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Their bodies have been laid to rest but the systemic issues surrounding their deaths live on. Just one week after Aiyana Jones' death, a police officer's son was shot and killed at a gas station on the city's southwest side. A 12-year-old was caught in the crossfire of a bullet intended for his mother and a 13-year-old shot a 12-year-old in attempt to settle a fight. Detroit's community leaders say it's time to put an end to the violence and begin healing the neighborhoods.
"After the lights are out and the folks have their fanfare and face time, we're still going to be here living the lives of black, urban, working class families," said Ron Scott, President of The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality.
The killings of 17-year-old Je'Rean Blake - the result of an alleged 'prolonged stare' - and 7-year-old Aiyana Jones - the result of a botched Detroit Police raid - are just two examples of innocent lives taken as a result of the violence running rampant in the city of Detroit.
In dealing with such cases, The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality is not focused on finger pointing but working in tandem with the Jones and Blake families to offer counseling resources and legal guidance. The coalition supports grieving families by attending court with them, holding peace marches and enforcing their Peace Zone program in conflicted neighborhoods.
"We don't do this because we get paid to, we do it because it's about retention of life," said Scott. These incidents raise questions about the city's poorly developed social conditions, parental accountability and police protocol. Question about how to stop the violence are still being pursued.
"We didn't get here by ourselves and won't get out by ourselves," Reverend Horace L. Sheffield III said. "Some of what is going on is related to economic deprivation."
"We are in need of massive federal help," Sheffield said. "They gave them TARP money, now give us some heart money."
Sheffield's sentiment is that an economic boost could give the entire metropolitan area, which faces a 16.4 percent unemployment rate, a major turnaround. "When people are trapped and have few options with no way do to things other then what they face, they respond to people in a different way. It's no excuse for taking someone's life but people are just depressed and stressed."
In response to the heightened communal terror, The Detroit Association of Black Organizations, led by Sheffield, is in the process of galvanizing the Citizen's Coalition Against Crime. The group will be a grassroots effort to work in neighborhoods through local churches to start their own community policing. It's an area he feels needs to be revitalized.
"Block clubs are a diminishing breed in Detroit," he said. "That movement has fizzled because half of the blocks are already decimated."
Members of The Body of Christ Apostolic Church, a storefront church on Lillibridge Street located just yards from the house where Aiyana Jones was accidentally killed, feels that the recent violence in the community is a result of a disconnect with God.
"The only way this thing gone change is we're going to have a put Jesus in our lives. Until we start recognizing him, we can talk all day long and it don't mean a thing," Vivian Storrs, Assistant Pastor at The Body of Christ Apostolic Church, said.
Pearline James, one of the ministers at the church who also lived on Lillibridge Street for over 40 years, says she recalls better days when the neighborhood had a block club. She and other church members say they welcome the church to the neighborhood with open arms but the embrace isn't reciprocated. Their solution is prayer.
"We can not go out there and demand you to come in to the house of the Lord and receive the word of God," James said "We can only do what the neighborhood allows us to do."
Detroit's wounds are deep. The thrashes are relentless but the citizens aren't giving up. Every tragedy births new hope.
Jazmine Steele is a freelance journalist from Detroit. She is the arts and culture reporter for the Michigan Citizen Newspaper and founder of uplifting community news site, www.nobaddnews.com.
Comments: (5)
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By: Wendi on 5/27/2010 10:15PM
Does anyone believe that the reason that both of these children and others were gunned down is due to the financial crisis? Yes, financial problems can be stressful. However, being stressed isn't a reason to gun down anyone much less a child.
People are looking for solutions not excuses. What happened to people taking personal responsibility for themselves? Je'Rean and Aiyana would still be alive if Owens and Aiyana's father were getting their "grown man on" instead retaliating over a prolonged look. The two adults should've been looking for work, getting ready or resting up for work. Instead of the ride or die attitude that Aiyana's father had when he accompanied Owen's to murder Je'rean, he could have been walking Aiyana home from school and/or helping her with her homework. But, look at what he decided to do with his time?
The police knew they had a trigger happy rogue cop but allowed him to carry a gun anyway. This man should not even been allowed to be a billy club carrying rent-a-cop!!! The police dept's decision to make excuses and turn a blind eye helped lead to a child's death.
We as individuals are responsible for being role models for our children and not become a menance to them and society.
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By: Princesslauryn on 6/01/2010 1:23PM
@ Wendi.... AMEN & AMEN!! Couldn't have said it better myself! God knows we need our black men to STEP UP and stop STEPPING OUT on our young black boys. The Bible says, "train up a child", and if that's not being done, (no disregard to mother's cause I'm raising boys alone too)from a MALE prospective this behavior may very well continue and escalate. Step up men... step up... ^j^
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By: Pam on 5/31/2010 8:35AM
Detroit has been a mess since I was there in 2004 (for a visit that is). I pray for once they do something about this place. Detroit use to be a place of dreams that comes true (many many many many years ago).
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By: Pechus on 6/02/2010 1:43PM
No Pam, Detroit has been a "mess" since the Auto companies started closing, conducted Massive lay-offs when these same companies were the sustaining incomes for the majority of people (particualrly blacks), and the Federal Government "allowed" the Drug Lords to move in starting in the Late 1970's! Detroit is my "home." I grew up there when it was truly The Motor City (Motown). I have extremely fond memories of my youth in that City. But, as I saw more & more of my schoolmates succumber to drug addiction, begin to turn on childhood friends & family, killing each other left & right .. I knew it was time to relocate elsewhere trying to get away from heartbreak. Today, as a retiree, I long to go back there to open a business & try to contribute "something" to assist those in need of a job and desires for a better way of life. I have my "security" in life, but realise that it doesn't mean a thing if I have not made my contribution to help others have a better way of life. This is what their current Mayor, Dave Bing recognized & believed, hence he built & housed his factory there. He could have turned coat & ran away to "greener pastures," but he didn't. He remained and now hires Thousands of Detroiters. As the current Mayor, they can critisize him all they want .. but the brotha "stayed," and I intend to follow through with his example.
So when we critisize and say that our city is a "hot mess," ask ourselves what have "we" done to make it collective better? The hot mess is because we've done nothing to help change it. I'm looking forward to my trying to correct my own "turn-tail-&-run" behavior.
Blessings
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By: idk on 11/23/2010 3:02PM
man all i see in these "detroit" blogs are complaining white people. stop complaining because its "you peoples" fault the way detroit turned out.
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