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Ohio gathers data on city’s black males
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Executive Director of Ohio Commission on African American males Samuel Gresham Jr. speaks at City Hall Thursday
The police chief said black males between 15 and 25 account for 90 percent of Youngstown’s murder offenders or victims.
YOUNGSTOWN — Dozens of people gathered at City Hall to discuss what is needed to address the challenges facing black males in Ohio.
The Monday evening meeting was one of 15 stops across the state by the Ohio Commission on African-American Males. The commission is a state agency set up to identify and promote strategies and policies to foster improvements in issues affecting black men.
The commission has visited 15 cities of varying sizes that collectively represent 90 percent of the black population in the state. Samuel Gresham, commission executive director, said the commission’s purpose is the same in each city — gather input from those living there.
“The question we want them to answer is, what do you want the commission to do in your community?” he said.
Those attending the presentation were asked to fill out questionnaires on the plight and outlook of black males.
Gresham said the leading concerns across the state have been access to health care, education, employment training and criminal justice concerns.
Some in the audience seemed skeptical that the commission could or would do anything at all. One man asked Gresham why so much input is needed now when the commission has been in existence for two decades.
City resident Clarence Boles asked what will be different about the current program than seen in the past and will any direct changes come out of it.
Gresham said there cannot be a complete reliance on government. Any program put in place by the state will only be a catalyst or leading effort for those living in the community to bring about changes and address issues concerning black males, he said.
Many in attendance Thursday seemed to agree with Gresham.
During a portion of the discussion where attendees were encouraged to give five-minute testimonials, Jerome Harrell, principal at Alpha: School of Excellence for Boys, said it is time for the black community to stop blaming others — in and out of the black community — for unacceptable behavior of some young black males. He offered insight as to how the school encourages positive attitudes in young males.
The Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, encouraged the community to support existing organizations that work to address issues affecting young black males. He said any solution will be found in organization and community effort.
Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes made it clear that any state program or initiative would have to address younger black males.
Hughes said Youngstown exceeds the national average in murder for cities with a population of 100,000, with black males between 15 and 25 accounting for 90 percent of the offenders or victims. Remove those males from the equation, he said, and the city would fall below the national average, showing that particular age group must be addressed.
Gresham said black males, particularly young males, need to be the focus of any programs or initiatives if the black race is to flourish.
“The next renaissance of the African-American community is the African-American male,” he said. “The African-American community will not reach its apex without the African-American male.”
jgoodwin@vindy.com
SEE ALSO:About the commission.
Comments
In Chile, So. America, they pick up truants and enlist them. Just a thought...
They need jobs! Put them to work and get them off the streets. Now they are just contributing to the decay of the city.
I'm sorry, but from knowing quite a few of these people personally, I know for a fact that they do not want jobs. They would rather work their own hours selling drugs and not paying taxes....when I think about it I wonder why I don't do the same.
Saysithowitiz, You are probably the wrong color to be able to get away with it!
The people discussing the issues in this article may be sincere but until the black community decides that they are tired of this crap, there will be no improvement. This "don't snitch mentality" doesn't buy the black community any sympathy from me. Goes back to the old saying,
"when nothing changes, nothing changes"
It's hard for the mentality to change when the media sends a different message. Just watch some of the TV shows or listen to some of the music. It's "cool" to carry around guns, drive cars that cost more than it would take to feed all of starving Africa, and sell drugs. You don't have "big dawg status" unless you act hardcore and try to shoot anyone that has a difference of opinion. I think the schools need to offer some classes in "common sense" and "thinking for yourself." It seems that no one has any individual goals, that everyone wants the same things, the things they see in the music videos.
Whenever you have an "Oceans 11,” "Terminator", and finally "BET" you will have what you have in any community. Poor black crime is no different from poor Irish and Asian crime. An entire law enforcement industry financed from the perpetuation and persecution of the criminals is the problem. Under the late Ronald Reagan, America urban education was greatly disadvantaged while advancing the descendants of slave overseers into the ranks of DEA and law enforcement to be the superior over the flock.
BTW- If you are a law abiding black citizen and don’t want police to kick in your door, because they can without any justification, either move out of the crime infested area or chase out the criminals and their white liberal enablers from around you.
I blame the Republicans and Arnold Swchwarzenegger. I never really cared for "Terminator."
Black males are in an interesting predicament. They are men, and are pressured to "act like men" that is, not show weaknesses or stand for being treated like 2nd class citizens, however, they are black too, so (especially in racist Ohio) they get treated with suspicion, disdain, (institutional racism) and sometimes out-loud racism. So it's a trap- either have your masculinity challenged on a daily basis by the racism dealt to you when you try and make it in a career you worked for or you give up and be what the white folks expect you to be: a drug dealer, irresponsible father, etc. The latter allows you to keep your masculinity intact, your friends and family understand because they also know how getting a job working for a white person subjects you to racist white people like the posters above.
So white folks need to stop being racist and start understanding that black men have been given a crap education that was most likely full of racist teachers, school administrators, etc. and that anyone coming out of that kind of background would be angry and not want to trust white people or their jobs. If I was black I would do my best to never hang out with white folks too especially if "white people" are like the posters above.
"because they also know how getting a job working for a white person subjects you to racist white people like the posters above"
Expecting a black man to work for a living is racist?
Tell me OhioPerson, what do you say about these poor black men that had black teachers and black school administrators? How do you justify these men being bitter. Well rejoice, come January 20th all will be better. Of course racism will now have a new twist. Will not be able to say that the big boss man is holding them down cause the big boss man will be black. Where is the true racism in this country? Think about the following terms or groups: BET, NAACP, United Negro College Fund, Black History Month, Black College Reunion, Miss Black America, Congressional Black Caucus. We could go on and on. All of these groups are acceptable but what if you substituted the word white in each case? Guess what, we would have racism.Can't use the "N" word cause that is racist. Oh, I'm sorry, if I was black it would be okay. It is just a big joke and we all know it! The race card is used when it is to their advantage. The term African American is a laugh. 99% of these "African Americans" have never been to Africa and if they ever went would be clawing their way back to the good old USA. They need to think of where they would be if their great great grandmammy's tribal chieftian had not sold her to the slave trader. The saga of Kunta Kinta was not real!!!They would be running around Africa with a bone stuck thru their nose. Ever think that a true African American could be White! Lots of successful black people in this country. They took pride in their heritage and chose to make something of themselves just like lots of other ethnic groups. It is not rocket science!!!
This starts in the home, at an early age. If the parents are still teenagers, what's to be expected? We need to get to these people BEFORE they become a problem, not after. Otherwise, they'll be building a prison on your block!
The problems facing this demographic go farther than racism. If anyone had watched the CNN special about "Black in America" it pointed out the multi-faceted problems facing young black men. Yes, the problems often start at an early age when there is no father figure in their household and grandmothers are struggling to raise children for their daughters. The entire community (black and white) needs to come together to begin facing this problem. To act as if "it is their problem", is seriously short sighted and insensitive. Boys Clubs help but there needs to be male mentors for these children/young men. I am always shocked by the lack of empathy from the politically conservative.
"Under the late Ronald Reagan, America urban education was greatly disadvantaged while advancing the descendants of slave overseers into the ranks of DEA and law enforcement to be the superior over the flock." Really? The talk of racism is always centered around whites perception of blacks, yet this comment from Reallyimablackman shows part of the true problem. Racism is a 2-way street. Once blacks eliminate the racism towards whites, and vice-versa we can go a long way towards a cure.
How many people can actually trace their roots to the slave days? Come on "Really", that is a tired old excuse that has no merrit whatsoever.
Racism is too big a business to ever be completely settled. As long as it can be used as a crutch there will never be advancement.
Redvert, I try really hard not to wish that your family gets sold into slavery and split up, killed, beat, raped, by some cruel race of people we've never encountered before but it's difficult, especially since you seem to feel a family who experiences this is lucky. But I don't wish it on anyone, not even you.
Yes Obama is black and is the president, but he did not grow up in Youngstown, did he? If he had, where do you honestly think he would be right now?
To the rest of you (except Geniene), sorry you are so miserable and full of fear and hatred. Maybe do some spiritual searching this holiday season.
"sorry you are so miserable and full of fear and hatred."
Just telling it how it is!
So the blacks are the only race that experienced persecution in the past? Their past haunts them so they now cant make it? This is a bunch of BS. How about the Jews that experienced extermination? Why do they work hard and thrive? Palestinian immigrants operate stores here in Youngstown. Why dont the Blacks? Perhaps it is time for the Blacks to copy success. Jesse Jackson thrives with business interests. He is black isn't he? Many Blacks in the USA thrive.
if obama grew-up in ytown he would teach mayor "j" a few things on how to be an effective leader without using his pastor wagoneer as a mentor. obama would never lead the charge in taking property and chasing businesses out of ytown.
terra..., my point is that the first black man to be president was raised in a community without significant race issues. If Obama grew up in Youngstown, he might not even be a leader at all. Potential like his was a part of him when he was born, but it is not uncommon. The difference is he was brought up by people in a community who nurtured that and encouraged it whereas in Ytown, he would have been ignored, treated with contempt, and would have a very different outlook.
Stan, your posts are so full of nonsense I don't really want to spend the time refuting your ignorant statements. I will say this: there is no excuse for racism.
Some links:
http://www.racismstillexists.com/
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/08/30/...
OhioPerson:
There is no excuse for ingnorance when the real issue is that doing your thing and ignoring your family has consequences. Why blame anyone else?
"OhioPerson"...
Obama - not black. Obama - president-elect, not yet president.
And a question -- has your family been sold into slavery and split up, killed, beat, or raped? Are you even black? If your answer is 'no' to either one of those questions, then who are you to say that it was difficult? Granted, from everything we've learned in history class, etc., it seems like a pretty terrible situation. But... I find it also 'difficult' to live my life having to watch my back when I leave my home or place of work because some 'uneducated 15-25 year old black man' might be waiting for me or my family. I find it 'difficult' to have to work my butt off to afford the things I need and want but yet people around me are perfectly capable of working and instead choose to stay at home with their 15 children that have 15 different 'baby daddies' and collect a welfare check. And I also find it 'difficult' to look at a black person who is now allowed to eat in the same restaurants as me, use the same toilets as me, and go to the same other facilities as me... but yet that person still has the nerve to complain and act like they're still owed something? Please.
And you know what -- I do feel bad. I feel bad for the people who had to endure the beatings, the killings, and the rapes. But that didn't just happen to blacks. As mentioned above, not to mention the fact that it's common knowledge, many other cultures have been subjected to the hatred. So tell me... what makes your great great great grandparent, circa 1800-something, different from a Jew in a concentration camp in the 1930's or a poor little Asian girl half way around the world today who is being forced to prostitute herself? What makes you so special?