Pubdate: Sun, 09 Jul 2006
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2006 The Miami Herald
Contact:  http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262
Author: Argerine Williams

BLACK MEN: REPLACE VIOLENCE WITH PRIDE

I am African American. Last week, I sat at my breakfast table with 
The Miami Herald. I was sickened by the headline Bullet kills 
9-year-old playing in yard. Tears welled in my eyes and streamed down my face.

I hurt for this stranger, this family, this housing project with yet 
another innocent child being killed. I asked myself, What can I do? 
What can one senior citizen do about black men killing each other and 
innocent bystanders? I prayed and began to think about possible solutions.

I thought that we could take a stand like Mayor Shirley Gibson of 
Miami Gardens and close down any business that repeatedly disturbs 
the peace by having excessive police calls and incidents of violence. 
We could close up the area and make it a gated community. We could 
provide extra police protection or create a safe place in the 
community for children to play. Residents could take a stand against 
drugs and violence by forming an effective Crime Watch Program.

We could offer GED programs to residents within the community and 
establish a role-model program for African-American boys in their 
teens and help them become men. We could have various colleges 
recruit residents for classes. Ex-offenders could have their rights 
fully restored and offered apprenticeships. Churches could unite with 
others and do missionary work in the inner city.

Black grandfathers, fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and grandsons 
- -- we need you to provide protection and security for your 
grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and granddaughters. 
We can reclaim our community and make it more safe and prosperous 
than before. Can't we all join together and fight for our survivors? 
Stop the violence and create brotherhood instead.

We can build strong families and produce pride in our sons.

Argerine Williams

Miami Gardens
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman