Like it or not, our children are often a reflection of our community

Like it or not, our children are often a reflection of our community

http://blog.mlive.com/readreact/2009/03/like_it_or_not_our_children_ou.html

Posted by Sheran Pearson March 12, 2009 16:54PM

Categories: Read & React

 

Sheran Pearson is the founder of Young Black Males Advocates for Justice.

I'm sad that our state has yet to change its way of thinking. As I look at the sick beating of Timothy Stafford and then I look at our Kalamazoo community I can't do anything but continue praying.

Like it or not, for the most part our children are often a reflection of their community. How could anyone stand by and let this sick and barbaric behavior occur?

As the president of Young Black Males Advocates for Justice, I'd like to say that it should not take the police -- The Man -- to seek out the individuals who attacked Mr. Stafford.

Parents, please don't play, y'all know who did this. But this is what we get when fathers are refusing to be fathers because it's plain to see that the mothers and aunts are tired and the big brothers are sitting in prison!

In our African-American community, I've seen individuals and groups beaten down because they are simply trying a different approach to help prevent the very behavior that caused what happened to Mr. Stafford. Maybe we should all ask ourselves what is a gang or mob?

I've seen organizations in Kalamazoo that refuse to deal with many of our children or give support to the judicial system or simply speak up for civil rights issues.

When it comes to truly dealing with the civil rights concerns of the Kalamazoo community for blacks, Hispanics or any race, where is the NAACP? However, they'll ask for a dollar in a quick second, which I don't mind giving if they're doing more than just having banquets.

The NAACP is 100 years blessed and I believe that Dr. Charles Warfield is truly an awesome leader and a great family man. Thank God, for the new leadership of the NAACP, but he's only one man.

The NAACP name is powerful and it should mean more than just raising funds. Yet I believe that Dr. Warfield will sit down with anyone who has a true concern for not only the education of our youth but the alarming incarceration of so many youth in Kalamazoo.

We can not begin to look at education if we refuse to look at the number of young black males who are leaving Kalamazoo by the busload for prison. We spend $30,000 to $34,000 a year on violent and non-violent inmates and less than $10,000 a year on our students. Now somebody explain this to me.

YBM is available for positive comments and willing to work with our community.

But I'm praying leaders and groups will see that is why many of Kalamazoo's youths are calling on us to help them. YBM is asking you please do not pass our children by.

Sheran Pearson, of Kalamazoo, is the founder of Young Black Males Advocates for Justice. The group celebrates its fifth anniversary with a fundraising banquet from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Van Duesen Room of the Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo. Admission to the banquet is free by donations will be solicited at a later date. Call (269) 207-6459 for reservations.

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