The Hidden Forces Fueling Gun Violence in Our Communities"

If a child never ventures beyond their zip code, how is there so much gun violence occurring? Have you ever considered who is bringing guns and drugs into your child's environment and where they are getting their influence from? Why is mental health on the rise?

When slavery existed, slave masters used guns to keep slaves oppressed and fearful, as they had never seen such deadly weapons before. Our ancestors relied on slingshots and spears as their tools of defense. Now, the very guns that were used to enslave our fore parents

are the ones we are using against each other. The weapons that once subjugated our ancestors are no longer in the hands of slave masters but in ours. We are hurting and hunting down each other without any slave master in sight. When will we wake up and realize that we are and have been manipulated?

Back in England, our drug of choice was weed, while for Caucasians it was speed. Then "New Jack City" came out, and now there is an influx of crack cocaine and other drugs. We are in an epidemic where our children are dying and killing each other at an alarming rate. Many of our children are fighting over drugs even though they have never left their zip code. So, who is feeding our communities, and why are so many on drugs?

When a child loses a loved one to violence, it has a domino effect on their mental well-being, even if they seem to be coping. PTSD and other psychological issues can significantly impact their behavior and outlook on life. Don't you care about your child's well-being? Is getting high more important than your child? Don't you want your child to do better than you? Why are all these men killing each other, with life meaning nothing once they have a gun in their hand?

How can things improve when the system is broken, and we struggle to find positive role models to guide our children? Marches and protests may raise awareness but often fail to bring lasting change, merely boosting egos until the next year. Many small nonprofits genuinely want to help but are hindered by a lack of funding or resources, or simply go unnoticed. Meanwhile, larger organizations with bigger names benefit their shareholders, with little trickling down to those who truly care and wish to make a difference.

How can we improve the system? You can only do this by going back to basics, acknowledging the truth, and realizing you cannot change the past but can do something different. Teach your children values, stop acting like your child is your friend or the adult. Teach your children life skills. Stop isolating them from family members or their dad. Child support means co-parenting and supporting each other; it's not about money. Support your children's dreams and aspirations. Even if yours didn't materialize, there's no reason why your child's won't with a loving and supportive community. Don't let your child be a victim of the gun.