Steve Harvey tackles #ChicagoGunViolence

This week, talk-show host and author Steve Harvey invited Chicagoan’s personally affected by gun violence, to hold the first of many conversations about the topic of ‪#‎ChicagoGunViolence‬. “We have to be the change we want to see in our communities,” was a sentiment felt across the board, as Harvey made his initial plea to viewers.

“Chicago, the state where I live — where I tape this show, it is in a state of emergency,” he began. “Gun violence is robbing our community of so much life and promise each and every day. It is time to act. I am surrounded by people of all races and backgrounds who want change. Every single one of these people sitting behind me, has been directly affected by the gun violence that is plaguing our city. They understand the crisis firsthand. Now it’s time for everyone to understand.”

Among those in attendance was Father Michael Pfleger, who referred to his city as a “war zone.” “In the month of January alone, we had more killings and shootings in one month, than in the ’90s — you look at whole communities that have been abandoned, not just neglected but abandoned. They talk about the 5 percent unemployment rate in America. That tells me where I live, I’m not part of America. Because there’s a 20 percent unemployment rate in my community — there’s lack of economic development, lack of jobs, underfunded schools, boarded up houses, most coming back from prison. You’ve created the perfect storm. There are whole communities that look like third-world countries. It’s a war zone.

“We tell them stop shooting and don’t sell drugs — but here’s the problem, I can get help them GED classes — we teach two GED classes — I can get them into programs in the arts, but then what, when there are no jobs or opportunities? If you want to get out of a gang in Chicago, who do you call, 911? Where do they go? And if we don’t offer them something, we can’t just say ‘don’t shoot, don’t deal drugs.’ They need to eat, they need to sleep somewhere, and they need help.”

Needless to say, Pfleger’s account wasn’t the only testimony to touch a chord among viewers and attendees alike. A young woman shared her experience of losing her son, just nine years after her son’s father was slain. “We did everything we could to save him — my son was standing on his grandmother’s porch. He wasn’t at the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

However, it was an observation from two former gang members that had some divided. “Everybody deep inside of them wants to be somebody. Instagram gives you that platform to be instantly famous. The youth have no aspirations to be doctors, lawyers, any of that. But guess what they can be? They can be a hitta — famous for shooting people,” said Curtis Toler, claiming that social media has played a major role in the rise of gun violence in Chicago. “You can reach a million people with just one click. These kids just want to be seen and be heard.”

Despite what side of the fence you’re on, Harvey’s guests shined a light on the blind eye turned on Chicago’s youth, from gun violence, to the failing school system, to a system basically created to fail our community. Not to mention, the divisions in our own community. As one guest put it, “how can we ask them [oyoung people] to come together in peace if we’re [fighting among] ourselves? We’ve got pastors against pastors. I thought we are all working toward the same goal.”