Do We Really Care About Our Children?

Every village needs warriors and hunters. I've been blessed to know a warrior here in Cincinnati, OH by the name of Jim Clingman. Jim is the author of a number of books such as Blackonomics: The Way to Psychological and Economic Freedom for African Americans. He is a syndicated columnist. His words are available in most African American newspapers around the country. We plan to regularly share his commentary here in the Electronic Village.

There have been a number of high profile cases in which Black children were victimized by the legal system. Shaquanda Cotton is the most visible case. However, there have been other cases in Florida and Baltimore. As such, I thought that Jim's recent column, titled, Do we really care about our children? is a valuable read for all villagers.

Is it any wonder that Black children are angry at Black adults? Is it any wonder that Black youth feel unprotected by Black adults? Is it any wonder that Black youth are out there "getting theirs" and doing anything else they want to do? Is it any wonder that as Black adults complain about the behavior of Black youth our behavior toward them and toward ourselves is equally despicable?

There have been others, but the case of Shaquanda Cotton, the 14 year-old girl in Paris, Texas, who was sentenced to 7 years in jail for shoving a hall monitor in school, should be the final straw for Black people all over this country. This case is especially troubling because the punishment definitely does not fit the crime, and the judge in this case also sentenced a white 14 year-old girl to probation after she was convicted of arson!

Not an isolated incident of miscarriage of justice by any means, but more and more we are seeing Black children being mistreated by authorities across this country, younger and younger, while we adults simply talk about it and wring our hands about it. There have been at least three cases of 5 year-old Blacks being handcuffed, disciplined, and threatened by the police – one of which occurred right here in Cincinnati, a city in which a law exists that allows 7 year-olds to be electrocuted with Taser guns.

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After you finish reading his column, I hope you will share your comments on the question of the day: Do we really care about our children?