Innocent bystander Derrion Albert killed, Chicago teenagers need alternatives to violence
After reading blogger Janet Shan's post on BlackPoliticalThought.Blogspot.com about the Thursday, Sept. 24, beating and murder of 16-year-old honors student Derrion Albert, I watched the video of three people beating Albert with a railroad tie, punching him and then a few people dragging Albert to an alternate location in hopes of helping him.
There's a person near the camera (or shooting the camera) who sounds like he's almost laughing at the fight still going on, and honestly, that disturbed me more than the video. One female's voice laughs and a guy says, "Look, they still going at it down there." Somebody was just beaten in front of them, but somehow this was entertainment. Somebody lost a life to a fight that I'm convinced, without knowing anybody in this traumatic event, was not worth it, and I'm hearing chuckling. Wow.
The Chicago Tribune reported that three people were arrested today in Albert's death: Silvonus Shannon, 19, Eugene Riley, 18, and Eric Carson, 16. Although Albert was an innocent bystander, the fight was really directed between two groups of Fenger High School Students, one group residing in
And while I'm shaking my head at the female laughing and the male sounding entertained that the fight was going on, I'm really pondering on just what will make teenagers finally stop killing each other. I was a bystander at several gang fights when I was younger, one of which I ran home from school while a guy aimed a gun at another boy's head on a basketball court. I was no more than 10 or 11 at the time.
The neighborhood I grew up in was middle class, but when you have three gangs surrounding the area and one gang is on your block, it's a little hard to have a peaceful summer never mind a school year. Throughout elementary school, I listened to the list of young Black men who were beaten, shot or killed like it was roll call, and to a far-away observer, my face probably didn't even change as I heard the news. The only time I ever recall breaking down was in college when my (male) best friend was allegedly killed over a dice game. And although I was stunned by news of other violent deaths with two cousins who were shot and killed (neither over gangs), I didn't have the same reaction I had about my next-door-neighbor. I didn't come back to
But desensitization to violence is only one of the problems. Reckless disregard for another person's life and suicidal tendencies make up two more of the problems. But the third is one that is a little more complicated. There's no way in the world I'd have been able to hold a camera and watch a boy being beaten like that. Although it probably helped police to identify suspects and exactly what happened before Albert was killed, I should have been hearing sirens loudly. I should've heard those sirens so loud that I couldn't hear anyone's conversations. But from the video, it looked like too many people were excited and almost thirsty for violence. I wonder how long it took for the police to be called. Were the police neglectful? Did the kids hanging around think the fight would pass? Or, was it a little bit of both?
I'd like to say, "I'm glad I'm not a teenager anymore," but I can recall two grown men (a previous co-worker's husband at my mother's job and the father of a family member of mine) who were beaten by teenagers. One is still collecting disability to this day for that fight. So if teenagers aren't off limits and grown men aren't off limits, are there any boundaries to life at all? African-Americans used to be the largest minority population in the
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28 Comments
Mr. Brown Thumb said:
Which of the kids was Darrien? Was he the one that we see in the video being punched by the kid in the basketball shorts? If that's Darrien at the :45 second mark in the video he throws a punch at a kid running from the fight occurring next to the car and building. At the :47 second mark in the video he gets hit with the piece of wood and at the :48 second mark he gets punched by the kid in the basket ball shorts and goes down.
Is that the same kid we see later in the video being dragged into the community center?
Message from Montie said:
Yes, the boy who was hit with the railroad tie, punched by the guy in the basketball shorts, and dragged into the building was Darrien.
OldFashioned said:
"I thought about the guys that I know, who are fully grown men who now have sons and daughters of their own, and analyzed what kept them out of trouble."
You're forgetting one essential--good parenting. Parenting is a 24 hour a day job. Why are we dependent on others, to correct a situation we have created ourselves?
All the funding in the world won't cure these social ills until sound parenting becomes a priority in our communities.
Message from Montie said:
OldFashioned, I didn't forget this one. I watched too many guys with good parents and grandparents who chose to do whatever they wanted to do anyway. I still remember Suge Knight saying he grew up in a middle-class family and his parents were nothing like him, and that guy definitely was wilding out. And a couple of guys I was thinking of who are on the straight and narrow had cracked-out and alcoholic mothers and no father figure, but they were just fed up with their environment. And all of them had jobs.
heavens angels said:
I,m not sure why we as humans have to hurt, kill, punish, rape ,rob and the list go's on. My heart go's out not only to the victim and his family but to the individuals responsible for this horrific ordeal. Why yall gotta blame the parents all the time for their childrens actions? Always looking to blame somebody.To all of you that have children as I do, I'm sure that the majority does not instill violence in they're children. Are you people implying that if a parent is single or poor that can't raise a child properly? What the hell is this world coming to !!!! The parents or parent of these hellish kids could be model citizens lawyers,docters,teachers,or law abiding citizens, to all of you that want to blame the parents, Do you know where your kids are? Playing violent video games, doing drugs,having sex rehearsing every violent rap song there is,watching t.v that isn't suitable for your mother???? The way of the world is the way of the children quit blaming the parents blame society blame technology but don't try to justify how a parent raises they're children. I come from a very disfunctional family with verbal and physical abuse and I am a 41 year old white female with 3 children but they aren't out there killing or abusing anyone!!! Oh did I mention that they too are black? Too much stereotyping and too much hate man this pisses me off!!! My heart goes out to all of you ignorant, selfish,opinionated morons why don't you educate yourselves and remember to love one another no matter how much pain inflicts apon you and please, please tell your children and love ones how much you love them right or wrong. To the person that taped the video, you DID DO THE RIGHT THING!!!! How many others didn't intervene? I would have gave my life to save that young man why didn't any of you opinionated people that witnessed this do something? Sometimes we have to take matters in our own hands never mind the po po's God Bless You All And Rest In Pease Darrion your in a better place.
Message from Montie said:
HeavensAngels, I do understand what OldFashioned was saying though. While I do know examples of adult Black men who grew up to be model citizens and had crazy parents, the majority did have parents who were trying to rekindle their teenage years or just flat out didn't give a damn (one of the many reasons I support pro choice, but that's another blog). I definitely blame some of the parents who could care less that their children have lost their minds, but the child has to be willing to meet in the middle too. So I say both should be responsible. I don't see how requiring good parenting is a stereotype though. And who are the "ignorant, selfish, opinionated morons" you're talking about? Let's cut out the name calling. We can make our points without resorting to name calling.
heavens angels said:
Montie I meant no disrespect to you. I wasn't name calling. I am outraged at the comments I read on BET's blog . People insinuate its always the parents fault and yes there are some pretty bad parents out there because they lack the parenting skills that are nessasary in todays day and age. I'm far from perfect and wish I could take all the worlds pain away but I know thats impossible for oneself,it takes the people in this world to unite as one stop the hatred.Violence is not a color its a choice and a bad one. LOVE conquers hate but we need to teach not just our children but our brothers and sisters as well! We are one world no matter what ,rich ,poor, educated or not. We as the human race need to take a stand and make the world we live in a place of love,happiness,and peace. If everyone did one good thing for another and show the love thats very much needed I think we could make a difference in this world but it takes all of us not one of us.Everyday I do something to show a human an act of kindness whether it be a compliment or a hug or an uplifting word to make someone feel better.I'm not a werdo I just believe it can be done young or old we all need to know that we are loved!
Message from Montie said:
Aw okay, thanks Heaven Angels. I appreciate you clarifying that. There are so many Internet thugs so I was trying to figure out where the venting was coming from. I understand now. I appreciate you for commenting and visiting. I do think some of these jokers need a hug though. :-) I just had an interesting conversation about this event, and the guy I was talking to said that he thinks some of these brothas who love to just kill people for no reason should be forced to go to third world countries and see what crimes really are. Folks are getting hands off for stealing cell phones. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I'm just at a loss to what to do to change things around. I thought my generation (I'm 27) was nuts for stealing Starter jackets and Jordan gymshoes and threatening with guns, but the generation under me is flat out insane. I never thought I'd want to go back to the days of stealing people's gymshoes.
OldFashioned said:
Heavens Angels said, "Why yall gotta blame the parents all the time for their childrens actions? Always looking to blame somebody."
I'm a parent to my children, not a friend. My husband and I are their ultimate authority until they leave the nest. If they're doing something wrong and we don't correct it, the fault lies with us. Children can't raise themselves.
I find it hard to believe that the teens wilding out in the video were model children at home. Things like this brew. I know that parents can't foretell something like this happening, but I'm sure there were signs.
Montie, I'm feeling your comment "the majority did have parents who were trying to rekindle their teenage years". I'm sitting here now bored, multi-tasking on the computer and watching Ice Age with the kids until their 9pm bedtime. I look around me and see the parents who are just not that interested in being parents.
Montie, there will always be exceptions such as Suge Knight. Hey, I might end up with a Jeffrey Dahmer, but I know in my heart that I have put in the time to know my children, both who they are and where they are.
Message from Montie said:
I see Heavens Angels' side and your side too, Old Fashioned. My mother is my very best (female) friend, but she will remind me QUICKLY who is the mother as soon as she sees me getting out of line. I flat out wouldn't do things for fear of my father, godfather, and older brother hemming me up. But I do recall a childhood friend of mine who was determined to sell drugs and pulled a gun on his extremely righteous, well-educated, and calm father. He ended up in prison for three years, but when he got out, him and his father got along better. It's a shame that it took that to get the two to connect more. He was an example of someone who was around, and his son just let the streets envelop him.
I recall T.I. saying he didn't come from a bad household and just chose the streets. It's the same reason why young brothas give credit to Scarface and the Mafia but don't understand that Harriet Tubman was far more "gangsta" and honorable than all of them. But it takes education and guidance and being willing to hem your kids up in order to do all of that.
heavens angels said:
old fashion i'm home with my children too. What really makes you think that your children won't do wrong? I pray they don't ,however you sound like a wonderful parent but that don't mean your children will be like you. I know alot of wonderful parents today wondering why their kids are doing hard time for murder, drugs, rape and so on,how would you feel if you had to live that unthinkable nightmare knowing you were there for your children and did everything right? Please ask yourself that question.
Message from Montie said:
Heavens Angels, I agree. I don't know if you see the alert above but I gave an example of a father who was present in his son's life and the son pulled a gun on his father. I don't even know how to explain that one. That's definitely got to be hard on parents who are really trying. One other pattern I've seen are parents who are just flat-out overworked. They're working a bunch of jobs and just don't have time to hold their children's hands. Being a latchkey kid myself in a two-parent household, I know how hard it is to raise a child and work and keep a home, etc. And I was a latchkey kid with gangs all around me, but I still feared my parents enough to go straight home.
Crazy thing is that when I was in school, gangs would kinda leave the "squares" alone or those who claimed to be "neutron." Now it seems like they focus on those trying to do right. I reported on a couple of stories about Blair Holt who was just on a CTA Bus, minding his business when he was killed. I thought of him tonight because his mother, Annette Holt, was on WGN news tonight.
UNDERDOG74 said:
Ok, im wht, born and raised in Miami. Still, I attended UCF with a friend BLK from South Side Chi. I visited with him n his fam, we slept on the floor cuz of all the drive by shootings.
This event caught on video is all to familiar and will most likely be gone like history tomorrow......that is unacceptable!!!!
has not a thing to do with RACE and rather the culture of young society......THE SOLUTION???? teach kids to walk away - dont get involved - live another day - EASY TO WRITE but HARD TO FOLLOW
RIP DA.......tried to help and got killed for it....bull spit mang!!
Message from Montie said:
Underdog74, let's be very clear. The entire South Side of Chicago is not the same. I went through 17 years of living there and never once saw a drive-by shooting. Gang life was apparent? Drive-by shootings never happened on my block. Out-of-towners see the news and think Chicago is just one big ghetto. Now that I have that out of the way, I do agree with you that it will be old news very soon because it keeps happening. People have become desensitized to issues like this. The girl laughing in the background was my point!
And as far as this issue having nothing to do with race, it always amazes how naive some people can be about the effects that poverty, unemployment rate, and statistics in imprisonment are not narrow when it comes to race. When you look at gangs, the chances of seeing a black or brown face is almost a given. But this time the issue was black-on-black crime. Black folks are killing ourselves so quickly and viciously to the point where outsiders don't have to do a thing. I know the KKK loved hearing stuff like this.
As far as walking away, once again, I'm reminded that you are from out of town. There was an incident (I believe last year) with a boy who walked away from a bad situation and was shot anyway. It is so easy to say "walk away," but growing up in an area where boys were beaten up for NOT joining gangs, that's easier said than done. A friend of mine was beaten up at lunchtime just for walking past a gang and not throwing up their sign. Not even a couple months later, he was dragged from a van and beaten AGAIN simply because his brother was in a gang. And what did they want him to do? Join. That was it.
Some join for violence. Some join for survival. Some join and treat gangs like cliques and never truly get involved in the lifestyle.
However, there are Chicago gangs who will hold a lighter up and have all the members beat you for NOT joining in a fight. Then what do you do? It's more to this than just walking away.
UNDERDOG74 said:
Ok.......home school then??? I suppose there is no one clear cut answer. Still, I am soooooooo sick of this type of behavior by all races....bottom line is......if humans really want to do something...you can deter or inform them of what will happen....but they can still attempt to go through with it....ahhhhhhh sooooo frustrating......(tossing up my hands in frustration)
Message from Montie said:
You are right about there being no clear cut answer. I do support homeschool, but sooner or later, these folks have to walk out the door. And when they're in an environment with "role models" who don't have the education or qualifications to homeschool, then what?
Oakland said:
The phrase in the title "alternative to violence" struck me as strange. Why should violence even be a option? Being bored or not having a job is no excuse for violence. Violence like this comes out of culture of self indulgence, not deprivation. These kids are underfed or lacking in clothes, and if they were it still wouldn't justify this kind of behavior. What these kids need is some serious discipline, and now they are going to get it, in jail.
Message from Montie said:
Oakland, when you live in an environment where it's almost a requirement, it bypasses an "option." I don't recall saying anything about being bored, but not having a job usually leads to illegal activity to make money. And anytime money factors into the equation in a not-so-great neighborhood, crime is just around the corner. Hell, people get robbed in beautiful neighborhoods (ex. Lincoln Park). You talk a lot about these kids, but do you actually know any of them? I see examples of them almost daily. Frustration is the root of many of the issues. I'm not trying to justify the behavior, but "serious discipline" like prison won't necessarily help. When they get out, felony is on their records, which leads to repeat crimes, hanging with the wrong crowd AGAIN and sometimes being suicidal. Young people need to be reached out to before these situations happen, disciplining after the fact is just about pointless considering the U.S. employment regulations. They can go to prison and hear worse stories, regret their decisions, but for the rest of their lives, they'll be made to feel like criminals, including those who are in prison and who are innocent.
Do I want the CORRECT boys to go to prison for killing Derrion? I want them to learn a lesson and understand what they did was wrong. But I'm 50/50 on the whole prison resolution.
OutofState said:
Health care is at the forefront of the national debate and it is certainly worthy of that position. However, the violence in Chicago should not be occurring in this country. The current President (our first of half African-American descent) is a former Senator from Illinois and a Chicago fan. Oprah Winfrey, media goddess and an African-American, originates her show from Chicago. Yet, at the same time, a troubling number of African-American youth in the Windy City are murderers and street thug terrorists. As for the reference to prison as maybe not being the solution, I agree: the death penalty sounds more appropriate.
Message from Montie said:
I don't agree with the death penalty mainly because there are innocent people who have been killed from that only for DNA to prove they didn't do it. But I also don't agree with paying taxes to house criminals. I STILL think if someone doesn't fully comprehend something they're doing is wrong, they won't have the same sympathy or make the decisions that you do. Read Tracy's comment below. The GD grandmothers (or uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.) is VERY real. Those in gangs are getting harassed more than those who are not in gangs.
Tracy E Fulford said:
Not to be rude. But I feel alot of you well to do negros need to learn who some of these kids are, thats doing the killing. Do you know gang members have kids and thier kids join the gang too. Do you know "GD" grandmama is raising them and getting paid from dealing on the streets. Sometimes you will meet people you cannt save. All you can do is save yourself from them. The way some of you talk you need to watch to "The Wire" "First 48" and "American Gangster". To get some understanding of what is going on. Some of these kids will kill you for the hell of it. This is how they think big of themselves.
Message from Montie said:
Tracy, you make a lot of good points, but the beginning of your message was uncalled for. You can make a point without name calling. I keep trying to emphasize that on various forums I write for. All three of those movies/television shows are extremely relevant though. "Menace to Society" and Tupac in "Juice" are a couple more; I met plenty of those folks growing up.
Furious said:
I watch this video and I get so emotional. They were near some center and the ppl in this so called center didn't come out to intervene? WTF??? Black ppl we are our own enemy. I thank to God I'm not that cold to not want to help some child getting bullied by some punks. Evil, jealousy and the list goes on with blacks. Descent black parents with children...please try to get out of there. I did it, and I come from a similar environment in NJ, or try birth control. These animals and that's what they are.. need to be punished, and to the extreme. No snitch my arse, I would snitch all day long and would want them to come look for me. Can't blame them totally. I blame their lame parents for having them, and for not being part of their lives in a positive manner. Then what happens is these beast have kids.. and then their kids are brought up to be voilent. Please poor ppl start using birth control.
sheila said:
This is just to address the remarks left regarding birth control.”..How about abstaining..? I know this may be a foreign language. I’m human, too. But, I grew up I the 50’-60’s. Which was a time when it was frowned upon for a girl become pregnant. Some girls would have a baby (OUT OF TOWN) How about mothers letting our daughters realize that their bodies are sacred, so they don‘t end up calling her lover of last year just “da baby’s Daddy” . Why do girl put such a low premium on their bodies? Then we wonder why girls have such low self-esteem?
That’s all I have to say on this subject for now.
For what it’s worth, yes, it is partially, perhaps 90% is the fault of parents. And, although, my love and thoughts are with young boys in my community, brutality is widespread in young people from all walks of life. It seems to be a sense of hopelessness with young people all around us. The main difference is that we’re ’out there’… shooting up on the sidewalk, in cars and gangways, hanging out on the corner…Yes, even video taping a murder. While our counterparts are in their homes, living with mothers and fathers who didn’t even give little Tommy a ’time out’. (Sometimes plotting their murder or the complete demise of their classmates)
Everything that I may say, I realize is distant, naive, almost ’crazy’…let me be crazy for a minute. Where are the fathers? If no father in the picture, where are the role models? “Men” have a "stigma". Men are not always trusted with our young boys. Show some kindness to a young boy, men can easily be “labeled”. I know there are good guys out there? Men need to start policing themselves. Young boys at some stage in their lives, no longer ‘hear’ their mothers.
Why is it when men see men doing “manly” things that they don’t stop that negative actions? Are they scared of them? I see you turn your heads in shame. But you don’t say anything. The angry young boy you don’t show acceptance and love to today may be the one who hurts your offspring tomorrow.
Say, copy this to your browser…not the complete answer…but perhaps an insight. This was aired on 60 minutes almost 10 years ago…
Since some of you want to call these kids animals, take a look
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B5W4lq_LmU
Message from Montie said:
Young mothers: I don't always blame young mothers, mainly because my mother had my older brother when she was 16 years old, but she had such a strong foundation with my grandmother, great-grandmother, and all of our male cousins and uncles around, and then my father adopted my brother, so sometimes there are women who do have the foundation to raise young men. (I'm not going to lie and say my grandmother wasn't disappointed, but they worked together anyway.)
Abstinence: I respect your point, but it's just not happening. I've spoken at colleges about safe sex and correct condom usage because I've completely given up on teenagers not having sex. They're too desensitized to sex. It's not this big "Ooooh wee" moment anymore.
Elephant video: Now THAT was phenomenal. I'm considering a blog on that video alone. Thank you so much for sharing. I sent an email to my father and said, "Thanks for being my big elephant." He'll laugh, but he'll get it. I had a lot of male role models growing up (godfathers, brother, brother's friends, father, grandfather, etc.) so I didn't do a lot of the things young women do today mainly out of fear. I just didn't want to have to look in their eyes to see I'd disappointed them. I don't think a lot of young men today have the luxury of fearing and respecting male role models.
sheila said:
Sure the elephants are interesting. But, for those who viewed the entire segment, it was amazing to see the largest male juvenile named Tom Thumb. Tom Thumb was the strongest and the leader who goaded the smaller young males to kill the rhimos, sort of and initiation. He goaded the less aggressive male elephants until they gave in. They slaughtered the rhinos. While this was going on Tom’s sister ‘had his back’ surveying the outskirts so no one would catch her brother. I’ve never seen a rebroadcast of this on 60 minutes since. Just for the record, Tom was the elephant who was most changed when the older male elephant was introduced into the picture
Message from Montie said:
Okay, so if he was the one who changed the most with the older elephant, it still sounds like this video was very relevant to encourage male role models.
sheila said:
Sure, that was the gist of the entire segment……the elephants formed a "gang"…..What we can learn by observing some animals....
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