My Condolences

Statement

I am saddened that another tragedy has sparked the conscious of America and the world. A tragedy that has claimed the life of yet another African American young man. My heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family, friends and the community in which he lived. Once again too soon another family is grieved over the untimely death of an African American male lying in the streets as a result of a shooting either by a police officer or an adverse altercation.

I ask the question every day, "What does it take to reduce crime in the street of America?" What can I do as an elected official, concerned citizen, and as Christian to be a voice in the wilderness of racial disparity? How can we be more pro-active rather than reactive to reduce racial tension in the streets of America? African American and Hispanic children seem to be at risk across America. They are subject to search and seizure more than any other race. For the most part, they do not have the financial means to afford fancy automobiles so they are more likely to walk. The social and economic disparities are rampant in many of the African American communities throughout America. That is why raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 is so important to struggling families that are economically and financially stressed. Raising the minimum wage is not "the means to end all" but it is can be the start of a new beginning for so many struggling Americans families.

In addition, it is equally important that pay equity for women become a high priority politically to help improve the quality of life for families across America. Today, so many women are head of households solely the responsibly for the financial support of their families, which means that often time she is having to work two and three jobs to keep food on the table, shelter, clothing and all other expenses. Many families are seriously struggling and so are so many of our children who are having to deal with social, cultural and economic adversities are experiencing the cause and effects of having to merely survive. Our children deserve to have the luxury of having safe, secure neighborhoods in which to live, play and recreate without being threaten, bullied or shot to death and left laying in the cold naked streets.

For those politicians who are insensitive, heartless, and have far removed themselves from the above termed situation obviously do not have sons, daughters, wives, mothers, grandchildren, or family members who could be the beneficiaries of reduction in student loans, minimum wage increase, equal pay, safer and secure neighborhoods esthetically attractive. Let me be the first to suggest that they visit the home of a single mother who is struggling to feed and cloth her family of three or more on $7.25 per hour concurrently on two or more jobs having very little quality time to spend with her family; while living is sub-standard or public housing.

The tragedy is that American leaders are focused on fixing the world's problems while neglecting its very own. We invest in the infrastructure in abroad while our communities need to be revitalized, roads and bridges are failing badly in need of repair. The roads and streets in many African Americans communities are in terrible condition and are rapidly declining with serious cracked decrepitated streets with grass growing up in them making community esthetics and eye sore. In other words, the neighborhood business are in deplorable depressed condition contributing to the distressed atmosphere in the community; while so many businesses are left abandoned and/or boarded up contributing to even more stressful communities. Tension is extremely high in far too many distressed African American communities that appears to be saturated with police officers or in some cases a lack thereof.

What can we as Americans learn from this tragedy?

And, what can we as American do to minimize the possibility of this from happening again in others communities?

Its time to get real serious about reducing crime in the streets of America!

We have got to do a better job to prevent and protect our children from heinous crimes such as the one that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri. I believe we have to work extremely hard at building community relations, bridge the gap between communities, close the economic, social, economic and racial divide. Close the gap between the have and the have not's which is becoming increasing wider and wider. This is America. We are all Americans. America is deemed successful when families succeed both socially and economically. We can and must do better at minimizing the racial divide starting in Ferguson, Missouri. Let each of us remember this community prayerfully so that the healing process can immediately begin. It's time to stop the violence.

I hope the tragedy which occurred in Ferguson, Missouri will help America realize that enough is enough. We do not need to lose another one of our children like this. Our children deserve to have a better opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest. But far too often we are having to confront yet another tragedy involving a young African American young man.

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