posted June 21, 2008
A brief review of the headlines over the last few months in Chattanooga reveals a present, severe and growing problem. That problem is the growth of violent crime, especially various types of larceny involving violence including recent incidents of mugging, carjacking, holdups, multiple shootings, etc.
However, almost invariably the perpetrators are of the same description: young black males, often wearing "hoodies." The two highest crime rate schools in the entire school system are Howard and Brainerd high schools. That is a statistical fact that has been the case for years. Many blacks want to cry "racism" whenever the media actually reports events involving such things, but the facts speak for themselves.
What is it that is driving the violence among young black males? I think without question it is the overwhelming number of absentee fathers. I cringe every time I hear the term brought from this culture of "You not my baby daddy!" Is there anyone unfamiliar with this term? While at the mall recently, I saw a young black woman who appeared to be 17-20 years old, was pregnant, and had two other young children with her. There was neither a wedding ring nor a father in sight. Young males (of any race) with no structure or discipline from a responsible father is never a good thing. Too many black males are being raised today by often violent hip hop/rap music and videos and young, overwhelmed mothers. It's a recipe for disaster for which the rest of society pays the price.
Unfortunately, this is not a new trend. According to Department of Justice statistics as far back as 1997 and before, 40% of all black males of 18-25 years old are either in prison, have been in prison or are currently on parole. No other racial or ethnic group was even close. What is more disturbing to me with such statistics and events is the lack of complete outrage among the black community. I've not seen nor heard of any local black leaders stepping up to address this problem. Perhaps they are doing so; I have simply not seen evidence of it. When people are now getting mugged in "revitalized and family-friendly" Chattanooga by the Trade Center and in family-oriented places like Coolidge Park, where are the safe places? How long will it be until people are getting robbed on the Walnut Street Bridge, by the aquariums or in front of the IMax Theater? People have now been mugged in Coolidge Park less than one week after there were many reports of gunfire in a separate, presumably gang-related incident.
Where is the police response to ensure public safety? Yes, I am aware that the recent muggers were caught, but this was after the incident occurred. My point is where is the police presence to prevent and discourage such incidents?
Where is the media outcry calling for the head of the chief of police on a platter? I have seen first-hand complete indifference of Chattanooga police officers to citizens in need (after Riverbend 2007.) I'm not implying this is the case with all officers, but at least half the time when I see a Chattanooga police officer in his vehicle now, he is talking on a cell phone, all but oblivious to what is going on around him.
Walk a little around downtown Chattanooga now and it is also clear that gangs are a severe and growing problem that obviously are not being dealt with. There is gang graffiti everywhere: on the sides of business, on utility boxes, on retaining walls, you name it. We have a police chief being paid over $100,000 per year while internal problems within the department seem to be frequent occurrences and now gangs and violent crime in our "family-friendly" city are on the rise.
On the heels of an unpopular school superintendent getting a four-year contract extension with two years left on his current contract, will there ever be professional accountability in this town, Mayor Littlefield?
Joel Walker
* * *
When I come home to visit Chattanooga, I am careful where I stay and go.
But the crime in Chattanooga isn't as bad as the crime in Omaha, where I
live. There are at least five people that were killed in a two-week period.
It's getting where the police don't even care. There are great officers in Chattanooga and Omaha, but if the higher ups in the police department don't do something about it soon, it will spin out of control.
It's time to start getting rid of the gangs so the people who obey the law can walk the streets without fear.
Patty Shirley
bestfr1303@cox.net
* * *
I have been paying attention to the news reports of robberies in the "Scenic City's" most popular areas, such as Coolidge Park. Of course, there will critics that say they should not be out at that time of the night. There will be comments that reporters should not say the race of the criminals. Also, let's not forget how these poor people come from a broken home, disadvantaged, no father at home, etc. The list goes on and on, while sidestepping the issue.
I don't care what disadvantages they have endured. When they choose to be on the operator's side of a weapon, they are fair game. If a 13-year-old participates in a robbery at a gas station, tell it all. If Coolidge Park after midnight is considered open season on the innocent, put up signs stating to enter at your own risk.
At my age, I remember the Death Wish movie series, where a gentleman takes the law into his own hands after his wife is killed and his neighborhood is becoming a war zone after the police simply turned away. He cured quite a bit of the problem. I do not support any type of vigilante activities, please understand that. The answer is already in place.
In the state of Tennessee, law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry weapons after passing a background check and attending training sessions. My advice to the citizens, much to the woe of the police, arm yourselves, legally. Also, one important part of the armed defense - even if a robber/mugger/or someone who just wants to beat the stew out of you implies they have a weapon, you don't don't have to wait on them to shoot at you, if you are in fear of your life.
A robber might think twice before approaching a man or woman if they have enough intelligence to realize they might be armed. The law says if you are in fear of your life, you can use deadly force. If someone is pointing a gun at me demanding money, and my wife is standing next to me, I will send him to his just reward. Of course, I am sure I will be booked and go to trial, but the saying goes. "I would rather be judged by 12 instead of carried by six."
Come on people, let's take back the streets. The Scenic City doesn't seem as scenic anymore. I bet there is no mention of the criminal activity in tourist ads. Even the press doesn't put a lot of pressure on the proper authorities. If they can't do it, the public can. Hood Rats, beware.
Mitchell Thurmer
Signal Mountain
* * *
First, what do Howard and Brainerd have to do with the violence that has taken place recently in Chattanooga? So many times people such as yourself are so quick to shift the blame or point the finger at someone else.
"Racism" isn't what I cry when the media reports of problems at these schools, "unfair" is what comes to my mind. Problems arise at all schools. I have two sons that just finished the eighth grade at East Ridge Middle and I have a daughter that attends Ooltewah High School, so I could give you a laundry list of things that took place at both schools that never made the news or the paper. The only reason that the incident that took place at McCallie made the news, where two students got into a fight, is because one of the students died from his injuries. So show me a person that says that fights don't occur at schools other than Howard and Brainerd and I'll show you a liar.
The more I read your opinion, Mr. Walker, the more it frustrated me. In so many words you said that all of the recent problems that have taken place in the area were committed by "young black males, often wearing hoodies". Yet, you failed to mention the rash of gas station robberies that were committed by a white male wearing a Spider Man mask.
You made mention that "too many black males are being raised today by often violent hip hop/rap music and videos." I'm 31 years old. I have listened to rap music, violent or not, ever since I can remember. There is nothing that I have ever heard in a song nor seen on TV (because you failed to mention that just as much violence is shown on TV) that has made me want to go out and rob, carjack or shoot anyone.
Although, my brothers and I were fortunate enough to have been raised in a household with both parents, I have a lot of friends that were raised in a single-parent household. The same friends have gone on to become very successful in life, and like myself they are graduates of Howard and Brainerd.
How do you know that the "young black woman" you saw at the mall, pregnant with two other young children with her, was not married? I see "young white women" all the time, pregnant with other children with them and no father in sight, but that doesn't mean that she is single. I've known of married women that have become pregnant and, because of their fingers swelling, they take their ring off because it becomes too painful to wear.
Although, Mr. Walker, I agree with some of what you were saying about needing more police presence in some areas of Chattanooga. It was greatly overshadowed with your excessive mention of the black community. Now, I'm not saying that you sounded a bit prejudiced, but someone else reading your opinion may think so. Instead of quoting so many statistics, why don't you take a ride through some of these neighborhoods and take a look at some of the houses that these violent "young black males" that attend Howard have designed and built. Instead of pointing the finger, because you know when you point your finger you have three pointing back at you, why don't you attend some of the award days that they have at Howard or Brainerd so that you can see how many "young black males" actually receive academic scholarships.
Maybe then Mr. Walker, you won't be so quick to kick dirt on a generation that is being judged as a whole for the acts of only a few.
Derrick Ware
* * *
First of all, using statistics like 40% of black males have been arrested, imprisoned, are on parole, etc. is not racism. Stating that the recent rash of violent crimes can be attributed to black youths in hoodies, however, is racism. Gangs, violent crimes, drugs, unwed mothers all of those things are problems that come with poverty.
My wife grew up in Whitwell which is about as white as it gets, and the people there struggled with drugs, high unemployment, high school drop outs, low literacy, unplanned pregnancies, and the list goes on. The school I currently teach at is about 80% Hispanic and low income which means that they are the group into gangs, drugs, and all the other problems.
I spent a short time teaching at the old Franklin Middle School before it moved to Howard. I would say about 90% of my kids or more were pretty good kids. I don't recall very many of them getting involved in fights or committing crimes. Do I need to tell you what color they all were?
Would it make you feel better if the crime wave that hit the city was being perpetrated by white men in three piece suits?
Ben Briere
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