HOME Media Kit Advertising Contact Us About Us

 

Web The Truth


Community Calendar

Dear Ryan

Classifieds

Online Issues

Send a Letter to the Editor


 

 
 

When You Don’t Know What To Do

By Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min.
The Truth Contributor
 

Let a Secretary of Peace be appointed.   – Benjamin Banneker
 


Rev. Donald L. Perryman, D.Min.

“What are we going to do, Rev,” my activist friend asked, forlornly. The root of the friend’s despair is the enduring gun violence epidemic that keeps us in tears and the community under siege.

Handguns are increasingly available and easily accessed. But with more guns comes the almost certainty that more and more black people will end up dead or in prison. Recent statistics show that a child or teen dies from a gun every three hours and 28 minutes because the widespread availability of guns has increased children’s exposure to loaded and unlocked guns.

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson recently announced a gunlocks program and other safety measures. In addition, Toledo police have confiscated more firearms this year than last.

Is it enough to make a difference?

For certain, the problem is complex. Blacks suffer gun violence disproportionately despite owning guns at a rate less than half that of whites (19 vs 41 percent), according to Pew Research.

Yet, realistic solutions are surprisingly simple.

What shall we do?

My perspective is to act first on what you already know. The second move is then, understanding that you don’t know enough and to seek out more knowledge and understanding.

We know, first of all, that the racial disparity in impact of gun violence has become a national health crisis and “has everything to do with racism,” according to the Centers for Disease Control’s Camara Jones, MD, MPH, PhD. Sometimes the racism operates on an institutionalized level, where some groups lack access to opportunities that are available to other racial groups. But often, racism is turned inward where individuals accept negative societal messages and begin to lose self-worth and devalue themselves and others of their same racial group.

We’ve also known the risk factors for weapon-related behaviors of young African Americans and others.

For instance, African Americans suffer enormous emotional distress and many low-income minorities are disproportionately exposed to violence compared to others. The delinquency of peers and associates have also been identified as a risk for weapon involvement. 

In addition, many blacks, not confident that law enforcement or the government are able to ensure their safety, have decided to arm themselves believing that self defense is better than no defense.

Certainly then, if the problem of gun violence is to be adequately addressed, interventions will have to deal with the things we already know – risk factors such as reducing exposure to violence and emotional stress (including mental health) – issues that, in the words of Dr. Jones, “have everything to do with racism.”

But secondly, it is critical to approach the gun violence epidemic with humility, understanding that, as a community, healthcare industry, social services industry or municipal government, we still do not know enough to solve the problem. Relevant and realistic solutions that we are unaware of are often present but perhaps hidden in plain sight.

For instance, much of what we know about gun violence and black youth is based upon a deficit model rather than from a strengths perspective.

Yet, there are many high achieving youth who navigate high levels of violence in their neighborhoods or communities and are still able to succeed. How do they do it? What are the protective factors that they are able to draw upon to help them deal positively with the negativity that they also face? We need to listen to their voices and find out more information that can help others.

Also, successful gun violence prevention strategies are being implemented in places like Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Boston. Many of these programs have transformed violent communities into healthy spaces where people can live with both dignity and safety. Their success has been primarily due to the ability to understand both the challenges and successes associated navigating high-risk environments.

Gun violence is a public health crisis in Toledo and throughout the nation. However, I believe that we can prevent or reduce violence by focusing on the strengths of black youth who successfully navigate community violence and by identifying successful intervention strategies.

The challenge is finding the political will to do what we already know and developing a thirst for seeking out what we do not yet know.

Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org

 

 
  

Copyright © 2015 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:39 -0700.

 

 


More Articles....

Take The Pledge

Annual Kwanzaa Celebration to Honor Washington Muhammad

Nine-Year Old Entertainer Gives Back To Community

Second Baptist Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway

Last Minute Holiday Gift Tips

Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles with Michelle Burford, foreword by Mary Lou Retton


 


   

Back to Home Page