Those of us who were aware of the tragic death of 6-month-old Jonylah Watkins earlier this week continue to be saddened by the situation. NBA player Derrick Rose was also moved by this heartbreaking story, so much so that he is offering to help. As his hometown continues to be plagued with violence Rose has looked for ways to improve the situation in Chicago. Most recently, he … [Read more...]
6-Month-Old Baby Dies After Being Involved in Shooting
When many of us look at babies we see promise. They represent our future and for many of us parents they represent opportunity --- a chance to do better and be better. We look at them and are reminded that our world, as scary as it can be, is still a beautiful place. We ooh and aah and we pray over them, our righteous seeds. We imagine what their life will be like and as we … [Read more...]
What if You Had to Pick Between Safety and Independence?
What if you had to pick between keeping your child safe and allowing them to experience some degree of independence? Chances are you already do. In a world in which the death of our children [sadly] holds some level of normalcy, it is hard to imagine a reality in which black children truly have both on a day-to-day basis. As eloquently stated by Danielle C. Belton of Clutch … [Read more...]
Former LAPD Officer Goes on Rampage of Revenge, Three Killed
A 2007 incident led to the investigation and eventual dismissal of then Los Angeles Police Department officer, Christopher Dorner. After writing a lengthy and disturbing 11-page manifesto, Dorner recently began a killing spree targeting other LAPD officers writing, "The attacks will stop when the department states the truth about my innocence." Police are currently on the … [Read more...]
In Order to Fix Chicago We Have To Fix Ourselves
I've watched the heartbreaking stories on CNN and via Social Media and held my kids closer at night thinking, "That couldn't be my child." That was until last week, a 15 year old Honors student named Hadiya Pendleton was brutally shot in the back while trying to seek shelter from the rain. Hadiya could have been one of my kids. She was seemingly doing everything right (she was … [Read more...]
As Homicides Continue Chicago Leaders Ask President Obama to Reach Out to His Hometown
In the wake of the great heartbreak and tragedy that has plagued our nation with regards to gun violence, we the people cry out. While gun violence has transpired throughout our country, it is the violence in Chicago which seems to be taking up much of the media coverage. The homicide rate is skyrocketing as stories such as Shirley Chambers the mother who lost a fourth child to … [Read more...]
Chicago Youth Killed One Week After Participating in the Presidential Inauguration Events
A little over a week ago many of us sat on our living room couches with our eyes fixated on the television as the Inauguration took place. Others, while in Washington D.C., stood outside bundled up watching it happen in person. Of the thousands of people who were there that Monday morning Hadiya Pendleton was one of them. She had gone to perform at the “inaugural events with … [Read more...]