A hemorrhage of violence is sweeping across low-income black neighborhoods throughout the nation as police have withdrawn from communities after being vilified as an extension of “systemic racism.”
Tragically, attacks on law enforcement have come not only Black Lives Matter and self-righteous social justice warriors, but from mayoral offices in Chicago and other cities whose vulnerable low-income neighborhoods have suffered most from an upsurge in homicides.
In inner cities throughout the nation, street violence is reaching historic proportions, and the marauders are getting younger. In Chicago, a gang of armed violent carjackers as young as 10 and 11 years old are terrorizing the city’s Southside.
Unfortunately, many in the black community do not realize these rampant homicides and the wholesale destruction of their neighborhoods are considered as acceptable collateral damage by the radical white leftists engaged in a campaign to destabilize the nation by attacking its civic infrastructure and undermining the founding principles upon which our country was established. By cloaking their intentions in the robes of “social justice for blacks” and flying under the banner of Black Lives Matter, they have convinced many individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund their own self-destruction. By pouring millions of dollars into these groups, they are, in the words of Michael Novak, “providing the rope upon which companies and communities will be hanged.”
A first step in stopping the violence and tragic loss of life is to stop funding people who committed to our demise. Secondly, we must work within the communities to end the self-destructive violence that is taking more black lives each year than were lost to lynchings over the course of 50 years.
Proven solutions do exist, though not by ending systemic racism, defunding the police, or ending white privilege — or any other presumed external villains. Answers to rampant violence will be found within the communities suffering from the crisis. Just as the human body is oriented toward health and rushes its healing antibodies to the areas that are in greatest distress, within afflicted communities, there are healing agents at work. The most effective way to heal a person is to strengthen their own immune system, which is a collection of antibodies — and the most effective and sustainable way to restore the health of our devastated communities is to identify and support the indigenous healing agents who have committed themselves to reclaim and revitalize their neighborhoods.
A long-standing servant-leader in the critical mission of addressing youth violence in Washington, D.C., is Tyrone Parker, who recently sent a photo of his organization celebrating 32 days with no shootings in the Washington Highlands neighborhood. This period of peace includes the tragic Fourth of July weekend when convulsions of violence seized cities throughout the nation.
In his efforts in this community, Tyrone engaged the same strategy that he and his counterparts in the “Alliance of Concerned Men” effectively applied 21 years ago in the Benning Terrace housing development in addressing gang violence of rival “crews.” Dedicated for the long haul, and available to the youths 24-7, these neighborhood healers won the trust and respect of the gang leaders and were able eventually to bring them to the table together where they agreed on a truce. As a result, homicides were reduced to zero and remained peaceful for 12 years in the community that once suffered 53 homicides over the course of two years in a five-block area.
In fact, this strategy of approaching and investing in the leaders and members of gangs is rooted in the efforts of David and Falaka Fattah in West Philadelphia in the 1970s, when they discovered that one of their six sons had joined one of a growing number of gangs whose members were killing one another. Desperate to protect their son, in a courageous move, they invited his gang to move into their home. The youths responded, and the Fattahs’ home became known as the House of Umoja — the Swahili word for unity. Conflicts were resolved through “family” gatherings, and the door was left unlocked so that gang could find a sanctuary from violence, any time of the day or night. The effort expanded, and, throughout decades, the Fattahs became a surrogate family for thousands of youths who hungered for what they offered — love, both tender and tough.
The trailblazing innovation and committed outreach of our nation’s healing antibodies are in need of one thing: support from policymakers, philanthropists, corporate leaders, and concerned citizens who recognize their power and potential and are willing to invest to strengthen, expand, and export their transforming initiatives.
Like those who have led us through our nation’s giant steps in the areas of science and industry, there exist even now hundreds of dedicated, unheralded “experts” throughout the nation who can guide us in solving even our most entrenched and devastating social crises. An effective strategy does not begin with credentialed professionals’ analysis of the problems but with a comprehensive and sustained effort to maximize the impact of the solutions that exist.
Robert L. Woodson, Sr. is the founder and president of the Woodson Center.
