayor thinks his perverse, Chris Christie-esque approach will work. (Word of advice Mayor Nutter, “tough love” and hard talk does nothing for people who can see straight through you, and are struggling to survive off the scraps you have left them.)

Are we screaming so loud for help, safety, and unity that we’re drowning each other out? Have we been screaming so loud and for so long that people don’t even hear us anymore? Those who hear, do they even listen anymore?

The fact that gun violence is incapacitating the hood is very clear. It’s the solutions that are more vague.

Our attempts to quell these problems are lackadaisical to say the least. We can march to LOVE Park everyday, wear as many t-shirts as we want, but those attempts, as noble as they are, do nothing to dismantle the fundamental issues. While we are on JFK preaching to the choir, our sons, brothers, sisters, and daughters are 5 miles north, south, and west of us becoming another thumbtack on a map in some police district.

 

Bringing awareness of the gun violence, letting our city know that these victims were loved and had a purpose on this earth, as well as dispelling the falsehoods and half-truths often relayed about them (and us) in the media, is only the beginning. If we’re going to march, it needs to be in our communities. We need to show up and show out at these places where our kids are being taken from us before they have even lived.

 

First and foremost, we HAVE to get angry. I’m sorry, if a 2yr. old getting shot during a block party, in front of 100 people and no one “saw” the shooter doesn’t anger you, stop reading and go do whatever the fuck you were doing before you clicked here.

 

We have to pressure those in places of assumed power to do more. Philly PD needs to have better systems in place to protect witnesses who come forward. We need to start sitting in City Council meetings and hearing for ourselves what they are (or say they are) doing on our behalf. We need to start showing up every place Mayor Nutter shows up. These aren’t signs of support for them, but signs of our distrust of them and awareness of their actions. We need to show our elected officials that we’re watching and listening to every word they’re saying. No, this won’t bring about change over night, but it will let our city know that though they may have forgotten about the hood, we have not forgotten about them and their lack of action.

 

We have to pass our talents on to our youth; they are lost and bewildered. You have a blog, promote parties, make clothes, some type of entrepreneurial opportunity, etc. hire an intern. No, you may not be able to pay them much, if anything at all, but you can provide them with an experience that will keep them off the streets. Start mentoring, especially our Black boys. Get well versed in what’s happening with Philly schools, even if you’re not a parent. We have a 50% dropout rate and the school-to-prison pipeline is oh so real. Volunteer at a library branch or Rec center. These are places where most of us go when we have nowhere else to go (especially in the summer), but due to budget cuts the hours are shortened. Start a boxing club; we’ve lost the art of a good fistfight in exchange for a burner. Start an after-school program. Organize a gun trade-in event. Raise some funds and partner with Anti-Violence Partnership, Men United for a Better Philadelphia, or any of the other number of organizations in Philly dedicated to stopping violence.    

 

In the hood we have very little resources and more often than not we find ourselves without hope. But we have voices; voices that can be heard if we start to use them. Audre Lorde once said “those of us who are poor… who are Black, who are older — know that survival is not an academic skill. It is learning how to stand alone, unpopular and sometimes reviled… In order to define and seek a world in which we can all flourish. It is learning how to take our differences and make them strengths. For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.”

 

We have taken the tools they gave us and attempted destruction, but we have failed. When will we finally rely on our own tools—our own voices, willpower, and pride, to slow up our murder rate? Or will we simply continue to ignore and tolerate the pain and agony of war?

 

Peace and prayers to Philly. Peace and prayers to Chi-town.

 

Signed,

Angry Kid With A ‘Fro