Today, leading clergypersons of the Saint Louis area met with Mr. James Clark at Better Family Life (a well-respected community resource center in the area). The purpose of this meeting (which is one of many recent gatherings), is to take the Church from "the pulpit to the porch" and help alleviate the crime in our area (as of this writing the number of murders in the city, for 2017, is approaching 200).
Since 2014 (the year of the "Mike Brown protests") there has been much protest activity in the Saint Louis area, regarding the relationship with the police and the community. One resounding theme that I hear quite often (in response) is, "You all are protesting regarding the police; when you should be protesting all the shootings in your own community." However, "protesting" IS being done against crime in the "black neighborhood" on a regular basis. It is being done through regular, positive actions that help to build the community and provide resources to those in need.
Here is the issue. First, unfortunately, I have witnessed first hand where the "good news" does not make the evening new, only the "bad news." For example, Attorney Roderick White in partnership with the Missouri Midwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church Of God In Christ recently provided thousands of free turkeys to those in need during the Thanksgiving holiday. Each year 2,000 to 5,000 turkeys are given away. There have been times that the Life Center International Church Of God In Christ (in partnership with Toys for Tots and community activist Jean Gardner) has given away as 15,000 toys during the Christmas holiday. VERY LITTLE, if any of this, is reported in the news. However, if a fight breaks out and someone pulls out a gun, it is front page news in print and the first thing you hear on television and radio is, "today in North Saint Louis." Thus the media (INCLUDING "black" media) has a role to play in helping to refrain from giving the criminals free advertisement.
Second, most of the murders and crime in the community is drug related. Where do these drugs come from? Where do these weapons come from? NONE of it originates in Saint Louis. It originates overseas. I know by observation that most black people in Saint Louis could not afford the $1 million dollar price tag for a one-time-use submarine or the millions it takes to acquire a jet to bring these drugs from other nations to America and eventually Saint Louis. Thus, dealing with the drug dealers is only the "fruit," to alleviate the problem altogether, you must go to the "root." Therefore, we must have the assistance of those in political and corporate power to help resolve the problem at that level.
Third, the entire justice system needs an overhaul. Why is the penalty for crack use on "the streets" higher than the penalty for pure cocaine use in more affluent areas? (I do hope that people realize that the drug problem is NOT just a black, urban, inner city issue. Affluent people are JUST AS subject to drug use as anyone else; the difference is they have the ability to get the "pure stuff," outside of the public eye and receive legal help if caught). Also, many prisons are private. They have shareholders. More prisoners means more money. Less prisoners less money. This is egregious!
So, we in the "black" community are doing all we can do to alleviate crime. But, we need help! We can tackle the "fruit," but we need help with the "root."
