The pandemic that mostly affects my life is gun violence. The amount of people that have been shot or killed or affected by gun violence is more than I know that have been affected by the Corona virus. Every time I turn on the news another person is reported shot and dead. I’m always checking the location to see if I know anyone living close by. I’m fearful all the time of getting a phone call or a text message that someone I know has been shot and killed. It hurts to feel like I’m in constant fear. Every day I’m scared to death and kids are normalizing death. It is unfair. The value of life is diminishing. People now know what to do whenever someone dies.
Candle light vigils.
Balloon releases.
Funeral procession.
Repass.
Food for the family.
Tshirts.
Teddy bears.
Cardboard cutouts.
Memorial service.
Burial.
Hashtags and
social media RIP tributes.
Updated profile pics and bios.
It feels like our lives have so little value. What makes it even worse is that the murder clearance rate in this city is less than 30% and even less for people of color. There is little hope that my murder would be solved because I’m a person of color living in a Black neighborhood in Philly, sadly. I truly feel this way. It scares me to think that if I were killed that those close to me would mourn and then the world would simply move on. Over the couse of this year the cases of murder and gun shot victims has increased exponentially. There is so little value tied to someone’s life. There is so much time on people’s hands. This issue hits me hard because I love the population of people that are most affected, 16 - 30 year old Black people. Male and female alike. I have a daughter in this age range. I have family in this age range. I counsel this age range. Most if not all of the students I have ever taught are in this age range. I am in fear that I will get a phone call that someone else I care for, someone i’ve loved, liked, encountered has been killed by gun fired. and this does not feel like a priority in this city. Preventing gun violence does not seem to be a priority. It feels like if you are Black, young, from the city, God forbid poor then if you are shot no one will care. your murder will not be solved. That is what is demonstrated over and over again. I’m making observation not placing blame. This pandemic has reduced activities for people to engage in like fruitful jobs, school, extra curricular activities and as a result there is much more idol time. There has been an increase in money due to various CARES act provisions, drugs are easier to come by, guns are more readily available. Policing is affected by the Black Lives Matter Movement, more citizens using video to protect their right and more accountability measures. People are less focused on community and more focused individually. throw in the mental health effects of living through a global pandemic that has effectively changed everyone’s lives and livelihood and you have the basis of an epidemic of violence. But what can be done?
I’m scared a lot. Just because so many things can happen to anyone I hold dear. The feeling never gets better. To hear about the death of a person young or old by being shot is never something I can't get used to. This is the issue of our time, of our city, of our youth. At this point Philadelphia is approaching 150 homicides so far this year with over 700 shootings. Its March. This needs to be attacked in the same manner as the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a crisis. Pay attention.
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