Gang violence hurts Black community, officer says
Danielle Skinner
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
Marvin Blades, an officer for the Tulsa Police Department, spoke at an open discussion on gang violence sponsored by student members of the NAACP Feb. 9. The seminar was supposed to address and compare gang and Greek activity, but Blades ended up speaking on a deeper concern: gang violence among Black males and its affect on the Tulsa community.
Blades told students that from 1990 to 2008, about 2,000 Blacks in Tulsa have been killed as a direct result of gang violence.
"Black men are killing themselves at an alarming rate, and it's not slowing down," he said.
Blades said that five homicides have already taken place this year in Tulsa, three of which were gang related and resulted in the deaths of a 15, 16, and 25-year-old.
Blades also discussed the alarming number of Black males in jail. He said in the Tulsa County Jail, 48 percent of the population is Black, and out of that 48 percent, 90 percent are males. Ironically, Black people only make up 15 percent of the population in Tulsa, said Blade.
Many of the men who are in jail are involved in gangs, Blades explained, and Congress is trying to crack down on gang members through new legislation. Blades said the legislation involves using a "gang list." If a member of society is put on that "gang list" and they get arrested, up to five years could be added to their sentence.
According to Blades, all police departments receive money according to the number of people on the "gang list," which makes officers more inclined to find gang members.
"The majority on the list are African-Americans. The system is unfair, and has always been unfair. Young people are playing a game that they don't know the rules to," Blades said.
Blades also spoke to students about the many reasons Black men join gangs.
"In Tulsa there is a 50 percent drop-out rate in high school. Young men join gangs because of a lack of education and because of broken homes," he said. "We have families where fathers are absent, the mothers are on dope, and the grandmothers raise their children's children."
After Blades' talk, some of the students asked him what he is doing to help change gang violence in the community. Blade responded by telling students of the mentoring program he is involved in.
"I help young people get educated. I mentor young kids ages 4 to 12. I mentor kids eight hours a week," he said.
Due to the past shootings on campus, some students asked Blades what they could do to stop gang violence.
"We have to take responsibility. We have to take it upon ourselves to save ourselves. We have to speak up about what's going on," Blades suggested. "To turn this thing around we need committed Black people."
Blades encouraged students to live their lives positively, and to realize their greatness.
"If you are going to throw up a "c," let it stand for Christ. If you are going to do a drive by, drive by a library and read a book," he said. "You come from survivors; you came from the best. You can get beyond MLK's dream."
Blades told students that from 1990 to 2008, about 2,000 Blacks in Tulsa have been killed as a direct result of gang violence.
"Black men are killing themselves at an alarming rate, and it's not slowing down," he said.
Blades said that five homicides have already taken place this year in Tulsa, three of which were gang related and resulted in the deaths of a 15, 16, and 25-year-old.
Blades also discussed the alarming number of Black males in jail. He said in the Tulsa County Jail, 48 percent of the population is Black, and out of that 48 percent, 90 percent are males. Ironically, Black people only make up 15 percent of the population in Tulsa, said Blade.
Many of the men who are in jail are involved in gangs, Blades explained, and Congress is trying to crack down on gang members through new legislation. Blades said the legislation involves using a "gang list." If a member of society is put on that "gang list" and they get arrested, up to five years could be added to their sentence.
According to Blades, all police departments receive money according to the number of people on the "gang list," which makes officers more inclined to find gang members.
"The majority on the list are African-Americans. The system is unfair, and has always been unfair. Young people are playing a game that they don't know the rules to," Blades said.
Blades also spoke to students about the many reasons Black men join gangs.
"In Tulsa there is a 50 percent drop-out rate in high school. Young men join gangs because of a lack of education and because of broken homes," he said. "We have families where fathers are absent, the mothers are on dope, and the grandmothers raise their children's children."
After Blades' talk, some of the students asked him what he is doing to help change gang violence in the community. Blade responded by telling students of the mentoring program he is involved in.
"I help young people get educated. I mentor young kids ages 4 to 12. I mentor kids eight hours a week," he said.
Due to the past shootings on campus, some students asked Blades what they could do to stop gang violence.
"We have to take responsibility. We have to take it upon ourselves to save ourselves. We have to speak up about what's going on," Blades suggested. "To turn this thing around we need committed Black people."
Blades encouraged students to live their lives positively, and to realize their greatness.
"If you are going to throw up a "c," let it stand for Christ. If you are going to do a drive by, drive by a library and read a book," he said. "You come from survivors; you came from the best. You can get beyond MLK's dream."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Gil Wainwright
posted 6/20/09 @ 3:42 PM CST
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Portland Movers
posted 7/07/09 @ 2:53 PM CST
Decreasing gang violence should be one of the primary goals of our communities, so that senseless killings could be prevented.
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