COMMUNITIES RALLY AGAINST VIOLENCE

Twenty years ago, David Sparks marched and organized rallies to demand
equal opportunities for young black men and women.

But ask Sparks today if much has changed since 1987.

"No, not really," he says sadly.

Now, Sparks is marching again as one of the organizers of today's
peace march and rally in the Prestons.

The march and rally began as an idea put forward by a committee of
community leaders from the mostly African-Nova Scotian communities of
Cherry Brook, North Preston and East Preston, as a response to one of
the most pressing problems in their midst.

Many in the tight-knit communities believe that too many young black
men and women are turning their backs on traditional values and
becoming involved in gangs, drugs, anti-social behaviour and violence.

An incident a little more than a month ago became a lightning rod for
the entire black community.

Two young men, Brandon Courtney Beals, 21, of East Preston and Martaze
Cortaze Provo, 26, of North Preston, were shot outside a well-known
local party house. Both men died in hospital shortly after.

Two other men, Galen Anthony Beals and Vantino Nathaniel Beals, were
seriously wounded.

Reasons for the shooting are not known. But investigators know that
all four of the men shot early in the morning of Dec. 10 went to the
party house looking for someone. The two survivors haven't co-operated
with police and potential witnesses at the party on Upper Partridge
River Road have not come forward with information.

That's been deeply troubling to Sparks and other members of the
march's organizing committee.

There are rumours circulating about the possibility of revenge for the
shootings, leaving community leaders worried about a cycle of
retribution and revenge ending in more deaths and more families mourning.

Rumours about the shootings have circled through the community for
weeks. Many people say it's widely known who shot the four young men.

Some blame the presence of drugs, guns and a gang mentality for the
killings; Sparks believes there are deeper problems.

Sparks was once part of the Christian Coalition for Social Change, a
group dedicated to tearing down workplace barriers to give minority
groups equal access to jobs in Nova Scotia.

Ten years after the movement more or less fizzled, Sparks believes
black people in this province are still marginalized, still kept on
the fringes of society.

And that form of racism could be one of the big factors affecting the
attitudes of young African-Nova Scotians.

Sparks says that young black men and women don't see themselves
reflected in the larger society around them. That fosters feelings of
bitterness, frustration and anger - emotions that can easily be turned
inward and play out in violent incidents.

"I call it self-hate because we've not been fully integrated into
society," he said.

With few job opportunities for young black men and women, and pop
culture demanding bigger bling, fancier cars and designer threads,
what can a young person do?

Especially, as Sparks contends, if they're black and don't see
themselves as part of the larger society.

"We teach them this type of value system, but at the same time deny
them the opportunity to achieve those things or enjoy them," said Sparks.

Sparks is calm, focused and speaks in a measured cadence about the
problems affecting African-Nova Scotian communities. He's not angry or
bitter, but he's realistic about the shortcomings of both the black
and white communities when it comes to dealing with racism in Nova
Scotia.

Both sides, he says, have a lot of work to do.

"My generation has not done a good job of preparing the generation out
of control, at risk, in the struggle for equal opportunities," he
said."It's always the generation that comes before that has to
educate. The problems of today are a result of the leadership of yesterday."

"And we as a black community have not focused on the problem," said
Sparks. "Instead, we've turned on each other."

The march could help turn that around.

Organizers are expecting hundreds to show their support for the
communities and march from the scene of the murder to Graham Creighton
Junior High School in Cherry Brook.

Since the incident a month ago, East Preston Ratepayers Association
chairman Spencer Colley has fielded calls from across the province.

"This is not just a Halifax or Dartmouth or Preston problem," said the
former police officer. "This is a problem we all have to start dealing
with."