Even Odds "Constructive Response"

San Francisco Chronicle – Even Odds

“Two Teens Face the Odds in Oakland” by Jill Tucker

Part 1

“In this city, boys of his race are more likely to miss school; be suspended; graduate late, if at all; or be incarcerated than their White, Asian or Latino peers.”

 I disagree with this. There are too many White, Asian and Latino boys trying to be like the Black boys. Therefore, I hardly doubt that they are imitating our young Black males and still managing to succeed in school, stay out of jail or stay alive any more than their black peers.

“Police investigators have told Christopher that there isn’t enough evidence to make an arrest. No witnesses have come forward. In East Oakland, they rarely do, fearful that doing so will bring retaliation.”

I hate this rule, code or movement that has been circulating around. This movement does not only apply to East Oakland but various cities in the Bay Area and beyond.  “Stop Snitchin’”. This also goes along with the saying “Snitches end up in ditches with stitches.” This code is ignorant and it has created a bigger problem than the killing of young black males before they begin living their lives. This code prevents criminals from capture and allows them to stay hidden and live amongst family and friends. All the while showing no remorse or guilt whiles yet another family suffers, a mother, a father, a daughter, a son, grandparents and siblings who do not have closure for the loss of their loved one. If it were the witness’ family, they would want to know how they tragically lost their family member, who did it and why. This is a shameful contradiction. If youth these days thought about the aspect of this code, they would be one-step closer to understanding and stopping the senseless killing of their friends, family and themselves. People like themselves who are innocent and deserving of a longer and fulfilling life.

“Oakland classes offer black males hope” by Jill Tucker

Part 2

“He was 6 years old the first time he saw someone get shot. School was just a place to go, not a priority. As a teen, he was lured into the "dope game" and followed his family to the streets.”

This is true. School is not a priority for many young people these days. It is a place for social connection, fashion shows and cliques. Young people seem to be about living in the moment because their futures seem so bleak. Many do not know if they will survive through the night much less the next day. Therefore, things of the moment seem more appealing and obtainable than a future with a successful career. It needs to be instilled in young people that even though their futures do not look or seem promising, there is hope. They do not have to resort to momentary attractions because they feel as if there is nothing else for them. Care needs to be shown to them from the start, if they do not have mothers or fathers; mentors need to be set in the place of those absent figures. The example should be set for young people early on that school is important and a priority.  They have a better chance at advancing in life with an education than solely upon the benefits of money.

“To too many people, to teachers, these children are animals,”

The majority of what young people see and hear are negative, rarely positive whether it be in their homes, their neighborhoods, at school and out amongst the world. This occurs so much that they eventually succumb to it, thinking: “Why not? This is how I’ve viewed, this is how I’m heard, this is what you believe and think of me, so why don’t I allow myself to be the negativity?” We have to let young people know that they are not negative that they are positive and meaningful. Think about it. How does one teach a young person that they are not a stereotype when as long as they can remember you or someone else has been telling them that they are that stereotype because of how they choose to act, what they listen to, what they wear, how they wear it and most importantly how they choose to speak. Another contradiction it seems. Youth these days want to know and see that what they do and say matters. They want to know that they are normal people, human beings that matter just as much as the next person whether they are Black, White, Asian, Latin or any other race.

I personally have come to the conclusion that black females are not exempt from this everyday occurrence. A bullet, though it may be intended for one person does not have a name on it. Its target is never guaranteed a hit. There is always a possibility for a miss. With this being said, though young Black males are the main victims of this type of violence, there are female victims as well. This is why I strayed from the subject of Black males to young people.

Each victim, male or female matters they are persons that deserve a chance to live long and fulfilling lives.