Black On Black Crime: It's A Crime!

By Kenneth Bryant, Jr.

Is there really such a thing as "Black-on-Black" crime? If so, then there is also White-on-White crime, Hispanic-on-Hispanic crime, Christian-on-Christian, Jewish-on-Jewish, Muslim-on-Muslim crime too. Crime is crime whether it is perpetrated by someone of the same race as the victim or not.

However, as a black man proud to have been born and raised on the eastside of Detroit and a product of the Detroit public school system, I am deeply concerned about the senseless and violent crimes rapidly escalating in the Metropolitan-Detroit community.

Why is this happening, and what can we do about it? The answer is clear. Stop hating and start loving. Love is the answer to all our problems. It can change and even get rid of those who refuse to change.  Love is the most powerful force in the universe and it never fails. We might give up on loving, but love will never give up on you.

The lack of love in the world we live in is the direct result of the lack of love displayed at the beginning of humankind. Love does what is right even when everyone else is doing wrong. Our families, homes and communities must get back to the business of loving. Giving love the good way instead of taking love the bad way.

We reap what we sow and there is no way to get around this. What we do to others ultimately effects us and multitudes of others. We're all paying for the senseless violence of others. It must stop and the only way to truly stop it is through love.

Love is not weak. It can change you and even defeat your enemies. Try it, it works. Maybe not as fast, or the way you want it to work, but, eventually, if you don't quit, it will succeed. Be patient, it will work if you just don't give up. Remember, quitters never win and winners never quit.

We need to practice what we preach and start loving more in our personal lives, our families and our communities. Practice makes perfect and it all begins with you. Are you willing to give love? Do you want love? Then ask for it, believe for it and you will surely receive it. I know this may sound a bit simplistic, but it's not as complicated as it may seem. You will need help, of course, to accomplish it, but all things are possible to them who believe. First you must believe you can do it and then ask God to help you do it.

Speaking of help, did you know that women are the best helpers on the planet? Fellas, please stop abusing and angering our help. The women in our lives can help us be all that we are capable of being if we will love them, protect them and provide them with all they need to help us. We need their help, so please stop abusing and angering them. Like it or not, whatever affects them has an everlasting effect on us all, our personal life, family life and entire community. Abusing women is a crime.

Black on black crime is not only harmful to the black community, it's harmful to every community. The same way white on white crime is harmful to every community. Sooner or later, it's going to spread to other communities, as it is now, and crime rates there are going to skyrocket as they are here.

We do what we see others do. If we see them doing good, we do good. If we see them doing bad, we will do bad. We'll do whatever is necessary to get what we want. Parents, this is why it is vitally important that our kids see us doing what is good and right at all times. Early impressions are lasting impressions. We must impose what is good and right on their young lives if we want them to grow up and emulate what's good and right as adults.

Black children are seeing far too much anger, hate and violence in their homes and communities. It must stop if we want to encourage them to do right and give them hope for the future. We're reaping what we're sowing in the black community and our only hope for changing that is love, even tough love when necessary. The abuse our children face daily in the home is being perpetrated by parents who also have experienced abuse in their homes and don't know, or trust living any other way. Parents, before attempting to discipline your children make sure they know that you love them and deeply care about them. Let them see you being kind, helpful, supportive, and encouraging to them, as well as to others.

It's time we all started addressing the root cause of crime in our community and help everyone embrace the solution for it. It's possible, all things are possible if you will simply believe it and want it.

Let's start believing for and wanting the best life possible for ourselves, our children and our community. If we do the power of God's love will make it happen. For God so loved the world He lovingly gave us His Son to prove His love for us. God is love, so let's start loving one another.

Kenneth Bryant, Jr. is an Emmy Award winning Producer/Director for CBS 62 and CW50. From Bill Kennedy At The Movies, Piston Yearbook "Badboys" specials to directing Michigan Matters, he has produced many shows during his 39 year tenure with the company. Ken has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 42 years. They have three wonderful children. Ken is also the pastor of Ford Memorial United Methodist Church in Detroit where he has faithfully served for 15 years.