• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Shootings, killings and violence

by Lucky Rosenbloom
June 29, 2016
4
SHARES
77
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

Gang members answer questions

IssuesOne cannot turn on the television news, read the papers, or talk with friends and not hear or talk about the growing violence throughout the Twin Cities areas that include shootings resulting in bodily injuries and/or death of both intended and/or innocent Black people.

No doubt, anyone that hates Black people must rejoice over beer during the news broadcasts. The news media reminds us of the hurt and pain of mostly single-parent mothers raising teen males who are joining gangs and entering into a world of violence.

While I was working as an assistant probation officer in Ramsey County Detention, parents would tell me many times of their ability to relax and sleep knowing their teen son was in lockup. Can you imagine the daily pain of a mother not knowing which call — what knock on the door — will deliver a message that your son is dead? A mother like this is only able to rest at night when her son is locked up in juvenile detention.

Many parents would also explain to me their reason for kicking their older teenaged sons out of the house for fear that he would expose his younger siblings to violence and drive-by home shootings. This is a very painful decision for a mother, and places her under penalty of the juvenile court because of her need to protect her younger children.

We need to start thinking about the parents and the grandparents that live in fear because their teen is living out their violent potential. To understand the current gang culture, this columnist not only asked questions while being an assistant probation officer in Ramsey County, but I also had a Black teen message calling-in line, and met with teens who represented opposing gangs.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

I asked them the reasons they join gangs, how can you leave a gang, and the reason for the growth in recent killings. The answers, while expressed differently from various gang members, had similar themes.

Teens said the need to be in a gang was for neighborhood protection. One mentioned getting into hard drugs, and that fellow gang members kept up her supply. Teens seem to express the need to hide their family, not only from possible gang shootings, but being killed by the police, also. A few seemed to accept that there is no way to get out of a gang except by death, or as some teens indicated, a die-out process.

There is a prevailing acceptance that teens join gangs for money. In this columnist’s opinion, I wonder if it’s easier for a teen in our neighborhoods to get a gun than getting a job. There is also the reason of teens feeling as if they do not have a family.

I prodded for elaboration on this possibility and it appears teens do miss the traditional family of both parents. However, the absence of dad seemed to accompany a feeling of not being safe. Therefore, the gang becomes a family of both safety and security.

Teens expressed that to get out of a gang, other than die out, one has to leave the state, and severing family ties appear to be of little concern because of the feeling that there is no real strong family support. In my opinion the loss of this family support is motivated by the parent’s growing frustration and feelings of helplessness in trying to correct the teen’s behavior, leaving some parents to tell the teen to leave, go to Boys Totem Town, Red Wing, or other institution, so long as they are not bringing danger to younger siblings.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

So, why the growth in killings. These answers are alarming. Many said retaliation for killing other gang members, especially, if the gang member killed was also a family member. Facebook and other forms of social media seem to play a major role in the shootings, as opposing gang members, after the killing of an opposite gang members, posts on Facebook the smoking of an opposite gang members ashes in a pipe, like marijuana.

However, despite the retaliation answer, others expressed killings because of the joy and fun of it. Most agree that too much has happened to stop the killings, and they indicated “a lot of bodies will be droppin,’” and “we gonna be bussin’ ops” (opposite gang members), as they would phrase their intent.

How, can you get out or be left alone and not forced to join a gang? Teens answered bailout, leave the states, to being a “Clucc,” meaning being hooked on drugs.

What a world for our teens to have to live in today, readers. Teens expressed that one cannot run solo or avoid being in a gang for fear of being beat down. The culture of having to be in a gang for protection is real to our teens.

In most of my conversations with youth, whether at the juvenile center, in community settings, schools, or on the message line, most teens do not want to be in gangs. Most do not enjoy living in daily fear. Most seem to accept a feeling of having no choice, not being important, and feeling they will never amount to anything.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

This is a terrible time for both teens and parents. One can only pray for some divine intervention that will stop the violence.

Until divine intervention occurs, this columnist is offering several programs:

  1. A parent “love too much to give up” support group.
  2. Thinking for change: proactive prevention group for teens ages 15-17.
  3. Teen dropout to drop-in, and get your diploma encouragement program, for ages 16-20.

For more information call this columnist at 612-661-0923.

 

Lucky Rosenbloom welcomes reader’s responses to 612-661-0923, or email him at l.rosenbloom@yahoo.com.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

MSR leads women’s sports coverage

Next Post

#MPLS: a musical multi-genre gumbo

Lucky Rosenbloom

You Might Also Like

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip
Local

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip

Ampersand Families
Employment

Human Resources Manager, ampersand families

Program Coordinator
Employment

Office Coordinator

Program Coordinator
Employment

Program Coordinator

Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate
National

Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate

Photo of the Week: Barbie back-to-school party
Photo Galleries

Photo of the Week: Barbie back-to-school party

Next Post

#MPLS: a musical multi-genre gumbo

Comments 1

  1. Mary says:
    7 years ago

    Mr Rosenbloom, I saw you tonight on Almanac. I live in Duluth. I thank you for explaining the difference between a black person with a permit to carry vs a white person. Is there any way I can offer support in the community?
    Mary Helf

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Oct 3
October 3 @ 8:30 am-October 4 @ 5:30 pm

Insects: Little Body, Big Impact | Nobel Conference 59 | Virtual or In-Person

Oct 4
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An Evening with Liz Cheney

Oct 5
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

The Bombing of Cubana Flight 455: Why it Matters

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

PHOTO: Barbie back-to-school party

A Barbie back to school party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: