Natural is the order of things, the way things should go in a civilized society. Natural carries the weight of logic (a parent shouldn’t bury a child); karma, (you’ll never get away with an evil deed) and if all else fails, superstition or the spiritual, (i.e., good people prevail).
Unnatural is just the opposite of the way things should be, and yet, here we are: Parents are burying their children. Murderers are getting away with the evil deed. Scores of honor students, athletes, community organizers, future doctors, lawyers, scientists and teachers are being shot down before they can rise up.
No, this isn’t the return of King Herod the Great, this is widespread black-on-black murder. In Chicago, this murderous rampage has been attributed to:
- An underground drug economy that has been disrupted by a thirstier clientele and more desperate seller
- A gang war that is fueled by the collapse of the housing projects, and the subsequent relocation of housing residents. Suddenly mortal enemies are also next-door neighbors.
- A lack of summer jobs for teenagers
- No moral compass, or adult male mentors
Then add the heat, rage and despair that cling to our young Black males like a second skin and here we are, in this unnatural cycle of violence.
During the McDonald’s 365 Black Awards, New Orleans Mayor Mitch J. Landrieu used the podium to address the issue of black-on-black violence.
“If 199 white guys killed each other the world would stop. If the Klu Klux Klan killed 199 black guys the world would stop and people would still be talking about it. But for some reason because it’s young guys killing young guys, they want to put their heads in the sand and don’t want to talk about it. I’m telling you it’s unnatural and it’s not something that we’re supposed to tolerate in this country,” he said
Violent crimes in New Orleans was 80 percent higher than the national violent crime rate in 2009.
