Reverend Al Sharpton is back in the news again (click here). I'm sure you're all aware of the mass shooting that took place in Miami a couple of weeks ago. It left two teenagers dead and seven others injured. Mr. Sharpton made a visit to Miami last week and called on the black community their to help police find the shooters. Apparently, police have not received any substantial leads due to the "no snitching" code of the street. Reverend Al was quoted as saying, "You are traitors to our race and denigrating our community." He was directing this comment towards individuals within the community who know things about the crime, but have not come forward with information.
Many may question why Mr. Sharpton consistently shows up in a crisis, but is not around for the day to day grind of establishing salient change. Yet, this is not the point of this post.
This "code of the street" value is what's truly interesting. Value's are what decide our destiny. How we behave is generally a direct reflection of what we believe. So, this idea of telling on criminals as being a violation of one's values, should call into question how healthy are the Black communities values. Particularly, the value set of lower class/uneducated part of our community.
It would be one thing if this value was restricted just to criminals, but even everyday regular citizens are held to this standard.
Obviously, many residents fear retaliation if they "snitch" on criminals. The problem with that is, what happens if they don't say anything? The answer to that question is the killers keep on killing. Psychopaths generally don't see the light one day and then stop their acts of violence. They continue on until either their own death stops them or a trip to prison.
Its time for our community to reevaluate what is important to us. What values that we're going to embrace, that best represents progress for our community.
Too many of our young men embrace a mentality or value set that leads to self destruction. There a lot of excuses, some very legitimate, to why many of our young men are headed down the wrong path.
Although, at some point one has to take responsibility for their own well being. You may not have asked to be born or to live in poverty, but it does become your responsibility to figure out your own problems. It may not be fair, but nobody said life would be fair.
We can no longer allow the double standards to exist. We can no longer analyze everyone but ourselves. It's about time we start holding people accountable for their actions. Its time we start snitching!
9 comments:
Truth, as a youth counselor, as a counselor in middle schools, as a facilitator of counseling violent men, I could say with insurance is that the reason black people refuse to "snitch," or provide info to police about the crime in their neighborhood is solely the province of fear. The fear is that they will not be protected by police. History has shown that they are not protected. Now, when
tv cameras are on, they will say that they will not snitich. But that's fear too.
Another less important reason is ambivalent. You see, snitching on a criminal may involve calling the police on your younger brother, your father, or even your mother (usually this is mother strung out on crack) or a neighbor down the street. On the one hand, you want to do the right thing. On the other, doing the right thing may involve your brother going to prisons for years. It sounds easy for us. But it's more important when the drug dealer or the guy that broke into the house down the street is your blood brother.
Although the whole no snitching thing is crazy, it's not easy to rise above when you have to live in the same neighborhood, and see the same people every day. It's a catch 22. You want to do the right thing, but you also want to be safe.
I have never understood this whole "Don't Snitch" thing that has started in our community. That is a "moral" code of criminals..and if you're not a gangsta, then why are you living by a gangsta's code? This is what I've asked people in my own community time and time again.
I know that a lot of times if you openly testify against someone..You may be opening yourself up for retribution from their relatives and friends..but
a confidential phone call to the police here and there never hurt anybody..I'm not for anyone needlessly putting themselves in harms way..but if you can point the cops in the right direction..sometimes that is all that is needed.
Good Post!
MacDaddy,
You make two excellent points, fear and ambivalence are detractors from changing many maladaptive behaviors. I also agree with you, that it's easy for somebody on the outside looking in, to suggest the obvious.
Yet, What is the alternative? If you had a police officer on every corner, than it would be the equivalent of a police state. Also, there would probably be a high level of resistance from the residents in these neighborhoods. Having more police around would certainly make some people feel safer and others more wary of cops.
Many in the civil rights movement knew they faced certain death,but they did it anyway because they wanted a better future for their kids. I think organizing and working with cops might be the only way to change things, whatever the cost maybe.
It's certainly easy for me or anyone else who does not have put their life on the line, to say what should be done. Yet, there does not seem to be a better alternative for change.
Peace
Strongblackwoman,
Your right, it is a tricky situation. If it's only one person standing alone against ruthless criminals, than it's hard to blame someone for staying quiet.
That's why there needs to be some organizing within the inner city. It will take a movement to change the culture of our cities.
Peace
Keith,
I agree with you, Keith! Going to a pay phone and just pointing cops in the right direction would be helpful!
I wouldn't ask anyone to needlessly point themselves in harm's way. But if we think outside the box, I think there are many ways to help the authorities get dangerous criminals off the street without putting ourselves in the crossfire.
Peace
I have different views about snitching.
If you and I are in the same game, doing the same things and I get caught, it is a straight bitch move to tell on you to reduce my time. If I am big enoungh to do dirt with you then I should be big enoungh to accept dirt when it is thrown back at me.
But on the other hand if I see someone do something that endangers me or someone I love, or hurts an innocent bystander, then you damn right I am going to tell. To me that is not snitchig. That is being a man and standing up for what you know is right.
There is a difference.
Who ever saw that massacre in Miami and can help get that idiot off the street should feel obligated to help their community. Rev. Al is right. They are traitors.
Dirty Red,
Thanks for the comment and I share your sentiments on both accounts.
If you do the crime, you should do the time. With there being very few exceptions to that rule.
As for being afraid to inform authorities to a crime, there is some legitimacy to being fearful of retaliation. But there are simply no other alternatives to dealing with crime an our neighborhoods. Folk have to be held accountable.
Peace
I agree with DirtyRed. Snitching only applies to a criminal 'telling' on his partner after they were both involved in the same activity (think Sammy the Bull snitching on John Gotti). It is sad when high school kids are saying that they can't tell who has been stealing in the school because they can't snitch. Snitching is for criminals, responsibility is for citizens. We should encourage responsibility in our communities.
T3FLON,
I agree with you and brotha Red whole heartily!
It was well written and I have nothing more to add!
Peace
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