From: guillory@crhc.uiuc.edu (Stanford Guillory)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Re: Black-on-Black Crime
Date: 20 Nov 1992 13:51:31 -0600
Organization: Center for Reliable and High-Performance Computing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
NNTP-Posting-Host: debussy.crhc.uiuc.edu

<FKR@psuvm.psu.edu>  Fred Rozenblad writes:


>I don't know if this area was ever dealt w/ on this net. At least, I haven't
>read many articles on Black-on-Black crime.  I was wondering if anybody would
>like to take a crack at some interesting talk about.
                ^^^^^

Interesting use of words. Because crack, or at least cocaine, is definitely a part
of what is going down, and I mean down, today. Here in Champaign-Urbana, the case load
of the district attorney has tripled in the last 5 years. And when you ask him why,
he is quick and brief with his reply: cocaine. 

My personal opinion is the onslaught of crack in the inner-city, and its rapid expansion
to the smaller communities surrounding the bigger cities has set the personal progress
of blacks back at least 10 years. A significant portion of a generation is being lost. 

I personally don't care too much about whatever racism exists in this country, because my
philosophy is that I will go as far as I can. And when I hit the wall of racism, I take up
that fight. But my gut feeling is that for millions of inner city blacks, they are not even
getting the chance to hit the wall or racism. They are not even in the game. 

Black on black crime? I don't think there is anything special about it. Most of the crime,
including violent crime, committed by whites is committed against whites. BTW, whites commit
a LOT of crime, about 70% of the crime in the U.S. So it is NOT a black thang.

Your request brings to mind Sister Souljah's astonishment that blacks would be so quick to
kill thier own. If you gotta kill, at least kill the enemy! But the fact is, most of the
acts of violence committed by blacks upon blacks is  irrational lashing out. And when you
are irrational, you don't have time to cruise to a white neighborhood to do your killing. You
need some killing now, the sooner the better. And what happens to be the color of that
brother coming down the street? Oh well, too bad. 

The problem is that you have thousands of people who have become conditioned to apply violence
to just about EVERY situation they face. Put these people in close quarters, in miserable conditions,
with easy money, and easy chemical escape, and black on black crime becomes the expectation, not
a surprise. 

I am already convinced that a child is going to learn most of his social behaviors and acquire
most of his conflict resolution skills by the age of five. After that, it will take powerful
intervention and will to overcome the early lessons taught  by the parent(s), guardian, etc.

I recall a recent interview  with Will Smith, of rap  and fresh prince fame, in which he stated
that there was no way he could get involved in gangs or on the wrong track, because his father
was there everyday! Always talking to him, always in his business. There is simply no easy
substitute in a child's life than somewhere who cares enough to be there everyday for them.


>We dealt w/ the drug issue quite a few times, and some may say that's a good
>reason for increased Black-on-Black crime rate. 

I am puzzled by your use of the phrase, "black-on-black crime rate". I would guess that the
actual percentage of crime committed against blacks that is committed blacks has remained
fairly constant over the past 20 years. It is just the sheer number of crimes that has become
staggering. And this increase spans racial lines.

>because deprived conditions that we (blacks) face in the US. Others will still
>say it's all "whitey's" fault, etc.

I hope not. Whitey may be able to keep you down, but he can't make you lose regard for human
life. 

>But, I'm interested in wanting to hear what some folx have to say. Any takers?

>Fred Rozenblad      * Why would anybody want to get a PhD in Chemistry?


Stanford S. Guillory
guillory@crhc.uiuc.edu