| In 2007, many American urban leaders were | | | | of fire-arm related homicide. Now, there are two |
| introduced to urban gun violence; the newest dilemma | | | | problems with this information. |
| eroding the integrity of our "best practice society." No | | | | The first is that this data was not released until |
| more simple solutions and punch line words of | | | | 2000 |
| deterrent like "JUST SAY NO!" Urban gun violence in | | | | The second is that the Urban Community |
| America is more real to us on a daily basis than that | | | | Partners-leaders, officials, educators, medical providers |
| of an imminent terrorist threat. | | | | and politicians have failed to devise a concise strategy, |
| In the 1992 Oklahoma City bombing, approximately | | | | both in curtailing and curing this problem. |
| 2,000 people, who were on American soil, were killed. | | | | Urban gun violence is a disease and should be treated |
| In 1999, the 911 attack on the World Trade Center, | | | | as such getting all of the "Bells and Whistles" |
| approximately killed 3,000 people, who were on | | | | treatment, resource and funding. After all, if children |
| American soil. Since 2007, almost every urban city in | | | | and youth are the future of America, "we'll get what |
| America has experienced and reported a dramatic | | | | we pay for." Maybe, that is just it. Maybe, so little is |
| rise in assaults by gun violence. And in some more | | | | being done to develop our children and youth into |
| notably urban cities like Philadelphia, New Orleans, | | | | leaders, so that, we are now seeing the grim reality of |
| Chicago and Oakland, the rise in homicides by gun | | | | decades of budget cutting. In the 1990's, when many |
| violence speaks volumes to the issue that every | | | | Art and Music programs were moved, de-funded, or |
| Mayor of every Urban City and every Governor of | | | | just not planned into our public school curriculum we did |
| every State in the United States must address; "Why | | | | not know what the long-term outcome would be. Now, |
| are young Black Males Carrying Guns!" | | | | we are trying to remedy both current and future youth |
| It would be understandable if this were 1889 when | | | | of the ill-effects of the urban gun violence epidemic, by |
| Black People in America were fighting to get the | | | | inviting them to elaborate Art programs or after school |
| United States to enact an Anti Lynching Bill. However, | | | | Craft programs in attempts to steer them in a positive |
| we are way past those days and now no one is | | | | direction. |
| hunting down Back Males, but, other young Black | | | | Imagine you had paid for an economy flight ticket for |
| Males who are carrying guns. A 1998 report, issued by | | | | the busiest time of the year! Then once you got on the |
| the American Pediatric Association, sited that gun | | | | plane and realized it was not comfortable, you ask if |
| violence was the leading cause of death among Black | | | | you could change your seat. But, if every seat was |
| Males aged between10 to 34 years (Pediatrics Vol. | | | | filled, it would not matter how much money you had to |
| 105 No. 4 pg 888). In addition, Black Males, of ages | | | | upgrade you seat. Because you failed to prepare |
| between 15 to 19 years have the highest death rates | | | | properly, you had sealed your fate. |