Homicide Rates Jump for Blacks in NYC: What does that mean?
In today's edition of the New York Daily News it was revealed that for the 2010 year the homicide rate for black people jumped 31% while the homicide rate for whites dropped 27%. There is a lot in this data that is shocking on its head. One of the main things that shocked me is the fact that 25% of NYC's population is Black while 67% of the victims wee black. Even more shocking was that black males between the ages of 15-29 make up 3% of the city's population but a whopping 1/3 of all homicide victims. Having this data is sobering and informative but the larger questions we need to answer are why is this data so and what do we do with it?
It is clear by this data that black people killing black people is an epidemic. The fact that the Centers for Disease Control labeled gun violence and deaths amongst each other as a national epidemic, not unlike cancer and AIDS is sobering. I believe that the economic downturn that occurred over the past few years has acutely affected the black community, especially among black men. Black men, especially those in the 15-29 demographic face considerable economic and educational hardships that white people as a general group do not face in the same ways.
One of the large issues that exist as well is the lack of gun control laws in NYC. It is literally easier to procure a gun in NYC than it is to find a job. High powered weapons, extended magazine clips and weapons that do more damage at a quicker rate are all over the place. I believe that as long as purchasing gnus remains a deregulated industry then the rates of murder, especially amongst black people will continue to be high.
I am willing to believe that the murder rates from 2010 should serve as a sober reminder of just how much of a crisis black on black violence is, especially amongst the younger segment of our population. In certain African countries, generations of younger people are being wiped out by the AIDS epidemic. In America, it is safe to say, that a generation of young black men are being wiped out by gun violence. Where do we go from here? Who knows?
It is clear by this data that black people killing black people is an epidemic. The fact that the Centers for Disease Control labeled gun violence and deaths amongst each other as a national epidemic, not unlike cancer and AIDS is sobering. I believe that the economic downturn that occurred over the past few years has acutely affected the black community, especially among black men. Black men, especially those in the 15-29 demographic face considerable economic and educational hardships that white people as a general group do not face in the same ways.
One of the large issues that exist as well is the lack of gun control laws in NYC. It is literally easier to procure a gun in NYC than it is to find a job. High powered weapons, extended magazine clips and weapons that do more damage at a quicker rate are all over the place. I believe that as long as purchasing gnus remains a deregulated industry then the rates of murder, especially amongst black people will continue to be high.
I am willing to believe that the murder rates from 2010 should serve as a sober reminder of just how much of a crisis black on black violence is, especially amongst the younger segment of our population. In certain African countries, generations of younger people are being wiped out by the AIDS epidemic. In America, it is safe to say, that a generation of young black men are being wiped out by gun violence. Where do we go from here? Who knows?
Comments