Violent crime, especially murder and rape are occuring at epidemic levels in urban African American communities. Just this past weekend in Chicago, eight people were murdered and at least 44 others were shot across the city. The deaths included: a 28-year-old man found shot in the chest near a South Side church; a 19-year-old man who died after being shot in the head; and 44-year-old Darryl Dunn who was also found dead with a gunshot wound to the head.
Over the years in the United States, homicide has been the second leading cause of death for infants. Homicide with a firearm is the second leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 10 and 24, and the third leading cause of death for persons between ages 25 and 34. In the African American community these rates are often more than double the figures for other ethnic groups.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation report, ‘‘Crime in the United States,” as of 2007, African Americans accounted for 49.3 percent of all murder victims in the United States. Moreover, a study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that from 2001 to 2005, more than 9 out of 10 African American murder victims were killed by other African Americans, with 3 out of 4 being killed by a gun.
Young African American males who live in large urban cities like; Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. are at even greater risk. Although blacks comprise 13 percent of the population in the United States, they were victims in 15 percent of non-fatal violent crimes. As of 2009, Detroit had the highest number of violent crimes with 1220 per 100,000 followed by Memphis with 1,218 and Miami, Fla. with 988. Other cities with exorbitant violent crime rates include: Baltimore, MD; Gary, Indiana; Atlanta; Compton, Calif.; Newark, N.J.; St. Louis; and Camden, N.J.
African Americans, in particular males are more likely than any other ethnic group to be victims of violent crime and more likely than any other group to be victims of “serious violent crime,” which includes rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Males made up 85 percent of all African American homicide victims with more than half (51 percent) of victims were between the ages of 17 and 29.
Although many factors contribute to these horrific numbers, none carry more weight than education and employment. Across America, less than 20 percent of African American men between the ages of 16 and 24 are employed. In fact, the unemployment rate for young African American men is more than twice the rate for white, Hispanic and Asian men. In addition, less than 8 percent of young African American men have graduated from college, compared to 17 percent of whites and 35 percent of Asians. Less than 50 percent of African American men age 16-24 who are not enrolled in school are employed.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned factors in concert with a subculture of violent behavior means that African Americans — in particular young males — are disproportionately more likely to respond to minor transgressions with lethal force. This means that African American homicides and rates of other violent crimes will continue to be a problem and increase, if the root causes — poverty, lack of education and unemployment — are not dealt with effectively. –torrance stephens, ph.d.
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