Not surprising at all. In a culture where 50 cent and T.I. are considered to be the epitome and the gold standard of what black manhood is, what exactly do we expect?

The days of blaming this all on Dwight Mann are quickly coming to a close.

The reason Crime Rate has risen is beacuase Opprtunity has fallen. The government and econom has caused alot of needy people to struggle and have to turn to alternate ways of life. And for alot of people violence and crime is an option. Laws dont make it any better you get more time for seling drugs than murder!!! There is a message that is being sent to communities all over the States, and that message is telling these communities.. We [the GOVERNMENT] dont care that you kill or steal.. but we will not allow you to sell the drug that we [the GOVERNMENT] made to kill you in the first place…

We (as African-Americans) statistically outdo all other racial groups across the nation in one Department of Justice category-HOMICIDE. It is about the choices we make. We choose to carry a gun out of fear of retribution or as deterrence of crime being committed against us by our own children (generational speaking). If you want to deter this or break the chain of violence, then choose to influence other adults to participate in the lives of the children you fear. If there are no parents next door, and a child is home alone, volunteer your time to focus the child’s time into something more positive than the video programs or violent games. There are enough Department of Justice Grant’s out there to make a difference anywhere in this country. Encourage local pastors to get their congregations involved, or pull together and form a consortium that will battle this epidemic in our communities. With an African-American president in place we must do better by our children, and by him. It is our time to shine.

I am not surprised and like “1suaveguy” said in his comment, when people like Lil Wayne, Gucci Maine, 50 cent are what the young black males look up to because their songs are being played every five minutes then what can be expected. Good for Clinton, getting the crime rate on a decline. Obama is clearly going to have to contribute to this one time decline!!

Self-evaluation is neccessary, but not at the price of alienating our own identity. A bigger problem than any is this will to compartmentalize ourselves into different groups of black people and use this as basis from which to place blame. It is impossible to communicate effectively, that way because it provides a sense of disturst and betrays any sentiment of community. If we are to assume there is someone to blame for a problem, then the question of who to blame for this problem, is seperate of the question of how to solve that same problem.

I’m not naive enough to believe that the blame and the solution are to be persuaded without one another, but it is a question of what takes priority. It is far too easy to place blame instead of setting priorities, but it is not nearly as useful.

Ya’ll can keep blming it on 50 cent and lil wayne al you want to but thats not the underlying problem. I think thats just the black man’ (and womans) escape goat, you know what i mean, its like “Well we have to blame it on someone, ehy dont we blame it on the famous guy”. Hell no, if 50 cent and lil wayne were never heard of lil ray ray would still be getting shot up, because og tre is making to much money from drugs to let anybody cross him. And he’ll do whatever it takes for respect in order to keep his weight moving. Come on people dont you see that we murder because of the lifestyle that we and society has somehow stuck the black culture in. we cant all come from wealthy families..and sad but true but the fact is that everybody cant be rich…i know you say you can do everything if you put your mind to it…well you tell that to baby t who grew up with the crack head mom and the pimp dad…investing in stocks probably wont be at the top of his list. ok im a 23 year old single dad who came from the east cleveland projects, i managed to get my degree in economics and im doing good for myself. but i lived that life as well so i understand. which is why i hate to see people who has had it made their whole lives put those guys on blast and blame it on rap. Believe me buddy its deeper than that…i dont condone the murders, but i think that if we would open our eyes and look past the rap music we might actually be able to make a change…no go and put that in your tape deck!!!!

I DONT BELIEVE THAT THE HIP HOP WORLD HAS ANYHINGTO DO WITH MEN KILLING EACH OTHER ITS STUPID THINGS LIKE GANGS AND OTHER NONSENCE I HOWEVER UNDERSTAD A MAN WHO HAS TO HUSTLE BECAUSE HE IS NOT GIVING EQUAL RIGHTS AS AYOUNG WHITE MAN AND IN THAT CASE B BOUT YA MONEY AND LEAVE THAT BEEFING S**T ALONE

The murder rate for Black men and or Blacks as a whole will continue to rise as long as there is high unemployment, poor education, failure in being responsible parents, an absenence of GOD and pray in our daily lives and schools…

As I sit here and try to reply with tears blinding my vision, I think of a newphew and a cousin, I think of 5 children who grew with my youngest son who is now 18, I think of guys I came up with, vowing to make it better for our children and caputre a piece of the “American Dream”…
I think of all the false hope and promises of Operations PUSH and its leader, I think of MIA (Missing In Action) status of our churches, except for Sunday mornings and special programs to raise money so that the “Pastor” can get out of the hood…

Honestly, what are you and I pretending not to know why the murder rate has risen…!!!…

When we still live in a society where we are a jump above Jim Crow (depending on where your are)…When some are paid millions to sellout and rap and sing about the “hood” and blowing that MF away of my Boo or my Blow…!!!…

What are we pretending not to know when we live in a society where there are billions of males, but only a handful of Men…

Whatever happen to “each one Teach one, Each one Love one”…???…

Where is the Love…???…

And PLEASE do not put this on President Barack Obama’s shoulders, because he is one Black Man who happens to be President, and who has raised daughters…

Have you check on your son, do you know where your nephew or cousin is…???…

Yes, Iam guilty of it to…Because I try to do and be right and someone says or does something to piss me off or threaten my family is some way, and I have and do become violently disagreeable…

I truly believe if we agree to Love, Respect, Teach and Learn from one another with true Love and concern, then and only then can we save or sons, our brothers, our fathers, our cousins, our homies, our neighbors…

EpiphanyIam

understand something else…BLACK DEATH is a multi-billion dollar industry:

1) the thugs do the murdering and drug dealing (THE GOVERNMENT, PRISONS ETC)

2) the rappers make their $$ off of this image and culture (BMI, ASCAP, VIACOM, BET, MTV) – and now we have BLOGGERS who promote these internet BEEFS amongst rappers – they are getting $$$ off of advertisers on their sites…

3) our so called leaders and “activists” blame this cycle on the white man/white institutions and they get $$$ tossed at them from leftist grassroots groups (NAACP, RAINBOW PUSH)

none of this stuff is a secret, this isn’t some conspiracy nonsense..it’s right in our faces, and we just shrug our shoulders and let it happen day in and day out…sometimes I wonder if we really even give a damn.

This is a very important topic. Myself like many other ppl I know, i have lost more then two hand fulls of loved ones to murder. It never really affected me until my older brother was murdered then the next year my duaghters father. And just 3 months after his death my bestfriend then 2 months later another big brother.It really hit home for me and not only am I a victim of loosing a loved one to murder but also my daugther who never had the chance to meet her father because he was shot dead while I was 6 months pregnant with her. I pray that my black ppl unite so we as friends and familie wont have to fear to loose another one of ours. Lets try things out differently now, do it old fashion and lets live to die of old age. Love theses babies.

There are ton’s of reason the murder rate can be blamed on, music, drugs, lack of money…Can’t blame it on education, it doesn’t take an educated thought to know right from wrong. To get hit by a truck can be wrong, but it’s called an accident. But the real blame falls on the person who pulls the trigger and why? What made this person so angry to kill him/her? Cause he/she owed him money, he f–ked over his drugs, monies or girl. Someone he had words with, or someone who were mean mugging more than he was. The music industry never mentions anything about giving respect to other who are “not” in their clan, the outsiders.All most music say, “I don’t care who you are”. Ask yourself that question: I don’t care either, so we can’t say it’s the music. And it is also fuilded by his boyz or gang. But the ques. is why would you kill? Some do it cause they are already carrying a weapon, knowing they have the edge on the next person or they can put their hands on one in a sec. So why is it done, poor judgement. And never really given thought to the consequences of being caught. Without “ya boy” or alone. Cause after a shooting everybody runs like b***hest, even the shoot or shooters. And good judgement can’t be leared in school.
We are “ANGRY” for what ever reasons, we don’t like rules. And rules are like laws, but laws you searve time for, you can’t do it. The angrier the shooter is, the more shots are fired. I’ll say it was that angry person, what made him/her so damn angry….?

GUNS DONT KILL PEOPLE PEOPLE WITH GUNS KILL PEOPLE WE NEED BETTER GUN CONTROLL POLICIES ANS BETTER FUNDING IN THE HIGH-CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS FOR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES I THINK KIDS THESE DAYS ARE WAY TOO BORED AND BORDEM CAUSES TROUBLE..SPEND TIME WITH DE YOUTH

We need to start with our young black men and empower them to greatness and value life. I partly blame the NRA as well and I beleive they should be abolished. We have lost an entire generation of black children from gun violence and drugs and we must start today to change the outlook of our community. Please join me.

DANGERMAN

I wish black folks would stop blaming the white man when its you. You the parents. If you are a messed up parent who we be there to raise your children? The system.

Black men raise your sons.

Unfortunately, the murder rate rising is nothing new. Everyone wants to blame entertainment and the government but its our dumb a$$e$ that pick up the gun. In the long run, people have to start accepting responsibility for their own actions. So what I listen to rap music; it never made me kill anyone. I played Grand Theft Auto and never stole a car. I’ve been broke before and it didn’t make me rob a person. Look at the people committing the murders before you look at what may provoke a person to commit the murder. A weak mind is easily persuaded so I blame the lack of good parenting that’s sweeping across our nation; the babies raising babies theory. And I blame the apathy of our school systems which give children an outlet to do anything besides gain a valuable education in many instances.

The state that we are in now reminds me of L. Fishburne yelling at the end of School Daze “WAKE UP”. It has been past the time for us to get up and look out for each other and our own. You can blame the white man, you can blame music, and you can blame movies. After you do that ask yourself “where was I when my child/brother/nephew/cousin was watching it?” Ask yourself “Had I sat down and told them what a friggin sham that mess is and showed them what death of a loved one really does to a family outside of the idiot box and outside of a studio?” You really want to get the attention of black teens now? Here is what you do. 1. Mother & Fathers get out of the clubs/stop chasing men/women. 2.Put on some clothes/dress your age. 3.Act your age. 4. command some respect in your own house. 5. Play a game of “tag that a$$ if your child is getting out of line. 6. Talk to your child. 7. Know who your child’s friends & parents are. 8. Stop being your child’s friend. 9.If you are an absentee father/mother stop being absent. 10.Find out by talking to your child(ren) what THEY feel is their self-worth. After you find that out think on what their worth is to you. See if you are investing negatively or positively in their future. In other words…its time to become a parent.Some of you that will read this will say easy for you to say. You know why it is easy for me to say….because I am a parent and this is what I do. My children are the most important job God gave me. Here is a hint for you parents that may be offended by what I typed, so are yours.

God Bless

2PAC SED IT DA BEST. “IT’Z NOT DEM DATZ TAKIN US OWT…IT’Z US DATS TAKIN US OWT!!!” “USE UR BRAIN!” & I SAY…THEY KAN’T DEFEAT US ‘LESS WE DEFEAT OURSELVEZ.

We can start by getting off of the crutch of “the white man, rap music, the NRA, etc”. Nobody in that demographic places guns and knives and whatnot in or hands, and guns certainly do not fire themselves. It’s US doing it to US. We have to take more stock in our lives and realize WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS, that means get your ass off that corner (that you don’t own) and out of that club (which again you don’t own) and into school, get that masters, doctorate, bachelors, associates, hell get a G.E.D., and get a job. Then we CAN own the corner…and the rest of the block, including the houses or businesses that are on it. Spinning rims, chains, suicide doors will NOT get you far. Quit defending the ones who create the means of why we are the laughing stock of the world. You know who they are and you know what they do. When the police come for them, let them do their job instead of cussing them out. If their abusive, get that 400 dollar camera phone out, record them, then report them. And quit cowering in fear of your children. Get in that room and search it…after all, YOU PAID FOR THAT ROOM AND THE REST OF THE HOUSE (or apartment), THEIR CLOTHES, THEIR COMPUTER AND T.V. SO IT BELONGS TO YOU! As a parent, YOU are their first teacher, stop putting that responsibility off on others because “it’s their job”, Dammit it’s YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Black men…and women as well, why do we have to go to JAIL to discover GOD and EDUCATION? We can do those same things ON THIS SIDE OF FREEDOM. And for christ sake, pick ONE mate and be happy. Stop trying to fill your little black book with miscellaneous pieces of ass and get someone worth a wedding ring. Then when you made that decision…BE FAITHFUL TO THEM. That’s all for now. Oh by the way…condoms: USE THEM!

NIGGAZ IS IGNORANT
THE END!

The Constitution allows folks to have guns and that is not going away. This is part of the very foundation that this country was built on. We have to stop talking about what the problems are, we know what they are, we need to come up with solutions. As I expressed in my earlier post, you must show strength in a community through the number of folks willing to participate in solving these issues. Look at your community and see what is there to offer the children. If it is merely a game of two hand touch football, or stickball, get involved. The more you talk, the more time passes where nothing is done. My church chooses to participate in the lives of the youth in the community. This is not a hard thing to do, a couple of hours a week should not be a disruption in your schedule, but it should be viewed as sowing seeds for a future harvest. X-Tortion made some great points. If you are lacking an education, get one. Most adult who dropped out of school and have spent time hustling for their ends, really work hard for them. If you had the education that is required to move forward in your life to prosper. My Dad was a HS educated Man who believed that you should never have to work hard if you can work smart. Go figure.

OH AND RAISE YOUR BADASS KIDS
OR THE STREETS AND THE COPS AND THE STATE WILL
MORON”S

to bimistakeimbak, You are right about that, I have been in law enforcement for 15 years, and retired from the military before that, so I agree with you on the issues of the state governments raising kids. What you need to realize is who is paying for them to be taken care of. We, the taxpayer. It took me joining the military to wake up. In the end it paid off for me, but my solution is not the remedy for everyone. I know that other country’s around the globe require their kids to spend 2-3 years in the military, not just sign up for a selective service card. I wish we could get that going in this country, all that does not kill you, will only make you stronger. They do accept folks without HS diplomas and help them attain one while they are there. So I ask all the brothers who are posting on this topic, ” Why are you quoting what others have said, and What are your own original ideas for a solution to the problem we are discussing here?”

the constitution or the government has nothing to do with the killings. the parents are largely in fault. They don’t spend much time educating and moralizing their children. Therefore these kids will find the love and affection where ever and from whomever. we should stop having kids for income tax purposes and start having them because we want to raise a family, and please spend more time listen to the kids and try to see their ideas in a childish prospective. Have them read more, interacting in educating activity so they will know for sure that quick money is never the right money; for the mind is never at ease when the soul feels guilt. we can change like Tupac said, “let’s start opening up our minds and embrace education instead of violence. Teach the kids the knowledge of virtues; for they are priceless. Knowing that they’ve earned what they get is a far better feeling than robbing somebody. together we can help each other be better; and better as a society or a race we can stop exterminating ourselves. MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BE WITH US.

Even though it’s not right… It’s the way of the world as we know it…It’s time to revolutionize minds and make a change.
This country was originally founded on Racism, Separatism and Segregation and those institutions supported the oppression and hardships on Black people in America. Those hardships made it so the naturally strong black man remains on the bottom of the totem pole regardless of our natural place on the top in this society.
Simply put…”The Klan don’t have to kill nigg@z no more, because we are killing each other doing the job for them”.
It makes sense in the scope that a Black man is on his way into the White House and we are out here doing the fool…
It’s unbalanced for us, but it’s balanced according to the support of the past existing “American Way”. It’s a shame but this country is still in existence, with one sided control, due to the plight of Black men.

Hundreds die so thousands may live. Keep them lil youngins off the block. You might see a decrease. Everything is a domino effect. Cant try to stop murders without removing such easy access to non registered guns. Cant stop gangbangin if lil niggas look up to everybody else instead of their parents. Cant tell parents to raise they kids right when they aint got funds and fundamentals of doing so. Life is crazy like that.

Wow this is a strong fact. I don’t deny that is true, being a black sociologist and African American historian. I feel like these facts are laten to a already pre-exsisting problem that has plauged the education of our youth. It is just sad that now the facts are heavily being stated.

Yes this is so true. Black men killing each other. More black young men are beening these days because some have no home training. Parnets are not there for them.

This needs to stop, we can’t live this way anymore lets rise and live above this kind of tragedy people! Hear our cries, please “Black” Kings and Queens we must uprise from this.

Black on black crime has always been a major issue,ever since I was a young teen.Now Im a 26 year old Culinary student in Colorado and I work everyday to change those statistics and make sure I don’t fall into that trap.The only way for others to avoid that trao is to become more educated on the world and what opportunities are out there for black youth.Beat the odds,because Amerikkka is not gonna let up on us just yet.

When I was in high school, there was a big campaign to stop Black on Black crime. A lot of hip hop artists released songs promoting peace and unity.

Today, with the ghetto life and thug life becoming accepted and even pushed by the mainstream, it seems that a majority of Black youth think that being Black is synomomous with being ghetto and a thug. So they seek to live the life the rappers talk about. No one teaches them basic respect for human life.

Add movies where 90 people get shot, video games with criminal, violent plots (can u believe this crap? Grand theft auto? really?) and the youngsters think nothing of shooting each other.

Also, this young generation are the babies of the babies who had babies, when the teenage pregnancy rate hit epidemic proportions. These are the offspring of underpriviledged youth who have no clue how to raise children and instill all the wrong values. Where else could they go but down?

I think what the problem is is that the economy is so jacked up with all these taxes that the Black mothers who are also single mothers have to be the father for our kids today so we have to go to work 9to5 pay rent,lights,gas,water,clothing,food,medical,dental,and other expenses that our kids need. When this is not met we are subject to look for something better most kids ask us as responsible adults for help and we ignore them because they are already labled as being bad where are the dads that when we were laying up it was good but now that reality has set in these so called fathers run. In the days of our parents their parents let the whole neighborhood get a piece of that…now we as the babyboomers lost that respect bcause we didn’t have it for our elders as we got older. Many kids these days look up to us so where are we going wrong in leading them. Superficial things make the world go around an if you are not grounded your head will be in the clouds and you lose your grounding. Where is the respect,love for human life.

the fathers need to stop bulls**tting and be men and the women need ot stay in the relationship and stop being flirty with other men and vice versa and thats the way to educate and keep these young kids outta trouble a strong family can weather any storm

I’m sorry to say this but its no way u can stop this i mean u can only find ways to slow it down but u cant stop it these kids know right from wrong even if they got a single mother or had a f**ked up child the parents can only do so much its the kids decision to do right or to do wrong point blink if anybody disagree hit me up?????

It is really ashame, rap music and poor rolemodels I think has a lot to do with it. I know a black guy who people call him an uncle Tom and he is cool with that, he has less drama and is going far in life. Perhaps he figured it out, hang out with other races and experience other things this is a big world don’t listen to everybody else.

I Agree With penthouseplaya, the fathers do need to MAN up and Show there sons Right From wrong. I love my Brothers but they are serious working on my ever lasting nerves. You dont see white, chinese, spanish, etc. going around killing there kind… Wtf is wrong with you BLACK MALES… open ya damn eyes and realize what the fuk yall are doing… Yall got the Effin KKK laughing at yall, Why… Because yall doing there job For them… Sooner Are Later it will not have a effin black MALE soul walking this planet Earth! We Came a Long As Way from Slavery Days… & Niccas Still Acting like azzez smh!!! Guns Isnt The Way To Solve Ya problem… DO like how they use to do back in the day and use what God gave ya!!! BUT I LOVE MY BROTHERS but they seriously need to get there Acts Together b4 this world comes to an END!

There is no excuse for murder. But for ever action there is an equal and greater reaction. If murder is the end result, what are the causes? Nurture vs nature? It is natural for men of any creed to exercise their natural instinct to “pump their chests”, but Black men are systematically degraded, their manhood stripped while transitioning from childhood into manhood,so much that a great number of them are lead astray into believing that nothing else matters but their ego, their reputation, their street credit, this idea takes place of their “manhood”. Would anyone look at a wounded soldier who’s battled several tours of duty and say, “Man up.” No! It’s called brotherhood, when you carry your burdens and the burdens of the fallen until they can carry their own—-in return you are awarded the Purple Heart for your willingness to be one being–willing to sacrifice so that two may survive. It’s easy to look at our Black men who mess up every chance they get and say, “They deserve it.” Psychologically, not everyone deals the same, and there are a lot of psychological imbalances in the Black culture period. Game recognize game, until we heal, we’ll never be “The Black Community”, but a “Dysfunctional Union.” Barack Obama is not God, is not the answer, but he is the tool. We can use this moment these four years we have to show our Black babies, boys, young men, fathers, brothers that he is the norm—not Biggie, Tupac, JayZ. We need to support our Single Mother’s, who are raising boys that one day should turn into men, as a family unit first before as a community. From family help is considered love, from strangers its a handout. We need Love, not philanthropic pity from strangers unless giving in love for the individual. Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs begin at home, How many of you uncles take time with your nephews? If you know what you didn’t have and how that hurt you, learn how to be that, give that to someone else in your family. That’s how you heal centuries worth of spiritual and psychological warfare on our Culture.

Dear Friend,there is no reason for murder.I believe that the way to curb this crime ,is for all sane black men get involved,and try to encourage young black men to get an education,because i believe education is the key that locks out murder.WE AS A SOCIETY seems to be losing roll models.

I do not agree with the comment that was made by penthouseplaya. It is not always the womans fault would you rather a woman stay in an abused relationship and teach her son how to abuse. That only keeps the cycle going. Yes, the men need to be men but if they are not taught right how will the teach theirs? There are strong families out there but the system says you can not discipline your own kids. Sparing the rod is what is wrong with the families.

I hope we can become more together as one as black people. It’s ashame how some black men are killing one another for no reason and some black women always trying to fight and put another black woman down. It really is nonsense and we so much better than that. We have the racist people of other races that put us down all the time and then we turn around and we turn each other down in our own race which results in brutal fights and killings. The racist people of the other races get the thrill and satisfaction when we fight one another and fight to kill each other. They absloutely love it and they feel we getting alot accomplished by wiping our damn selves off the face of the earth. Black people we need to get it together for real. I love and respect all of my black people but it’s ashame that it’s a greater chance of my own race attacking me before any other race attacks me. And most of the time it’s not even a logic reasoning. It could be because I have more money or because of my car or because of the way I look or sound makes another person of my race assumes off the back that I’m trying to act better than them and I’m a sell out. Please black people lets help and understand one another before we get easily angered and beat up or shoot each another. May I remind you people that’s why the white or asian people took the jobs out the urban areas because they knew we would turn on each other and fight, rob, cheat and kill each other. They end up putting more funeral homes, gun and liquor stores in our area because we die quicker because we too busy killing ourselves. Understand we fell right in the devil’s trap. It’s disappointing & hurtful. Lets get it together. One Love

We as a culture have lost our foundation. We have gangs and thugs that are destroying our existence. And our children have no desire to be educated. That wich has a lot to do with the parents. We need to stop critizing people like Bill Cobsy when he sent a message to us as a people. It is contsructive critisim, so take it and make do with it. I feel for the generation of today and the next to come, because they dont know where they have come from, let alone know where they are going.

As I sit here reading these thoughts coming from my brothers and sisters. I realize how far gone we as a people have gone backwards. To sistah D I will only tell you that most do not have a culture. This country spent a lot of money and time to destroy who, what, and then take where we were natives away from us. It is no mistake that these programs are being taken away. You see if i take you away from being you then you have no culture. I am a Moor which as a people we are taught a culture from birth and in that culture I see what life is suppose to be. When you grow up calling yourself “Black” you start off learning that you are negative, less than, evil for these are the direct definitions of the word. Next they branded African American on you then showing not just you but the world how they feel about them. In order for this to stop people a people must first learn their natural culture. I had to say this but the church has even forgotten it’s culture.

[...] Murder Rate Up For Young Black Men [...]

[...] Murder Rate Up For Young Black Men [...]

Why am I not surprised when will some of us men of color stop thinking in that hood mentality and GROW THE HELL UP!! Im from the hood but have no intentions of living a lifestyle of slanging drugs,flossing rims and jewelry throwing cash in clubs or anything of that nature smh what a waste. We need to be more positive invest in our children future not use them for tax return money no flipping bricks instead flip houses in real estate instead of flossing material garbage like expensive clothes and shoes floss degrees earned in college or a university. We have so much potential yet some of just throw it away and stop with the unprotected sex too all these kids having kids raised with no morals or direction its disgusting and sad we have to change and it starts with ourselves first.

[...] Can we stop the alarming homicide rate committed by young men, black ones specifically? Take a look: The FBI reported 10,067 arrests in murder and non-negligent manslaughter cases in 2007. Half of [...]