BLACK MEN: REPLACE VIOLENCE WITH PRIDE

I am African American. Last week, I sat at my breakfast table with
The Miami Herald. I was sickened by the headline Bullet kills
9-year-old playing in yard. Tears welled in my eyes and streamed down my face.

I hurt for this stranger, this family, this housing project with yet
another innocent child being killed. I asked myself, What can I do?
What can one senior citizen do about black men killing each other and
innocent bystanders? I prayed and began to think about possible solutions.

I thought that we could take a stand like Mayor Shirley Gibson of
Miami Gardens and close down any business that repeatedly disturbs
the peace by having excessive police calls and incidents of violence.
We could close up the area and make it a gated community. We could
provide extra police protection or create a safe place in the
community for children to play. Residents could take a stand against
drugs and violence by forming an effective Crime Watch Program.

We could offer GED programs to residents within the community and
establish a role-model program for African-American boys in their
teens and help them become men. We could have various colleges
recruit residents for classes. Ex-offenders could have their rights
fully restored and offered apprenticeships. Churches could unite with
others and do missionary work in the inner city.

Black grandfathers, fathers, husbands, brothers, sons and grandsons
- -- we need you to provide protection and security for your
grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and granddaughters.
We can reclaim our community and make it more safe and prosperous
than before. Can't we all join together and fight for our survivors?
Stop the violence and create brotherhood instead.

We can build strong families and produce pride in our sons.

Argerine Williams

Miami Gardens