A Flatbush Mother’s Plea

As a born and raised Brooklynite and Flatbush resident of nearly 16 years, I know firsthand the effects of the senseless violence that plagues the community.  All too many of us didn’t need to see the horrific McDonalds beat down video to understand how much needs to be done to make our streets safer for everyone, especially our children and youth. As a parent of three, I’m constantly cautioning my children about safety and how to avoid becoming involved in “wrong place, wrong time” situations. I remember when my own three children attended school just steps away from the now infamous McDonalds and I as a parent, tax-payer and community member would stand on that very same corner to not only ensure the safety of my own children but to use my mere presence as a deterrent to the congregating possibly escalating to violence.  I am not alone; there are many other concerned parents and community members that are just as concerned and committed to our youth as I am.

To my children’s embarrassment, I often intervene and talk to youth when I see them acting in ways that can lead to problems not only with their peers but with the police as well. When I see misguided youth, I view it as an opportunity to be the one person that has the access to actually speak life to them, even if it’s the first and only time they’ve heard something encouraging that day.  All of the community’s children are our children, but are we treating them like such?  They are the ones that we the adults, mentors, parents and elders need to be preparing to lead us in the future. It is the unfortunate circumstance that the majority the youth (often due to no fault of their own) have had repeated secondary trauma exposure that continues to go unaddressed.

It becomes so easy to point the finger and say who and what is the cause of the problem.  We see the blame shift between parents, police, and the education system as having failed our children.  Quite honestly these structurally and institutionally racist systems continue to put band aids on gunshot wounds in terms of honestly evaluating and addressing the multi-faceted issues that permeate communities of color, while we as the gatekeepers of these systems continue to not only allow this to happen, but support it whether directly or indirectly. In these last few days, I’ve been observing all of the media attention and various responses to the McDonalds incident.  I can’t help but pray that this too doesn’t become a lost opportunity to bring healing to the community.   It is my prayer that all community leaders and allies,  partner past the politics in order to do right by our children that are crying out for help.  Please, don’t divide us even more than we already are. There are many unsung community members that are ready to help and affect meaningful change.  They may not have any organizational or political affiliations however; do this for not fanfare but for the survival of the community.

Way before the now infamous yet horrific video McDonalds brawl video was released, this very same community has had to regularly deal with this kind of senseless violence.  Now that it has everyone’s attention, what’s next?  No political and/or personal agendas; Solutions not Blame!

This is a Flatbush Mother’s Plea……..Spread Love The BrooKlyn Kisha Way!

Solutions Not Blame!

“The Time Is Always Right To Do What Is Right” Rev. Dr. martin Luther King Jr.